Article
Parasitology
Jing Guo, Zhen-Tian Yan, Wen-Bo Fu, Huan Yuan, Xu-Dong Li, Bin Chen
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzed the characteristics of mitogenomes and phylogenetics in the genus Anopheles, shedding light on the evolutionary relationships within the genus. The study revealed new insights into the phylogenetic relationships among different subgenera of Anopheles spp. and highlighted the importance of mitogenomes in understanding the taxonomy of the genus Anopheles.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nian Gong, Lin Yang, Xiang-Sheng Chen
Summary: Research on mitogenome variation and phylogenetics of Hemiptera superfamily Fulgoroidea reveals differences among lineages. Sequenced mitogenomes of Caliscelidae show similar gene content and arrangement, with distinct phylogenetic relationships highlighting monophyly of Delphacidae and ancient Fulgoridae compared to Achilidae. Sister group relationships are observed between Flatidae, Issidae, Ricaniidae, and Caliscelidae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nian Gong, Lin Yang, Xiangsheng Chen
Summary: The study analyzed the complete mitochondrial genomes of 12 Caliscelidae species, revealing variations in genome size, nucleotide composition, and protein-coding gene evolution. The phylogenetic analysis showed that all Caliscelidae species formed a monophyletic group with Peltonotellini at the basal position and Augilini as the sister group to Caliscelini and Peltonotellini.
Article
Parasitology
Milan Miljevic, Marija Rajicic, Gerald Umhang, Branka Bajic, Olivera Bjelic Cabrilo, Ivana Budinski, Jelena Blagojevic
Summary: This study identified and explored the genetic diversity of Hydatigera and other taeniid species. The researchers found four taeniid species, including Hydatigera kamiyai and H. taeniaeformis sensu stricto (s.s.). The study contributes to the understanding of genetic diversity, host suitability, and geographic distribution of these tapeworm species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alison R. Irwin, Ellen E. Strong, Yasunori Kano, Elizabeth M. Harper, Suzanne T. Williams
Summary: This study reports seven new stromboid mitogenomes, including the first mitogenomes for some Recent families, and investigates the relationships among these groups. All analyses support the monophyly of Stromboidea as redefined to include Xenophoridae, but reject the monophyly of Littorinimorpha, consistent with previous studies.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wan Chen, Keer Miao, Junqi Wang, Hao Wang, Wan Sun, Sijia Yuan, Site Luo, Chaochao Hu, Qing Chang
Summary: This study sequenced and annotated the mitogenomes of five species within the Calidris genus, revealing differences in evolutionary rates and genetic distances between species. The phylogenetic trees indicated that Calidris is not a monophyletic genus, with species from other genera nested within it. The molecular data obtained in this study are valuable for further research on the taxonomy, population genetics, and evolution of birds in the Calidris genus.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Mei-Ling Xiao, Huan Yuan, Ting-Jing Li, Bin Chen
Summary: In this study, the complete and annotated mitochondrial genome sequences of two insect species, Penthetria simplioipes and Plecia hardyi, representing the Bibionidae superfamily Bibionoidea, were reported for the first time. The results also revealed the presence of 37 genes in the mitochondrial genomes of all 20 studied species from eight families within the Bibionomorpha infraorder. The findings have important implications for understanding the phylogenetics and evolution of this group.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Secci-Petretto, Gernot K. Englmaier, Steven J. Weiss, Alexander Antonov, Henri Persat, Gael P. J. Denys, Tamara Schenekar, Vladimir I. Romanov, Eric B. Taylor, Elsa Froufe
Summary: Hybridization and introgression are common among freshwater fishes, leading to discordant paths of evolution for mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Using ddRADseq, a genome-wide SNP dataset was obtained for Thymallus species, revealing phylogenetic relationships and gene flow among species. The analysis showed discordances between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, as well as signs of mitochondrial capture and limited nuclear introgression in contact zones.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Pascale Lubbe, Nicolas J. Rawlence, Olga Kardailsky, Bruce C. Robertson, Robert Day, Michael Knapp, Nicolas Dussex
Summary: The biogeographical origins of the endemic birds of New Zealand, particularly the Callaeidae family, have attracted great interest. The formation of Pliocene marine seaways, such as the Manawatu Strait, is likely to have played a significant role in the divergence of North Island and South Island kokako and saddlebacks/tieke.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jennifer M. Korstian, Nicole S. Paulat, Roy N. Platt, Richard D. Stevens, David A. Ray
Summary: Using presence/absence data from over 10,000 Ves SINE insertions, the researchers reconstructed a phylogeny for 11 Myotis species. They found that phylogenetic conflict was rampant in this genus, with almost one-third of individual gene trees being discordant with the overall species tree. The study suggests that incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) is a major contributor to the discordance. The researchers also observed signs of introgression between Old and New World taxa, as well as within the New World Myotis species. The findings highlight the role of hybridization in the evolutionary history of Myotis.
