Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stano Pekar, Martina Martisova, Andrea Spalek Tothova, Charles R. Haddad
Summary: This study objectively measured the resemblance between arthropod mimics and ants, based on traits such as color, shape, size, and behavior. The results showed that mimics were more similar to ants in color and behavior, rather than size and body shape.
Article
Agronomy
Yuanjing Zhu, Tingting Dong, Fangyuan Sun, Yuxin Xiao, Qingxue Guo
Summary: The sexual dimorphism in dioecious plants plays a significant role in shaping their microbiota, with distinct differences observed in bacterial and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. Phytohormones and defensive compounds in these plants have been found to influence the composition of the endophyte community in different soil conditions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicholas W. Vankuren, Meredith M. Doellman, Sofia Sheikh, Daniela H. Palmer Droguett, Darli Massardo, Marcus R. Kronforst
Summary: Novel phenotypes can evolve by co-opting conserved genes into new developmental contexts, and in this study, the role of co-opted doublesex in butterfly wing color pattern development was characterized. The study revealed dynamic expression pattern differences between mimic and non-mimic butterflies throughout wing development, with a pulse of dsx expression causing differential gene expression particularly in Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways. Interestingly, Dsx co-option caused Engrailed, a primary target of Hedgehog signaling, to gain a novel expression domain early in wing development, resulting in the specification of novel mimic patterns.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernando Rodriguez-Caro, Jennifer Fenner, Shivam Bhardwaj, Jared Cole, Caleb Benson, Alexandra M. Colombara, Riccardo Papa, Matthew W. Brown, Arnaud Martin, Ryan C. Range, Brian A. Counterman
Summary: This study explores the genetic basis of sexually dimorphic development through examining sex-specific differences in butterfly wing color patterns. The researchers discovered a novel duplication of the dsx gene associated with sexually dimorphic UV coloration, which may play a role in suppressing UV scale differentiation in females. The findings highlight the molecular flexibility of the dsx gene in mediating the differentiation of secondary sexual characteristics.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Kosei Sato, Daisuke Yamamoto
Summary: Behavioral sex differences primarily arise from the sexually dimorphic organization of neural circuits, regulated by the fru and dsx genes in fruit flies. These genes can switch the sexual characteristics in specific neural groups, impacting the execution of behavior. Furthermore, the P1 cluster is male-specific, as its female counterpart undergoes cell death, lowering the threshold for the induction of male-specific behaviors. The fru and dsx genes, as terminal selectors, regulate the sexually dimorphic chromatin state, influencing neuron structures and cell survival and death.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Wei Zhou, Long Yu, Bernetta Z. W. Kwek, Ge Jin, Hua Zeng, Daiqin Li
Summary: This study used S. semiglaucus as a model system and found that females pay more attention to information from both individual color patches and gross color patterns when choosing mates, while male contest outcomes were not significantly affected by male color patterns.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Qingxue Guo, Jiantong Liu, Lei Yu, Helena Korpelainen, Chunyang Li
Summary: Sexual dimorphism in plant species can have significant impacts on soil physiochemical traits, microbial communities, and nitrogen-cycling processes, with greater effects observed in drier soil conditions. Bacterial communities in both rhizosphere and bulk soils are more affected by plant sex compared to fungal communities. This study highlights the importance of considering sexual differences in shaping microbial communities and influencing nutrient cycling processes in natural ecosystems.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ruben Alonso Carbajal-Marquez, Jose Jesus Sigala-Rodriguez, Jorge Arturo Hidalgo-Garcia, Juan Jose Ayala-Rodriguez, Jose Rogelio Cedeno-Vazquez
Summary: This study provides a detailed description of the diet, morphological variation, life history traits, and activity patterns of the Tehuantepec Isthmus rattlesnake. It reveals that the species primarily feeds on mammals, with no ontogenetic shift or sexual differences in prey type. It also shows that males have longer tails and different scale characteristics compared to females. Additionally, the study finds that the rattlesnakes have a unimodal activity pattern with peak activity in the summer and different activity patterns during warmer and cooler months.
