Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Barcelo, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Karen A. Stockin, Kerstin Bilgmann, Catherine R. M. Attard, Nikki Zanardo, Guido J. Parra, Krista Hupman, Isabella M. Reeves, Emma L. Betty, Gabriela Tezanos-Pinto, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Luciana M. Moeller
Summary: The study reveals a complex population structure and connectivity of common dolphins in the Australasian region, involving migration and gene flow across international jurisdictions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evlyn Pless, Anders M. Eckburg, Brenna M. Henn
Summary: This study developed a machine learning method to simultaneously analyze multiple factors that influence genetic patterns and migration rates. By applying this method to 30 human populations in eastern Africa, precipitation, minimum temperature of the coldest month, and elevation were found to have the greatest impact on migration rates.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Simon Jacobsen Ellerstrand, Shruti Choudhury, Kajsa Svensson, Martin N. Andersson, Carsten Kirkeby, Daniel Powell, Fredrik Schlyter, Anna Maria Jonsson, Mikkel Brydegaard, Bengt Hansson, Anna Runemark
Summary: Research shows that the population structure of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle in Sweden is weak, indicating a high capacity for dispersion and establishment of outbreak populations in new territories.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Fangyuan Yin, Chuanjiang Guo, Zhuojia Tian, Dong Li, Daoe Mu, Haoting Liu, Guiquan Guan, Hong Yin, Facai Li
Summary: Babesia gibsoni is a tick-borne protozoan causing canine babesiosis. Genetic variation of B. gibsoni population was examined to understand disease transmission and develop control strategies. Results showed high genetic diversity within populations and significant differentiation across continents.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Sarah Petermann, Sabine Otto, Gerrit Eichner, Marc F. Schetelig
Summary: The study found that the SWD populations in Germany are highly homogeneous, without differences between populations or years, indicating good adaptation and minimal external invasions. However, the high genetic variability and migration between populations could lead to a rapid establishment of the pest species.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Artemis D. Treindl, Jessica Stapley, Adrian Leuchtmann
Summary: Understanding the genetic processes driving the evolution of plant pathogens is crucial for both plant pathologists and evolutionary biologists. This study focused on the genetic structure of pathogen populations infecting wild plants in natural ecosystems, rather than agricultural systems. The researchers collected samples of two pathogenic Epichloe species occurring sympatrically on different host grasses in Europe and analyzed their genetic diversity and population structure. They found that geographically separated populations formed genetically distinct groups for both species, but the separation was less distinct in one species compared to the other. The researchers also observed different patterns of population admixture and genetic differentiation between the two species, suggesting potential differences in dispersal abilities and gene flow. The study provides insights into the evolutionary contexts of these fungal pathogens and their co-evolutionary dynamics.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
K. N. Mallikarjuna, Bhoopal Singh Tomar, Manisha Mangal, Naveen Singh, Deepak Singh, Sachin Kumar, Avinash Tomer, Balraj Singh, Gograj Singh Jat
Summary: This study conducted a diversity analysis of 96 bitter gourd genotypes, revealing a high level of agro-morphological and genetic diversity. Cluster analysis and population structure analysis grouped the genotypes into different clusters and populations. Trait-specific genotypes with early maturity and high-yielding ability were identified based on quantitative trait analysis. These findings contribute to the development of improved cultivars and hybrids of bitter gourd.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter J. Wright, Alice Doyle, John B. Taggart, Andrew Davie
Summary: This study used a combination of genotypic screening and phenotypic traits to define the scale of population structuring in Atlantic cod, revealing finer scale structuring than previously reported, which persisted over a decade. Spatial variation in phenotypic traits reflected genetic variation, providing an explanation for differences in maturation schedules and temperature exposure. The study highlights the mismatch between stock divisions and population units, leading to misunderstandings about stock recovery.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qi Wu, Shang Dong, Yuxin Zhao, Lei Yang, Xiujin Qi, Zhihe Ren, Shubin Dong, Jin Cheng
Summary: The genetic diversity and structure of C. macranthos populations in northern China are influenced by biological characteristics, human interference, habitat fragmentation, and restricted gene flow. The results of this study can provide a basis for proposing conservation strategies.
Article
Agronomy
Dongxue Yan, Liang Huang, Yun Xing, Hongfu Li, Chongjing Xia, Aolin Wang, Li Gao, Taiguo Liu, Wanquan Chen
Summary: Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), had a severe outbreak in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in 2019, while the disease was mild in north-western China. By analyzing the genetic structure of 210 Pst samples collected from the Yangtze River basin, it was found that the autumn inoculum sources of wheat stripe rust in 2019 in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River probably originated from south-western over-summering areas through long-distance migration. Additionally, Jingzhou and adjacent areas in Hubei Province play an important role as a bridge or stopover for the inoculum sources.