Article
Microbiology
Dorcus C. A. Omoga, David P. Tchouassi, Marietjie Venter, Edwin O. Ogola, Gilbert Rotich, Joseph N. Muthoni, Dickens O. Ondifu, Baldwyn Torto, Sandra Junglen, Rosemary Sang
Summary: This study investigated the circulation of rodent-borne hantaviruses in peridomestic rodents and shrews in two semi-arid ecologies within the Kenyan Rift Valley. Hantavirus RNA was detected in shrews, confirming the presence of hantaviruses in this species for the first time in Kenya.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jeffrey P. Mower, Lilly Hanley, Kirsten Wolff, Natalia Pabon-Mora, Favio Gonzalez
Summary: Aragoa, a genus of North Andean plants, is closely related to Littorella and Plantago within the Plantagineae family. Analysis of mitochondrial genomes revealed the sister relationship between Aragoa and Littorella + Plantago. However, conflicting results were found in the placement of P. nubicola within the Plantago genus based on mitochondrial and nuclear data. Extensive substitution rate variation among lineages hindered the resolution of phylogenetic relationships using mitochondrial data.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Edward M. King'ori, Vincent Obanda, Richard Nyamota, Susana Remesar, Patrick Chiyo, Ramon Soriguer, Patrocinio Morrondo
Summary: Understanding the genetic structure of A.tholloni tick populations in Kenya is important for vector control strategies. This study found high gene diversity in the tick populations, influenced by elephant population fragmentation and agro-ecological factors.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Vlatka Cubric-Curik, Dinko Novosel, Vladimir Brajkovic, Omar Rota Stabelli, Stefan Krebs, Johann Solkner, Dragica Salamon, Strahil Ristov, Beate Berger, Stamatina Trivizaki, Iosif Bizelis, Maja Ferencakovic, Sophie Rothammer, Elisabeth Kunz, Mojca Simcic, Peter Dovc, Gojko Bunevski, Hysen Bytyqi, Bozidarka Markovic, Muhamed Brka, Kristaq Kume, Srctan Stojanovid, Vasil Nikolov, Natalia Zinovieva, Anna Amanda Schonherz, Bernt Guldbrandtsen, Mato Cacic, Sinisa Radovic, Preston Miracle, Cristiano Vernesi, Ino Curik, Ivica Medugorac
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the mitochondrial genome of cattle, revealing different haplotypes and classifications, as well as providing evidence for interactions between wild aurochs and domesticated cattle during the domestication and dispersal of cattle in Europe.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Elize Y. X. Ng, Siqi Li, Dezhi Zhang, Kritika M. Garg, Gang Song, Jonathan Martinez, Le Manh Hung, Vuong Tan Tu, Jerome Fuchs, Lu Dong, Urban Olsson, Yuan Huang, Per Alstrom, Frank E. Rheindt, Fumin Lei
Summary: Morphology has long been a reliable tool for taxonomic classification, but recent genetic and genomic advancements have shown that it can lead to erroneous classifications. In our study on Asian Cyornis flycatchers, we used thousands of genomic markers to confirm that two previously recognized species are actually a single species, and we also discovered interbreeding between two different species, highlighting their ability to hybridize even after long periods of divergence. This research demonstrates the importance of incorporating genomic data into taxonomic studies for a more comprehensive understanding of species relationships.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marco Salvatori, Valentina Oberosler, Margherita Rinaldi, Alessandro Franceschini, Stefania Truschi, Paolo Pedrini, Francesco Rovero
Summary: Outdoor recreation in natural areas is becoming more popular globally, but its long-term effects on wildlife are poorly understood. This study investigated whether tourism in the Dolomites, Italy, affected wild mammals in the long term and if it resulted in spatial or temporal avoidance. Camera trapping was used to detect mammal occurrences over seven summers at 60 consistently sampled sites. Overall, human presence increased over the 7-year period, but both community and species-level occurrences of mammals also increased. However, human activities caused temporal avoidance in the whole community and spatial avoidance in bigger-sized species.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Alba Rey-Iglesia, Tess Wilson, Jennifer Routledge, Mikkel Skovrind, Eva Garde, Mads Peter Heide-Jorgensen, Paul Szpak, Eline D. D. Lorenzen
Summary: This study provides correction factors to transform dentine δ13C and δ15N values into bone-collagen equivalent for narwhals and belugas. The study found lower average δ13C and δ15N values in bone compared to dentine in both species. These correction factors enable the combined analysis of stable isotope data from bone and dentine in narwhals and belugas.
ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucinda P. Lawson, Simon P. Loader, John V. Lyakurwa, H. Christoph Liedtke
Summary: The spiny-throated reed frog species group is a small radiation of Hyperolius frogs from East Africa. A genetic exploration was conducted to understand the distinctness and relationships of a new lineage found within this group. Through a reduced-representation genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) dataset, the phylogenetic relationships were fully resolved, placing the new lineage as an early diverging lineage within the group.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea F. Vallejo-Vargas, Douglas Sheil, Asuncion Semper-Pascual, Lydia Beaudrot, Jorge A. Ahumada, Emmanuel Akampurira, Robert Bitariho, Santiago Espinosa, Vittoria Estienne, Patrick A. Jansen, Charles Kayijamahe, Emanuel H. Martin, Marcela Guimaraes Moreira Lima, Badru Mugerwa, Francesco Rovero, Julia Salvador, Fernanda Santos, Wilson Roberto Spironello, Eustrate Uzabaho, Richard Bischof
Summary: This study examines the diel activity patterns of tropical mammals in protected forests across different biogeographic regions. The findings suggest that the activity of herbivores and insectivores is constrained by thermoregulation, while the activity of carnivores is influenced by bottom-up processes and the activity of small omnivores and insectivores is regulated by top-down processes. Overall, diel activity in tropical mammal communities is shaped by similar processes and constraints, reflecting body mass and trophic guilds.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Claudia Barelli, Valentina Oberosler, Nathalie Cavada, Arafat S. Mtui, Steven Shinyambala, Francesco Rovero
Summary: Anthropogenic activities have led to the loss of tropical forests, which poses a threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem services. Non-human primates, especially those targeted by hunting, have experienced a significant decline in population abundance and have struggled to recover even after receiving increased protection. However, other primate species have shown a slight increase in abundance with improved habitat protection. These findings highlight the species-specific vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbances and recovery patterns in primate populations.
Article
Anthropology
Alba Rey-Iglesia, Deon de Jager, Samantha Presslee, Sarah Skytte Qvistgaard, Soren Michael Sindbaek, Eline D. Lorenzen
Summary: We used biomolecular methods to identify the faunal species present in hair combs and associated workshop debris discovered in Ribe, Denmark. Through analysis of peptide mass fingerprinting and ancient DNA, we confirmed the use of moose antler combs in Denmark during the Late Iron Age and Viking Age. Our findings suggest that these combs were brought to the site as finished items by travellers from the Scandinavian Peninsula, indicating early presence of visitors from this region in Ribe.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Iris Hordijk, Daniel S. Maynard, Simon P. Hart, Lidong Mo, Hans ter Steege, Jingjing Liang, Sergio de-Miguel, Gert-Jan Nabuurs, Peter B. Reich, Meinrad Abegg, C. Yves Adou Yao, Giorgio Alberti, Angelica M. Almeyda Zambrano, Braulio V. Alvarado, Alvarez-Davila Esteban, Patricia Alvarez-Loayza, Luciana F. Alves, Christian Ammer, Clara Anton-Fernandez, Alejandro Araujo-Murakami, Luzmila Arroyo, Valerio Avitabile, Gerardo A. Aymard C, Timothy Baker, Radomir Balazy, Olaf Banki, Jorcely Barroso, Meredith L. Bastian, Jean-Francois Bastin, Luca Birigazzi, Philippe Birnbaum, Robert Bitariho, Pascal Boeckx, Frans Bongers, Olivier Bouriaud, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Susanne Brandl, Roel Brienen, Eben N. Broadbent, Helge Bruelheide, Filippo Bussotti, Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, Ricardo G. Cesar, Goran Cesljar, Robin Chazdon, Han Y. H. Chen, Chelsea Chisholm, Emil Cienciala, Connie J. Clark, David B. Clark, Gabriel Colletta, David Coomes, Fernando Cornejo Valverde, Jose J. Corral-Rivas, Philip Crim, Jonathan Cumming, Selvadurai Dayanandan, Andre L. de Gasper, Mathieu Decuyper, Geraldine Derroire, Ben DeVries, Ilija Djordjevic, Amaral Ieda, Aurelie Dourdain, Engone