Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ningxin Gu, Guoling Chen, Jia Yang, Chenqing Zheng, Xiaohui Gao, Leyang Yuan, Siyu Wang, Zhongyong Fan, Yiwei Lu, Gang Song, Shuihua Chen, Yang Liu
Summary: The Chinese Crested Tern is one of the most endangered seabird species in the world, with lower genetic diversity and signals of post-bottleneck population expansion observed. The study also found introgression between Chinese Crested Tern and Great Crested Tern.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sarah E. Stock, Kaya Klop-Toker, Samantha Wallace, Oliver Kelly, Alex Callen, Rebecca Seeto, Stephen V. Mahony, Matt W. Hayward, Michael J. Mahony
Summary: This study used genomic sequencing to investigate the Littlejohn's treefrog in eastern Australia. The results revealed genetic isolation and population declines, indicating the urgent need for conservation management. The study highlights the importance of genetic methods for studying rare species.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula E. Adams, Anna B. Crist, Ellen M. Young, John H. Willis, Patrick C. Phillips, Janna L. Fierst
Summary: The outcrossing species C. remanei can recover from inbreeding, but the recovery is limited by the presence of a large number of segregating deleterious variants in natural populations.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Hamish A. Burnett, Vanessa C. Bieker, Mathilde Le Moullec, Bart Peeters, Jorgen Rosvold, Ashild onvik Pedersen, Love Dalen, Leif Egil Loe, Henrik Jensen, Brage B. Hansen, Michael D. Martin
Summary: Anthropogenic reintroduction can supplement natural recolonization in reestablishing a species' distribution and abundance. However, both reintroductions and recolonizations can give rise to founder effects that reduce genetic diversity and increase inbreeding, potentially causing the accumulation of genetic load and reduced fitness.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liam Quinn, Genis Garcia-Erill, Cindy Santander, Anna Bruniche-Olsen, Xiaodong Liu, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Michael P. P. Heaton, Timothy P. L. Smith, Patricia Pecnerova, Laura D. D. Bertola, Kristian Hanghoj, Malthe Sebro Rasmussen, Deon de Jager, Hans R. R. Siegismund, Anders Albrechtsen, Rasmus Heller, Ida Moltke
Summary: The iconic Cape buffalo has experienced population declines attributed to multiple factors, including the rinderpest pandemic and recent human activity. This study analyzed whole genome sequencing data to assess genetic diversity in Cape buffalo populations. The results indicate that recent inbreeding and colonialism-associated events have significantly impacted the genetic diversity of the southernmost populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jun-Kyu Park, Yuno Do
Summary: Habitat suitability assessments are important for ecosystem management. This study analyzed the genetic and physiological characteristics of frog populations in riverine wetlands. The results showed unexpected genetic diversity and differences in genetic structure between populations in different areas. Most physiological indicators were not significantly different, but some blood biochemical indicators indicated hepatic stress in frogs from protected lowlands. Enhancing habitat connectivity is recommended to address the issue of genetic isolation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charles Christian Riis Hansen, Aki Jarl Laruson, Jacob Agerbo Rasmussen, Jesus Adrian Chimal Ballesteros, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Gunnar T. T. Hallgrimsson, Menja von Schmalensee, Robert A. A. Stefansson, Kristinn Haukur Skarphedinsson, Aili Lage Labansen, Madis Leivits, Christian Sonne, Rune Dietz, Kim Skelmose, David Boertmann, Igor Eulaers, Michael D. D. Martin, Agnar S. S. Helgason, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Snaebjorn Palsson
Summary: Divergence in white-tailed eagle populations across Europe and the North-East Atlantic is observed, with the greatest differentiation between island and mainland populations. The island populations have a common ancestry from a mainland population and show signs of inbreeding and little genetic variation. Temporal differences also indicate persistent regional populations despite potential admixture. These patterns may have been shaped by historical events such as glaciation, colonization, human expansion, and persecution.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lisa Dickel, Peter Arcese, Pirmin Nietlisbach, Lukas F. Keller, Henrik Jensen, Jane M. Reid
