Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Catarina N. S. Silva, Nicholas P. Murphy, James J. Bell, Bridget S. Green, Guy Duhamel, Andrew C. Cockcroft, Cristian E. Hernandez, Jan M. Strugnell
Summary: Investigating historical gene flow in the Jasus genus reveals the important effects of habitat and demographic processes on genetic differentiation and diversification patterns. Eastern Pacific species show strict isolation following ancient migration, while species from different habitat types share common ancestry but are geographically distant.
Article
Biology
Ahmed J. Saadi, Julian Bibermair, Kevin M. Kocot, Nickellaus G. Roberts, Masato Hirose, Andrew Calcino, Christian Baranyi, Ratcha Chaichana, Timothy S. Wood, Thomas Schwaha
Summary: This study presents the first phylogenomic analysis of the Phylactolaemata class, resolving the interrelationships and estimating divergence time using transcriptomic data and dense taxon sampling. The results show the sister relationship of Stephanellidae and the confirmation of Lophopodidae as the second offshoot within the phylactolaemate tree. The study also highlights the likelihood of cryptic speciation in some species. Divergence time estimates suggest the appearance of Phylactolaemata in the Ediacaran and divergence starting in the Silurian.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shu-Fei Zhang, Bei-Bei Han, Rong-Jun Shi, Feng-Xia Wu, Yi-Yong Rao, Ming Dai, Hong-Hui Huang
Summary: This study investigated a P. globosa bloom along the Chinese coast and compared the proteomes of in situ P. globosa colonies from bloom and dissipation phases. The study revealed the key biological processes underlying P. globosa blooms and provided new insights into the mechanisms behind bloom formation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Leanne A. Pearson, Paul M. D'Agostino, Brett A. Neilan
Summary: Marine microalgae produce toxic metabolites that harm humans, farmed fish, and marine wildlife, accumulating in shellfish and higher trophic organisms. Molecular methods, particularly qPCR, have become popular for monitoring harmful microalgae, with focus on toxin gene monitoring technologies for early detection and prevention of harmful algal blooms.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Laurence Paire-Ficout, Sylviane Lafont, Marion Hay, Amandine Coquillat, Colette Fabrigoule, Chantal Chavoix
Summary: Many older drivers incorrectly estimate their driving ability and there is a significant overlap between cognitive and driving self-awareness, with this overlap being more pronounced in overestimators. Misestimation of cognitive ability could hinder self-awareness of driving ability, highlighting the importance of developing measures to promote self-awareness of ability.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Menno J. de Jong, Aidin Niamir, Magnus Wolf, Andrew C. Kitchener, Nicolas Lecomte, Ivan V. Seryodkin, Steven R. Fain, Snorre B. Hagen, Urmas Saarma, Axel Janke
Summary: Population-genomic studies of brown bears reveal that the population structure mainly reflects recent population connectivity rather than postglacial recolonization routes. The geographic distribution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Y-chromosomal haplotypes is erratic, while autosomal and X-chromosomal multi-locus datasets indicate recent population connectivity. The findings suggest that gene flow and recombination can erase genetic evidence of former population structure, but this signal is retained by mtDNA and Y-chromosomes.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Josefin Stiller, Graham Short, Healy Hamilton, Norah Saarman, Sarah Longo, Peter Wainwright, Greg W. Rouse, W. Brian Simison
Summary: By sampling ultraconserved elements and taxon, we reconstructed the phylogeny of syngnathids and discovered previously overlooked species diversity and significant biogeographic patterns. The changes in diversification rates suggest possible links to declining global temperatures, the separation of the Atlantic and Pacific faunas, and associated environmental changes.