Obiang Nestor Laurier, Brian Enquist, Teresa Eyre, Adande Belarmain Fandohan, Tom M. Fayle, Leandro V. Ferreira, Ted R. Feldpausch, Leena Finer, Markus Fischer, Christine Fletcher, Lorenzo Frizzera, Javier G. P. Gamarra, Damiano Gianelle, Henry B. Glick, David Harris, Andrew Hector, Andrea Hemp, Geerten Hengeveld, Bruno Herault, John Herbohn, Annika Hillers, Euridice N. Honorio Coronado, Cang Hui, Hyunkook Cho, Thomas Ibanez, Il Bin Jung, Nobuo Imai, Andrzej M. Jagodzinski, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Vivian Johanssen, Carlos A. Joly, Tommaso Jucker, Viktor Karminov, Kuswata Kartawinata, Elizabeth Kearsley, David Kenfack, Deborah Kennard, Sebastian Kepfer-Rojas, Gunnar Keppel, Mohammed Latif Khan, Timothy Killeen, Hyun Seok Kim, Kanehiro Kitayama, Michael Koehl, Henn Korjus, Florian Kraxner, Diana Laarmann, Mait Lang, Simon Lewis, Huicu Lu, Natalia Lukina, Brian Maitner, Yadvinder Malhi, Eric Marcon, Beatriz Schwantes Marimon, Ben Hur Marimon-Junior, Andrew Robert Marshall, Emanuel Martin, Olga Martynenko, Jorge A. Meave, Omar Melo-Cruz, Casimiro Mendoza, Cory Merow, Miscicki Stanislaw, Abel Monteagudo Mendoza, Vanessa Moreno, Sharif A. Mukul, Philip Mundhenk, Maria G. Nava-Miranda, David Neill, Victor Neldner, Radovan Nevenic, Michael Ngugi, Pascal A. Niklaus, Jacek Oleksyn, Petr Ontikov, Edgar Ortiz-Malavasi, Yude Pan, Alain Paquette, Alexander Parada-Gutierrez, Elena Parfenova, Minjee Park, Mar Parren, Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy, Pablo L. Peri, Sebastian Pfautsch, Oliver L. Phillips, Nicolas Picard, Maria Teresa Piedade, Daniel Piotto, Nigel C. A. Pitman, Irina Polo, Lourens Poorter, Axel Dalberg Poulsen, John R. Poulsen, Hans Pretzsch, Freddy Ramirez Arevalo, Zorayda Restrepo-Correa, Mirco Rodeghiero, Samir Rolim, Anand Roopsind, Francesco Rovero, Ervan Rutishauser, Purabi Saikia, Christian Salas-Eljatib, Peter Schall, Dmitry Schepaschenko, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Bernhard Schmid, Jochen Schongart, Eric B. Searle, Vladimir Seben, Josep M. Serra-Diaz, Douglas Sheil, Anatoly Shvidenko, Javier Silva-Espejo, Marcos Silveira, James Singh, Plini Sist, Ferry Slik, Bonaventure Sonke, Alexandre F. Souza, Krzysztof Sterenczak, Jens-Christian Svenning, Miroslav Svoboda, Ben Swanepoel, Natalia Targhetta, Nadja Tchebakova, Raquel Thomas, Elen Tikhonova, Peter Umunay, Vladimir Usoltsev, Renato Valencia, Fernando Valladares, Fons van Der Plas, Do Van Tran, Michael E. Van Nuland, Rodolfo Vasquez Martinez, Hans Verbeeck, Helder Viana, Alexander C. Vibrans, Simone Vieira, Klaus von Gadow, Hua-Feng Wang, James Watson, Gijsbert D. A. Werner, Susan K. Wiser, Florian Wittmann, Verginia Wortel, Roderick Zagt, Tomasz Zawila-Niedzwiecki, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao, Mo Zhou, Zhi-Xin Zhu, Irie Casimir Zo-Bi, Thomas W. Crowther
Summary: Biodiversity is important for ecosystems, with higher species richness often leading to increased productivity. However, the relationship between biodiversity and productivity varies across environments and is less pronounced at high levels of species richness. Community evenness can mediate this relationship, and our study shows that it is negatively correlated with species richness and plays a crucial role in the biodiversity-productivity relationship.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
News Item
Biodiversity Conservation
Kofi Amponsah-Mensah, Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, Francesco Rovero, P. J. Stephenson
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nathalie van Vliet, Simon Quintero, Jonas Muhindo, Jonas Nyumu, Paolo Omar Cerutti, Robert Nasi, Francesco Rovero
Summary: In this study, the camera-trap assessment of terrestrial mammals in the Yangambi landscape was conducted for the first time, revealing lower occupancy and species richness compared to other conservation areas in the Congo Basin. The dominant species in the community are known for their high resilience, while large ungulates and medium-sized carnivores were found to have low abundances. The study also identified the presence of four threatened species, emphasizing the need for landscape-level conservation and collaborative management involving local communities.
