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
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Suzanne Mason, Chandra Salgado Kent, Kerstin Bilgmann
Summary: The study revealed that resident common dolphins in Port Phillip exhibit nonrandom social associations and strong bonds, unlike their offshore conspecifics, and resemble inshore delphinids in terms of social structure. This highlights the extreme plasticity in social structure that common dolphins are capable of and underscores the importance of the environment for shaping social bonds.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alessandro Gallo, Aglae Thieffry, Martin Boye, Kyra Monmasson, Martine Hausberger, Alban Lemasson
Summary: The study of animal communication has faced challenges in associating signals with specific emitters, especially in cetacean communication. However, researchers have now developed a low-cost device that allows for reliable identification of callers in dolphin vocalizations, which could contribute to a better understanding of dolphin acoustic communication.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Andrea Barcelo, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Chris J. Brauer, Kerstin Bilgmann, Guido J. Parra, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Luciana M. Moller
Summary: This study conducted a seascape genomics analysis on 214 common dolphins along the southern coast of Australia, and identified five locally-adapted populations with high levels of genomic variation. The study revealed key environmental variables associated with the genomic variation, and suggested that adaptive divergence in common dolphins is related to important metabolic traits.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Young Jin Kim, Sanghoon Moon, Mi Yeong Hwang, Sohee Han, Hye-Mi Jang, Jinhwa Kong, Dong Mun Shin, Kyungheon Yoon, Sung Min Kim, Jong-Eun Lee, Anubha Mahajan, Hyun-Young Park, Mark McCarthy, Yoon Shin Cho, Bong-Jo Kim
Summary: By conducting a genome-wide meta-analysis for metabolic traits in 288,137 East Asians, the authors highlight the interplay of common and rare variants on inherited risk of metabolic traits.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James R. Davies, Elias Garcia-Pelegrin, Luigi Baciadonna, Cristina Pilenga, Livio Favaro, Nicola S. Clayton
Summary: Research provides compelling evidence for episodic-like memory in common bottlenose dolphins, as they use incidentally encoded information to solve memory tasks, similar to human episodic memory. The complex socio-ecological background of dolphins may have selected for the ability to recall spatial and social information.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stephanie K. Adamczak, Rachel R. Holser, Daniel P. Costa, Elizabeth J. Berens McCabe, Randall S. Wells
Summary: Body composition of common bottlenose dolphins is influenced by environmental, ontogenetic, and reproductive variables, with significant seasonal changes and younger dolphins having thicker blubber than mature individuals. Energy allocation to body composition differs between young males and females, with females investing more as they mature.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ana Dinis, Carlota Molina, Marta Tobena, Annalisa Sambolino, Karin Hartman, Marc Fernandez, Sara Magalhaes, Rui Peres dos Santos, Fabian Ritter, Vidal Martin, Natacha Aguilar de Soto, Filipe Alves
Summary: This study reveals long-range movements of bottlenose dolphins between the archipelagos of Macaronesia, particularly the close connection between Madeira and the Canary Islands.
Article
Biology
Julie N. Oswald, Sam F. Walmsley, Caroline Casey, Selene Fregosi, Brandon Southall, Vincent M. Janik
Summary: This study examined the whistle contours of two closely related, sympatric common dolphin species, finding both shared and species-specific whistle types. Delphinus delphis used more whistle types with an oscillatory frequency contour compared to Delphinus bairdii, indicating culturally-driven differences in whistle production that may facilitate species recognition.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Takushi Kishida, Sakiko Namigata, Toshimichi Nakanishi, Yasukazu Niiyama, Hiroyuki Kitagawa
Summary: Through the study of mitochondrial DNA of ancient dolphin skeletons, this study found that haplotypes from prehistoric individuals still exist in modern populations in geographically similar areas. The prehistoric bottlenose dolphin population near Tokyo Bay has higher genetic diversity compared to the modern population. These findings suggest that the maternal groups of these species have persisted in the same region for at least 4000 years.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Miriam Ruocco, Marlene Jahnke, Joao Silva, Gabriele Procaccini, Emanuela Dattolo
Summary: Plant populations of seagrass Cymodocea nodosa along a latitudinal gradient show patterns of clinal variation in genotype and phenotype, influenced by differences in photoperiod and temperature cues. The study identified potential outlier loci related to adaptive differentiation across latitudes, with some SNPs associated to specific protein-coding genes and biological processes enriched in regulation of transcription and signalling. The results suggest the importance of gene-regulatory networks and epigenetic regulation for enabling adaptation of seagrass populations along environmental gradients.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa K. Lauderdale, Michael T. Walsh, Jill D. Mellen, Douglas A. Granger, Lance J. Miller
