Article
Ecology
Benjamin D. Golas, Brandon Goodell, Colleen T. Webb
Summary: Novel pathogen introductions can have severe consequences for naive host populations and evolutionary rescue (ER) theory is essential for understanding whether hosts survive through adaptation. By expanding ER theory to include biological selective agents like pathogens, researchers are able to identify system characteristics that make ER possible, shifting from retrospective observation to a predictive mindset. Birth processes play a more significant role in determining ER potential than previously theorized.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel M. Griffith, Kristin B. Byrd, Niky Taylor, Elijah Allan, Liz Bittner, Bart O'Brien, V. Thomas Parker, Michael C. Vasey, Ryan Pavlick, Ramakrishna R. Nemani
Summary: Evolutionary relatedness plays a key role in determining functional diversity patterns in the natural world. Hyperspectral remote sensing can detect these patterns in plants based on inherited leaf reflectance spectra. Our study on California flora revealed that the variation in reflectance spectra is more influenced by phylogenetic relatedness than geographic origin. The combination of ecotypic and convergent evolution accounted for a small but statistically significant portion (3%-7%) of the spectral variation. However, at a genus level, no unique variation was linked to geographic origin, and a considerable proportion (up to 18%) of spectral variation was shared between phylogeny and intraspecific ecotypic differences.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robert A. Laroche, Daniel P. Duran, Cin-Ty A. Lee, William Godwin, Stephen J. Roman, David P. Herrmann, Scott P. Egan
Summary: Most of the world's biodiversity is described primarily or exclusively using morphological traits. Accurate taxonomy is critical for conservation efforts. This study tested taxonomic hypotheses of morphologically defined subspecies in the tiger beetle and utilized genetic data to assess evolutionary relationships and taxonomic implications.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chloe S. Mikles, Peter Arcese, Irby J. Lovette, Stepfanie M. Aguillon, Yvonne L. Chan, Phred M. Benham, Katherine Carbeck, Jennifer Walsh
Summary: Spatial variation in the environment can have significant impacts on population fitness and individual phenotype by driving natural selection and local adaptation, which can contribute to the diversity and adaptability of species at large scales. This study focused on the song sparrow subspecies complex in the San Francisco Bay region to assess the adaptive potential of different subspecies facing habitat loss and future environmental changes. By analyzing whole-genome sequences from 39 individuals, the researchers demonstrated that natural selection driven by ecological variables such as temperature and salinity plays a key role in shaping adaptive genetic variation in these song sparrows. The findings contribute valuable insights for conservation management strategies aimed at preserving population-level diversity in species with local adaptation across diverse environments.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)