Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Motohide Nishio, Keiichi Inoue, Shinichiro Ogawa, Kasumi Ichinoseki, Aisaku Arakawa, Yo Fukuzawa, Toshihiro Okamura, Eiji Kobayashi, Masaaki Taniguchi, Mika Oe, Kazuo Ishii
Summary: The use of genomic data allows for more accurate assessment of inbreeding level and depression. Genome-based inbreeding coefficients show stronger correlations with pedigree-based inbreeding coefficients, particularly those based on runs of homozygosity (ROH) segments and heterozygosity by descent segments (HBD). Genome-based inbreeding coefficients have more significant effects on reproductive traits compared to pedigree-based inbreeding coefficients.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
O. Jarnecka, E. A. Bauer, W. Jagusiak
Summary: This study described the population structure and inbreeding level of Polish Red Cattle (PRC), with an average inbreeding of 4% and 23.8% inbred animals. The results indicate the potential disruption of the balance in small populations like PRC, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring of endangered populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cassandra M. Miller-Butterworth, Duane R. Diefenbach, Jessie E. Edson, Leslie A. Hansen, James D. Jordan, Tess M. Gingery, Amy L. Russell
Summary: Among felids worldwide, only 6 out of 38 species have stable or increasing populations, with most felid species threatened by anthropogenic influences. A study comparing bobcat populations on Cumberland Island and Kiawah Island in the USA found that a reintroduced population experienced a decline in genetic diversity, leading to increased risk of extinction. Population viability analysis suggested that translocations could help stabilize genetic diversity and reduce extinction risk in the long term.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benjamin N. Sacks
Summary: Before European colonization, a unique American wolf species inhabited the eastern forests of North America. Today, the populations of red wolf and eastern wolf have significantly declined due to human persecution and coyote hybridization. However, recent research suggests that coyote populations in the southeastern region have a high prevalence of red wolf genes, which could be an important resource for red wolf conservation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alison M. Flanagan, Bryce Masuda, Catherine E. Grueber, Jolene T. Sutton
Summary: Research on the Hawaiian Crow conservation breeding program revealed that inbreeding has a negative impact on offspring survival, with parental egg incubation improving survival rates. However, inbreeding does not significantly affect offspring reproductive success if they breed with distantly related mates. The study also identified a specific inbreeding threshold value that impacts survival rates, highlighting the importance of managing inbreeding in pedigree-managed populations.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sara M. Nilson, Joan M. Burke, Brenda M. Murdoch, James L. M. Morgan, Ronald M. Lewis
Summary: This study analyzed the diversity of the Katahdin sheep breed using pedigree records and found that the effective population size and genetic diversity are at a maintainable level, indicating that genetic conservation is not currently a high priority. The accuracy of genomic prediction increased with the size of the reference population, but intense selection may lead to long-term loss of genetic diversity.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Cathrin Justinski, Jens Wilkens, Ottmar Distl
Summary: Sheep breeding is a long-standing tradition in Germany, resulting in a diversity of unique breeds. A study conducted using the national database of herdbook breeders revealed a loss of genetic diversity in all breeds due to genetic drift. The results emphasize the importance of genetic diversity management for the conservation of endangered breeds. Rating: 8/10.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bengt Hansson, Hernan E. Morales, Cock van Oosterhout
Summary: Scott et al. bring attention to species conservation by demonstrating heterozygote superiority among translocated tortoises, but their recommended decision rule may risk setbacks in conservation genomics. Further assessment and improvement are needed to guide conservation management effectively.