Summary: Animal welfare science has evolved in recent decades to utilize a multidisciplinary approach in assessing the welfare of animals in accredited zoos and aquariums. Science-based welfare assessments have become essential in management programs, where management practices and habitat characteristics play a significant role in impacting animal welfare. The study collected survey data from 86 bottlenose dolphins in 40 habitats at 38 facilities in seven countries, aiming to provide insights into dolphin management practices and habitat characteristics in accredited zoos and aquariums.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa K. Lauderdale, Michael T. Walsh, Jill D. Mellen, Douglas A. Granger, Lance J. Miller
Summary: In recent decades, animal welfare science has evolved to utilize a multidisciplinary approach to assess the welfare of animals in accredited zoos and aquariums. Science-based animal welfare assessments have become an essential component of management programs, although habitat characteristics and management practices are not standardized across locations. Knowledge and subsequent application of these practices and habitat characteristics can enhance our understanding of factors associated with positive welfare.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Niccolo' Rossi, Elbay Aliyev, Alessia Visconti, Ammira S. A. Akil, Najeeb Syed, Waleed Aamer, Sujitha S. Padmajeya, Mario Falchi, Khalid A. Fakhro
Summary: This study explores the association between amylase gene copy number and adiposity traits in a large Middle Eastern population, finding a negative correlation between AMY1 copy number and trunk fat percentage in Qataris, especially those of Arab descent. The research also demonstrates that dietary behaviors play a role in the relationship between amylase gene copy number and adiposity.
NPJ GENOMIC MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jianbo Tian, Yimin Cai, Yue Li, Zequn Lu, Jinyu Huang, Yao Deng, Nan Yang, Xiaoyang Wang, Pingting Ying, Shanshan Zhang, Ying Zhu, Huilan Zhang, Rong Zhong, Jiang Chang, Xiaoping Miao
Summary: Genetic variants have been shown to impact tumor-infiltrating immune cells, emphasizing the importance of identifying immunQTLs to fully understand the contribution of genetic variants in tumor development. A computational pipeline was developed to identify 913 immunQTLs in 33 cancer types, and a user-friendly database, CancerImmunityQTL, was constructed to provide a valuable resource for studying the genetic determinants of immune infiltration in human cancer.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Catherine R. M. Attard, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Chris J. Brauer, Peter J. Unmack, David Schmarr, Louis Bernatchez, Luciano B. Beheregaray
Summary: This study investigates the persistence of adaptive variation in small populations of desert rainbowfish through population genomic diversity analysis and satellite-derived surface water data integration. The findings suggest that positive selection in refugial subpopulations combined with connectivity during flood periods can enable retention of adaptive diversity, allowing the species to persist in the desert environment.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eleanor A. L. Pratt, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Kerstin Bilgmann, Nikki Zanardo, Fernando Diaz-Aguirre, Chris Brauer, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Luciana M. Moller
Summary: This study conducted a seascape genomic study on Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and found that heterogeneous seascapes and strong environmental gradients influenced adaptive divergence in these animals. The research revealed that sea surface temperature and salinity gradients played a significant role in their adaptive divergence.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Maren Wellenreuther
Summary: Growth is an important trait with ecological, evolutionary, economical, and conservation significance. This study used reduced genome representation data and genome-wide association approaches to identify growth-related genetic variation in Australian snapper. The results revealed the complex polygenic nature of growth in the species and provided insights for captive aquaculture breeding programs and monitoring growth-related evolutionary shifts in wild populations.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Catherine R. M. Attard, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Dean M. Gilligan, Peter J. Unmack, Leanne K. Faulks, Luciano B. Beheregaray
Summary: This study demonstrates the application of genomic techniques in detecting hybrid populations of golden perch in the Murray-Darling Basin, southeast Australia, revealing admixture through a genome-wide dataset of 6,862 SNPs. The research suggests that stocking programs may introduce non-endemic ancestry, impacting genetic variation in the wild.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Emily J. Booth, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Catherine R. M. Attard, Dean M. Gilligan, Peter J. Unmack, Luciano B. Beheregaray
Summary: This study reveals the role of aridification in driving the divergence of a migratory freshwater species in Australia during the late Pleistocene. The findings are important for informing the conservation management of aquatic organisms under climate change.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Abbie C. Hay, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Georgina M. Cooke, Ning L. Chao, Luciano B. Beheregaray
Summary: This study examines the role of natural selection in the evolutionary divergence of the Amazonian characin fish. The results suggest that variation in turbidity and pH contribute to adaptive divergence, and genes involved in acid-sensitive ion transport pathways and light-sensitive photoreceptor pathways are associated with this variation.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Lucy-Rose Seeary, Catherine R. M. Attard, John Totterdell, Robert L. Pitman, Luciana M. Moeller
