Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alan Fecchio, Henrique Batalha-Filho, Janice H. Dispoto, Jeffrey A. Bell, Jason D. Weckstein
Summary: Amazonia serves as the main source of diversity for haemosporidian parasites in South America, but our understanding of their biogeographical processes and contributions from different areas of endemism is incomplete. This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus parasites and finds that dispersal is the main driver of Plasmodium diversification, while duplication is more frequent in Parahaemoproteus. The results show that the Inambari area is the primary source of Plasmodium diversity on Marajó Island, but the island receives more Parahaemoproteus lineages from Cerrado habitats than any Amazonian area. The unique dispersal patterns and host-shifting ability of each parasite genus may have facilitated their diversification across Amazonia, with deep evolutionary history potentially constraining their colonization of Marajó Island.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nathan M. Michielsen, Steven M. Goodman, Voahangy Soarimalala, Alexandra A. E. van der Geer, Liliana M. Davalos, Grace Saville, Nathan Upham, Luis Valente
Summary: Many unique species in Madagascar are at risk of extinction, and the long-term impact of these extinctions in terms of evolutionary history is unknown. By analyzing the phylogenetic dataset of Madagascar's non-marine mammals, researchers estimated the natural rates of extinction, colonization, and speciation. The results showed that the extinction of currently threatened species would have a much greater impact on evolution than previous extinctions since human arrival. Immediate conservation actions are needed to prevent an imminent extinction wave with significant evolutionary consequences.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raquel A. Rodrigues, Gabriel M. F. Felix, Mauro Pichorim, Patricia A. Moreira, Erika M. Braga
Summary: The study investigated avian haemosporidian parasites in a protected area in northeastern Brazil, showing that migration and temperature may predict parasite prevalence. Individual-level traits and other species-specific factors were not related to infection probability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julien Louys, Todd J. Braje, Chun-Hsiang Chang, Richard Cosgrove, Scott M. Fitzpatrick, Masaki Fujita, Stuart Hawkins, Thomas Ingicco, Ai Kawamura, Ross D. E. MacPhee, Matthew C. McDowell, Hanneke J. M. Meijer, Philip J. Piper, Patrick Roberts, Alan H. Simmons, Gerrit van den Bergh, Alexandra van der Geer, Shimona Kealy, Sue O'Conor
Summary: The impact of modern humans on previously unoccupied island ecosystems and the extinction of Pleistocene megafauna are closely linked. However, current data does not support a direct association between Pleistocene hominin arrival and global extinctions, which are difficult to separate from environmental changes. It is not until the Holocene that significant changes in technology, dispersal, demography, and human behavior visibly affect island ecosystems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Daniela de Angeli Dutra, Rafael Barros Pereira Pinheiro, Alan Fecchio, Robert Poulin
Summary: Why do some regions share more or fewer species than others? Community assembly relies on factors such as geographic distance, environmental features, and host resources that determine the odds of a species colonizing a new environment. In this study, we explored the drivers of parasite turnover using avian malaria and malaria-like parasites. We found that parasite turnover is mainly driven by geographic distance, host functional traits, environmental conditions, and host distributions. Our findings provide insights into avian pathogen spread and the emergence of infectious diseases.
Article
Ornithology
Gabriel M. De La Torre, Karla M. Campiao, Jeffrey A. Bell, Allan M. Silva, Alan Fecchio
Summary: The study suggests that geographic barriers created by the Tapajos river affect bird community assembly but do not constrain mosquito and Plasmodium distributions. Additionally, bird communities may play a key-role in the community dynamics of mosquito vectors and Plasmodium parasites.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Juste Azelyte, Alejandra Wu-Chuang, Apolline Maitre, Rita Ziegyte, Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez, Dasiel Obregon, Vaidas Palinauskas, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
Summary: Avian malaria infection does not significantly change the alpha and beta diversity of the bird gut microbiome, but it does alter the composition and abundance of certain bacterial taxa. The progression of microbiome structural states differs between infected and uninfected birds. Infection by avian malaria parasites is associated with the presence of specific metabolic pathways and the abundance of these pathways changes over the course of infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martha Paola Barajas Barbosa, Dylan Craven, Patrick Weigelt, Pierre Denelle, Rudiger Otto, Sandra Diaz, Jonathan Price, Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Holger Kreft
Summary: Oceanic island floras are known for their unique morphological characteristics and provide examples of trait evolution. These morphological shifts are believed to be influenced by the biogeographical processes and evolutionary histories of oceanic islands. However, the mechanisms behind the distribution and diversity of plant functional traits remain unclear.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melanie Tietje, Alexandre Antonelli, William J. Baker, Rafael Govaerts, Stephen A. Smith, Wolf L. Eiserhardt
Summary: Species richness varies greatly around the world, and diversification rate is not the main factor explaining this variation. The study found that diversification rates are highest in dry areas with high edaphic diversity, contrary to the predictions of the Metabolic Theory of Ecology. Climate and environmental heterogeneity were confirmed as the main drivers of species richness, but there is no direct mechanistic link between diversification rate and species richness.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Peng Han, Yuhao Zhao, Yi Kang, Ping Ding, Xingfeng Si
Summary: This study examined the biogeography of bird soundscapes on land-bridge islands in Thousand Island Lake, China. The results showed that larger islands had higher diversity of avian soundscapes, while isolation had a negative effect on acoustic evenness. The study emphasizes the importance of considering both species and habitat diversity in understanding the mechanisms influencing biological soundscapes on islands.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Irene Pellegrino, Luca Ilahiane, Giovanni Boano, Marco Cucco, Marco Pavia, Heather L. Prestridge, Gary Voelker
Summary: This study is the first to investigate the prevalence of haemosporidian parasites in breeding birds on Sardinia, revealing an infection rate of 55.3% with 84 novel haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis did not identify Sardinia-specific clades, suggesting a relationship between Sardinian lineages and those from continental Europe. Host-parasite network analysis indicated a specialized community, and statistical models showed an elevational effect on haemosporidian occurrence probability and differences in infection likelihood between sedentary and migratory birds.