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
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gyembo Tsheten, Birgit Fuerst-Waltl, Christina Pfeiffer, Johann Soelkner, Henk Bovenhuis, Gabor Meszaros
Summary: In most cases, inbreeding has negative effects on livestock traits, particularly in reproductive and sperm quality. This study aimed to calculate inbreeding coefficients using pedigree and genomic data, and assess inbreeding depression on sperm quality traits in Austrian Pietrain pigs. Pedigree-based inbreeding had a smaller impact compared to ROH-based inbreeding. Pedigree-based inbreeding affected sperm motility, while ROH-based inbreeding affected semen volume, number of spermatozoa, and motility.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Natalia S. Forneris, Carolina A. Garcia-Baccino, Rodolfo J. C. Cantet, Zulma G. Vitezica
Summary: In this study, the level of inbreeding and inbreeding depression for growth and reproductive traits in Argentinean Brangus cattle was estimated. The results showed that all traits were unfavorably affected by inbreeding depression.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Grazyna Polak, Artur Gurgul, Igor Jasielczuk, Tomasz Szmatola, Jedrzej Krupinski, Monika Bugno-Poniewierska
Summary: Traditionally, pedigree-based methods were used to manage inbreeding in populations, but the use of genomic data provides a more accurate estimation of shared genetic material. This study found that genomic inbreeding measures are effective in controlling inbreeding in rare horse populations, suggesting that genomics should be considered as an alternative in population structure analysis.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Carlos Hervas-Rivero, Houssemeddine Srihi, David Lopez-Carbonell, Joaquim Casellas, Noelia Ibanez-Escriche, Sara Negro, Luis Varona
Summary: This study conducted a genomic scan and identified eight genomic regions associated with inbreeding depression for litter size in two varieties of Iberian pigs. These regions contain relevant genes and suggest that the genetic determinism of inbreeding depression may be heterogeneous across the genome.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Antonios, S. T. Rodriguez-Ramilo, I Aguilar, J. M. Astruc, A. Legarra, Z. G. Vitezica
Summary: Inbreeding depression is associated with decreased performance and fitness of animals. This study evaluated pedigree-based and genomic methods to estimate inbreeding and its effects on sperm traits in Basco-Bearnaise sheep, finding significant impact on sperm motility.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jorge Hidalgo, Alberto Cesarani, Andre Garcia, Pattarapol Sumreddee, Neon Larios, Enrico Mancin, Jose Guadalupe Garcia, Rafael Nunez, Rodolfo Ramirez
Summary: The goal of genetic selection is to improve genetic progress, but it can lead to inbreeding and accumulation of harmful alleles, reducing genetic diversity. The study on Mexican Romosinuano cattle revealed a decreased effective population size, genetic bottlenecks, and declining genetic diversity as potential challenges.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Crinan Jarrett, Thomas B. Smith, Tabe T. R. Claire, Diogo F. Ferreira, Melanie Tchoumbou, Malange N. F. Elikwo, Jared Wolfe, Kristin Brzeski, Andreanna J. Welch, Rachid Hanna, Luke L. Powell
Summary: The conversion of forests to agriculture in the Afrotropics is leading to declines in sensitive rainforest taxa, such as understorey birds. Cocoa farms in Africa may provide habitat for biodiversity, but the suitability for vertebrate fauna and the impact of farm management on animal communities is not well understood. A study in Southern Cameroon found that sunny cocoa farms were less able to support sensitive bird guilds compared to shaded farms in forested landscapes, indicating that certain ecological and dietary guilds are disproportionately affected by land-use change.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Kathryn E. C. Davis, Amie E. Settlecowski, Mackenzie R. Roeder, Carolyn Enloe, Thomas Virzi, Margaret E. Hunter, Stefan Woltmann, Sabrina S. Taylor
Summary: Seaside Sparrows face threats such as climate change and sea-level rise. Genetic analysis reveals that their population structure does not align with current taxonomy, with at least 5 distinct genetic clusters identified. Further research is recommended to study the boundaries of breeding distributions and potential new population segments for conservation efforts.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Samuel D. Hervey, Linda Y. Rutledge, Brent R. Patterson, Mark C. Romanski, John A. Vucetich, Jerrold L. Belant, Dean E. Beyer, Seth A. Moore, Kristin E. Brzeski
Summary: The gray wolf population in Isle Royale National Park has experienced a drastic decline, with only two remaining wolves in 2017. To restore the ecosystem, 19 gray wolves were translocated from different regions, with the majority coming from a single family group from Michipicoten Island. The founders were genetically diverse but may face challenges related to genetic variation and inbreeding in the future.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Steven T. Williams, Jean P. Elbers, Sabrina S. Taylor
Summary: Understanding gene flow and population structure of the reticulated flatwoods salamander revealed male-biased dispersal and historic gene flow among populations, suggesting potential for carefully considered reintroductions to expand its limited range.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Brandon D. Hoenig, Allison M. Snider, Anna M. Forsman, Keith A. Hobson, Steven C. Latta, Eliot T. Miller, Michael J. Polito, Luke L. Powell, Samantha L. Rogers, Thomas W. Sherry, David P. L. Toews, Andreanna J. Welch, Sabrina S. Taylor, Brady A. Porter
Summary: Identifying avian diets is crucial in understanding their roles in ecosystems. However, the diversity in bird species and dietary habits poses challenges in accurately studying avian diet. Researchers need to be aware of the capabilities and limitations of various methods to ensure correct interpretation of results. Combining multiple techniques can lead to the most comprehensive findings in avian dietary research.