Article
Ecology
Ilaria Greco, Christina Lynette Paddock, Grainne Michelle McCabe, Claudia Barelli, Steven Shinyambala, Arafat S. Mtui, Francesco Rovero
Summary: The decline of mammals worldwide necessitates quantitative population assessments, especially for range-restricted and threatened species. However, estimating robust abundances for elusive or difficult to detect species presents challenges. In this study, we calibrated density estimates from acoustic surveys with occupancy estimates from camera-trapping detections to determine the abundance of the endangered Sanje mangabey (Cercocebus sanjei) in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. Our results indicate higher density and abundance in the nature reserve compared to previous studies, providing optimism for the species' status despite potential vulnerability to human disturbance.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Maximilian L. Allen, Francesco Rovero, Valentina Oberosler, Claudio Augugliaro, Miha Krofel
Summary: Olfactory communication is crucial for Pallas's cats to communicate and delineate territories, and they may reduce advertising their presence in response to the occurrence of snow leopards to minimize predation risk.
Article
Ecology
Lucinda P. Lawson, Simon P. Loader, John V. Lyakurwa, Michele Menegon, H. Christoph Liedtke
Summary: Human impact on ecosystems has significantly altered the environment globally. While deforestation has been extensively studied, the introduction of non-native plantations also has major consequences. This study examines the effects of land use change on amphibian communities in the Udzungwa Plateau in Tanzania by comparing surveys conducted before and after the introduction of non-native plantations. The results indicate that local extinctions may have occurred, with remaining amphibians confined to wetlands. This study highlights the urgent need for further research on the impact of non-native plantations on natural communities.
Article
Ecology
Daniel Gorczynski, Francesco Rovero, Arafat Mtui, Steven Shinyambala, Joseph Martine, Chia Hsieh, Luke Frishkoff, Lydia Beaudrot
Summary: The habitat surface area of tropical forest floors plays an important role in promoting animal occupancy and functional diversity. Greater habitat surface area provides more resources and habitat space, leading to higher animal diversity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexis Marchesini, Andrea Silverj, Sara Torre, Omar Rota-Stabelli, Matteo Girardi, Iacopo Passeri, Ilaria Fracasso, Federico Sebastiani, Cristiano Vernesi
Summary: In this study, the European beech was subjected to whole-genome resequencing, revealing clear genetic differentiation at the chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nuclear genome levels. The divergence between the Alpine and Apennine populations was dated back to approximately 660 thousand years ago, indicating a long history of separation. This information has important conservation implications for the adaptation of this tree species to ongoing climate changes.
Article
Ecology
Asuncion Semper-Pascual, Douglas Sheil, Lydia Beaudrot, Pierre Dupont, Soumen Dey, Jorge Ahumada, Emmanuel Akampurira, Robert Bitariho, Santiago Espinosa, Patrick A. A. Jansen, Marcela Guimaraes Moreira Lima, Emanuel H. H. Martin, Badru Mugerwa, Francesco Rovero, Fernanda Santos, Eustrate Uzabaho, Richard Bischof
Summary: The occurrence dynamics of wildlife populations in protected areas are influenced by anthropogenic stressors, particularly affecting habitat specialists and generalist species differently. The study found that colonization probability of habitat specialists is influenced by local-scale forest cover when the landscape-scale fragmentation is low, while survival probability of generalist species is more affected by the forest edge when the landscape-scale human population density is low.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Markus Osaland Fjelde, Einar Timdal, Reidar Haugan, Mika Bendiksby
Summary: This study investigated the taxonomy of the crustose lichen genus Calvitimela using molecular phylogenetics and morphological observations. The results revealed evolutionarily old and deeply divergent lineages within Calvitimela, with overlapping morphological characters between different subgenera. Chemical characters were informative at the level of subgenera but often homoplastic at the species level. A practical taxonomy of Calvitimela was proposed based on these findings.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bo-Yang Shi, Da Pan, Kang-Qin Zhang, Tian-Yu Gu, Darren C. J. Yeo, Peter K. L. Ng, Neil Cumberlidge, Hong-Ying Sun
