Article
Microbiology
Tomas Obert, Ivan Rurik, Peter Vd'acny
Summary: The study explores the diversity of astome ciliates inhabiting the digestive tract of lumbricid earthworms in Central Europe using nuclear and mitochondrial markers, shedding light on their coevolution with hosts and host specificity. The findings suggest that almost every host switch leads to speciation and firm association with the new host.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark S. Hibbins, Lara C. Breithaupt, Matthew W. Hahn
Summary: Phylogenetic comparative methods are crucial in evolutionary biology, but they often fail to account for discordant gene trees that do not align with the species tree. We introduce two new methods that incorporate gene tree histories into comparative analysis and show that they provide more accurate estimates of trait evolution than traditional methods. Applying these methods to floral traits in the Solanum genus, we demonstrate the impact of gene tree discordance on trait variation. Our approaches have broad applications in phylogenetics, including ancestral state reconstruction and lineage-specific rate shifts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Abhisek Chakraborty, Shruti Mahajan, Manohar S. Bisht, Vineet K. Sharma
Summary: This study sequenced the genomes of Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa, and revealed the evolutionary adaptations of key cellular mechanisms related to longevity through comparative analysis. The study also provided clues on the potential existence of the CAM pathway in these Ficus species.
Article
Agronomy
Zhenhao Zhang, Yanyun Jin, Yadi Gao, Yong Zhang, Qicai Ying, Chenjia Shen, Jiangjie Lu, Xiaori Zhan, Huizhong Wang, Shangguo Feng
Summary: In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequences of Physalis macrophysa (PMA) and Physalis ixocarpa (PIX) were obtained and compared to the genome sequences of 10 other Physalis species. The results showed strong similarities in genome structure and gene content between PMA and PIX. The analysis also revealed regions with significant nucleotide divergence and identified eight genes under positive selection. This research provides valuable information for species identification, phylogenetic studies, evolution research, and germplasm resource exploitation in Physalis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Akesson, Alva Curtsdotter, Anna Ekloef, Bo Ebenman, Jon Norberg, Gyoergy Barabas
Summary: Eco-evolutionary dynamics play a crucial role in shaping biological responses to climate change. Species interactions and competition can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, leading to more variable and responsive communities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Eric K. Moody, Tyler J. Butts, Rachel Fleck, Punidan D. Jeyasingh, Grace M. Wilkinson
Summary: Microevolution can impact higher levels of ecological organization, with human activities playing a role in driving rapid divergence among populations. The study on the trait variation in Daphnia due to cultural eutrophication in temperate lakes reveals potential trade-offs, mediated by genetic variation, in performance at different phosphorus levels. These results suggest the importance of considering evolutionary change in ecosystem models when forecasting the effects of anthropogenic environmental changes on crucial ecosystem services, especially in eutrophic freshwater ecosystems worldwide.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Weicai Song, Zimeng Chen, Li He, Qi Feng, Hongrui Zhang, Guilin Du, Chao Shi, Shuo Wang
Summary: In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of wax gourd was assembled and annotated. Comparison analyses with other Cucurbitaceae species revealed significant variations in nucleotide content, genome structure, and genetic markers. The study provides valuable genetic information for taxonomic research and phylogenetic inference.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hao Wang, Xiaopeng Zhu, Yuepeng Liu, Sulan Luo, Dongting Zhangsun
Summary: This study characterized and compared the mitochondrial genomes of four newly sequenced Conus species, providing valuable data for understanding the phylogenetic relationships and classification of cone snails in the South China Sea. The results indicated that protein-coding genes and the complete mitogenome are reliable markers for inferring the phylogenetic relationship of Conus species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiangyu Tian, Jia Guo, Xiaojiao Zhou, Ke Ma, Yonggui Ma, Tuansheng Shi, Yuhua Shi