Review
Ecology
Alexander Hayward, Robert Poulin, Shinichi Nakagawa
Summary: Symbioses play a significant role in biological influence, with particular relevance for disease, evolutionary transitions, and ecological communities. The extent to which symbiont phylogenies mirror those of their hosts reveals insights into evolutionary processes. Vertical transmission and mutualism are key factors promoting closer ties between hosts and symbionts, with symbiont phylogeny broadly reflecting host phylogeny across biodiversity and life history.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hiroshi Kawai, Takeaki Hanyuda
Summary: A new genus and species of brown algae, Setoutiphycus delamareoides gen. & sp. nov., was described in this study. This species, similar to Delamarea but distinct in certain aspects, was found in the Seto Inland Sea. It is suggested that the species may have survived in refugia in southern Japan during the last glacial maximums, rather than evolving within the Seto Inland Sea itself.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xiaolu Han, Shihuai Jin, Zhiqiang Han, Tianxiang Gao
Summary: Phylogenomics was used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among 12 species of Sciaenidae. Two major groups, Western Atlantic and Eastern Atlantic-Indo-West Pacific, were identified. The Western Atlantic group was found to be more ancient, while the Eastern Atlantic-Indo-West Pacific group was younger.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Abdul Mannan Zafar, Muhammad Asad Javed, Ashraf Aly Hassan, Khalid Mehmood, Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie
Summary: Algae is a suitable natural resource for optimizing the use of undesired ions in water and wastewater, especially in high salinity environments. Salt-tolerant algae exhibit high growth rates and significant ion removal capacities, contributing to improved water treatment efficiency.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chunyue Zhao, Long Sun, Changlu Zhang
Summary: The present study aimed to adapt and validate the Chinese version of the Attitudes and Beliefs about Sleepy Driving Scale (ABSDS), and to examine its reliability and validity. The results showed satisfactory reliability of the Chinese version of the ABSDS, significant correlations with prosocial and aggressive driving behaviors, and the ability to predict drivers' prosocial driving behaviors, violation involvement, and accident involvement.
Article
Mycology
Shun Liu, Yuan-Yuan Chen, Yi-Fei Sun, Xiao-Lan He, Chang-Ge Song, Jing Si, Dong-Mei Liu, Genevieve Gates, Bao-Kai Cui
Summary: Brown-rot fungi are important for forest ecosystems as they degrade wood cellulose and hemicellulose, and contribute to nutrient cycling. Recent studies have shown that the ability to produce brown rot has evolved independently multiple times. This study focuses on the classification and phylogenetic relationships of brown-rot fungi within the Polyporales, based on DNA sequences from various loci. The study proposes new families, genera, species, and combinations, and provides illustrations and descriptions for the new species.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hao Zhang, Bowei Gu, Youping Zhou, Xiao Ma, Tianqi Liu, Hongkai Xu, Zhangxian Xie, Kailin Liu, Dazhi Wang, Xiaomin Xia
Summary: This study investigates the variations of protein and metabolite profiles in a marine dinoflagellate across different temperatures. The findings suggest that amino acids may serve as nitrogen storage pools at lower temperatures, and proteins related to photoreaction and protein homeostasis are highly expressed at higher temperatures.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Tao Xu, Lu Qi, Lingfeng Kong, Qi Li
Summary: This study sequenced 10 new mitochondrial genomes and analyzed them with previously published nine mitogenomes and six transcriptomic data representing six families of Patellogastropoda. Based on amino acid sequences of 13 protein-coding genes, a well-supported phylogeny was reconstructed, revealing Lottioidea as non-monophyletic with two well-supported lineages. Comparison of gene order among families, genera and species showed that Nacellidae has a conserved gene arrangement, while Lottiidae exhibits extensive rearrangements.