Article
Horticulture
Xiang Li, Minghui Zhao, Yujin Xu, Yan Li, Mulualem Tigabu, Xiyang Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the population genetic structure and genetic differentiation of Pinus koraiensis in northeast China, revealing significant genetic differentiation among populations with high levels of genetic diversity within populations. The results provide valuable genetic information for future genome-wide association studies and breeding programs, contributing to the conservation and management strategies for this valuable conifer species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Delphine B. H. Chabanne, Simon J. Allen, William Bruce Sherwin, Hugh Finn, Michael Krutzen
Summary: The study conducted on Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Perth found four behavioral communities with similar genetic structures but small differentiation due to related individuals within communities. The high levels of contemporary migration and related individuals among communities suggest a panmictic genetic population with continuous gene flow. Despite genetic similarity, each social community should be considered a distinct ecological unit for conservation due to exposure to different threats and occurrence in different habitats.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Tianlong He, Achyut Kumar Banerjee, Haidan Wu, Dongyin He, Yuting Lin, Fengxiao Tan, Guangwen Tan, Yelin Huang
Summary: The study found that C. rosea in the South China Sea and Indo-West Pacific region has high genetic diversity and moderate genetic differentiation, with a subtle genetic structure influenced by the oceanic circulation pattern of the South China Sea. Despite a significant relationship between geographic distance and genetic differentiation, a continuous distribution model of gene flow may have influenced the population structure of C. rosea in this region.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Karine E. Posbic-Leydet, Kelsey L. Glennon, Jolene T. Fisher, Don R. Church, Sheri A. Church
Summary: Research examined the connectivity of marbled salamanders using genetic data and field observations. The results showed generally consistent dispersal estimates between the two methods, with field data providing a more complex understanding of movement patterns. Both methods are valuable for conservation management planning.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xena M. Mapel, Ethan F. Gyllenhaal, Tejashree H. Modak, Lucas H. DeCicco, Alivereti Naikatini, Ruth B. Utzurrum, Joshua O. Seamon, Alice Cibois, Jean-Claude Thibault, Michael D. Sorenson, Robert G. Moyle, Lisa N. Barrow, Michael J. Andersen
Summary: The study explored diversification patterns in bird populations in the South Pacific, finding three clades of Foulehaio with population structure between adjacent islands and body size variation correlated with island size in F. carunculatus.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Nicola Ransome, Lars Bejder, Micheline Jenner, Gavin Penfold, Violeta J. Brosig, Craig Kitson, Rebecca Skjothaug, Emma Neilson, Neil R. Loneragan, Joshua N. Smith
Summary: Documented cases of cetacean births in the wild are rare, but humpback whales are one of the few large whale species where observers have been present during a birthing event. This study compiled eyewitness accounts of all known humpback whale birthing events, identifying nine well-documented cases globally. In most cases, another escort whale was present during the birthing event, with multiple escorts observed in some instances.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Krista Nicholson, Lars Bejder, Neil Loneragan
Summary: This study revealed resource partitioning within a resident estuarine dolphin population based on social structure. The heterogeneity in space use and diet among social clusters may lead to individuals facing different pressures and threats. Dolphins were identified as apex predators in the Peel-Harvey Estuary ecosystem, exerting significant influence on prey populations and ecosystem dynamics.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kurt N. Krispyn, Neil R. Loneragan, Alan K. Whitfield, James R. Tweedley
Summary: This study found that high salinity has a significant impact on fish faunas and ecosystem functioning in estuaries, resulting in a decrease in fish species and changes in salinity tolerance. The cryptic species complex hypothesis is supported, with only a few species able to survive in high salinity environments.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Livia Gerber, Richard C. Connor, Simon J. Allen, Kay Horlacher, Stephanie L. King, William B. Sherwin, Erik P. Willems, Samuel Wittwer, Michael Kruetzen
Summary: Understanding the factors that determine differential reproductive success is crucial in evolutionary biology. Social relationships, particularly in males, play a significant role in fitness and reproductive opportunities. A study on unrelated male bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia revealed that well-integrated males with more homogeneous social bonds achieved higher paternities. This highlights the adaptive value of social bonds in polyadic cooperation among unrelated males.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanna N. de Klerk, Philip A. Robinson
Summary: This study investigates the demographics and habitat use of the reef manta ray within Komodo National Park using a long-term library of photo identification data. The results demonstrate that reef manta rays show site fidelity to specific locations within the park, with differences in behavior observed between gender and age groups. The study also highlights the impact of tourism on manta rays and their critical habitats within the park.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elinor Jax, Paolo Franchini, Vaishnovi Sekar, Jente Ottenburghs, Daniel Monne Parera, Roman T. Kellenberger, Katharine E. Magor, Inge Mueller, Martin Wikelski, Robert H. S. Kraus