Summary: Many species of the genus Kalanchoe have evolved the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway for better adaptation to dry environments, although the monophyly of Kalanchoe is still debated. Plastomes of five Kalanchoe species were sequenced and analyzed, revealing similarities in size, GC contents, and gene numbers. Identification of SSRs, long repeats, and highly divergent regions could aid in future phylogenetic studies, while genomic analyses suggest potential roles of certain genes in the adaptive evolution of Kalanchoe to dry environments.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jacob D. Gardner, Chris L. Organ
Summary: Phylogenetic comparative methods are often used to study evolution and adaptation, but commonly used models may incorrectly detect correlated evolution for discrete traits. Simulation studies show that small evolutionary sample sizes can lead to poor rate parameter estimation, affecting the model selection process. The study provides recommendations for researchers to improve study designs, evaluate evolutionary models, and consider evidence from diverse fields when studying correlated evolution hypotheses.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Karoline Ceron, Lilian P. P. Sales, Diego J. J. Santana, Mathias M. M. Pires
Summary: Biodiversity loss not only includes species loss, but also loss in functional, phylogenetic, and interaction diversity. However, each aspect of biodiversity may respond differently to extinctions. This study examines the impact of extinction driven by climate and land-use changes on different facets of diversity using empirical data, species distribution modeling, and extinction simulations. The results show a mismatch in the response of functional, phylogenetic, and interaction diversity to extinction, with stronger effects on interaction diversity. Assessing species interactions is necessary to understand how species loss translates into the loss of ecosystem functions.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Celine Bellard, Camille Bernery, Camille Leclerc
Summary: Biological invasions play a significant role in global biodiversity decline, with potential extinction debt and shifts in ecological strategies and evolutionary history of mammals and birds. The impact of invasive species on phylogenetic and trait dimensions of diversity is evident, particularly in the Oceanian realm, suggesting the need for a comprehensive approach in future studies to prioritize spatial strategies for combatting IAS threats worldwide.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benoit Perez-Lamarque, Guilhem Sommeria-Klein, Lorena Duret, Helene Morlon
Summary: This article discusses the evolution of host-associated microbial communities as their hosts diversify. It explores the conservation of their composition, the composition of ancestral microbiota, and the covariation of microbial taxa abundance over millions of years. The study employs multivariate phylogenetic models and extends these models to estimate phylosymbiosis, ancestral microbiota composition, and integration of bacterial abundances.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qing Du, Jing Li, Liqiang Wang, Haimei Chen, Mei Jiang, Zhuoer Chen, Chuanbei Jiang, Haidong Gao, Bin Wang, Chang Liu
Summary: The complete chloroplast genome of Swertia kouitchensis has been sequenced and compared with that of S. bimaculata to determine evolutionary relationships. The study revealed polymorphic chloroplast genomes in Swertia species, with specific primers being potential effective molecular markers for identification.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mikael Pontarp
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between competition, diversification, and trait- and phylogenetic community patterns, revealing potential counterintuitive relationships between competition and mean phylogenetic distances, especially in cases of weak competition. The results offer new perspectives on community assembly and highlight the importance of recognizing eco-evolutionary processes when interpreting community data.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Pamela Friedemann, Marina Correa Cortes, Everaldo Rodrigo de Castro, Mauro Galetti, Pedro Jordano, Paulo R. Guimaraes Jr
Summary: The study found that individual palm characteristics did not influence interaction patterns in the network, but habitat type significantly affected network modularity. This suggests that the organization of individual-based networks is mainly driven by habitat type.
