Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ding Lyu, Song Sun, Xiujuan Shan, Weiji Wang
Summary: Understanding inbreeding depressions is important for evolution and conservation genetics. This study provided rare evidence of inbreeding depression in natural populations of Chinese shrimp and guidance for the conservation of wild resources.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei Huang, Jill G. Pilkington, Josephine M. Pemberton
Summary: This study investigates evidence for MHC-dependent non-random mating patterns in a free-living population of Soay sheep using Monte Carlo simulation, finding sexual selection mechanisms at different stages, disassortative mating later stage, and strong inbreeding avoidance. However, results suggest that the disassortative mating pattern could be a by-product of inbreeding avoidance, indicating alternative explanations for some apparent mechanisms of non-random mating with respect to the MHC.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nattakan Ariyaraphong, Tanawat Pansrikaew, Kornsuang Jangtarwan, Jitmat Thintip, Worapong Singchat, Nararat Laopichienpong, Tavun Pongsanarm, Thitipong Panthum, Aorarat Suntronpong, Syed Farhan Ahmad, Narongrit Muangmai, Adisorn Kongphoemph, Apinya Wongsodchuen, Sanya Intapan, Wiyada Chamchumroon, Mongkol Safoowong, Prateep Duengkae, Kornsorn Srikulnath
Summary: The Chinese goral faces a decline in genetic diversity and reproductive fitness due to inbreeding in captive breeding, increasing the risk of population decline and extinction. Management strategies based on subpopulations and haplotypes are suggested to maximize genetic variability for successful conservation.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Hsiao-Mei Liang, Kuo-Tai Yang, Yu-Tzu Cheng, Shen-Chang Chang, Cheng-Yung Lin, Ming-Yang Tsai, Der-Yuh Lin, Kuo-Hsiang Hung
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity and structure of Formosan sambar deer in Taiwan using microsatellites. The results showed low genetic diversity in captive populations, likely due to inbreeding and bottleneck effects. Two distinct genetic groups were found within the captive populations, but no significant population genetic structure was observed among the captive populations in Taiwan. Introducing new genetic material from the wild can help mitigate the impact of inbreeding and enhance genetic diversity.
Article
Fisheries
Mayuree Puttasan, Mingkwan Nipitwattanaphon, Wikrom Rungsin, Akarapong Swatdipong
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity of giant freshwater prawn populations in hatcheries and the wild using microsatellite loci. The results showed no significant difference in genetic diversity between hatchery and wild populations. Moreover, the prawns exhibited a preference for mating with partners from different broodstocks, which is important for maintaining genetic diversity in the populations. This is the first report on inbreeding avoidance in giant freshwater prawns, and future studies should further explore how prawns recognize partners from different broodstocks.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Esteban Botero-Delgadillo, Veronica Quirici, Silvina Ippi, Rodrigo A. Vasquez, Bart Kempenaers
Summary: This study investigates whether there is a preference for mating with kin in isolated populations of the Thorn-tailed Rayadito. The results suggest that mating is not random with respect to kinship, with breeding pairs showing lower relatedness values compared to randomly generated pairs. Female-biased dispersal is hypothesized to be the main mechanism reducing the likelihood of kin mating.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Horticulture
Gizella Jahnke, Jozsef Smidla, Tamas Deak, Robert Olah, Barna Arpad Szoke, Diana Agnes Nyitraine Sardy
Summary: Null alleles are recessive alleles that do not affect the phenotype of codominant markers. In microsatellite studies, null alleles are mainly used for pedigree analysis and population genetics calculations. However, the presence of null alleles can lead to biased results and it is important to consider possible solutions.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. J. Harrison, P. B. Siegel, C. F. Honaker, R. M. Lewis
Summary: The population dynamics of 2 lines of chickens from a long-term selection experiment were assessed based on pedigree data. It was found that the 2 lines maintained similar population structures over the selection horizon, allowing reliable comparisons of their performance data.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jaime A. Chaves, Fernando Lopes, Daniela Martinez, Dario F. Cueva, Gabriela I. Gavilanes, Sandro L. Bonatto, Larissa Rosa de Oliveira, Diego Paez-Rosas
Summary: The genetic consequences of the geographic distribution of rookeries in Galapagos fur seals were investigated. The results showed that the rookeries on four islands were genetically structured into three main groups. Gene flow analysis suggested migration from west Isabela to Fernandina islands, with limited migration in other directions.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karolina Machova, Pavla Struncova, Jan Calta, Ladislav Tichy, Lubos Vostry
Summary: This study analyzed the pedigree of the European bison population and found that almost 100 years after the rescue measures were taken, the reference population showed high levels of genetic variability and inbreeding. However, there was no significant increase in new inbreeding. The population remained genetically diverse and showed good fitness.
