Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carlos E. Gonzalez-Orozco, Mario Porcel, Caren Rodriguez-Medina, Roxana Yockteng
Summary: The study aims to identify extreme climate refugia for wild cacao in Colombia and assess threats caused by deforestation in the Amazon region. Findings suggest that even small changes in extreme precipitation over just 30 years have led to a decrease in suitable habitat for wild cacao.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Simon Kallow, Bart Panis, Dang Toan Vu, Tuong Dang Vu, Janet Paofa, Arne Mertens, Rony Swennen, Steven B. Janssens
Summary: This study compared the genetic representation of seed collections with source populations for three wild relatives of bananas, showing that different species mating systems profoundly affected genetic representation in seed collections.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sandara N. R. Brasil, Evan P. Kelemen, Sandra M. Rehan
Summary: This study used museomics to investigate the changes in wild populations of two carpenter bee species over a 50-year time span. The research found reduced genetic diversity and population size in both species, as well as signatures of adaptation related to human land use and climate change. The results suggest that these species are facing population inbreeding due to human activities.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Genki Sahashi, Kentaro Morita
Summary: This study used long-term mass-marking program data from Japan to evaluate the effects of wild genes on the survival of captive-bred populations. The results showed that increasing the percentage of wild genes can improve the survival rate of captive-bred offspring in the wild.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Arne Mertens, Rony Swennen, Nina Ronsted, Filip Vandelook, Bart Panis, Gabriel Sachter-Smith, Dang Toan Vu, Steven B. Janssens
Summary: This study examines the distribution, risk, and conservation status of wild banana species, finding that 11 out of 59 assessed species are vulnerable and nine are endangered. The northern Indo-Burmese region is identified as having the highest environmental suitability for most wild banana species. Assessments show that the conservation of the banana CWR is currently insufficient both in and ex situ.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Heli Fitzgerald, Elina Kiviharju, Anna Palme, Marko Hyvarinen
Summary: This paper describes the conservation planning of CWR species in Finland, including drafting a priority list, analyzing in situ conservation gaps, and identifying ex situ conservation gaps and multi-species collecting sites. The study provides essential information that will enhance future science-based practical conservation of CWR in Finland.
Article
Ecology
M. A. K. Sydenham, Z. S. Venter, K. Eldegard, S. R. Moe, M. Steinert, A. Staverlokk, S. Dahle, D. I. J. Skoog, K. A. Hanevik, A. Skrindo, G. M. Rusch
Summary: Enhancing plant diversity can effectively increase wild bee diversity, but its effect depends on site-specific environmental conditions. This study used spatial predictions to identify areas where augmenting plant diversity is most effective and where threatened wild bee species are most likely to occur.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wolke Tobon-Niedfeldt, Alicia Mastretta-Yanes, Tania Urquiza-Haas, Barbara Goettsch, Angela P. Cuervo-Robayo, Esmeralda Urquiza-Haas, M. Andrea Orjuela-R, Francisca Acevedo Gasman, Oswaldo Oliveros-Galindo, Caroline Burgeff, Diana M. Rivera-Rodriguez, Jose de Jesus Sanchez Gonzalez, Jesus Alarcon-Guerrero, Araceli Aguilar-Melendez, Flavio Aragon Cuevas, Valeria Alavez, Gabriel Alejandre-Iturbide, Carlos-H Avendano-Arrazate, Cesar Azurdia Perez, Alfonso Delgado-Salinas, Pablo Galan, Manuel Gonzalez-Ledesma, Jesus Hernandez-Ruiz, Francisco G. Lorea-Hernandez, Rafael Lira Saade, Aaron Rodriguez, Dagoberto Rodriguez Delcid, Jose Ariel Ruiz-Corral, Juan Jose Santos Perez, Ofelia Vargas-Ponce, Melania Vega, Ana Wegier, Martin Quintana-Camargo, Jose Sarukhan, Patricia Koleff
Summary: This study presents an approach to identify conservation areas based on evolutionary and threat processes, by developing proxies of genetic differentiation and including taxa's habitat preferences.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Christina Kagi, Blaise Petitpierre, Philipp Meyer, Yvonne Lotscher, Stefan Eggenberg, Sylvain Aubry