Editorial Material
Ecology
Tomas A. Carlo, Eliana Cazetta, Anna Traveset, Paulo R. Guimaraes, Kim R. McConkey
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Julia Tavella, Fredric M. Windsor, Debora C. Rother, Darren M. Evans, Paulo R. Guimaraes, Tania P. Palacios, Marcelo Lois, Mariano Devoto
Summary: Advances in network ecology provide new tools for sustainable management of agroecosystems. This study explores the use of motifs in agricultural ecological networks to identify key plant species in field margins. The findings support the use of motifs in multi-trophic interaction networks to reveal the role of key plant species in sustaining ecological functions involving crops and other plant species.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Diane S. Srivastava, A. Andrew M. MacDonald, Valerio D. Pillar, Pavel Kratina, Vanderlei J. Debastiani, Laura Melissa Guzman, Mark Kurtis Trzcinski, Olivier Dezerald, Ignacio M. Barberis, Paula M. de Omena, Gustavo Q. Romero, Fabiola Ospina-Bautista, Nicholas A. C. Marino, Celine Leroy, Vinicius F. Farjalla, Barbara A. Richardson, Ana Z. Goncalves, Bruno Corbara, Jana S. Petermann, Michael J. Richardson, Michael C. Melnychuk, Merlijn Jocque, Jacqueline T. Ngai, Stanislas Talaga, Gustavo C. O. Piccoli, Guillermo Montero, Kathryn R. Kirby, Brian M. Starzomski, Regis Cereghino
Summary: This study examines the influence of environmental gradients on species composition and trait-based assembly patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrates in tropical bromeliads.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Larissa Oliveira Goncalves, Andreas Kindel, Vinicius Augusto Galvao Bastazini, Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira
Summary: Road networks have an impact on ecological connectivity, and it is important to include ecological connectivity in environmental impact assessments (EIAs) of road projects. This letter discusses overcoming existing gaps and obstacles in considering connectivity loss in EIAs and improving mitigation measures. The cooperation between stakeholders and practitioners should be increased, and future research should focus on integrating connectivity into EIA practice.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND PROJECT APPRAISAL
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Nicolas Caram, Felipe Casalas, Marcelo O. Wallau, Pablo Soca, Valerio D. Pillar, Monica Cadenazzi, Pablo Boggiano
Summary: This study investigated the impact of spatial and temporal variation in above-ground biomass on leaf traits and functional groups in grasslands, and found that the variation in above-ground biomass is associated with functional composition and diversity. The results suggest that grazing management practices can be used to enhance biodiversity conservation and livestock production in native grasslands.
APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Milan Chytry, Valerio D. Pillar, Jodi N. Price, Viktoria Wagner, Susan K. Wiser, David Zeleny
APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bruna Claudia S. Jorge, Bruna Raquel Winck, Luciana da Silva Menezes, Bruno C. Bellini, Valerio D. Pillar, Luciana Regina Podgaiski
Summary: The afforestation of subtropical grasslands with Eucalyptus significantly decreased plant richness, soil pH, and soil temperature. It also negatively affected microbial biomass, soil basal respiration, and enzyme activities. Grassland afforestation altered the taxonomic and functional composition of Collembola communities.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Viktoria Wagner, Valerio D. Pillar, Jodi N. Price, Milan Chytry
JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lucas A. Camacho, Cecilia Siliansky de Andreazzi, Lucas P. Medeiros, Irina Birskis-Barros, Carine Emer, Carolina Reigada, Paulo R. R. Guimaraes Jr
Summary: A fundamental fact about mutualisms is that there are cheaters that benefit from the use of resources and services without providing any positive feedback to other species. The role of cheaters in the evolutionary dynamics of mutualisms has long been recognized, yet their broader impacts at the community level, beyond species they directly interact with, is still poorly understood. Because mutualisms form networks often involving dozens of species, indirect effects generated by cheaters may cascade through the whole community, reshaping trait evolution.
Article
Ecology
Fernando Cesar Goncalves Bonfim, Pavel Dodonov, Paulo R. R. Guimaraes Jr, Eliana Cazetta
Summary: Habitat loss has pervasive effects on biodiversity and ecological networks, leading to changes in network structure, species roles, and seed dispersal. Linear and non-linear relationships were found between habitat loss and network properties. In addition, habitat loss alters species interactions in the networks, affecting central species and indirect effects.