Article
Ecology
Kirsten Solmundson, Jeff Bowman, Micheline Manseau, Rebecca S. S. Taylor, Sonesinh Keobouasone, Paul J. J. Wilson
Summary: Caribou in Canada have experienced significant declines in range and population size. Caribou populations along Lake Superior represent a remnant distribution at the trailing edge of the receding population, and they exhibit distinct genomic characteristics with some gene flow with the continuous boreal caribou range.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Haitao Ma, Lu Li, Shu Xiao, Yuehuan Zhang, Ziniu Yu
Summary: The study found significant genetic differentiation among populations of the Hong Kong oyster in southern China, which could be divided into four genetically distinct and geographically related groups. Factors such as geographic isolation, seawater salinity, and runoff from the Pearl River were identified as leading causes of genetic differentiation. Proper management of individual translocation in aquaculture is necessary to preserve genetic diversity and eventual local adaptation.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xue Yang, Cheng-Li Liu, Bai-Gao Yang, Hai-Qiang Hu, Gong Ying, Guo Yi, Bo-Er Chen, Ying Yuan, He Yong-Meng, Wei-Yi Zhang, Dan-Ping Zhang, E. Guang-Xin, Ming-Hui Li
Summary: The study revealed that Chongqing local chicken populations have rich genetic diversity and significant genetic divergence, albeit with high risk during conversion. Effective conservation strategies and utilization of these populations can be implemented based on these findings.
ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlos Iglesias Pastrana, Francisco Javier Navas Gonzalez, Maria Josefa Ruiz Aguilera, Jose Antonio Davila Garcia, Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo, Maria Teresa Abello
Summary: The white-naped mangabey, an endangered African primate, has experienced a dramatic decrease in population in its natural habitats. The ex-situ conservation program in European zoos is gradually growing and maintaining high levels of genetic diversity through intensive management, potentially serving as a model for other captive animal populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Ayca Ozkan Koca, Salih B. Berkcan, Burcu Lacin Alas, Irfan Kandemir
Summary: The study revealed that the Colorado potato beetle populations in Turkey originated from Europe and have low genetic variation, possibly due to a recent spread from America. Region-specific alleles were found in areas with intensive commercial potato cultivation and insecticide use.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sil H. J. van Lieshout, Alexandra M. Sparks, Amanda Bretman, Chris Newman, Christina D. Buesching, Terry Burke, David W. Macdonald, Hannah L. Dugdale
Summary: This study investigated telomere length variation in a wild population of European badgers, finding that individual variation in telomere length is primarily driven by environmental variation and there is no evidence for parental age at conception effects on offspring telomere length. Year and cohort explained greater proportions of the phenotypic variance in telomere length.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jelle Boonekamp, Rolando Rodriguez-Munoz, Paul Hopwood, Erica Zuidersma, Ellis Mulder, Alastair Wilson, Simon Verhulst, Tom Tregenza
Summary: Telomeres were found at chromosome-ends of the model insect Gryllus campestris, with lengths much longer than human infants' telomeres. Neither temperature treatment nor age affected telomere length, although high heritability of telomere length was observed. Further investigation is needed to explore the relationship between telomere length maintenance and fitness during rapid growth phases.
Article
Ecology
Tom Tregenza, Rolando Rodriguez-Munoz, Jelle J. Boonekamp, Paul E. Hopwood, Jesper Givskov Sorensen, Jesper Bechsgaard, Virginia Settepani, Vinayaka Hegde, Callum Waldie, Emma May, Caleb Peters, Zinnia Pennington, Paola Leone, Emil M. Munk, Samuel T. E. Greenrod, Joe Gosling, Harry Coles, Rhodri Gruffydd, Loris Capria, Laura Potter, Trine Bilde
Summary: Research on field cricket populations in the Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain has shown physiological and life-history trait differences between high-altitude and low-altitude populations, supporting the hypothesis of local adaptation.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sil H. J. van Lieshout, Elisa P. Badas, Julius G. Bright Ross, Amanda Bretman, Chris Newman, Christina D. Buesching, Terry Burke, David W. Macdonald, Hannah L. Dugdale
Summary: The study found that the telomere length in European badgers during early life is associated with weather conditions and group size, while no significant association was found between telomere length and group size in early adulthood. Additionally, early-life telomere length is positively correlated with cub survival probability.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas Leech, Laurin McDowall, Kevin P. Hopkins, Steven M. Sait, Xavier A. Harrison, Amanda Bretman
Summary: Social environments can alter the microbiome composition of fruit flies, affecting immune responses and ageing. The microbiome of male fruit flies is more sensitive to social contact, a sensitivity that can be partially mitigated by housing them with younger individuals instead of peers.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Steven R. Parratt, Benjamin S. Walsh, Soeren Metelmann, Nicola White, Andri Manser, Amanda J. Bretman, Ary A. Hoffmann, Rhonda R. Snook, Tom A. R. Price
Summary: For 43 Drosophila species, global distributions better match male-sterilizing temperatures than lethal temperatures. This suggests that species distributions may be determined by thermal limits to reproduction, rather than survival, potentially underestimating the impacts of climate change for many organisms.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Benjamin S. Walsh, Steven R. Parratt, Rhonda R. Snook, Amanda Bretman, David Atkinson, Tom A. R. Price
Summary: Recent research suggests that heat-induced male sterility may affect population persistence, but little is known about the ability of females to protect and preserve sperm at high temperatures. This study examines whether females from two fruit fly species can protect stored sperm from heat stress and finds that the fertility of stored sperm is greatly reduced in one species but only slightly reduced in the other.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jens Van Eeckhoven, Gavin J. Horsburgh, Deborah A. Dawson, Kathryn Mayer, Amanda Bretman, Elizabeth J. Duncan
Summary: Highly informative microsatellite markers were developed to assess genetic diversity in populations of the red mason bee, aiding in studies of genetic structure and diversity for conservation efforts in this species.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bilal Ashraf, Darren C. Hunter, Camillo Berenos, Philip A. Ellis, Susan E. Johnston, Jill G. Pilkington, Josephine M. Pemberton, Jon Slate
Summary: Genomic prediction has high accuracy in wild populations, especially for traits with loci of large effect. There is potential for pedigree-free molecular quantitative genetics research in more wild populations, which could accelerate research progress.