Article
Plant Sciences
Joao Neiva, Ricardo Bermejo, Alba Medrano, Pol Capdevila, David Milla-Figueras, Pedro Afonso, Enric Ballesteros, Brahim Sabour, Donatella Serio, Eduardo Nobrega, Joao Soares, Jose Valdazo, Fernando Tuya, Martina Mulas, Alvaro Israel, Sofia S. Sadogurska, Michael D. Guiry, Gareth A. Pearson, Ester A. Serrao
Summary: This study provides new insights into the systematics, species delimitation, and biogeography of Cystoseira s.l. in the North-east Atlantic. By using molecular markers, the researchers identified 27 molecular operational taxonomic units, including previously unknown cryptic diversity, and proposed redefinitions, reinstatements, and recognitions of certain taxa.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Marcio A. G. Coelho, Gareth A. Pearson, Joana R. H. Boavida, Diogo Paulo, Didier Aurelle, Sophie Arnaud-Haond, Daniel Gomez-Gras, Nathaniel Bensoussan, Paula Lopez-Sendino, Carlo Cerrano, Silvija Kipson, Tatjana Bakran-Petricioli, Eliana Ferretti, Cristina Linares, Joaquim Garrabou, Ester A. Serrao, Jean-Baptiste Ledoux
Summary: This study found clear differentiation between Atlantic and Mediterranean lineages of the octocoral genus Paramuricea previously identified as P. clavata. Additionally, it identified a potential speciation event within the Atlantic population of P. cf. grayi involving two color morphotypes. These findings have important implications for conservation planning and validate the usefulness of phylotranscriptomics in resolving evolutionary relationships in octocorals.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lidiane P. Gouvea, Eliza Fragkopoulou, Kyle Cavanaugh, Ester A. Serrao, Miguel B. Araujo, Mark John Costello, E. H. Taraneh Westergerling, Jorge Assis
Summary: Through biophysical modeling and network analysis, we demonstrate that oceanographic connectivity can explain the genetic differentiation of mangrove populations, regardless of species, region, or genetic marker (significant regression models in 95% of cases, with an average R-square of 0.44 +/- 0.23 and Person's correlation of 0.65 +/- 0.17), systematically improving traditional isolation-by-distance models. Important connectivity indices also play a crucial role in explaining differentiation (R-square improvement of 0.06 +/- 0.07, up to 0.42). We further show that ocean currents produce skewed dispersal kernels for mangroves, highlighting the role of rare long-distance dispersal events in historical settlements.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katy R. Nicastro, Gareth A. Pearson, Xana Ramos, Vasco Pearson, Christopher D. McQuaid, Gerardo I. Zardi
Summary: The impact of climate change on biodiversity has necessitated the understanding of environmental stress responses, particularly for ecosystem engineers. This study focuses on the intertidal mussel Perna perna and examines differences in thermal tolerance and gene expression between two genetic lineages. The results reveal both interspecific and intraspecific differences in thermal tolerance and shed light on the evolutionary trajectories of species in response to changing climate.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ana I. Tavares, Jorge Assis, Patrick D. Larkin, Joel C. Creed, Karine Magalhaes, Paulo Horta, Aschwin Engelen, Noelo Cardoso, Castro Barbosa, Samuel Pontes, Aissa Regalla, Carmen Almada, Rogerio Ferreira, Ba Mamadou Abdoul, Sidina Ebaye, Mohammed Bourweiss, Carmen Van-Dunem dos Santos, Ana R. Patricio, Alexandra Teodosio, Rui Santos, Gareth A. Pearson, Ester A. Serrao
Summary: The genetic differentiation of the seagrass species Halodule wrightii is not predicted by simulated oceanographic transport, suggesting that active dispersal vectors like grazers play a role in its distribution.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Viktoria Balogh, Eliza Fragkopoulou, Ester A. Serrao, Jorge Assis
Summary: Species distribution data are crucial for monitoring biodiversity patterns and guiding conservation strategies. This study provides a quality-controlled dataset of cold-water coral diversity and distribution, which can be used by the scientific community to study biodiversity patterns and drivers, as well as by managers to guide conservation actions. The dataset represents the most up-to-date baseline for global cold-water coral diversity.
Article
Ecology
Lucilia S. Miranda, Silvia Tavares, Antonina dos Santos, Emanuel J. Goncalves, Ester A. Serrao, Marcio A. G. Coelho
Summary: This study reports for the first time the presence of the Lipkea species in Portugal, using data from citizen science platforms and collaboration between divers, scientists, and photographers. DNA analysis identified the species as Lipkearuspoliana, but there are similarities with Lipkeasturdzii, a species described in 1893 and never reported again. The study also provides ecological data, reviews records of Staurozoa in Portugal, and maps the global distribution of Lipkea.
