Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ty Russell, Catherine Cullingham, Mark Ball, Margo Pybus, David Coltman
Summary: Hybridization between mule deer and white-tailed deer is common in western North America. This study in western Canada found hybridization rates of around 1.0%, with white-tailed-like hybrids being more common. The research expanded on past studies by increasing hybrid detection power, demonstrating new molecular resources for future research, and observing asymmetrical directionality of introgression.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mehdi Nojoumi, Anthony P. Clevenger, Daniel T. Blumstein, Eric S. Abelson
Summary: Roads can have negative effects on animal populations, including fragmentation, deaths, and changes in behavior. A study found that elk and white-tailed deer increased vigilance and flight behaviors and spent less time foraging in response to passing vehicles. The study also revealed that animals were more likely to use wildlife underpasses when they were engaged in foraging behavior, but less likely to use them after exhibiting vigilance behavior.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mafalda S. Ferreira, Timothy J. Thurman, Matthew R. Jones, Liliana Farelo, Alexander Kumar, Sebastian M. E. Mortimer, John R. Demboski, L. Scott Mills, Paulo C. Alves, Jose Melo-Ferreira, Jeffrey M. Good
Summary: The genetic variation at genes EDNRB, CORIN, and ASIP determines the light and dark seasonal pelage in white-tailed jackrabbits, which corresponds to snow cover. Reductions in snow cover are predicted to cause widespread camouflage mismatch, but populations with darker winter pelage are expected to rapidly adapt, indicating a trait-based genetic framework for evolutionary rescue. These findings demonstrate the significance of the genetic basis of climate change adaptation in informing conservation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David A. Schneider, Aaron D. Lehmkuhl, Terry R. Spraker, Robert O. Dittmar, Mitch A. Lockwood, Susan Rollo, Tracy A. Nichols
Summary: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is spreading in cervid populations and early antemortem testing is important. This study evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity of tonsil biopsy for CWD detection in farmed white-tailed deer. The results showed a sensitivity of 72% overall, with higher sensitivity in late preclinical infection (92%) and lower sensitivity in early preclinical infection (55%). The study also found that the sensitivity was lower in deer with the serine substitution at codon 96 of the prion protein gene (30% vs. 66% in deer with glycine at codon 96).
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francisca Bravo-Risi, Paulina Soto, Thomas Eckland, Robert Dittmar, Santiago Ramirez, Celso S. G. Catumbela, Claudio Soto, Mitch Lockwood, Tracy Nichols, Rodrigo Morales
Summary: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prevalent prion disease affecting cervids, transmitted through direct animal contact or exposure to contaminated environmental fomites. Vertical and maternal transmissions have been suggested as mechanisms of propagation, with detection of CWD prions in farmed white-tailed deer fetal tissues. This study confirms previous findings and supports vertical transmission as a relevant mechanism of CWD dissemination.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kaitlyn Wagner, Robyn Pierce, Elizabeth Gordon, Arielle Hay, Avery Lessard, Glenn C. Telling, Jennifer R. Ballard, Julie A. Moreno, Mark D. Zabel
Summary: In this study, biochemical evidence of strain differences between neurogenic and lymphogenic prions was reported. The study found that lymphogenic prions had more structural and glycoform variation than neurogenic prions. Surprisingly, there were greater biochemical differences among neurogenic prions than lymphogenic prions across individuals. It was proposed that the lymphoreticular system propagates a diverse array of prions, from which the brain selects a more restricted and potentially different pool of prions.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vanessa L. Hale, Patricia M. Dennis, Dillon S. McBride, Jacqueline M. Nolting, Christopher Madden, Devra Huey, Margot Ehrlich, Jennifer Grieser, Jenessa Winston, Dusty Lombardi, Stormy Gibson, Linda Saif, Mary L. Killian, Kristina Lantz, Rachel M. Tell, Mia Torchetti, Suelee Robbe-Austerman, Martha Nelson, Seth A. Faith, Andrew S. Bowman
Summary: Research shows that free-ranging white-tailed deer in northeast Ohio, USA are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, potentially enabling the virus to be transmitted in wildlife, opening up new pathways for evolution.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alicia Otero, Camilo Duque Velasquez, Judd Aiken, Debbie McKenzie
Summary: The variation at residue 96 (G/S) of PrPC has been shown to affect the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer populations, with serine at this position having a protective effect. However, some CWD strains show reduced efficiency in converting S96-PrPC, indicating a detrimental effect of this polymorphism on prion transmission.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeffrey C. Chandler, Sarah N. Bevins, Jeremy W. Ellis, Timothy J. Linder, Rachel M. Tell, Melinda Jenkins-Moore, J. Jeffrey Root, Julianna B. Lenoch, Suelee Robbe-Austerman, Thomas J. DeLiberto, Thomas Gidlewski, Mia Kim Torchetti, Susan A. Shriner
