Article
Ecology
Carolina Sousa de Sa Leitao, Erica M. S. Souza, Carlos H. A. Santos, Pedro Val, Adalberto L. Val, Vera M. F. Almeida-Val
Summary: This study investigated the genetic differentiation and structuring of two dwarf cichlids species in two tributaries of the lower Negro River, confirming their representation as evolutionary significant units isolated likely due to a river capture event. The findings provide evidence of a mechanistic link between the isolation and differentiation of fish populations and the drainage evolution of the Amazon basin, indicating that the dynamic geological history of the region has promoted species diversification.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shun Satoh, Redouan Bshary, Momoko Shibasaki, Seishiro Inaba, Shumpei Sogawa, Takashi Hotta, Satoshi Awata, Masanori Kohda
Summary: Through experiments on monogamous fish with biparental care, it is found that male fish show prosocial behavior towards their long-term mates and stranger females, but tend to make antisocial choices if their mates are present or if another male is the potential recipient. Cooperative species, such as humans, can exhibit both spontaneous prosocial and antisocial behaviors depending on their social relationships with conspecifics and the overall social context.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
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
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luca Dolfi, Tsz Kin Suen, Roberto Ripa, Adam Antebi
Summary: Researchers have developed a protocol for cryopreserving and reviving sperm of the African turquoise killifish, allowing the sperm to be stored for months in a frozen condition with high viability upon thawing. Thawed sperm can be used for in vitro fertilization and successfully fertilize eggs, which will greatly facilitate the use of N. furzeri as a model organism.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
K. Elavarasan, Subodh Kumar, Swati Agarwal, A. Vani, Rekha Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar, Anuj Chauhan, Nihar Ranjan Sahoo, Med Ram Verma, Gyanendra Kumar Gaur
Summary: In countries with subsistence farming, lack of pedigree records and scientific mating plans leads to inbreeding and loss of production potential. We studied the correlation between autozygosity estimated from microsatellite data and inbreeding coefficient (F) calculated from pedigree data in Vrindavani crossbred cattle in India. The overall mean inbreeding coefficient was 0.070 +/- 0.007. Some specific loci were significantly correlated with pedigree F values.
ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
K. Paul, P. Pelisser, L. Goardon, N. Dechamp, J. Danon, L. Jaffrelo, C. Poncet, M. Dupont-Nivet, F. Phocas
Summary: Reproductive success and offspring survival of fish are important for fish fitness and aquaculture development. The variance in offspring survival and its impact on genetic diversity were studied in rainbow trout. The results showed unbalanced dam contributions to survival at different stages and low heritability of early survival traits, with maternal effects playing a larger role. Phenotypically, offspring early survival was correlated with dam fecundity and dam post-spawning weight. Promoting high fecund females could help improve offspring early survival and maintain genetic diversity in breeding programs.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephen L. Webb, Randy W. DeYoung, Stephen Demarais, Bronson K. Strickland, Kenneth L. Gee
Summary: The study suggests that genetic relatedness has minimal impact on antler characteristics and the differences in antler quality cannot be explained by inbreeding or heterozygosity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aneesh P. H. Bose, Johanna Dabernig-Heinz, Lukas Koch, Jacqueline Grimm, Sebastian Lang, Taylor Banda, Lawrence Makasa, Alex Jordan, Kristina M. Sefc, Bernadett Hegedus
Summary: Group-living animals face complex reproductive decisions, and this study focuses on how the cichlid fish Neolamprologus multifasciatus manages within-group and extra-group reproduction. The research finds that cohabiting males live in high-skew societies, with dominant males monopolizing most within-group reproduction, while females live in low-skew societies, allowing multiple females to produce offspring concurrently. Despite short distances separating groups, the study infers very low levels of extra-group reproduction, indicating limited reproductive opportunities for subordinate males.
Article
Biology
Jordana Inacio Nascimento Oliveira, Adauto Lima Cardoso, Ivan Rodrigo Wolf, Rogerio Antonio de Oliveira, Cesar Martins
Summary: This study characterized PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) clusters and pathways responsible for silencing the mobilization of transposable elements (TEs) in the gonads of the cichlid fish Astatotilapia latifasciata carrying the B chromosome. The study predicted and annotated piRNA clusters in the A. latifasciata genome for the first time and observed biased expression related to sex and the presence of the B chromosome. The study also identified three piRNA clusters in the B chromosome, with two of them exclusively expressed in gonads of samples with the B chromosome. The study suggests that the B chromosome has its own genomic guardians to prevent uncontrolled TE mobilization.
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lily Zogbaum, Patrick G. Friend, R. Craig Albertson
Summary: Teleost gill arches are well evolved to maximize foraging efficiency, with structures for prey capture, filtering, and processing. The study on East African cichlids reveals that genetic and environmental factors play a role in shaping gill arch traits, with genetic architecture varying between foraging environments. The Hedgehog pathway, specifically the ptch1 locus, is implicated in regulating gill arch traits and maintaining plasticity in response to the environment.
Article
Entomology
William de Jesus May-Itza, Chavier de Araujo-Freitas, Robert J. Paxton, Humberto Moo-Valle, Luis A. Medina-Medina, Jose Javier G. Quezada-Euan
Summary: A study compared the body size and frequency of diploid males of a widespread stingless bee in mating congregations in Merida, Mexico and surrounding rural areas, finding that males in the city were smaller and diploid males were more frequent compared to rural areas. The results suggest that urban tropical areas may have poorer colony performance for N. perilampoides due to limited resources and mating among a small number of colonies.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Carmen Elena Barragan-Ruiz, Rosane Silva-Santos, Bruno H. Saranholi, Arnaud L. J. Desbiez, Pedro Manoel Galetti Jr
Summary: The study found no genetic population structuring in the threatened giant anteater population in the Brazilian Central-Western region, but moderate genetic diversity levels and signs of recent bottleneck suggest potential impacts on genetic variation. A previous demographic reduction was also indicated, highlighting the need for long-term conservation efforts for this emblematic species in the face of increasing human-promoted impacts.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leah DeLorenzo, Destiny Mathews, A. Allyson Brandon, Mansi Joglekar, Aldo Carmona Baez, Emily C. Moore, Patrick J. Ciccotto, Natalie B. Roberts, Reade B. Roberts, Kara E. Powder
Summary: Divergence in body shape is a common pattern in fish and is associated with habitat specification and swimming mechanics. The genetic basis of this body shape variation was studied in cichlids using two hybrid crosses and 34 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified that underlie various aspects of body shape variation. These QTL are distinct between different crosses and compared to other fish species, indicating that convergent body shape phenotypes are likely due to distinct genetic and molecular mechanisms.