Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Megan L. Smith, Jessica Wallace, David C. Tank, Jack Sullivan, Bryan C. Carstens
Summary: This study examines the impact of Pleistocene glacial cycles on the distribution and genetic structure of endemic invertebrate species in the Pacific Northwest. The results show that glacial periods reduced habitat suitability and increased habitat fragmentation, leading to intraspecific divergence and secondary contact between populations. The findings suggest that refugial dynamics played a significant role in driving population structure and gene flow in these species.
Article
Biology
abel Peter Molnar, Laszlo Demeter, Marianna Biro, Milan Chytry, Sandor Bartha, Batdelger Gantuya, Zsolt Molnar
Summary: Recent studies have questioned the prevailing paradigm about the Quaternary ecological and evolutionary history of Central European ecosystems, and proposed an alternative hypothesis. By synthesising recent advances in various research fields and analysing the cold tolerance of native flora, it was found that the flora in the Carpathian Basin has long-term continuity. This has important implications for understanding local biogeography and ecology, as well as developing conservation strategies for ancient species-rich ecosystems and local gene pools.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weizhao Yang, Nathalie Feiner, Daniele Salvi, Hanna Laakkonen, Daniel Jablonski, Catarina Pinho, Miguel A. Carretero, Roberto Sacchi, Marco A. L. Zuffi, Stefano Scali, Konstantinos Plavos, Panayiotis Pafilis, Nikos Poulakakis, Petros Lymberakis, David Jandzik, Ulrich Schulte, Fabien Aubret, Arnaud Badiane, Guillem Perez I de Lanuza, Javier Abalos, Geoffrey M. While, Tobias Uller
Summary: The study reveals the evolutionary history and genetic structure of common wall lizards using population genomic and phylogenomic analyses, identifying six major lineages and demonstrating the significant impact of Mediterranean geology and climate on the evolutionary history and population genetic structure of extant species.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
David Herczeg, Gemma Palomar, Piotr Zielinski, Isolde van Riemsdijk, Wieslaw Babik, Robert Dankovics, Balint Halpern, Milena Cvijanovic, Judit Voros
Summary: This study examined the population genomic structure of smooth newt lineages in the Carpathian Basin and found high genetic diversity, especially in the North Hungarian Mountains and at the interfluves of the main rivers in the South. The study also revealed that the river Tisza acts as a geographical barrier limiting gene flow between different lineages of smooth newts.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Baris Ozudogru, Cagasan Karacaoglu, Galip Akaydin, Sadik Erik, Klaus Mummenhoff, Ismail Kudret Saglam
Summary: Despite its biodiversity, the Eastern Mediterranean is not well-studied compared to the Western Mediterranean. This study used molecular markers and presence/absence data to investigate the historical, ecological, and evolutionary factors driving diversification in the Eastern Mediterranean genus Ricotia. The results show high genetic structure within lineages and a correlation between within-lineage diversification and the onset of the Mediterranean climate.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alice Maria Almeida, Maria Joao Martins, Manuel Lameiras Campagnolo, Paulo Fernandez, Teresa Albuquerque, Saki Gerassis, Jose Carlos Goncalves, Maria Margarida Ribeiro
Summary: This study used species-distribution software to model the adaptation of the Mediterranean species Arbutus unedo. The findings indicate the presence of refugia in the core of the Mediterranean Basin and predict that future environmental changes will result in habitat loss and a northward range shift.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Manuel Jesus Gil-Lopez, Jose Gabriel Segarra-Moragues, Ramon Casimiro-Soriguer, Fernando Ojeda
Summary: The European heather Calluna vulgaris is the most widespread woody species in European dry heathland. The study revealed the importance of the Strait of Gibraltar area as a major center of origin and glacial refugium for this species, with a secondary refugium in the north-western Iberian Peninsula.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
W. Ross Silcock, Shari L. Schwartz, John U. Carlini, Stephen J. Dinsmore
Summary: This study analyzed variations in song patterns of Louisiana Waterthrush, identifying three distinct song types and confirming that most between-individual variation was in the number of notes and note sequence duration. The song types exhibit large-scale discrete geographic distributions that may be related to Pleistocene glacial boundaries, suggesting potential subpopulations with different evolutionary histories. Further investigation is needed to understand the implications of these song variations.