Summary: Research indicates that white-tailed deer in the United States have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, with 40% of samples testing positive for antibodies. This suggests that human infections of the novel coronavirus may have an impact on wildlife.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eoin O'Hara, Allen Herbst, Arun Kommadath, Judd M. Aiken, Debbie McKenzie, Negin Goodarzi, Pamela Skinner, Paul Stothard
Summary: This study utilized RNA sequencing to compare the brain transcriptome of white-tailed deer affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD) to unaffected deer. The results identified significant gene expression changes related to immune activation, providing important insights into the pathogenesis of CWD and potential targets for therapeutic interventions. The study also ruled out an association between CWD and spiroplasma infection.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
James T. Johnson, Richard B. Chandler, L. Mike Conner, Michael J. Cherry, Charlie H. Killmaster, Kristina L. Johannsen, Karl Miller
Summary: Bait is often used to attract wildlife for various purposes, but it can alter animal behavior and distribution. Short-term baiting was found to affect white-tailed deer's space use within home ranges, potentially enhancing disease transmission and changing harvest susceptibility. This study highlights the importance of understanding how baiting impacts wildlife behavior and distribution for effective management and research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dillon S. Mcbride, Sofya K. Garushyants, John Franks, Andrew F. Magee, Steven H. Overend, Devra Huey, Amanda M. Williams, Seth A. Faith, Ahmed Kandeil, Sanja Trifkovic, Lance Miller, Trushar Jeevan, Anami Patel, Jacqueline M. Nolting, Michael J. Tonkovich, J. Tyler Genders, Andrew J. Montoney, Kevin Kasnyik, Timothy J. Linder, Sarah N. Bevins, Julianna B. Lenoch, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Thomas J. Deliberto, Eugene V. Koonin, Marc A. Suchard, Philippe Lemey, Richard J. Webby, Martha I. Nelson, Andrew S. Bowman
Summary: Research reveals that SARS-CoV-2 has transmitted multiple times in white-tailed deer, with transmission persisting for 2-8 months and spreading across hundreds of kilometers. The virus evolves three times faster in white-tailed deer compared to humans, driven by different mutational biases and selection pressures. Although no significant phenotypic changes were observed in animal models using white-tailed deer origin viruses, the accelerated evolutionary rate poses serious consequences for humans and livestock.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Emily A. Wright, Jacob V. Bayouth, Joseph P. Bayouth, Asha E. Worsham, Grant E. McDaniel, Tess S. Hollinger, Vivienne A. Lacy, Emma K. Johnston, David R. Pipkin, Emma K. Roberts, Robert D. Bradley
Summary: Introgressive hybridization between members of Odocoileus was found to be more widespread in Texas than previously reported, with a reversal in directionality observed in contemporary hybridization events. The study also suggests that recent hybridization events may have played a role in the evolution of distinct subspecies within Odocoileus virginianus and Odocoileus hemionus.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brendan R. Quirion, Bernd Blossey
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility and reliability of AVID, Ten-Tallest, and Twig-Age protocols for measuring deer browse intensity, and investigated the suitability of the Sentinel protocol for assessing the expansion of herbaceous species. The results showed limitations in the AVID, Ten-Tallest, and Twig-Age protocols, while the Sentinel protocol performed well in standardized assessment and capturing annual changes in browse intensity. Further validation and selection of sentinel species are necessary to comprehensively evaluate deer browse intensity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sheena J. Dorak, Csaba Varga, Mark G. Ruder, Peg Gronemeyer, Nelda A. Rivera, Douglas R. Dufford, Daniel J. Skinner, Alfred L. Roca, Jan Novakofski, Nohra E. Mateus-Pinilla
Summary: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and bluetongue (BT) are spreading northward in North America, causing high mortality in wild white-tailed deer. The study highlights the importance of capturing the geographic location, confirming viral causes, and expanding surveillance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eoin O'Hara, Allen Herbst, Arun Kommadath, Judd M. Aiken, Debbie McKenzie, Negin Goodarzi, Pamela Skinner, Paul Stothard
Summary: This study utilized RNA sequencing to compare the brain transcriptome of white-tailed deer affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD) to unaffected deer. The results identified significant gene expression changes related to immune activation, providing important insights into the pathogenesis of CWD and potential targets for therapeutic interventions. The study also ruled out an association between CWD and spiroplasma infection.
Article
Developmental Biology
Kacie A. Norton, Ross Humphreys, Chelsey Weatherill, Kevin Duong, Vivian V. Nguyen, Arun Kommadath, Farshad Niri, Paul Stothard, Heather E. McDermid
Summary: Defects in spermatogenesis are an important cause of male infertility. Mutations in chromatin remodelling gene Cecr2 result in subfertility in mice, and the severity of male subfertility depends on age. Cecr2(GT/Del) males sire the fewest pups just after sexual maturity but show improvement with age.