Article
Ecology
Thore Engel, Helge Bruelheide, Daniela Hoss, Francesco M. Sabatini, Jan Altman, Mohammed A. S. Arfin-Khan, Erwin Bergmeier, Tomas Cerny, Milan Chytry, Matteo Dainese, Juergen Dengler, Jiri Dolezal, Richard Field, Felicia M. Fischer, Dries Huygens, Ute Jandt, Florian Jansen, Anke Jentsch, Dirk N. Karger, Jens Kattge, Jonathan Lenoir, Frederic Lens, Jaqueline Loos, Ulo Niinemets, Gerhard E. Overbeck, Wim A. Ozinga, Josep Penuelas, Gwendolyn Peyre, Oliver Phillips, Peter B. Reich, Christine Roemermann, Brody Sandel, Marco Schmidt, Franziska Schrodt, Eduardo Velez-Martin, Cyrille Violle, Valerio Pillar
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of dominance and niche partitioning on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships in grassland systems worldwide. The results indicate that dominance effects, related to the traits of the dominant species, have a significant impact on BEF relationships, while functional diversity (FD) does not affect primary productivity (NDVI).
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wu-Bing Xu, Wen-Yong Guo, Josep M. Serra-Diaz, Franziska Schrodt, Wolf L. Eiserhardt, Brian J. Enquist, Brian S. Maitner, Cory Merow, Cyrille Violle, Madhur Anand, Michael Belluau, Hans Henrik Bruun, Chaeho Byun, Jane A. Catford, Bruno E. L. Cerabolini, Eduardo Chacon-Madrigal, Daniela Ciccarelli, J. Hans C. Cornelissen, Anh Tuan Dang-Le, Angel de Frutos, Arildo S. Dias, Aelton B. Giroldo, Alvaro G. Gutierrez, Wesley Hattingh, Tianhua He, Peter Hietz, Nate Hough-Snee, Steven Jansen, Jens Kattge, Benjamin Komac, Nathan J. B. Kraft, Koen Kramer, Sandra Lavorel, Christopher H. Lusk, Adam R. Martin, Ke-Ping Ma, Maurizio Mencuccini, Sean T. Michaletz, Vanessa Minden, Akira S. Mori, Uelo Niinemets, Yusuke Onoda, Renske E. Onstein, Josep Penuelas, Valerio D. Pillar, Jan Pisek, Matthew J. Pound, Bjorn J. M. Robroek, Brandon Schamp, Martijn Slot, Miao Sun, Enio E. Sosinski Jr, Nadejda A. Soudzilovskaia, Nelson Thiffault, Peter M. van Bodegom, Fons van der Plas, Jingming Zheng, Jens-Christian Svenning, Alejandro Ordonez
Summary: Studying the impacts of past climate change on biodiversity helps to understand the risks from future climate change. This study found that larger glacial-interglacial temperature change was associated with lower species replacements and higher richness changes in beta-diversity. Furthermore, regions with large temperature change showed lower phylogenetic and functional turnover and higher nestedness than expected, indicating selective processes during glacial-interglacial oscillations. These findings suggest that future human-driven climate change could lead to local homogenization and reduction in angiosperm tree diversity.
Article
Ecology
Luana S. Biz, Vinicius A. G. Bastazini, Fernando Carvalho, Maria Joao Ramos Pereira
Summary: This study investigates the interaction patterns between bats and ectoparasitic flies and finds that these interactions are influenced by the latitudinal gradient. With increasing latitude, network specialization, modularity, and connectivity increase, while network size decreases. Regions closer to the equator have higher parasite loads.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leandro G. Cosmo, Ana Paula A. Assis, Marcus A. M. de Aguiar, Mathias M. Pires, Alfredo Valido, Pedro Jordano, John N. Thompson, Jordi Bascompte, Paulo R. Guimaraes Jr
Summary: Ecological interactions are vital for maintaining biodiversity on Earth. This study investigates the impact of direct and indirect effects in mutualistic networks, showing that indirect effects play a major role in determining species fitness. Indirect effects prevent coevolving species from adapting to their mutualistic partners and other environmental pressures, resulting in decreased fitness. The topological effect of peripheral species experiencing more indirect effects and greater reduction in fitness compared to central species is evident. The study also highlights how honeybees as a central species in pollination networks increase indirect effects, thus reducing the fitness of other species.