Summary: Animal species differ in their ability to fight off infections. We conducted a study using genomics to investigate the evolutionary forces acting on the innate immune system in natural hosts of the avian influenza virus. We found that specific genes involved in the immune response play crucial roles and may contribute to differences in susceptibility and resistance to infectious diseases in wild birds. These findings enhance our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and provide new insights into potential drug targets.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sadye Paez, Robert H. S. Kraus, Beth Shapiro, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Erich D. Jarvis
Article
Zoology
Svenja M. Marfurt, Simon J. Allen, Manuela R. Bizzozzero, Erik P. Willems, Stephanie L. King, Richard C. Connor, Anna M. Kopps, Sonja Wild, Livia Gerber, Samuel Wittwer, Michael Kruetzen
Summary: Social structuring in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins is influenced by a combination of genetic, cultural, and environmental factors. Associations between individuals are influenced by kinship, cultural behavior, and habitat similarity. Individuals within the same communities share the same habitat and foraging techniques, indicating a strong homophilic tendency.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Katharina J. Peters, Livia Gerber, Luca Scheu, Riccardo Cicciarella, Joseph A. Zoller, Zhe Fei, Steve Horvath, Simon J. Allen, Stephanie L. King, Richard C. Connor, Lee Ann Rollins, Michael Krutzen
Summary: The use of epigenetic clocks allows accurate age determination and sex prediction for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, providing a non-invasive method for extracting life history information.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel Wittwer, Livia Gerber, Simon J. Allen, Erik P. Willems, Svenja M. Marfurt, Michael Krutzen
Summary: This study investigated the colonization history of Tursiops aduncus populations along the Western Australian coastline. The results showed that these populations likely originated from the north and expanded southwards after the last glacial maximum. It highlights the ability of dolphins to rapidly adapt to changing coastal environments in response to global sea level and temperature changes.
Article
Fisheries
James R. Tweedley, Clara Obregon, Sarah J. Beukes, Neil R. Loneragan, Michael Hughes
Summary: Effective fisheries management requires understanding the motivations of different fishers and the characteristics of their fishing activities. This study found that recreational crab fishers in Western Australia are mainly motivated by consumption, aiming to catch big crabs for eating, while black bream fishers are motivated by sport/challenge, with catching a bream above legal size being the strongest motivation. The differences in motivations between the two fisheries are likely influenced by factors such as accessibility, ease of catching, cost of equipment, and taste.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Whitney R. R. Friedman, Michael Krutzen, Stephanie L. L. King, Simon J. J. Allen, Livia Gerber, Samuel Wittwer, Richard C. C. Connor
Summary: The social intelligence hypothesis suggests that complex social relationships are the driving force behind the evolution of large brain size and intelligence. A study on male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, reveals the formation of strategic inter-group alliances, even at the third-order alliance level. The study found strong differentiation in third-order alliance relationships, with key individuals playing a significant role in maintaining alliances.
Article
Fisheries
Yudi Herdiana, Budy Wiryawan, Sugeng H. Wisudo, James R. Tweedley, Irfan Yulianto, Mohamad Natsir, Siska Agustina, Adrian Hordyk, Neil R. Loneragan
Summary: This study evaluates the management procedures for the leopard coral grouper fishery in Saleh Bay, Indonesia using the MERA platform. The results suggest that the currently implemented harvest control rules may not be effective in achieving the management objective. The study recommends exploring additional management measures.
Article
Fisheries
James R. Tweedley, Clara Obregon, Sarah J. Beukes, Neil R. Loneragan, Michael Hughes
Summary: This study aimed to understand recreational fishers' views on management options for the Blue Swimmer Crab and Black Bream fisheries, and to determine the strength and heterogeneity of these views. The study found that minimum size limits were generally considered acceptable, while restrictions on fishing and spatial closures were the least supported management options. Stock enhancement was the most popular measure and was believed to have positive outcomes for abundance and catches of the target species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anke Seidlitz, Kate A. Bryant, Nicola J. Armstrong, Adrian F. Wayne
Summary: Choosing suitable camera models and deployment methods is crucial for wildlife studies using camera traps. This study found that using cameras with wider detection angles and periodically repositioning cameras can increase the performance of camera traps. Swift 3C wide-angle camera traps had better performance and were more useful for community-level and species-level studies. Factors such as detection angle and sensor sensitivity should be considered when selecting camera trap models to ensure reliable study results. Periodically repositioning cameras within sites is a promising technique to reduce bias, animal avoidance, and enhance spatial/habitat information.
PACIFIC CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