Review
Neurosciences
Silvia V. Conde, Vsevolod Y. Polotsky, Vincent Joseph, Richard Kinkead
Summary: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a complex group of respiratory disorders that is sex specific and highly heterogeneous. Sleep fragmentation and fluctuations in arterial blood gases during sleep contribute to significant stress on the body, leading to detrimental effects on physical and mental health. SDB is associated with obesity, diabetes, depression, and anxiety disorders, but these health issues also act as risk factors for SDB. The causes of the first significant apnoeic events during sleep and the origins of SDB are still poorly understood, with current treatments focusing on symptom management rather than addressing the underlying cause. In this article, the development of obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and stress-related neurological disorders are discussed in relation to their impact on the specific anatomical and non-anatomical traits of SDB in males and females, with a consideration of the influence of sex steroids. Furthermore, the role of carotid bodies as important sensors of metabolic and endocrine signals associated with stress and dysmetabolism is proposed.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Zhichao Xia, Yue He, Helena Korpelainen, Ulo Niinemets, Chunyang Li
Summary: The study revealed significant impacts of tree sex and neighbor effects on root phenolics and rhizosphere microbiomes, with greater variability in metabolic composition of females and improved diversity of bacteria and fungi in mixed plantations. Bacterial and fungal diversity were correlated with specific phenolic metabolites, showing positive responses to root benzoic acid and pinoresinol.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Ayaka Sato, Kazuhito Arai
Summary: This study investigated sex-associated differences in tooth agenesis patterns in patients with non-syndromic oligodontia. While no significant sex difference in the distribution of the number of agenetic teeth was observed, prevalence of certain tooth types varied significantly between males and females. Sexual dimorphism was observed in the highly ranked tooth agenesis patterns.
ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Genfu Yagi, Mai Sakai, Kazunobu Kogi
Summary: Studying the speckle patterns on Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins can help estimate their age. The speckles increase in density and change in shape as the dolphins age. The shape of the speckles may serve as a useful tool for determining the sex of the dolphins.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Alexandra Labarthe, Philippe Zizzari, Oriane Fiquet, Nicolas Lebrun, Johannes D. Veldhuis, Ferdinand Roelfsema, Christophe Chauveau, Mohammad Bohlooly-Y, Jacques Epelbaum, Virginie Tolle
Summary: The study reveals a sex-dependent dimorphic effect of GHS-R1a signaling on pulsatile GH secretion and meal pattern in mice, with different compensatory mechanisms occurring in the hypothalamus of adult males and females after GHS-R1a deletion. Altogether, the results demonstrate that GHS-R1a signaling plays a more critical role in regulating pulsatile GH secretion during adolescence in males and adulthood in females.
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Fisheries
Tulio F. Teixeira, Marcelo R. S. Melo
Summary: Characidium pumarinri n. sp. is a newly discovered species of deep-bodied characid fish found in the tributaries of the Peruvian Amazon. This species exhibits remarkable sexual dimorphism in color patterns, with males having darker fins than females.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Akira Mori
Summary: The study on Gloydius blomhoffii in northeastern Kyoto, Japan, over a 31-year period revealed differences in body length among different geographical areas, as well as consistent sexual size dimorphism trends. Additionally, the sex ratio of collected snakes showed a bias towards females, a phenomenon not seen in other studies.
CURRENT HERPETOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Dominik Kusy, Michal Motyka, Lukas Fusek, Yun Li, Matej Bocek, Renata Bilkova, Michaela Ruskova, Ladislav Bocak
Summary: A study on the Lycidae family conducted phylogenetic analysis, rejecting the polyphyletic assemblages of Lycus and Lycostomus, and redefined the classification of certain genera. Aposematic patterns evolved in different lineages, and high intraspecific polymorphism is influenced by local mimetic assemblages.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Dominik Kusy, Jin-Wu He, Seth M. Bybee, Michal Motyka, Wen-Xuan Bi, Lars Podsiadlowski, Xue-Yan Li, Ladislav Bocak
Summary: The study suggests that bioluminescence in Elateridae, Lampyridae, Phengodidae, and Rhagophthalmidae has a single origin, forming the 'lampyroid clade'. Soft-bodied bioluminescent elateroid beetles likely evolved from fully sclerotized elateroids, with bioluminescence possibly arising in Elateridae in the mid-Cretaceous period in eastern Laurasia. This research provides a phylogenetic framework for studying genomic variation in the evolution of bioluminescence.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Ladislav Bocak, Michal Motyka, Dominik Kusy, Renata Bilkova
