Article
Geography, Physical
Emil Karpinski, Chris Widga, Andrew R. Boehm, Brandon R. Peecook, Melanie Kuch, Tyler J. Murchie, Hendrik N. Poinar
Summary: Paleogenetics is a powerful method for studying the evolutionary relationships between and within taxonomic groups. By analyzing mitochondrial genomes, we can learn about the distribution dynamics and southward dispersal of mastodons in response to glacial/interglacial cycles. Further research is needed to comprehensively examine the morphological variation in Mammut.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Gabriel Jimenez-Avalos, Alina Soto-Obando, Maria Solis, Robert H. Gilman, Vitaliano Cama, Armando E. Gonzalez, Hector H. Garcia, Patricia Sheen, David Requena, Mirko Zimic, Cysticercosis Working Grp Peru
Summary: This study identified a novel set of 31 non-synonymous mutations that differentiate the main T. solium genotypes, distributed across the genomes of the African-American genotype. Furthermore, the analysis suggested a stratification of the African-American genotypes into an East African and a West African sublineage.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jiaming Hu, Michael V. Westbury, Junxia Yuan, Zhen Zhang, Shungang Chen, Bo Xiao, Xindong Hou, Hailong Ji, Xulong Lai, Michael Hofreiter, Guilian Sheng
Summary: Cave hyenas, extinct bone-cracking carnivores from the family Hyaenidae, were widespread across Eurasia during the Pleistocene and became extinct at the end of the Late Pleistocene. A study of two cave hyena fossils from northeastern China suggests a split of the Asian cave hyena mitochondrial lineage from their European and African relatives around 1.85 million years ago, in line with the earliest Crocuta fossil dating to approximately 2 million years ago. Comparisons of genetic diversity indicate cave hyenas had higher diversity than extant species, likely due to non-monophyletic lineages. The joint female effective population size of Crocuta experienced declines during the Late Pleistocene.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xavier Roca-Rada, Gustavo Politis, Pablo G. Messineo, Nahuel Scheifler, Clara Scabuzzo, Mariela Gonzalez, Kelly M. Harkins, David Reich, Yassine Souilmi, Joao C. Teixeira, Bastien Llamas, Lars Fehren-Schmitz
Summary: Study of mitochondrial genomes from human skeletal remains in the Argentinian Pampas revealed distinct genetic makeup compared to other South Cone of South America (SCSA) populations, with earliest settlers estimated to have arrived in a single and rapid dispersal around 15,600 years ago. Present-day genetic differences between the Pampas and the rest of SCSA are attributed to founder effects, genetic drift, and a partial population replacement around 9,000 years ago.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Trinidad Perez, Margarita Fernandez, Borja Palacios, Ana Dominguez
Summary: The glaciations during the Pleistocene had a significant impact on the distribution of temperate species in Europe. This research shows that the effects of glaciations on the genetics of temperate species are more complex than previously believed, uncovering the existence of multiple glacial refugia across Europe.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Peter Fischer, Olaf Joeris, Kathryn E. Fitzsimmons, Mathias Vinnepand, Charlotte Prud'homme, Philipp Schulte, Christine Hatte, Ulrich Hambach, Susanne Lindauer, Christian Zeeden, Zoran Peric, Frank Lehmkuhl, Tina Wunderlich, Dennis Wilken, Wolfgang Schirmer, Andreas Voett
Summary: Loess-Palaeosol-Sequences (LPS) in the Central European region provide valuable terrestrial archives of past climate and environment. This study focuses on the Schwalbenberg LPS, offering a comprehensive multiproxy dataset for understanding its formation processes and relationship to climatic influences during the Upper Pleistocene. By utilizing a transect approach and integrating sedimentological and geochemical proxy data, the researchers were able to quantify different formation phases and establish robust correlations with other climate archives, highlighting the sensitivity of western European LPS to Atlantic-driven climate oscillations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanli Che, Wenbo Deng, Weijun Li, Jiawei Zhang, Yukihiro Kinjo, Gaku Tokuda, Thomas Bourguignon, Nathan Lo, Zongqing Wang
Summary: This study investigated the phylogenetic relationships and geographical distribution of Cryptocercus, demonstrating the significant roles of both vicariance and dispersal in shaping the distribution and diversity of these woodroaches. The findings supported six major lineages of Cryptocercus with clear geographical patterns, providing evidence for multiple dispersal and vicariance events that occurred over various time periods in the evolutionary history of the genus.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Stephen R. Palumbi, Nia S. Walker, Erik Hanson, Katrina Armstrong, Marilla Lippert, Brendan Cornwell, Victor Nestor, Yimnang Golbuu