Summary: This study investigates the evolutionary history and speciation mechanisms of montane potamids in the Hengduan Mountains Region. The results suggest that the vicariance events of these crabs are correlated with the emergence of sky islands due to the uplift of the mountains. The mountain ridges provided corridors for their dispersal and past climatic conditions played a crucial role in their evolutionary history. The mechanisms isolating sky islands are reinforced by the climatic features of dry-hot valleys and continue to affect local diversification.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Attila Nemeth, Edvard Mizsei, Levente Laczko, David Czaban, Zsolt Hegyeli, Szabolcs Lengyel, Gabor Csorba, Gabor Sramko
Summary: Species delimitation of European blind mole rats is challenging due to their small morphological differences and complex chromosomal evolution. This study provides a comprehensive framework to improve understanding of their evolutionary history and revise their taxonomy. The results reveal the presence of multiple superspecies and species, with distinct geographic patterns and rapid chromosomal evolution.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ying Qi, Zhaoyan Zhong, Xu Liu, Xing He, Yadong Zhou, Lili Zhang, Chong Chen, Katrin Linse, Jian-Wen Qiu, Jin Sun
Summary: This study investigates the phylogenetic relationships among patellogastropod families using mitochondrial and phylogenomic data. The results show that the mitochondrial phylogeny recovers monophyly of most families, but the relationships among families are still contentious. However, a more robust family-level topology consistent with morphology is achieved by phylogenomics. Additionally, the mainly deep-water families are found to be monophyletic, suggesting a single colonization of the deep water during the Jurassic.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Jie Shi, Jin -Liang Huang, Jia-Xuan Mi, Jing Li, Fan-Yu Meng, Yu Zhong, Fang He, Fei -Fei Tian, Fan Zhang, Liang-Hua Chen, Han-Bo Yang, Hong-Lin Hu, Xue-Qin Wan
Summary: Despite numerous studies on hybrid speciation, our understanding of this process remains limited. In this study, we conducted an 18-year systematic investigation on Populus taxa on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and discovered three new taxa that originated from distant hybridization between two different sections. These hybrid taxa demonstrate greater ecological adaptability than their ancestral species due to heterosis. We propose a hybrid speciation process model that can explain important evolutionary concerns.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Cho, Denis Tikhonenkov, Gordon Lax, Kristina I. Prokina, Patrick J. Keeling
Summary: Unlike conspicuous ochrophytes, many small and overlooked flagellates belonging to basally branching stramenopiles remain poorly characterized at the cellular or genomic level. This study describes four new species, including two new genera, of sediment-dwelling MAST-6 and provides updated phylogenomic tree of stramenopiles. The characterization of these flagellates is important due to their phylogenetic diversity and abundance in various environments.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian-Tian Xue, Steven B. Janssens, Bin-Bin Liu, Sheng-Xiang Yu
Summary: Phylogenomic conflicts are widespread among genomic data, with most previous studies primarily focusing on nuclear datasets instead of organellar genomes. In this study, we investigated the phylogenetic conflicts within and between plastid and mitochondrial genomes using Potentilla as a case study. We found that both plastid and mitochondrial genomes divided Potentilla into eight highly supported clades, with two newly identified clades. Our results demonstrate that mitochondrial genes can fully resolve phylogenetic relationships among major clades of Potentilla and are not always linked with plastomes in evolutionary history.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra A. Grossi, Chunpo Tian, Mengjiao Ren, Fasheng Zou, Daniel R. Gustafsson
Summary: This study suggests that the coevolutionary relationships between chewing lice, endosymbiotic bacteria, and birds are not independent, but the patterns vary depending on the analysis method used. Additionally, louse host-switching does not seem to affect bacterial strains.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ingrid Olivares, Sergio Tusso, Maria Jose Sanin, Marylaure de La Harpe, Oriane Loiseau, Jonathan Rolland, Nicolas Salamin, Michael Kessler, Kentaro K. Shimizu, Margot Paris
Summary: Traditionally, differences between species have been associated with morphological variation. However, the discovery of cryptic diversity suggests that the evolution of distinct lineages can occur without morphological differences. Through genetic analysis, we found that a tropical montane plant lineage is composed of numerous unrecognized genetic groups that are not morphologically distinct. Geographic distance and topography play a crucial role in determining the genetic divergence of these groups.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2024)
