Article
Plant Sciences
Yan-Ting Yang, Xu-Chen Yang, Ming-Cheng Wang, Lin-Ling Zhong, Rui Ma, Tao Ma, Jian-Quan Liu, Charles C. Davis, Zhen-Xiang Xi
Summary: The development of next-generation sequencing technologies has enabled researchers to address complex problems in species delimitation, especially for non-model organisms. By conducting whole-genome sequencing and genetic analyses, this study identified four well-supported genetic clusters within the North American Nyssa species, supporting the taxonomic designation of N. biflora and N. ursina as a single species. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the potential of whole-genome sequences for delimiting species boundaries and emphasized the importance of an integrative approach in species delimitation assessments.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Zoe J. Kitchel, Malin L. L. Pinsky
Summary: This study examines the effects of environmental change on species gains and losses in nine temperate marine ecosystems in North America. The results show that seasonal extremes play a strong role in influencing species occurrence, and there is a delayed response to high seasonality. Understanding the dynamics of regional species gains and losses is crucial for predicting biodiversity changes across ecosystems.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexa Fredston, Malin Pinsky, Rebecca L. Selden, Cody Szuwalski, James T. Thorson, Steven D. Gaines, Benjamin S. Halpern
Summary: By studying the range edge positions of 165 marine fish and invertebrates, it was found that the majority of edges maintained their edge thermal niche over time. However, some edges did not shift, shifted more than predicted, or shifted in the opposite direction, highlighting the multiple factors driving changes in range edge positions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rachel E. Fanelli, Paul R. Martin, Orin J. Robinson, Frances Bonier
Summary: This study quantifies the responses of bird species to urban habitat and develops new urban tolerance indices that can be used to test hypotheses and improve understanding of species' adaptability to urban environments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kenneth K. Askelson, Garth M. Spellman, Darren Irwin
Summary: Analysis of genomic variation reveals high differentiation among white-breasted nuthatch populations, suggesting the existence of at least three species. It also shows evidence of introgression between a ghost lineage and a current population, contributing to differentiation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bridgett M. Vonholdt, Daniel R. Stahler, Kristin E. Brzeski, Marco Musiani, Rolf Peterson, Michael Phillips, John Stephenson, Kent Laudon, Erin Meredith, John A. Vucetich, Jennifer A. Leonard, Robert K. Wayne
Summary: Effective population size estimates are critical for evolutionary predictions and conservation decisions, especially for species with social factors that impact breeding and population size. This study investigated the genomic estimates of effective population size in grey wolf populations in North America, revealing significant genetic structure and historical signatures of predator extermination efforts. The findings highlight the importance of effective population size estimates for grey wolf conservation.
Article
Ecology
Chloe Schmidt, Jason Munshi-South, Stephane Dray, Colin J. Garroway
Summary: This study examined the patterns of genetic diversity and species richness in amphibians in North America. The results showed that the spatial patterns of population genetic diversity were opposite to patterns of species richness and genetic differentiation. While resource availability and niche heterogeneity predicted a large proportion of the variation in species richness, they were poor predictors of genetic diversity. The findings suggest that heterogeneity plays a significant role in shaping genetic and species biodiversity patterns in amphibians, but the considerable variation in life history across amphibians makes it difficult to infer general processes producing spatial patterns of amphibian genetic diversity.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Noe Cochetel, Andrea Minio, Andrea Guarracino, Jadran F. Garcia, Rosa Figueroa-Balderas, Melanie Massonnet, Takao Kasuga, Jason P. Londo, Erik Garrison, Brandon S. Gaut, Dario Cantu
Summary: This study reports the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of wild North American grape genomes, and demonstrates the utility of a reference-unbiased super-pangenome in mapping short reads and identifying loci associated with salt tolerance. It highlights the importance of capturing the genetic diversity of wild relatives for crop improvement research.
Article
Ecology
Zhengxue Zhao, Xueli Feng, Yubo Zhang, Yingjian Wang, Zhengxiang Zhou
Summary: The rapid extinction of species is a concern for biodiversity conservation. This study focuses on damselflies in North America, mapping their species richness and endemism patterns and identifying the drivers of their diversity. The results show that temperature conditions and water availability have the strongest influence on species richness and endemism. Low congruence is observed between species richness and endemism hotspots. Four species diversity hotspots are identified, but a significant conservation gap exists in these areas.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Belen Escobari, Thomas Borsch, Norbert Kilian
Summary: In this study, the classification of the Gynoxyoid clade was reassessed using morphological and molecular evidence, resulting in the recognition of four genera. A taxonomic treatment including amended diagnoses and morphological descriptions was provided.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guohuan Su, Adam Mertel, Sebastien Brosse, Justin M. Calabrese
Summary: Predicting the invasiveness of non-native species and the vulnerability of communities to invasions is challenging. This study shows that the establishment of non-native freshwater fish species in the US depends on the functional characteristics of both non-native and resident species. The researchers used trait-based analysis to profile invasive species and quantify community invasibility, finding that species with higher fecundity, longer lifespan, and larger size tend to be more invasive. The study highlights how the functional traits of non-native species and the functional characteristics of the invaded community contribute to invasiveness and invasibility, aiding in better predictions of invasions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Lauren E. Redpath, Rishi Aryal, Nathan Lynch, Jessica A. Spencer, Amanda M. Hulse-Kemp, James R. Ballington, Jaimie Green, Nahla Bassil, Kim Hummer, Thomas Ranney, Hamid Ashrafi
Summary: This study used flow cytometry, k-mer distribution analysis, and known pedigree information to evaluate genome sizes, ploidy, and reproductive pathways of Vaccinium species. The findings showed that tetraploidy was the most common ploidy level, but pentaploidy and aneuploidy were also present. This research provides important data for the study of blueberry genomics, breeding, and improvement.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Danilo Trabuco Amaral, Juliana Rodrigues Bombonato, Sonia Cristina da Silva Andrade, Evandro Marsola Moraes, Fernando Faria Franco
Summary: This study provides insights into the nuclear and plastid genomic features of South American cacti through comparative genomic analyses, focusing on the representative species Cereus fernambucensis. The analysis revealed significant differences in genome features among different cactus species, with C. fernambucensis having the largest genome size.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clara Risk, Daniel W. McKenney, John Pedlar, Pengxin Lu
Summary: Tree provenance trials involve planting various seed sources at different test sites to study their performance in relation to climate conditions. The data from these trials are scattered across various publications, leading to underutilization. By collecting and integrating these data, forest managers can make more informed seed transfer decisions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xinsheng Liu, Emanuele Ziaco, Franco Biondi
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal dynamics of tree-level water-use efficiency and its connection with drought variability in sky-island montane forests in central-eastern Nevada. The results showed that both bristlecone and limber pines exhibited high but relatively constant early season water-use efficiency, with a predominant role of stem growth in driving late-season water-use efficiency. The findings provide insights into potential mechanisms modulating tree-level water-use efficiency in semi-arid sky-island ecosystems, helping land managers design science-based strategies to mitigate the impact of future climate changes.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