Article
Biology
D. C. Hunter, B. Ashraf, C. Berenos, P. A. Ellis, S. E. Johnston, A. J. Wilson, J. G. Pilkington, J. M. Pemberton, J. Slate
Summary: A genomic prediction approach was used to estimate breeding values of adult weight in a 35-year dataset of Soay sheep. The study found that adult body weight decreased over time, but the underlying genetic component of body weight increased, suggesting the occurrence of cryptic microevolution.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Timothee Bonnet, Michael B. Morrissey, Pierre de Villemereuil, Susan C. Alberts, Peter Arcese, Liam D. Bailey, Stan Boutin, Patricia Brekke, Lauren J. N. Brent, Glauco Camenisch, Anne Charmantier, Tim H. Clutton-Brock, Andrew Cockburn, David W. Coltman, Alexandre Courtiol, Eve Davidian, Simon R. Evans, John G. Ewen, Marco Festa-Bianchet, Christophe de Franceschi, Lars Gustafsson, Oliver P. Honer, Thomas M. Houslay, Lukas F. Keller, Marta Manser, Andrew G. McAdam, Emily McLean, Pirmin Nietlisbach, Helen L. Osmond, Josephine M. Pemberton, Erik Postma, Jane M. Reid, Alexis Rutschmann, Anna W. Santure, Ben C. Sheldon, Jon Slate, Celine Teplitsky, Marcel E. Visser, Bettina Wachter, Loeske E. B. Kruuk
Summary: This study analyzed long-term data from 19 wild bird and mammal populations and found that additive genetic variance in relative fitness is often substantial and, on average, twice that of previous estimates. These rates of contemporary adaptive evolution can affect population dynamics and suggest that natural selection has the potential to partly mitigate effects of current environmental change.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Tom Tregenza, Petri T. Niemela, Rolando Rodriguez-Munoz, Paul E. Hopwood
Summary: Both male ID and the ID of their burrow affect the likelihood that a male is paired with a female, but the burrow has a consistently greater influence. Furthermore, the relative attractiveness of an individual male depends on which burrow he occupies.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anne Aagaard, Shenglin Liu, Tom Tregenza, Marie Braad Lund, Andreas Schramm, Koen J. F. Verhoeven, Jesper Bechsgaard, Trine Bilde
Summary: Understanding the role of genetic and nongenetic variants in shaping phenotypic responses to local environments is crucial for our understanding of evolutionary potential. By conducting environmental association studies, we found strong associations between genetic and nongenetic variation and environmental factors. Genetic variants were strongly correlated with average temperature, while DNA methylation variation was correlated with multiple climate parameters. Microbiome composition was mainly associated with precipitation-related climatic factors.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Julie Gauzere, Josephine M. Pemberton, Jon Slate, Alison Morris, Sean Morris, Craig A. Walling, Susan E. Johnston
Summary: This study re-evaluates the genetic architecture of birth weight in wild red deer using genomic approaches. The results show that most of the genetic variation in birth weight is controlled by genes with small effects, contradicting previous studies that reported loci with large effects. This suggests a highly polygenic architecture for this trait.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Clarissa F. de Carvalho, Jon Slate, Romain Villoutreix, Victor Soria-Carrasco, Ruediger Riesch, Jeffrey L. Feder, Zachariah Gompert, Patrik Nosil
Summary: By studying the DNA methylation patterns of natural populations of Timema cristinae, it was found that methylation variation is significantly correlated with genetic distance and host plant, suggesting a potential role for epigenetic modification in T. cristinae adaptation.