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chris J. Brauer, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Katie Gates, Michael P. Hammer, Peter J. Unmack, Louis Bernatchez, Luciano B. Beheregaray
Summary: Under climate change, species without the ability to shift their range rely on genetic variation for adaptation. Genomic vulnerability studies often overlook hybridization as a source of adaptive variation. This study found that hybrid populations of rainbowfish showed reduced vulnerability to climate change compared to pure narrow endemics, highlighting the importance of hybrid populations and adaptive introgression in the evolutionary rescue of species with narrow environmental ranges.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
R. P. Bourman, C. V. Murray-Wallace, C. Wilson, L. Mosley, J. Tibby, D. D. Ryan, E. D. De Carli, A. Tulley, A. P. Belperio, D. Haynes, A. Roberts, C. Westell, E. J. Barnett, S. Dillenburg, L. B. Beheregaray, P. A. Hesp
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Katie Gates, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Chris J. Brauer, Peter J. Unmack, Martin Laporte, Louis Bernatchez, Luciano B. Beheregaray
Summary: In order to preserve the diversity of ecological and genetic factors in hotspots like tropical rainforests, it is important to understand the forces behind biodiversity. Through studying an Australian rainbowfish, Melanotaenia splendida splendida, across wet tropical regions, we found that environmental gradients and terrain structure strongly influence genetic and morphological variation. While neutral genetic population structure is mostly affected by limited gene flow, ecological variables are equally effective in explaining overall genetic variation and better at explaining body shape variation. The strongest environmental predictors are hydrological and thermal variables, which are correlated with heritable habitat-associated dimorphism in rainbowfish. Climate-associated genetic variation is significantly associated with morphology, supporting the heritability of shape variation. These results highlight the evolved functional differences among localities and emphasize the importance of hydroclimate in early stages of diversification. It is expected that tropical rainforest endemics will need to undergo significant evolutionary responses to mitigate fitness losses caused by climate change.
Article
Fisheries
A. Bertram, J. Bell, C. J. Brauer, A. Fowler, P. Hamer, J. Sandoval-Castillo, J. Stewart, M. Wellenreuther, L. B. Beheregaray
Summary: In southeastern Australia, population genomic differentiation in snapper is concordant with coastal biogeographic boundaries and related to spawning and recruitment dynamics. The current management boundaries align with genetic breaks at bioregional boundaries or local-scale variation. This study highlights the value of population genomic surveys in uncovering stock boundaries and demographic variation related to spawning and recruitment in species with high dispersal potential, and emphasizes the importance of marine biogeography in shaping population structure in commercially important species.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karl Moy, Jason Schaffer, Michael P. Hammer, Catherine R. M. Attard, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Richard Duncan, Mark Lintermans, Culum Brown, Peter J. Unmack
Summary: The study explores the threat of translocating species on freshwater fish biodiversity and presents a successful case of conserving Running River rainbowfish. By captive-breeding wild fish and translocating them to unoccupied habitats, two populations of Running River rainbowfish were established, but challenges of predation and release timing remain. This provides valuable insights for similar conservation programs involving short-lived fish species.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Isabella M. Reeves, John A. Totterdell, Emma L. Betty, David M. Donnelly, Angela George, Steven Holmes, Luciana Moller, Karen A. Stockin, Rebecca Wellard, Charlie White, Andrew D. Foote, C. Scott Baker
Summary: This study compares and analyzes the genomic sequence of a killer whale named Old Tom from Eden, New South Wales, Australia with global populations of killer whales. It finds that Old Tom shares a common ancestor with killer whales from Australasia, the North Atlantic, and the North Pacific, with the highest genetic similarity to contemporary New Zealand killer whales. However, the genetic variation found in Old Tom's genome is not shared with these other populations, suggesting ancestral gene flow rather than ongoing gene flow. The study also highlights the early history of the relationship between Indigenous Australians and killer whales and suggests the possibility of local extinction for Old Tom's descendants.
JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Eleanor A. L. Pratt, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Pedro Fruet, Gabriela Tezanos-Pinto, Kerstin Bilgmann, Nikki Zanardo, Fernando Diaz-Aguirre, Eduardo R. Secchi, Thales R. O. Freitas, Luciana M. Moller
Summary: Climate change has led to major environmental restructuring in the world's oceans, and marine organisms have responded through genomic adaptation. This study investigates the genomic basis of ecotype formation in bottlenose dolphins in the Southern Hemisphere, revealing subspecies-level genomic divergence and lower genomic diversity in inshore lineages. Genomic regions associated with cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and energy production systems have undergone repeated adaptive evolution in these lineages, suggesting parallel evolution of inshore bottlenose dolphins. Understanding the adaptive capacity of local species and populations is crucial amidst changing marine ecosystems.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