Article
Ornithology
Allison M. Snider, Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati, Anna A. Perez-Umphrey, Philip C. Stouffer, Sabrina S. Taylor
Summary: DNA metabarcoding is a popular tool for studying animal diet. This study compared the recovery of prey DNA from stomach contents and fecal samples in Seaside Sparrows and found that while stomach contents produced higher DNA concentrations and read identifications, both sample types provided similar descriptions of diet.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carolyn Enloe, W. Andrew Cox, Akanksha Pandey, Sabrina S. Taylor, Stefan Woltmann, Rebecca T. Kimball
Summary: The genetic relatedness of subspecies among seaside sparrow populations in Florida remains poorly understood. Data from ddRADseq analysis reveal three distinct genetic groups within the state, indicating potential issues with the current subspecific designations. The genetic clusters do not completely align with the defined ranges of subspecies, suggesting a need for further research and potential reevaluation of subspecies boundaries.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Anna A. Perez-Umphrey, Colleen B. Jonsson, Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati, Allison M. Snider, Philip C. Stouffer, Sabrina S. Taylor
Summary: This study investigates how a large-scale ecological disturbance, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, can influence the hantavirus host-pathogen dynamic in the United States. The research findings suggest that habitat is a main driver of hantavirus prevalence in the host and that future disturbances in the region will likely impact the host-pathogen dynamic.
Article
Ecology
Joseph A. Tobias, Catherine Sheard, Alex L. Pigot, Adam J. M. Devenish, Jingyi Yang, Ferran Sayol, Montague H. C. Neate-Clegg, Nico Alioravainen, Thomas L. Weeks, Robert A. Barber, Patrick A. Walkden, Hannah E. A. MacGregor, Samuel E. I. Jones, Claire Vincent, Anna G. Phillips, Nicola M. Marples, Flavia A. Montano-Centellas, Victor Leandro-Silva, Santiago Claramunt, Bianca Darski, Benjamin G. Freeman, Tom P. Bregman, Christopher R. Cooney, Emma C. Hughes, Elliot J. R. Capp, Zoe K. Varley, Nicholas R. Friedman, Heiko Korntheuer, Andrea Corrales-Vargas, Christopher H. Trisos, Brian C. Weeks, Dagmar M. Hanz, Till Topfer, Gustavo A. Bravo, Vladimir Remes, Larissa Nowak, Lincoln S. Carneiro, Amilkar J. Moncada R., Beata Matysiokova, Daniel T. Baldassarre, Alejandra Martinez-Salinas, Jared D. Wolfe, Philip M. Chapman, Benjamin G. Daly, Marjorie C. Sorensen, Alexander Neu, Michael A. Ford, Rebekah J. Mayhew, Luis Fabio Silveira, David J. Kelly, Nathaniel N. D. Annorbah, Henry S. Pollock, Ada M. Grabowska-Zhang, Jay P. McEntee, Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez, Camila G. Meneses, Marcia C. Munoz, Luke L. Powell, Gabriel A. Jamie, Thomas J. Matthews, Oscar Johnson, Guilherme R. R. Brito, Kristof Zyskowski, Ross Crates, Michael G. Harvey, Maura Jurado Zevallos, Peter A. Hosner, Tom Bradfer-Lawrence, James M. Maley, F. Gary Stiles, Hevana S. Lima, Kaiya L. Provost, Moses Chibesa, Mmatjie Mashao, Jeffrey T. Howard, Edson Mlamba, Marcus A. H. Chua, Bicheng Li, M. Isabel Gomez, Natalia C. Garcia, Martin Packert, Jerome Fuchs, Jarome R. Ali, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Monica L. Carlson, Rolly C. Urriza, Kristin E. Brzeski, Dewi M. Prawiradilaga, Matt J. Rayner, Eliot T. Miller, Rauri C. K. Bowie, Rene-Marie Lafontaine, R. Paul Scofield, Yingqiang Lou, Lankani Somarathna, Denis Lepage, Marshall Illif, Eike Lena Neuschulz, Mathias Templin, D. Matthias Dehling, Jacob C. Cooper, Olivier S. G. Pauwels, Kangkuso Analuddin, Jon Fjeldsa, Nathalie Seddon, Paul R. Sweet, Fabrice A. J. DeClerck, Luciano N. Naka, Jeffrey D. Brawn, Alexandre Aleixo, Katrin Bohning-Gaese, Carsten Rahbek, Susanne A. Fritz, Gavin H. Thomas, Matthias Schleuning