Summary: Immigration into small recipient populations is expected to alleviate inbreeding and increase genetic variation, with immigrants typically being outbred and unrelated to existing natives and each other. This can facilitate population persistence through genetic and/or evolutionary rescue.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joao C. Teixeira, Christian D. Huber
Summary: Conservation genetics aims to evaluate population health and extinction risk based on genetic diversity levels, but neutral genetic diversity is not the only factor affecting species extinction risk. A deeper understanding of functional genetic diversity, demographic history, and ecological relationships is necessary for developing effective conservation genetic strategies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Erin Liddell, Paul Sunnucks, Carly N. Cook
Summary: Small, isolated populations face risks of genetic variation loss and inbreeding, which can increase their risk of extinction. Augmenting gene flow can help alleviate these issues. However, many studies do not consider genetic risks in their management recommendations, and those that do often recommend gene-pool mixing over separate management when considering inbreeding depression and outbreeding depression.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sarah Maria Vargas, Ana Carolina Barcelos, Rita Gomes Rocha, Paula Guimaraes, Lais Amorim, Arturo Martinelli, Fabricio Rodrigues Santos, Jose Erickson, Ana Claudia Jorge Marcondes, Sandra Ludwig
Summary: This study conducted genetic assessment of the South West Atlantic subpopulation of leatherback turtles and found genetic differences and two different genetic clusters. The low number of reproductive females in the subpopulation may be due to breeding occurrence in other nesting areas, as well as mating behaviors and inbreeding avoidance. The low remigration rates estimated for the subpopulation may be related to high mortality rates at sea.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Georgios Banos, Andrea Talenti, Dimitrios Chatziplis, Enrique Sanchez-Molano
Summary: Concentration of production on a few commercial pig breeds has marginalized many native small breeds. This study investigated the genomic status of the British Lop, a rare breed, and its relationship with other breeds. The results showed reduced genomic diversity in the British Lop and genetic closeness to phenotypically similar breeds. A set of genomic markers that can distinguish British Lops from other related breeds was also identified.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pengcheng Wang, John T. Burley, Yang Liu, Jiang Chang, De Chen, Qi Lu, Shou-Hsien Li, Xuming Zhou, Scott Edwards, Zhengwang Zhang
Summary: This study analyzed genomic data of three isolated populations of Brown eared pheasant in China, showing low genome-wide diversity and declining effective population size. The comparison with a closely related species revealed detrimental genetic consequences in the Brown eared pheasant genomes, indicating a potential risk of deleterious mutations in wild populations undergoing long-term decline. This comprehensive conservation genomic analysis could help improve conservation planning for threatened species and promote population recovery.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Kyra S. Fitz, Humberto R. Montes Jr, Diane M. Thompson, Malin L. Pinsky
Summary: This study combines genetic isolation-by-distance patterns and oceanographic simulations to generate fine-scale estimates of dispersal for coral reef fish in the central Philippines. The results demonstrate the influences of ocean currents and geographic distance on dispersal, where ocean currents play a stronger role at larger spatial extents and geographic distance remains the best explanation at smaller spatial extents.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Brian D. Todd, Thomas S. Jenkinson, Merly Escalona, Eric Beraut, Oanh Nguyen, Ruta Sahasrabudhe, Peter A. Scott, Erin Toffelmier, Ian J. Wang, H. Bradley Shaffer
Summary: This article presents a new chromosome-level assembly of the genome of the northwestern pond turtle, Actinemys marmorata, and discusses its potential applications in studying genetic diversity, adaptations, and hybridization dynamics with its sister species, the southwestern pond turtle. The assembly is the most complete among the currently available genomes of 24 turtle species, and it will contribute to the California Conservation Genomics Project.
JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher E. Doughty, Tomos O. Prys-Jones, Soren Faurby, Andrew J. Abraham, Crystal Hepp, Victor Leshyk, Viacheslav Y. Fofanov, Nathan C. Nieto, Jens-Christian Svenning, Mauro Galetti
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Barnabas H. Daru, Harith Farooq, Alexandre Antonelli, Soren Faurby
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gabriele Midolo, Camilla Wellstein, Soren Faurby
Summary: The study found that the 'fitness-centre' relationship is rare, with only a few cases showing a significant positive correlation, and it is not affected by the precision of the SDMs or the dispersal ability and climatic breath of the species.
Article
Ecology
Owen Middleton, Hanna Svensson, Jorn P. W. Scharlemann, Soren Faurby, Christopher Sandom
Summary: Understanding the diets of terrestrial carnivorous mammals is crucial for conservation efforts and research, but data on this subject have not been systematically collated. The CarniDIET database provides quantitative data on mammal-consumer diets from the literature, filling this gap in information availability.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Josue A. R. Azevedo, Cristiano de C. Nogueira, Alexandre Antonelli, Soren Faurby
Summary: The study focused on mapping phylogenetic turnover patterns of reptiles and amphibians in the Cerrado savannas of South America and found that geographical distance is the key factor explaining phylogenetic turnover in reptiles. Climatic variables and relief roughness were more important for endemic reptiles and amphibians. Incongruence in phylogenetic turnover between reptiles and amphibians suggests different responses to geographical and environmental gradients.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Soren Faurby, Michael Morlo, Lars Werdelin
Summary: Body mass is a crucial determinant in animal ecology and has the potential to be inferred from fossils. However, there is a lack of comprehensive databases for the body mass of extinct species. The CarniFoss database aims to fill this gap by providing body mass data for a large number of extinct carnivorous mammals.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ferran Sayol, Robert S. C. Cooke, Alex L. Pigot, Tim M. Blackburn, Joseph A. Tobias, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Alexandre Antonelli, Soren Faurby
Summary: Human impacts reshape ecological communities through extinction and introduction of species. Introduction of alien species have not prevented anthropogenic extinctions from reducing and homogenizing the functional diversity of native bird assemblages on oceanic archipelagos.
Article
Ecology
Xingfeng Si, Marc W. Cadotte, T. Jonathan Davies, Alexandre Antonelli, Ping Ding, Jens-Christian Svenning, Soren Faurby
Summary: Island mammal assemblages are shaped by eco-evolutionary processes, including evolutionary history clustering and functional trait clustering. The intensity of these clustering phenomena is determined by island size and isolation. In situ speciation and dispersal filtering play important roles in the formation of island mammal assemblages.
Article
Ecology
Soren Faurby, Rasmus Ostergaard Pedersen, Jens-Christian Svenning, Alexandre Antonelli
Summary: The combined effects of human activities on extinction and speciation rates on biodiversity over geological time-scales are uncertain. While human-driven speciation may counterbalance the loss in species numbers, recovery of phylogenetic diversity could take several millions of years. It is crucial to reduce pressures on biodiversity and consider long-term changes.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helene Ralimanana, Allison L. Perrigo, Rhian J. Smith, James S. Borrell, Soren Faurby, Mamy Tiana Rajaonah, Tianjanahary Randriamboavonjy, Maria S. Vorontsova, Robert S. C. Cooke, Leanne N. Phelps, Ferran Sayol, Niels Andela, Tobias Andermann, Andotiana M. Andriamanohera, Sylvie Andriambololonera, Steven P. Bachman, Christine D. Bacon, William J. Baker, Francesco Belluardo, Chris Birkinshaw, Stuart Cable, Nataly A. Canales, Juan D. Carrillo, Rosie Clegg, Colin Clubbe, Angelica Crottini, Gabriel Damasco, Sonia Dhanda, Daniel Edler, Harith Farooq, Paola de Lima Ferreira, Brian L. Fisher, Felix Forest, Lauren M. Gardiner, Steven M. Goodman, Olwen M. Grace, Thais B. Guedes, Jan Hackel, Marie C. Henniges, Rowena Hill, Caroline E. R. Lehmann, Porter P. Lowry, Lovanomenjanahary Marline, Pavel