Article
Parasitology
Carolina C. Anjos, Thiago Bicudo, Alan Fecchio, Marina Anciaes, Bruno S. Mathias, Carolina R. F. Chagas, Jeffrey A. Bell, Lilian O. Guimaraes, Eliana F. Monteiro, Karin Kirchgatter
Summary: The construction of hydroelectric dams in the Brazilian Amazon can lead to biodiversity loss and disrupt the dynamics of bird communities. This study aims to assess the prevalence and molecular diversity of haemosporidian parasites in bird communities inhabiting artificial islands created by the Balbina Hydroelectric Dam. The results reveal a low overall prevalence of avian malaria in the studied bird species, with the discovery of new lineages and the potential impact of artificial islands on the parasites.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jose Martin Pujolar, Mozes P. K. Blom, Andrew Hart Reeve, Jonathan D. Kennedy, Petter Zahl Marki, Thorfinn S. Korneliussen, Benjamin G. Freeman, Katerina Sam, Ethan Linck, Tri Haryoko, Bulisa Iova, Bonny Koane, Gibson Maiah, Luda Paul, Martin Irestedt, Knud Andreas Jonsson
Summary: Using genomic data and demographic models, the authors show that populations in high elevations become isolated, while montane populations maintain gene flow for further colonization. Tropical mountains are important for Earth's biodiversity, with montane species typically inhabiting multiple mountainous regions. Pleistocene climate oscillations have had a significant impact on species demographics.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Melina Campos, Nikita Patel, Carly Marshall, Hans Gripkey, Robert E. Ditter, Marc W. Crepeau, Ali Toilibou, Yssouf Amina, Anthony J. Cornel, Yoosook Lee, Gregory C. Lanzaro
Summary: The study assessed the phylogenetics of Anopheles species and the genetic structure of Anopheles pretoriensis populations. It reported the mitochondria genome of A. pretoriensis and revealed the genetic relationship within the island of Grande Comore and between the island and continental Africa. The study highlights the significance of understanding secondary vectors of malaria, like A. pretoriensis, in sustaining malaria transmission after primary vectors are controlled.
Article
Microbiology
Carolina C. Anjos, Carolina R. F. Chagas, Alan Fecchio, Fabio Schunck, Maria J. Costa-Nascimento, Eliana F. Monteiro, Bruno S. Mathias, Jeffrey A. Bell, Lilian O. Guimaraes, Kiba J. M. Comiche, Gediminas Valkiunas, Karin Kirchgatter
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence, diversity, and distribution of avian haemosporidian parasites among resident and migratory birds in Serra do Mar, Brazil. The results showed that migratory species may harbor a higher diversity and prevalence of parasites than resident species, but transportation of some parasites by migratory hosts may not always affect local transmission. Additionally, a new species of Haemoproteus was described in this study.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yann X. C. Bourgeois, Joris A. M. Bertrand, Boris Delahaie, Helene Holota, Christophe Thebaud, Borja Mil
Article
Biology
Maeva Gabrielli, Benoit Nabholz, Thibault Leroy, Borja Mila, Christophe Thebaud
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Biology
Michel Baguette, Joris A. M. Bertrand, Virginie M. Stevens, Bertrand Schatz
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Joris A. M. Bertrand, Anais Gibert, Christel Llauro, Olivier Panaud
Summary: Some lineages of the orchid genus Ophrys exhibit high diversification rates. A hybrid assembly approach using genomic data successfully assembled whole plastid genomes for two new Ophrys species. The research supports the placement of the O. insectifera clade as sister group of non-basal Ophrys.