Summary: Functional traits provide a quantitative framework for theories in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science. The AVONET dataset contains comprehensive functional trait data for all bird species, allowing integration with other datasets and providing a global template for testing hypotheses and exploring the origins, structure, and functioning of biodiversity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bridgett M. VonHoldt, Joseph W. Hinton, Amy C. Shutt, Sean M. Murphy, Melissa L. Karlin, Jennifer R. Adams, Lisette P. Waits, Kristin E. Brzeski
Summary: This study found that American coyotes have acquired red wolf ancestry in the past 30 years and revealed a positive correlation between ancestry and weight. The findings highlight the importance of hybrids and admixed genomes in conserving endangered species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Allison M. M. Snider, Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati, Anna A. A. Perez-Umphrey, Stefan Woltmann, Philip C. Stouffer, Sabrina S. S. Taylor
Summary: The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster and Hurricane Isaac two years later had impacts on the coastal saltmarsh ecosystem, affecting the food sources and individual specialization of Seaside Sparrows. The study found that Hurricane Isaac had a greater impact on the prey richness and diversity of Seaside Sparrows, while resource use was most stable on unoiled sites.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Stefan Woltmann, Mackenzie Roeder, Allison Snider, Anna Perez-Umphrey, Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati, Philip C. Stouffer, Sabrina S. Taylor
Summary: Many bird species display both social monogamy and genetic polygamy, and the adaptive value of these behaviors is a topic of research. Data on reproductive behavior for most species, even within well-studied communities, are still scarce.
WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah R. Hoy, Philip W. Hedrick, Rolf O. Peterson, Leah M. Vucetich, Kristin E. Brzeski, John A. Vucetich
Summary: By studying the impact of genetic changes in the grey wolf population on the ecosystem of Isle Royale National Park, it was found that these changes led to fluctuations in predation rates on moose, which in turn affected the population of moose and the consumption rate of balsam fir. Therefore, forest dynamics can be linked to genetic characteristics of predator populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amie E. Settlecowski, Kathryn E. C. Davis, James A. Cox, Stefan Woltmann, Sabrina S. Taylor
Summary: North American grassland birds expanded their habitat eastward due to expanding agriculture from the mid-1800s to mid-1900s. However, their population started declining since at least the mid-1900s as a result of human activity. Only one bird, Peucaea aestivalis, has expanded its range into the southeastern United States. This study suggests that the historical distribution of P. aestivalis was broader than previously recognized, and discusses the implications of this range expansion on its evolution and conservation.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kelcee L. Smith, Kevin Feldheim, John K. Carlson, Tonya R. Wiley, Sabrina S. Taylor
Summary: Research on the mating and dispersal behavior of smalltooth sawfish found that some female individuals exhibit biennial parturition in specific regions, while others give birth in different areas. In addition, it was observed that some female smalltooth sawfish can have a maximum of 12 pups per litter, which helps confirm the reproductive characteristics of the species.
ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH
(2021)