Summary: This study presents a novel approach for the conservation of genetic diversity in forage crops and their wild relatives. The researchers implemented an auction-based policy instrument to protect these populations in Switzerland and discussed the benefits and challenges of this bottom-up approach.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Nora Mitchell, Scott A. Chamberlain, Kenneth D. Whitney
Summary: This study investigates the impact of crop sunflowers on natural selection of reproductive traits in wild sunflowers. The results showed limited effects of proximity to crop sunflowers on selection of individual traits, but significantly more heterogeneous direct selection far from crop sunflowers. Both mutualist pollinators and antagonist seed predators played important mediating roles in selection differences near versus far from crop sunflowers.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara Freitas, Malgorzata A. Gazda, Miguel A. Rebelo, Antonio J. Munoz-Pajares, Carlos Vila-Vicosa, Antonio Munoz-Merida, Luis M. Goncalves, David Azevedo-Silva, Sandra Afonso, Isaura Castro, Pedro H. Castro, Mariana Sottomayor, Albano Beja-Pereira, Joao Tereso, Nuno Ferrand, Elsa Goncalves, Antero Martins, Miguel Carneiro, Herlander Azevedo
Summary: This study used whole-genome resequencing to elucidate different aspects of the recent evolutionary history of grapevine, supporting a model in which a central domestication event was followed by postdomestication hybridization with local wild genotypes. The research found a strong introgression signature in modern wine varieties across Western Europe, with a subset of Iberian grapevine varieties showing large introgression tracts. The analysis demonstrated how regions under selection in wild populations from the Iberian Peninsula were preferentially passed on to the cultivated varieties through gene flow.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marta Kolanowska, Slawomir Nowak, Agnieszka Rewicz
Summary: This study used ecological niche modeling to predict the future distribution of suitable habitats for the small-white orchid and evaluated the effect of global warming on the availability of its pollen vectors. The results suggest that with global warming, the number of suitable niches for these orchids will increase, particularly in Greenland. However, continental Europe will experience severe habitat loss. Most of the pollinators studied will also face habitat loss, but some are still expected to occur within the potential geographical ranges of the orchid, which can support its long-term survival.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Adam G. G. Drucker, Nolipher Khaki Mponya, Francesca Grazioli, Nigel Maxted, Joana Magos Brehm, Ehsan Dulloo
Summary: Despite global threats, crop wild relatives (CWRs) are a crucial source of genes for improving food security and climate change adaptation. The lack of institutions and payment mechanisms to compensate those providing CWR conservation services has hindered conservation efforts. However, a case study in Malawi demonstrates that there is high willingness to participate in conservation activities, with modest costs, indicating significant potential for community engagement in CWR conservation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Timo Hellwig, Shahal Abbo, Amir Sherman, Ron Ophir
Summary: Genetic diversity of Pisum fulvum was found to be low to medium, distributed between well diverged populations, with a surprising selfing rate lower than expected at 56%. There was a strong genetic bottleneck during the last glacial period, and only limited patterns of isolation by distance and environment explained 13%-18% of the genetic variation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dominika Chmolowska, Marcin Nobis, Elzbieta Rozei-Pabiran, Irena M. Grzes, Pawel Radzikowski, Mateusz Okrutniak, Waldemar Celary, Jakub Sternalski, Julia Shrubovych, Katarzyna Wasak-Sek
Summary: Habitat translocation is a method used to protect habitats during construction projects. This study focused on the translocation of wet meadows to derelict land and analyzed the impact on soil, vegetation, and invertebrate groups. The results showed decreased soil porosity and reduced numbers of springtails, while grasshopper numbers increased in the translocated plots. Biodiversity was maintained, although an influx of cosmopolitan species was observed and some vulnerable species declined in number.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Meng Lu, Marc Fradera-Soler, Felix Forest, Timothy G. Barraclough, Olwen M. Grace