Article
Entomology
Dominik Kusy, Michal Motyka, Ladislav Bocak
Summary: The study revisited the classification of click beetles by sequencing mitochondrial genomes of eight species, proposing new subfamilies and transferring groups to new statuses. The deep splits between different subfamilies were supported by phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial genomes. The results suggest a Gondwanan origin for certain lineages within Elateridae.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michal Motyka, Dominik Kusy, Michal Masek, Matej Bocek, Yun Li, R. Bilkova, Josef Kapitan, Takashi Yagi, Ladislav Bocak
Summary: Biologists have studied the chemical defences and phenetic similarity of net-winged beetles and their co-mimics. The research illustrates the appearance and distribution of hundreds of lycid species and their co-mimics, as well as their evolutionary patterns using a transcriptomic backbone. The study reveals the evolution of aposematic patterns and the complex mimetic communities in different regions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Geology
Ladislav Bocak, Patrick Mueller, Michal Motyka, Dominik Kusy
Summary: Newly available specimens of Prototrichalus provide further diagnostic characters for its phylogenetic classification. Based on detailed descriptions and comparisons, it is revealed that Prototrichalus shares similarities with the tenebrionoid families, leading to its transfer from Elateroidea: Lycidae to Tenebrionoidea incertae sedis. The earlier claim regarding the origin of Prototrichalus and its relation to the net-winged beetles is incorrect. Further discoveries are needed to provide robust evidence for the superficial similarity between Prototrichalus and net-winged beetles.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Michal Motyka, Dominik Kusy, Jiri Hava, Eva Jahodarova, Renata Bilkova, Alfried P. Vogler, Ladislav Bocak
Summary: Dermestidae (Bostrichoidea) exploit diverse food sources, primarily feeding on dried tissue, and evolving from mycetophagy to saprophagy, with a preference for food with low water content. Their evolutionary history involves a transition in lifestyle from cryptic habitats to symbiosis with social insects, ultimately feeding on angiosperm pollen as adults.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Michal Motyka, Dominik Kusy, Matej Bocek, Renata Bilkova, Ladislav Bocak
Summary: The study utilized integrative phylogenomic and three mtDNA fragment analyses to sequence a beetle fauna, revealing many previously unknown species. Additionally, through constrained mtDNA analysis, a biodiversity hotspot and high species-level endemism were identified in New Guinea. Focused field research and subsequent laboratory work were recommended to accelerate the inventorying of hyperdiverse tropical groups.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Brendon E. Boudinot, Martin Fikacek, Ziv E. Lieberman, Dominik Kusy, Ladislav Bocak, Duane D. Mckenna, Rolf Georg Beutel
Summary: This article discusses a study that reanalyzed DNA sequence data of Coleoptera and raises concerns about the methodology and conclusions of the study. The researchers claim comprehensive sampling but their dataset is not the most diverse or largest. Therefore, for those seeking the best estimate of Coleoptera phylogeny and evolution based on molecular data, it is advisable to look elsewhere.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Michal Motyka, Dominik Kusy, Renata Bilkova, Ladislav Bocak
Summary: The red net-winged beetle, Dictyoptera aurora, is a highly endemic species in the elateroid family Lycidae. Through genetic analysis, two genetically distinct species were identified and the name D. coccinata was reinstated for the Nearctic populations. Morphological traits could not reliably distinguish these species except for slight differences in male genitalia. The Fennoscandian populations of these beetles were established through two colonization events after the last glacial maximum. The study highlights the importance of both genetic and ecological factors in shaping the evolutionary history and regional faunas.
Article
Entomology
Andre Silva Roza, Dominik Kusy, Zhendong Lian, Robin Kundrata
Summary: The Elateroidea superfamily is known for its extensive diversity, morphological variation, and specialization in various habitats. With the presence of bioluminescence and paedomorphosis, this group serves as an intriguing model for several studies. While lampyroid clade exhibits these traits through a variety of light displays and body forms, the lack of fossil records has hindered a deeper understanding of their origin and the biogeographic history of the group. In this study, a new fossil species, Cretocydistus wittmeri gen. et sp. nov., is described from the mid-Cretaceous period in northern Myanmar, representing the first fossil of the Phengodidae family. Through our analysis, we tentatively assign this genus to the subfamily Cydistinae, which includes extant species distributed in Asia Minor, the Levant, and Iran. The discovery of this fossil taxon has significant implications for the study of the family and the evolutionary history and biogeography of the lampyroid clade.