Article
Ecology
Ana Benitez-Lopez, Luca Santini, Juan Gallego-Zamorano, Borja Mila, Patrick Walkden, Mark A. J. Huijbregts, Joseph A. Tobias
Summary: A phylogenetic meta-analysis reveals that the 'island rule' effects are widespread in mammals, birds, and reptiles, but less evident in amphibians. The magnitude of insular dwarfism and gigantism is influenced by climate, island size, and isolation, with more pronounced effects in smaller, more remote islands for mammals and reptiles. The implications of the island rule for body size evolution are nuanced and context-dependent, depending on various ecological pressures and environmental conditions.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Borja Mila, Jade Bruxaux, Guillermo Friis, Katerina Sam, Hidayat Ashari, Christophe Thebaud
Summary: Researchers discovered an undescribed species of Satin Berrypecker in the Kumawa Mountains of Western New Guinea, which is sister to the phenotypically dissimilar Streaked Berrypecker. The phylogenetic analysis of Melanocharitidae revealed a high disparity in bill morphology and signalling traits across species, with interspecific genetic distances suggesting a long history of independent evolution.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guillermo Friis, Jonathan W. Atwell, Adam M. Fudickar, Timothy J. Greives, Pamela J. Yeh, Trevor D. Price, Ellen D. Ketterson, Borja Mila
Summary: This study investigates the genetic and phenotypic differences between an urban population of dark-eyed juncos and other populations, and reveals the importance of neutral and selective factors in evolution. The results show that the urban population is closely related to the coastal subspecies pinosus from central California, rather than the neighboring mountain population. Additionally, associations between habitat variables and genome-wide variants linked to functional genes suggest the role of adaptation in the urban environment.
Article
Ecology
Pascaline Salvado, Pere Aymerich Boixader, Josep Parera, Albert Vila Bonfill, Maria Martin, Celine Quelennec, Jean-Marc Lewin, Valerie Delorme-Hinoux, Joris A. M. Bertrand
Summary: Species endemic to restricted geographical ranges, especially plants in high-mountain ecosystems, are facing threats due to global change. The Pyrenean Larkspur, a species endemic to the Eastern part of the Pyrenees, is experiencing population decline and a lack of flowering. Population genomics approach was used to assess genetic diversity and population structure, revealing inbreeding and substantial population differentiation. Ecological Niche Modeling predicts a dramatic decrease in suitable habitat for the species in the future. Based on these findings, the relevance and feasibility of different conservation measures are discussed.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Guillermo Friis, Joel Vizueta, Ellen D. Ketterson, Borja Mila
Summary: This study presents a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the dark-eyed junco, providing valuable resources for genome evolution analysis.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Pascaline Salvado, Christel Llauro, Marie-Christine Carpentier, Valerie Delorme-Hinoux, Joris A. M. Bertrand
Summary: A hybrid assembly approach was used to successfully assemble the complete plastid genome of the endangered Delphinium montanum, which contains 136 genes and supports the polyphyly of the Delphinium genus.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anais Gibert, Florian Louty, Roselyne Buscail, Michel Baguette, Bertrand Schatz, Joris A. M. Bertrand
Summary: This study used image-based analysis and machine learning algorithms to distinguish two population groups of an orchid species complex. The results showed that combining field-captured pictures with machine learning classification approaches improved taxon identification accuracy and highlighted candidate traits for further study.
Article
Ornithology
Ester Martinez-Renau, Natalia Rojas-Estevez, Guillermo Friis, Julio C. Hernandez-Montoya, Pablo Elizondo, Borja Mila
Summary: This study investigated the diversity and prevalence of blood parasites in the avian genus Junco during its diversification in North America. The results showed high parasite diversity in Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon genera and low diversity in Plasmodium genus. The study also revealed that some parasite lineages remained specialized on Junco taxa as it diversified.
Article
Ecology
Maya C. Mould, Michele Huet, Lou Senegas, Borja Mila, Christophe Thebaud, Yann Bourgeois, Alexis S. Chaine
Summary: Categorizing individuals into discrete forms in colour polymorphic species can overlook more subtle patterns in coloration that can be of functional significance. To understand the evolution of colour polymorphisms, it is critical to quantify inter-individual variation in these species at both within- and between-morph levels. For the Reunion grey white-eye, our analysis revealed that the grey-brown coloration was largely influenced by genetic factors, while variation in smaller light patches was primarily related to age and sex. These findings emphasize the importance of characterizing subtle plumage variation beyond observable morph categories.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Maria Recuerda, Merce Palacios, Oscar Frias, Keith Hobson, Benoit Nabholz, Guillermo Blanco, Borja Mila
Summary: According to the models of ecological speciation, adaptation to different habitats can lead to population divergence if the selection pressure is strong enough to counteract gene flow. We tested this hypothesis in chaffinches on La Palma Island and found significant differences in ecosystem, diet, morphology, and plumage coloration between birds in two different habitats. A genome-wide survey revealed low dispersal but marked adaptive divergence between the populations. These results suggest that local adaptation driven by habitat plays a strong role in population divergence.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)