Matos-Maravi, Justin Moat, Beatriz Neves, Matheus G. C. Nogueira, Renske E. Onstein, Alexander S. T. Papadopulos, Oscar A. Perez-Escobar, Peter B. Phillipson, Samuel Pironon, Natalia A. S. Przelomska, Marina Rabarimanarivo, David Rabehevitra, Jeannie Raharimampionona, Fano Rajaonary, Landy R. Rajaovelona, Mijoro Rakotoarinivo, Amedee A. Rakotoarisoa, Solofo E. Rakotoarisoa, Herizo N. Rakotomalala, Franck Rakotonasolo, Berthe A. Ralaiveloarisoa, Myriam Ramirez-Herranz, Jean Emmanuel N. Randriamamonjy, Vonona Randrianasolo, Andriambolantsoa Rasolohery, Anitry N. Ratsifandrihamanana, Noro Ravololomanana, Velosoa Razafiniary, Henintsoa Razanajatovo, Estelle Razanatsoa, Malin Rivers, Daniele Silvestro, Weston Testo, Maria F. Torres Jimenez, Kim Walker, Barnaby E. Walker, Paul Wilkin, Jenny Williams, Thomas Ziegler, Alexander Zizka, Alexandre Antonelli
Summary: Madagascar's unique biota is facing intense threat from human activity, and the existing protected area network covers 10.4% of the land area. Overexploitation of biological resources and unsustainable agriculture are identified as the most prominent threats to Madagascar's biodiversity.
Article
Ecology
Maria Fernanda Torres Jimenez, Nicolas Chazot, Thaise Emilio, Johan Uddling Fredin, Alexandre Antonelli, Soren Faurby, Christine D. Bacon
Summary: Palms that are tall and live in humid regions are more likely to have pinnate leaves, while annual precipitation associates with pinnate shapes. Early diversification of palms was dominated by pinnate-dissected leaves, which have remained the most species-rich form throughout palm history. This study contributes to our understanding of the connection between leaf shape diversity and biological and climatic factors.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Rasmus Ostergaard Pedersen, Soren Faurby, Jens-Christian Svenning
Summary: If human-linked extinctions and extirpations had not occurred, the effects of herbivorous mammals in natural ecosystems would have been much stronger. Our study estimates that wild mammals currently consume a median of 11% of net primary productivity (NPP) in natural areas, which would have been 21% without extinctions and extirpations. These findings highlight the significant impact of species losses on ecosystem structure and functioning.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Adrian Hill, Maria Fernanda Torres Jimenez, Nicolas Chazot, Cibele Cassia-Silva, Soren Faurby, Leonel Herrera-Alsina, Christine D. D. Bacon
Summary: The selection of fruit by animal dispersers with different mobility directly influences the geographical range size of plants and may impact plant diversification. Through studying palms, it was found that species with fruit colors attractive to birds have smaller range sizes, while those with fruit colors attractive to mammals have larger range sizes. Furthermore, the mobility of dispersers was not identified as the main driver of diversification in palms, and the complexity of extinction rate had a significant impact on model performance and diversification rates.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Biology
B. M. Farina, S. Faurby, D. Silvestro
Summary: Secondary transitions to aquatic environments are common among vertebrates, and different levels of aquatic adaptations are irreversible in fully aquatic lineages, while reversible in semi-aquatic lineages. This study also found a consistent trend towards increased body mass and a significant association with a more carnivorous diet in lineages transitioning to aquatic realms, including semi-aquatic ones, which can be explained by thermoregulation constraints and a prevalence of more nutritious diets associated with water environments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tobias Andermann, Soren Faurby, Robert Cooke, Daniele Silvestro, Alexandre Antonelli
Summary: This study presents a new approach for simulating future extinctions based on IUCN conservation status information, which incorporates generation length information and future changes in conservation status for each species. By estimating extinction rates using a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm, the study demonstrates the utility of applying species-specific information to extinction rate estimation. The results show variations in extinction risk among taxa of the same conservation status, highlighting the importance of considering species-specific factors in predicting future extinctions.