Article
Zoology
Harald Ahnelt, Oliver Macek, Vanessa Robitzch
Summary: A new species of the Schindleria genus, called Schindleria qizma, has been discovered in the Red Sea. It is an extreme example of progenesis, with distinct morphological traits that differentiate it from other congeners. Schindleria qizma has a unique notochord and urostyle structure, as well as specific body characteristics such as a deep body, short dorsal fin, and large eyes.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aoi Tsuyuki, Yuki Oya, Hiroshi Kajihara
Summary: This study reveals the reversible evolutionary shifts from interstitial to epibenthic habitats in the polyclad flatworm genus Boninia. Two new species of this genus were found on a single beach in Okinawa Island, Japan, indicating independent colonization rather than descent from a common ancestor. Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggests that the interstitial species are not monophyletic among the epibenthic species.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Kevin W. Conway, Kole M. Kubicek, Ralf Britz
Summary: This study reveals that Danionella's suitability for brain research is due to extreme heterochronic shifts that have differentially affected the skeleton, with delayed appearance of most chondral skull bones and accelerated formation of the anterior region of the vertebral column. A loss of dermal bones that form the skull roof is also observed in Danionella dracula.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zheng Li, Yiyuan Li, Allen Z. Xue, Vy Dang, V. Renee Holmes, J. Spencer Johnston, Jeffrey E. Barrick, Nancy A. Moran
Summary: In this study, researchers addressed the genomic basis of evolutionary novelties in the glassy-winged sharpshooter, an agricultural pest. They generated a chromosome-level genome assembly for the species and used additional data to identify genes involved in the production of proteinaceous structures and interactions with bacterial symbionts. The study also revealed ancient horizontal gene transfer events in leafhoppers and highlighted the combination of acquiring novel genes and symbiotic associations as important drivers of evolutionary novelties.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Yajie Zhang, Ye Tian, Hao Jiang, Xingyi Zhang, Yaochu Jin
Summary: In recent years, solving constrained multiobjective optimization problems by introducing simple helper problems has become popular. This study provides a comprehensive overview of existing constrained multiobjective evolutionary algorithms and proposes a novel helper-problem-assisted CMOEA, which has shown competitive performance in experiments.
INFORMATION SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aidan M. C. Couzens, Karen E. Sears, Martin Rucklin
Summary: The study investigates how development influenced the early dental evolution in placental mammals, focusing on the transition from a triangular upper molar to a more complex upper molar with a rectangular cusp pattern. Through simulations, researchers found that increased self-regulation of molecular activator led to accelerated evolutionary increases in enamel knot number, creating a lateral knot arrangement. They also suggest that relatively small changes in activation superimposed on ancestral molar growth pattern could recreate key changes in cusps, influencing the divergence of placental molar dentition.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Fangqing Gu, Haosen Liu, Yiu-ming Cheung, Hai -Lin Liu
Summary: This study proposes an adaptive constraint regulation method to balance the feasibility and convergence of solutions by adjusting the constraint violation of infeasible solutions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively achieves solution balance and improves solution diversity.
KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Kamrul Hasan Rahi, Hemant Kumar Singh, Tapabrata Ray
Summary: This article proposes a constraint handling strategy for expensive constrained optimization problems using partial evaluations, where constraints are evaluated in a sequence based on their likelihood of being violated and the evaluation is aborted if a constraint violation is encountered. The proposed algorithm is compared with several variants to establish the utility of its key components, and numerical experiments and benchmarking are conducted on a range of mathematical and engineering design problems to demonstrate its efficacy compared to state-of-the-art evolutionary optimization approaches.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EVOLUTIONARY COMPUTATION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ralf F. Schneider, Helen M. Gunter, Inken Salewski, Joost M. Woltering, Axel Meyer
Summary: Evolutionary novelties can promote ecological specialization and adaptive radiations. Belonoid fishes, such as flying fishes, halfbeaks, and needlefishes, have highly diversified elongated jaw phenotypes. In this study, the development of elongated jaws in a halfbeak and a needlefish was investigated, revealing that these jaws consist of distinct base and extension portions. The growth dynamics of both bases and extensions were described, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the extension outgrowth were deduced.