Article
Plant Sciences
Elena Varela-Alvarez, Michael D. Guiry, Ester A. Serrao
Summary: This study investigates the morphology, reproduction, and phylogenetic relationships of two species in the Bangiaceae family. Results show that despite their almost identical external morphology, they are not only distinct species but also belong to different genera.
CRYPTOGAMIE ALGOLOGIE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Pierre Liboureau, Gareth A. Pearson, Luis Barreto, Ester A. Serrao, Anja Kreiner, Neusa Martins
Summary: As climate change impacts marine ecosystems, sessile species like kelps are particularly vulnerable to rapidly changing environmental conditions. The study explored how thermal history affects reproductive success and cross-generational plasticity in a warm-temperate kelp. Results showed that prior vegetative growth under warm conditions improved reproductive success, while the thermal history of parental gametophytes influenced the thermal tolerance of microscopic sporophytes.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eliza Fragkopoulou, Alex Sen Gupta, Mark John Costello, Thomas Wernberg, Miguel B. Araujo, Ester A. Serrao, Olivier De Clerck, Jorge Assis
Summary: This study estimates the intensity and duration of global marine heatwaves (MHWs) and explores the impact of subsurface MHWs on biodiversity. The results show higher intensity of MHWs at subsurface depths and increased duration with depth. Regions with high cumulative intensity overlap with the warm range of species distributions, making them more sensitive to thermal stress.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carolina V. Mourato, Nuno Padrao, Ester A. Serrao, Diogo Paulo, Daniel Crespo
Summary: Seagrass restoration in open coast environments is challenging due to high biomass requirements. The checkers design aims to optimize biomass usage by transplanting fewer sods in a checkerboard pattern. This study shows the promise of the checkers method for large-scale restoration, but careful consideration of location or storm-mitigating measures is essential.
Article
Plant Sciences
Luna M. van der Loos, Quinten Bafort, Samuel Bosch, Enric Ballesteros, Ignacio Barbara, Estibaliz Berecibar, Aurelie Blanfune, Kenny Bogaert, Silke Bouckenooghe, Charles-Francois Boudouresque, Juliet Brodie, Ester Cecere, Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Aschwin H. Engelen, Karl Gunnarson, Soha Hamdy Shabaka, Razy Hoffman, Vivian Husa, Alvaro Israel, Mart Karremans, Jessica Knoop, Line Le Gall, Christine A. Maggs, Frederic Mineur, Manuela Parente, Frank Perk, Antonella Petrocelli, Conxi Rodriguez-Prieto, Sandrine Ruitton, Marta Sanson, Ester A. Serrao, Adriano Sfriso, Kjersti Sjotun, Valerie Stiger-Pouvreau, Gwladys Surget, Ergun Taskin, Thierry Thibaut, Konstantinos Tsiamis, Lotte Van de Weghe, Marc Verlaque, Frederique Viard, Sofie Vranken, Frederik Leliaert, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: Effective monitoring of non-indigenous seaweeds is important, but there is still uncertainty about the status of many species. This study analysed the status of presumed non-indigenous seaweed species in the Mediterranean Sea, Northeast Atlantic Ocean, and Macaronesia. A list of 140 undisputed non-indigenous species was produced, while the status of 87 species remained unclear. The study also found significant variation in the diversity of non-indigenous species between geographic regions. The current measures and policies are insufficient to battle the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species in the study area.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Filipe R. Ceia, Nathalie C. Silva, Vitor H. Paiva, Lurdes Morais, Ester A. Serrao, Jaime A. Ramos
Summary: The breeding populations of the yellow-legged gull have increased significantly due to the increase in refuse dumps and fisheries discards. The population growth was controlled through population control measures and trophic ecology showed strong relationships with oceanographic parameters and fisheries landings. Despite sporadic events affecting breeding individuals, the population has been stabilized and even reduced.