Summary: Crassula plants have developed different ecological strategies in response to environmental challenges, and the lability of these strategies is more common in plant groups that adapt to various habitats. This study investigates the patterns of diversification within Crassula and identifies potential links to its life-form evolution. The findings confirm a radiation of Crassula in the last 10 million years, and the increased diversification is strongly associated with a compact growth form.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Graham D. Duncan, Carl D. Schlichting, Felix Forest, Allan G. Ellis, Alan R. Lemmon, Emily Moriarty Lemmon, G. Anthony Verboom
Summary: Lachenalia is a diverse genus of more than 140 bulbous species endemic to southern Africa, with previous attempts at classification being largely unsuccessful. This paper presents a novel phylogenetic hypothesis using hybrid-enrichment loci, providing a well-supported foundation for a revised infrageneric classification. The inclusion of previously classified species and the delimitation of subgenera and sections in Lachenalia are complicated by high levels of homoplasy and an imbalanced phylogeny.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Anthony E. Melton, Andrew W. Child, Richard S. Beard, Carlos Dave C. Dumaguit, Jennifer S. Forbey, Matthew Germino, Marie-Anne de Graaff, Andrew Kliskey, Ilia J. Leitch, Peggy Martinez, Stephen J. Novak, Jaume Pellicer, Bryce A. Richardson, Desiree Self, Marcelo Serpe, Sven Buerki
Summary: Understanding the genetic diversity of plant species and their adaptation to ecological stressors is crucial for conservation and restoration efforts. In this study, the complete genome assembly of an important subspecies of big sagebrush was presented, providing a valuable tool for studying plant adaptation to drought and heat stress.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
Andrew Wright Child, Jennifer Hinds, Lucas Sheneman, Sven Buerki
Summary: Open science and open data are becoming more and more popular in scholarly research, driven by requirements from grant funding agencies and journal publishers. To uphold FAIR principles, complete and accurate metadata, workflow, and source code need to be documented alongside access to raw data and data products in collaborative and multidisciplinary science projects. However, the discipline-specific nature of existing internationally accepted metadata standards makes it difficult to catalog multidisciplinary data in an easily findable and accessible manner. A possible solution is the establishment of a centralized and integrated data management platform to increase data findability, accessibility, interoperability, reproducibility, and integrity within multi-institutional and interdisciplinary projects.
BMC RESEARCH NOTES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deniz Aygoeren Uluer, Felix Forest, Julie A. Hawkins
Summary: This paper presents a dataset consisting of information on the number of species, geographic distribution, floral characteristics, and other factors for 758 genera in the Fabales order. It is the largest morphological dataset constructed for Fabales to date and can be utilized for various analyses such as morphology and biogeography.
Article
Agronomy
Ahmed M. Abbas, Mohamed Abdelazeem, Stephen J. Novak
Summary: Anaerobic digestion has an impact on seed germination and viability, but applying the digestate to reclaimed agricultural lands near Qena, Egypt is unlikely to worsen weed infestations.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jonathan Selz, Nicolas R. Adam, Celine E. M. Magrini, Fulvia Malvido Montandon, Sven Buerki, Sebastian J. Maerkl
Summary: A novel protocol for rapid plant DNA extraction using microneedles is proposed, which can be conducted in the field with limited laboratory skills and equipment. The protocol is validated by comparing the results with QIAGEN spin-column DNA extractions using BLAST analyses. The proposed method is compatible with nanopore sequencing and suitable for multiple applications.
APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Peggy Martinez, Marcelo Serpe, Rachael Barron, Sven Buerki
Summary: This study develops a biotechnological protocol for producing genetically identical individuals to determine plant populations' tolerance to climate change. The protocol focuses on slow-growth, woody plants, using Artemisia tridentata as a model. The two-step process includes in vitro propagation and ex vitro acclimation and hardening, providing a benchmark for slow-growth, woody species occurring in dry ecosystems.
APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sawai Mattapha, Felix Forest, Brian D. Schrire, Gwilym P. Lewis, Julie Hawkins, Somran Suddee
Summary: This paper describes and illustrates three new species of the genus Millettia: M. calcicola, M. fulva, and M. khaoyaiensis. The key diagnostic characters of these species are discussed.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ahmed M. Abbas, Wagdi S. Soliman, Maryam M. Alomran, Nahaa M. Alotaibi, Stephen J. Novak
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of four invasive plant species on soil dynamics. The results showed that although these invasive plants had some effects on soil properties, ions, and microelements, most of the parameters did not show significant changes. This suggests that the impact of invasive plants on soil dynamics varies depending on the invasive species and the invaded habitat.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ahmed M. Abbas, Maryam M. Alomran, Nada K. Alharbi, Stephen J. Novak
Summary: Many studies have examined the impact of leaf litter depth on seed germination and seedling growth, especially in the vulnerable seedling stage of plant life cycle. Invasive plants can modify ecosystems by forming thick litter layers that suppress the emergence, survival, and recruitment of native plant seedlings, and sometimes even their own seedlings. This study evaluated the effect of leaf litter of Prosopis juliflora on its own seedling recruitment in Saudi Arabia, and found that increasing litter depth significantly reduced the emergence and germination of P. juliflora seeds. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved, such as the role of allelopathic compounds and seed dormancy in the soil seed bank.
Article
Ecology
Olivier Maurin, Artemis Anest, Felix Forest, Ian Turner, Russell L. Barrett, Robyn C. Cowan, Lijia Wang, Kyle W. Tomlinson, Tristan Charles-Dominique
Summary: The aim of this study was to enhance our understanding of the Combretaceae family and its evolutionary history. By analyzing phylogenetic relationships, fruit dispersal modes, and distribution patterns, the study revealed the Gondwanan origin of the family, as well as intercontinental dispersals and biome transitions. The results showed that drift fruit played a significant role in intercontinental colonization but did not influence biome shifts.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Melanie Tietje, Alexandre Antonelli, Felix Forest, Rafael Govaerts, Stephen A. Smith, Miao Sun, William J. Baker, Wolf L. Eiserhardt
Summary: Regions with high unique phylogenetic diversity (PD) are important for conservation. The global distribution of plant PD remains poorly understood, but our analysis using a comprehensive global checklist of vascular plants identifies hotspots of unique plant PD. Our results support three hypotheses: PD is more evenly distributed than species diversity, areas of highest PD do not maximize cumulative PD, and multiple biomes are needed to maximize cumulative PD.
Article
Ecology
Peter J. Olsoy, Andrii Zaiats, Donna M. Delparte, Matthew J. Germino, Bryce A. Richardson, Spencer Roop, Anna V. Roser, Jennifer S. Forbey, Megan E. Cattau, Sven Buerki, Keith Reinhardt, T. Trevor Caughlin
Summary: Understanding the interaction between environmental stress and genetic variation is crucial for predicting species' adaptive capacity to climate change. Using thermal imagery collected by a UAS equipped with a thermal camera offers an innovative way to measure thermal variation in plants at leaf-level resolutions.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael D. Pirie, Robbie Blackhall-Miles, Greg Bourke, Dan Crowley, Ismail Ebrahim, Felix Forest, Michael Knaack, Rupert Koopman, Alex Lansdowne, Nicolai M. Nuerk, Jo Osborne, Timothy R. Pearce, Daniel Rohrauer, Martin Smit, Victoria Wilman
Summary: The Global Conservation Consortia (GCC) aims to prevent human-caused habitat destruction and species extinction by collaborating on the development and implementation of conservation strategies for threatened plant groups. GCC Erica is one of the working groups dedicated to protecting the unique Erica plants in South Africa's diverse Cape Floristic Region. However, challenges such as limited knowledge, resource constraints, and communicating the value of biodiversity to the public exist.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2022)