Article
Biology
Douglas H. Erwin
Summary: The recognition of deep homologies among metazoan developmental processes and the spread of mechanistic approaches in developmental biology since 1990 has led to a resurgence of interest in evolutionary novelty and innovation, with different stress placed on their radical nature and ecological impact. A conceptual framework for novelty and innovation involves the generation of potential for novelty, formation of novel attributes, refinement through adaptation, exploitation by a clade, and establishment through ecological processes. Little empirical support is found for the dominance of ecological opportunity or abrupt discontinuities in the evolution of novelty or innovation.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Chengyu Hu, Rui Qiao, Wenyin Gong, Xuesong Yan, Ling Wang
Summary: The evolutionary reinforcement learning (ERL) algorithm is a hybrid algorithm that combines evolutionary computation and reinforcement learning to handle challenging control tasks. Introducing a novelty search to address complex reward structure problems, it outperforms its competitors in most tested environments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Xin Zhang, Xin-Feng Wang, Yu-Qian Niu, Yu-Guo Wang, Wen-Ju Zhang, Zhi-Ping Song, Ji Yang, Lin-Feng Li
Summary: This study identified abundant genomic structural variations (SVs) in the Panax genus, which are thought to have occurred during repeated polyploidizations/(re)diploidizations. These SVs were found to be involved in important pathways related to secondary metabolites, photosynthesis, and basic cellular activities. Metabolic analyses of Panax species revealed high diversity of primary and secondary metabolites at both tissue and interspecific levels, particularly in ginsenoside biosynthesis genes. Furthermore, ginsenosides, as major triterpenoidal saponins found exclusively in Panax, were shown to provide protection against insect herbivores. This study provides insights into how polyploidization-derived SVs contribute to phenotypic novelty and plant adaptation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ananya Roy, Sharadha Sakthikumar, Sergey V. Kozyrev, Jessika Nordin, Raphaela Pensch, Suvi Makelainen, Mats Pettersson, Elinor K. Karlsson, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Karin Forsberg-Nilsson
Summary: Current knowledge of cancer genomics is biased against noncoding mutations. This study assessed mutations in conserved positions in the genome to identify genes enriched in noncoding constraint mutations (NCCMs). The comparison of two types of tumors showed different frequencies of NCCMs. These newly identified NCCMs in different molecular pathways may aid in patient stratification and personalized treatment options.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Guillermo Garcia-Costoya, Claire E. E. Williams, Trevor M. M. Faske, Jacob D. D. Moorman, Michael L. L. Logan
Summary: Mounting evidence suggests that rapid evolutionary adaptation can rescue organisms from climate change impacts, but evolutionary constraints may hinder this process. Genetic correlations underlying thermal physiology can influence population dynamics under climate change, with declines in population size varying depending on the type of correlation present. Surprisingly, populations constrained by genetic correlations may decline less rapidly than unconstrained populations. Understanding the genetic architecture of selected traits is crucial for accurate forecasts of climate change impact on ectotherms.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Jiawei Yuan, Hai-Lin Liu, Yew-Soon Ong, Zhaoshui He
Summary: To prevent the population from getting stuck in local areas and missing the constrained Pareto front fragments in constrained multiobjective optimization problems (CMOPs), this paper proposes a new constraint handling technique (CHT) based on an indicator. The CHT divides the promising areas into multiple subregions and prioritizes the removal of individuals with the worst fitness values in the densest subregions, improving the diversity of the population in the promising areas. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in handling different types of CMOPs, especially in problems where individuals easily appear in local infeasible areas dominating the constrained Pareto front fragments.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EVOLUTIONARY COMPUTATION
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Hiranya Sudasinghe, R. H. Tharindu Ranasinghe, Rohan Pethiyagoda, Madhava Meegaskumbura, Ralf Britz
Summary: The study reveals that the pelvic-finless snakehead Channa orientalis in Sri Lanka actually consists of two geographically distinct lineages with significant genetic differences but almost indistinguishable in morphology. The species is considered endemic to southwestern Sri Lanka and is distinguished from other Channa species by various characteristics such as the absence of pelvic fins and specific anatomical features.
ICHTHYOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Kevin W. Conway, Kole M. Kubicek, Ralf Britz
Summary: This study reveals that Danionella's suitability for brain research is due to extreme heterochronic shifts that have differentially affected the skeleton, with delayed appearance of most chondral skull bones and accelerated formation of the anterior region of the vertebral column. A loss of dermal bones that form the skull roof is also observed in Danionella dracula.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Amanda K. Pinion, Dustin S. Siegel, Ralf Britz, Rafael Martinez-Garcia, Carlos A. Alvarez-Gonzalez, Kevin W. Conway
Summary: This study documents the larval attachment organ of tropical gar, Atractosteus tropicus, showing that it is a well-developed super-organ at hatching, but disappears during subsequent development.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Ralf Britz, Maurice Kottelat, Sven Kullander
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ralf Britz, Kevin W. Conway, Lukas Rueber
Summary: The four described species of Danionella are tiny, transparent fishes with extreme vertebrate progenesis, making them important models for neurophysiological studies. The external similarity between the different species poses a challenge for taxonomic identification, leading to confusion over the species' identities. Studies using morphological and molecular approaches reveal the distinctiveness of the species and suggest significant evolution of sexual dimorphisms associated with the Weberian apparatus.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Kole M. Kubicek, Ralf Britz, Amanda K. Pinion, Luke M. Bower, Kevin W. Conway
Summary: The study reveals the presence of three scleral ossifications in the eyes of West African Denticle herring, with one ossification spatially separated from the others and playing a potential role in the forward rotation of the eye in this bottom-dwelling fish.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Rajeev Raghavan, Ralf Britz, Neelesh Dahanukar
Summary: Groundwater depletion in the Western Ghats of India is endangering unique subterranean freshwater fauna, some of which are Gondwanan relics, due to poor governance of groundwater resources.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Rajeev Raghavan, Neelesh Dahanukar, V. K. Anoop, C. P. Arjun, Ralf Britz
Article
Zoology
Ralf Britz, Sven Kullander, Lukas Rueber
Summary: This article describes two new species of Dario fish from Myanmar, Dario tigris and Dario melanogrammus, which differentiate from other congeners by unique color patterns and physical characteristics.
Article
Zoology
George M. T. Mattox, Kole M. Kubicek, Ralf Britz
Article
Cell Biology
Gokul Rajan, Julie Lafaye, Giulia Faini, Martin Carbo-Tano, Karine Duroure, Dimitrii Tanese, Thomas Panier, Raphael Candelier, Jorg Henninger, Ralf Britz, Benjamin Judkewitz, Christoph Gebhardt, Valentina Emiliani, Georges Debregeas, Claire Wyart, Filippo Del Bene
Summary: This study investigates the evolutionary divergence of locomotion and its adaptation to environmental constraints by comparing swimming patterns in closely related species with similar neuronal circuitry. The findings reveal that mesencephalic locomotion maintenance neurons and the availability of dissolved oxygen and timing of swim bladder inflation may drive the differences in swimming pattern.
Article
Zoology
Ralf Britz
Article
Zoology
Rajeev Raghavan, Remya L. Sundar, C. P. Arjun, Ralf Britz, Neelesh Dahanukar
Summary: The lateritic aquifers of Kerala, India, house a unique and rarely encountered group of stygobitic fishes, including the catfish Horaglanis. A six-year survey using molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals significant genetic divergence within Horaglanis species, while external morphology remains relatively constant. A new cryptic species, Horaglanis populi, is identified, and populations of all species show no recent expansions.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Ralf Britz, George M. T. Mattox, Kevin W. Conway
Summary: This study compares the development of the hyopalatine arch in Otophysi representatives to clarify the homology of the quadrate-metapterygoid fenestra. The presence of this fenestra, initially thought to be a characiform character, has also been reported in cobitid loaches, cyprinids, and some clupeoids. The formation of the fenestra varies among different fish species, with some showing it as an opening in the palatoquadrate cartilage and others forming it through bone resorption. Additionally, previous reports of a fenestra in cyprinids are incorrect, and its formation involves the separation of bones rather than a fenestra in the palatoquadrate cartilage.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
George M. T. Mattox, Ralf Britz, Camila S. Souza, Andre L. S. Casas, Flavio C. T. Lima, Claudio Oliveira
Summary: Two new species of the genus Priocharax are described from the Rio Jurua system in Brazil, bringing the total known species diversity to seven. These species can be distinguished from each other and from their congeners by a combination of morphological and genetic characteristics. Unfortunately, the localities where these species were found are facing significant degradation, posing a threat to their conservation status.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