Article
Biology
Li-Jun Cao, Wei Song, Jin-Cui Chen, Xu-Lei Fan, Ary Anthony Hoffmann, Shu-Jun Wei
Summary: This study reports the chromosome-level assembly of the oriental fruit moth genome and investigates genomic variation between refugial and colonized populations. The results reveal strong impacts of Quaternary climates on the evolution of this species, with high genomic diversity in refugial populations and distinct gene variations associated with specific refugial populations. In the colonized populations, genes related to energy metabolism and wing development show selection signatures.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yessica Rico, M. Angel Leon-Tapia, Marisol Zurita-Solis, Flor Rodriguez-Gomez, Suria Gisela Vasquez-Morales
Summary: The study revealed complex genetic structure and historical evolution of Magnolia tree species in the Tropical Montane Cloud Forests of Mexico, influenced by Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Environmental factors played a crucial role in genetic differentiation, with demographic expansions predating the Last Interglacial period. Conservation management of genetically diverse populations in remnant forest fragments in the three TMCF regions is essential for the protection of these Magnolia populations.
Article
Ecology
Teo Delic, Peter Trontelj, Valerija Zaksek, Anton Brancelj, Tatjana Simcic, Fabio Stoch, Cene Fiser
Summary: The study in the north-western part of the Balkan Peninsula focused on the evolutionary history and distribution of a subterranean amphipod, revealing four independently evolving tentative species dating back to the Pleistocene with no evidence of extinction events. Speciation events mainly occurred in allopatry, leading to differences in climatic niche envelopes and physiological responses to unfavourable temperatures among lineages, indicating low recent dispersal.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Juan Luis Garcia-Castano, Francisco Balao, Maria Teresa Lorenzo, Errol Vela, Seghir Hadjadj-Aoul, Stephen Mifsud, Anass Terrab
Summary: This study examines the genetic structure of Tetraclinis articulata populations and identifies four lineages that are geographically intermixed to a certain extent. Evidence suggests an ancient widespread distribution, followed by the appearance of isolated lineages that are now partially intermixed.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniel Pinto-Carrasco, Luis Delgado, Jose A. Sanchez Agudo, Enrique Rico, M. Montserrat Martinez-Ortega
Summary: The ecological drivers for genetic differentiation in Mediterranean climates were explored using the strictly Mediterranean endemic Odontites recordonii as a model species. Phylogenetic relationships within the O. vernus group were revealed using molecular markers, and phylogeographic patterns within O. recordonii were reconstructed. Temperature, precipitation seasonality, and summer drought were found to be influential climatic parameters driving genetic differentiation within O. recordonii.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Victor Noguerales, Pedro J. Cordero, L. Lacey Knowles, Joaquin Ortego
Summary: The study revealed the existence of two North African cryptic lineages in the genetic evolution of the saltmarsh band-winged grasshopper and supported the divergence of trans-Mediterranean populations of the species in the Pleistocene, with evidence suggesting the permeability of the Strait of Gibraltar to gene flow post-Messinian. Spatial patterns of genetic differentiation are best explained by the configuration of emerged landmasses and environmentally suitable habitats during glacial periods.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Livia V. Patrono, Bram Vrancken, Matthias Budt, Ariane Duex, Sebastian Lequime, Sengul Boral, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Jan F. Gogarten, Luisa Hoffmann, David Horst, Kevin Merkel, David Morens, Baptiste Prepoint, Jasmin Schlotterbeck, Verena J. Schuenemann, Marc A. Suchard, Jeffery K. Taubenberger, Luisa Tenkhoff, Christian Urban, Navena Widulin, Eduard Winter, Michael Worobey, Thomas Schnalke, Thorsten Wolff, Philippe Lemey, Sebastien Calvignac-Spencer
Summary: The 1918 influenza pandemic had a significant impact on the genomic make-up of subsequent human influenza A viruses, and the analysis of 1918 IAV genomes revealed diversity consistent with local transmission and long-distance dispersal. Variations in the nucleoprotein gene were found before and during the pandemic peak, suggesting possible adaptation of the 1918 IAV to humans. This study provides valuable insights into the origin and evolution of the 1918 influenza pandemic.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)