Article
Biology
Samuel Deakin, Marco Festa-Bianchet, Joshua M. Miller, Fanie Pelletier, David W. Coltman
Summary: In polygynous species, secondary sexual traits evolve through intrasexual competition for mates. This study challenges the assumption that underdeveloped sexual traits in one sex are a result of strong selection on the other sex. Female bighorn sheep with longer horns at 2 years of age have higher reproductive success and lifespan. There is a potential conservation issue as trophy hunting of males may decrease female reproductive performance and population growth.
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
Biology
Allen Herbst, Serene Wohlgemuth, Jing Yang, Andrew R. Castle, Diana Martinez Moreno, Alicia Otero, Judd M. Aiken, David Westaway, Debbie McKenzie
Summary: This study investigated the potential transmission of chronic wasting disease to beavers, finding that beavers are susceptible to various types of prion diseases, including chronic wasting disease. The beaver prion protein was found to be a good substrate for sustaining prion replication, suggesting that beavers are at risk for pathogen transfer and spillover of CWD.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Vincent A. Viblanc, Claire Saraux, Anouch Tamian, Francois Criscuolo, David W. Coltman, Shirley Raveh, Jan O. Murie, F. Stephen Dobson
Summary: This study examines how our inferences about natural selection acting on organismal traits vary depending on our choice of fitness metrics. Focusing on the timing of emergence from hibernation in Columbian ground squirrels, the study shows that directional selection for earlier emergence dates occurs, but the strength of selection depends on whether fitness is evaluated from offspring counted at birth, at weaning, or later in life.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jessica A. Haines, David M. Delaney, Andrea E. Wishart, Andrew G. McAdam, David W. Coltman, Jeffrey E. Lane, Ben Dantzer, Stan Boutin
Summary: Reproduction is energetically expensive for both sexes, and if males and females have different timing of reproduction, there is an opportunity for sex-specific selection to act on energetic resource acquisition. In North American red squirrels, males have larger caches than females, and this is likely driven by a stronger positive connection between cache size and fitness components for males. Males with larger caches have greater siring success, while females with larger caches only experience a positive effect on the number of recruits produced if they breed early. Additionally, males and females with larger caches sire pups and give birth earlier. These findings demonstrate that sexual selection extends beyond mating behavior traits and can act on traits related to acquiring resources needed for reproduction.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Catherine Cullingham, Rhiannon M. Peery, Joshua M. Miller
Summary: This article explores the internal mechanism of the discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) method, demonstrating the importance of parameter selection in model development and discussing the impact of over-fitting the model and how to evaluate DAPC model results. The author provides important guidelines to ensure researchers draw biologically relevant conclusions.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Allen Herbst, Solbie Choi, Austin N. Hoang, Chiye Kim, Diana Martinez Moreno, Debbie McKenzie, Judd M. Aiken, Jonathan Wanagat
Summary: This study investigated the effects of Remdesivir on mitochondrial DNA copy number and deletion mutation frequency in aged rodents. The results showed that three months of Remdesivir treatment did not affect the quality and quantity of mitochondrial DNA in old rats.
Article
Forestry
Rhiannon M. Peery, Catherine Cullingham, David W. Coltman, Janice E. K. Cooke
Summary: This article reports a case study in which genomic tools were used to determine if lodgepole pine seedlings were sown from a contaminated seed source. With genotyping data, the researchers were able to determine the probable seed source of the suspect seedlings and make data-guided recommendations on their deployment. This case study demonstrates the importance of molecular markers in ensuring traceability in reforestation.
TREE GENETICS & GENOMES
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Allen Herbst, Judd M. Aiken, Chiye Kim, Danielle Gushue, Debbie McKenzie, Timothy M. Moore, Jin Zhou, Austin N. Hoang, Solbie Choi, Jonathan Wanagat
Summary: Beta-guanidinopropionic acid (GPA) is suggested for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity in older adults. However, it has been found that GPA can induce mitochondrial DNA deletion mutations, exacerbating muscle aging in vulnerable muscles. Further research is needed to assess whether the benefits of GPA outweigh its detrimental effects.
Article
Biology
Sam F. Walmsley, Stan Boutin, Ben Dantzer, Jeffrey E. Lane, David W. Coltman, Andrew G. McAdam
Summary: The study on North American red squirrels revealed that kinship has an influence on their survival and reproductive success. Female red squirrels have higher annual survival when they live closer to their daughters, while males have higher annual reproductive success when they live closer to their fathers.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Devin B. Holman, Katherine E. Gzyl, Arun Kommadath
Summary: Conventional swine production involves indoor, high-density farming, while pasture-raised pigs are reared outdoors with lower stocking densities. The use of antimicrobials differs between these two production systems, with conventionally raised pigs being exposed to antimicrobials to control and prevent infectious diseases. This study used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to compare the gut microbiomes and resistomes of pigs raised in these two systems. The results showed significant differences in microbial compositions, resistomes, and functional profiles between the two groups of pigs. The findings provide insights into the impact of different production systems on pig gut microbiomes and antimicrobial resistance.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)