Summary: Long distance dispersal in corals is rare but some identical mitochondrial genomes have been found across the Pacific, suggesting the possibility of dispersal. The higher retention of coral larvae on local reefs than predicted by current models may affect the accuracy of future adaptation and assisted migration models for corals.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
N. Ortiz, J. D. Pinotti, L. Trimarchi, C. N. Gardenal, R. E. Gonzalez-Ittig, P. C. Rivera
Summary: This study conducted a comparative phylogeographical analysis on seven species in the Pampas of South America and found that four species showed evidence of demographic expansion while the other three did not. The results suggest that the Pampas region has been relatively stable over time, with areas associated with watercourses or coastlines being particularly stable, indicating a moderate impact of recent Pleistocene climate oscillations compared to other regions of South America.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Constance Millar, Andrew T. Smith
Summary: American pikas, small mammals related to rabbits, have re-colonized previously extirpated warm habitats in eastern California, which suggests their ability to overcome thermal dispersal barriers and adapt to warming climates.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yong Chee Keita Sin, Nadiah P. Kristensen, Chyi Yin Gwee, Ryan A. Chisholm, Frank E. Rheindt
Summary: Research on bird species diversity and composition on tropical shelf islands in Southeast Asia found that post-LGM effects on diversity are minimal, with present-day island characteristics such as area, distance to the mainland, and proportion of land surrounding the island within a 10 km radius being more explanatory. Avifaunal diversity is maintained by high immigration rates, especially on small islands, with over-water dispersal limited to short distances among Sundaic birds.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Carolyne B. Machado, Thamiris L. O. B. Campos, Sameh A. Abou Rafee, Jorge A. Martins, Alice M. Grimm, Edmilson D. de Freitas
Summary: This study analyzed the trend of extreme rainfall indices in the macrometropolis of Sao Paulo, finding that urbanized areas experience a greater increase in the frequency and magnitude of extreme events compared to coastal and mountainous regions. The evolution of extreme rainfall was significantly correlated with climatic indices, with different regions showing varying correlations with factors such as PDO, AAO, TSA, ENSO, and AMO.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Alvaro Zuniga-Reinoso, Daniela Mardones, Benedikt Ritter, Gustavo E. Flores, Alfredo E. Giraldo-Mendoza, Reinhard Predel
Summary: The uplift of Andes resulted in significant changes in geomorphology and climate in South America, particularly in arid regions like the Atacama Desert. The subsequent global climate change greatly influenced the region. This complex geoclimatic history provides an excellent opportunity to study the diversification of organisms and the effects of major forcing factors on biological evolution.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emily A. Orzechowski, Seth Finnegan
Summary: The study establishes baseline expectations for contemporary bivalve species movements by analyzing fossil localities in California dated to MIS 5e. It finds that 15% of species with extralimital ranges now occupy warmer waters to the south of California. This suggests that high dispersal potential and preexisting tolerances to similar environmental conditions enabled extralimital bivalves to colonize the California region during MIS 5e.
Article
Ecology
Tom Oosting, Lourdes Martinez-Garcia, Giada Ferrari, Alexander J. F. Verry, Lachie Scarsbrook, Nicolas J. Rawlence, Maren Wellenreuther, Bastiaan Star, Peter A. Ritchie
Summary: This study analyzed modern and ancient mitochondrial genomes of Australasian snapper to assess its demographic and phylogeographic history. The results showed high nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity, with no significant change in diversity over the last 750 years. Phylogeographic analysis revealed barriers to gene flow approximately 650,000 years ago and a post-glacial expansion around 8000 years ago.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alison J. T. Harris, Ana T. Duggan, Stephanie Marciniak, Ingeborg Marshall, Benjamin T. Fuller, John Southon, Hendrik N. Poinar, Vaughan Grimes
Article
Anthropology
Jennifer Klunk, Ana T. Duggan, Rebecca Redfern, Julia Gamble, Jesper L. Boldsen, G. Brian Golding, Brittany S. Walter, Katherine Eaton, Julianna Stangroom, Jean-Marie Rouillard, Alison Devault, Sharon N. Dewitte, Hendrik N. Poinar
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Geography, Physical
Chris Widga, Greg Hodgins, Kayla Kolis, Stacey Lengyel, Jeff Saunders, J. Douglas Walker, Alan D. Wanamaker
Summary: The stable isotopes of mammoths and mastodons reveal their dietary patterns and ecological adaptations as they approached extinction. The study shows that both species primarily relied on C3 plants for energy and experienced increasing niche overlap before extinction. Mastodons may have expanded into a new ecological niche, while mammoths showed clear seasonal changes as they transitioned from the last interglacial period to glacial conditions.
QUATERNARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Yue Wang, Chris Widga, Russell W. Graham, Jenny L. McGuire, Warren Porter, David Warlind, John W. Williams
Summary: This study investigated the role of the ice-free corridor in North America during the late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions, finding limited suitability for mammoths and quick reforestation after opening. It also suggests declining habitat suitability in central North America due to rapid reforestation and decreased forage productivity. Declining habitat availability and limited corridor suitability were contributing factors in North American extinctions of woolly mammoths and other large grazers, highlighting the importance of protected habitat connectivity during changing climates for large vertebrates.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bryan D. Griffin, Mable Chan, Nikesh Tailor, Emelissa J. Mendoza, Anders Leung, Bryce M. Warner, Ana T. Duggan, Estella Moffat, Shihua He, Lauren Garnett, Kaylie N. Tran, Logan Banadyga, Alixandra Albietz, Kevin Tierney, Jonathan Audet, Alexander Bello, Robert Vendramelli, Amrit S. Boese, Lisa Fernando, L. Robbin Lindsay, Claire M. Jardine, Heidi Wood, Guillaume Poliquin, James E. Strong, Michael Drebot, David Safronetz, Carissa Embury-Hyatt, Darwyn Kobasa
Summary: The study demonstrates that North American deer mice are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and can replicate and transmit the virus without showing significant symptoms.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tyler J. Murchie, Emil Karpinski, Katherine Eaton, Ana T. Duggan, Sina Baleka, Grant Zazula, Ross D. E. MacPhee, Duane Froese, Hendrik N. Poinar
Summary: Traditionally, paleontologists have relied on morphological features of bones and teeth to study the evolutionary relationships of extinct animals. In recent decades, the analysis of ancient DNA has become a powerful tool to evaluate these relationships and develop new phylogenetic models. However, the scarcity and biases of bones limit their information potential. The paleontological record in Beringia, a region between Eurasia and North America, is relatively well-preserved, but there is a lack of macrofossil records for small-bodied fauna and unresolved questions about migration and extirpation. Recent advancements in ancient environmental DNA methods have allowed for the identification of species and genomic reconstructions, providing valuable insights into the Pleistocene fauna in the region.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jennifer Klunk, Tauras P. Vilgalys, Christian E. Demeure, Xiaoheng Cheng, Mari Shiratori, Julien Madej, Remi Beau, Derek Elli, Maria Patino, Rebecca Redfern, Sharon N. DeWitte, Julia A. Gamble, Jesper L. Boldsen, Ann Carmichael, Nukhet Varlik, Katherine Eaton, Jean-Christophe Grenier, G. Brian Golding, Alison Devault, Jean-Marie Rouillard, Vania Yotova, Renata Sindeaux, Chun Jimmie Ye, Matin Bikaran, Anne Dumaine, Jessica F. Brinkworth, Dominique Missiakas, Guy A. Rouleau, Matthias Steinrucken, Javier Pizarro-Cerda, Hendrik N. Poinar, Luis B. Barreiro
Summary: Infectious diseases have been a significant driving force in human evolution. The second pandemic of plague, known as the Black Death, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, resulted in a devastating mortality event in Afro-Eurasia. By studying genetic variation in immune-related genes, researchers found evidence of positive selection during the Black Death. Several variants associated with immune response and control of Yersinia pestis were identified. Furthermore, protective variants overlapped with alleles associated with increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
Article
Archaeology
Timothy P. Newfield, Ana T. Duggan, Hendrik Poinar
Summary: This article synthesizes recent literature on the genetic and evolutionary biology of smallpox, casting doubt on the existence of smallpox as we currently recognize it in ancient times. The authors suggest that archaeologists and historians should remove smallpox from their narratives of the ancient world.
JOURNAL OF ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Harold P. Hodgins, Pengsheng Chen, Briallen Lobb, Xin Wei, Benjamin J. M. Tremblay, Michael J. Mansfield, Victoria C. Y. Lee, Pyung-Gang Lee, Jeffrey Coffin, Ana T. Duggan, Alexis E. Dolphin, Gabriel Renaud, Min Dong, Andrew C. Doxey
Summary: The analysis of microbial genomes from human archaeological samples provides insights into ancient pathogens and their relation to modern infectious diseases. This study identified bacterial genomic sequences related to modern Clostridium tetani, which causes tetanus, in ancient human samples. The study also discovered a novel variant of the tetanus neurotoxin that can induce disease in mammals.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Letter
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ana T. Duggan, Edward C. Holmes, Hendrik N. Poinar
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ana T. Duggan, Jennifer Klunk, Ashleigh F. Porter, Anna N. Dhody, Robert Hicks, Geoffrey L. Smith, Margaret Humphreys, Andrea M. McCollum, Whitni B. Davidson, Kimberly Wilkins, Yu Li, Amanda Burke, Hanna Polasky, Lowell Flanders, Debi Poinar, Amogelang R. Raphenya, Tammy T. Y. Lau, Brian Alcock, Andrew G. McArthur, G. Brian Golding, Edward C. Holmes, Hendrik N. Poinar