Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Danielle Stephens, Peter J. S. Fleming, Emma Sawyers, Tim P. Mayr
Summary: The Australian dingo, a recent addition to the Australian fauna, has spread rapidly across the continent and interbred with modern dogs. Although there have been speculations about their entry to Australia and biogeographic effects, few studies have been conducted on their population structure. This study investigated the ancestry and population structure of free-living dogs in western Victoria and found that they were hybrids with high dingo ancestry. The population showed no evidence of admixture with other populations and had low genetic diversity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luis Santos-del-Blanco, Sanna Olsson, Katharina B. Budde, Delphine Grivet, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez, Ricardo Alia, Juan J. Robledo-Arnuncio
Summary: Estimating contemporary effective population size (N-e) is crucial for genetic conservation and monitoring. However, commonly used genetic estimators may have limitations when applied to widespread forest tree populations. Factors such as genetic isolation, small and restricted samples, gene flow between populations, and overlapping generations can affect the accuracy of these estimators.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Grzegorz Migdalek, Marcin Zelawski
Summary: Hybridization is an important factor in plant evolution, and topological data analysis provides a new method for measuring gene flow. This study presents a novel graph-based approach to measure gene flow, which is applicable to ongoing speciation and hybridization processes in various mating systems. The results demonstrate a strong positive correlation between the parameter based on the first Betti number and the number of migrants. This method is suitable for various types of data.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bostjan Surina, Manica Balant, Peter Glasnovic, Ivan Radosavljevic, Ziva Fiser, Natasa Fujs, Silvia Castro
Summary: The mating system of the endemic plant Moehringia tommasinii in northwestern Adriatic showed high variation among populations, with genetic structuring and occurrences of hybridization and selfing. The presence of gene flow and weak reproductive barriers between M. tommasinii and co-occurring M. muscosa pose conservation challenges. Local extinction resulting from hybridization may disrupt mating patterns and floral polymorphism of M. tommasinii.
Article
Biology
Cengiz Kaya, Tomas N. Generalovic, Gunilla Stahls, Martin Hauser, Ana C. Samayoa, Carlos G. Nunes-Silva, Heather Roxburgh, Jens Wohlfahrt, Ebenezer A. Ewusie, Marc Kenis, Yupa Hanboonsong, Jesus Orozco, Nancy Carrejo, Satoshi Nakamura, Laura Gasco, Santos Rojo, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Rudolf Meier, Clint Rhode, Christine J. Picard, Chris D. Jiggins, Florian Leiber, Jeffery K. Tomberlin, Martin Hasselmann, Wolf U. Blanckenhorn, Martin Kapun, Christoph Sandrock
Summary: The study provides the first comprehensive genetic characterization of black soldier fly populations, revealing 16 well-distinguished genetic clusters with significant global population structure. It highlights the dynamic population genetic history and ongoing domestication of black soldier flies, with implications for future research on this emerging insect-livestock model.
Article
Plant Sciences
Divino Rosa dos Santos Jr, Antonio Teixeira do Amaral Jr, Valter Jario de Lima, Jhean Torres Leite, Rosimeire Barboza Bispo, Valdinei Cruz Azeredo, Janeo Eustaquio de Almeida Filho, Samuel Henrique Kamphorst, Flavia Nicacio Viana, Rodrigo Moreira Ribeiro, Alexandre Pio Viana, Geraldo de Amaral Gravina
Summary: This study evaluated the efficiency of interpopulation recurrent selection on improving the agronomic traits of popcorn, by studying the genetic parameters and heterotic effects. Two populations were established and field experiments were conducted in different environments. The results showed that exploring heterosis and using the Mulamba and Mock index were effective strategies to increase grain yield and quality.
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
Cell Biology
Isheng J. Tsai
Summary: Population genomics studies the evolutionary processes of intraspecies genetic variations. Recent advances in sequencing provide new insights into yeast-population genomics and enable better quantification of genetic variations.
CURRENT OPINION IN GENETICS & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irene Novo, Noelia Perez-Pereira, Enrique Santiago, Humberto Quesada, Armando Caballero
Summary: The availability of high-density markers allows the estimation of historical effective population size. Recent refinement methods have been shown to be accurate with simulation data and have been applied to real data of various species. An experimental design with Drosophila melanogaster was carried out to test the method, which showed generally good performance. The limitations of the method and its application were discussed.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lisa E. Wallace, Marlin L. Bowles
Summary: Understanding the processes of evolutionary diversification requires understanding how natural selection acts on intraspecific variation to bring about phenotypic divergence. In this study, phenotypic and genetic variation in the orchid Platanthera dilatata in coastal Southeast Alaska were examined to evaluate causes of phenotypic divergence. The results showed that flower morphological variation is structured at smaller geographic scales and is associated with different habitats, with genetic analyses confirming the morphological clusters.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William J. Smith, Ashley T. Sendell-Price, Annette L. Fayet, Teia M. Schweizer, Charles van de Kerkhof, Ben C. Sheldon, Kristen C. Ruegg, Steven Kelly, Lindsay A. Turnbull, Sonya M. Clegg, Jezirski Michel
Summary: Domesticated animals have played a significant role culturally and economically, but their study has been relatively neglected compared to domestic plants. The domestic pigeon, as a model organism, has been pivotal in various fields such as behavior, genetics, and evolution. However, it has hybridized with its progenitor, the Rock Dove, leading to uncertainty in its genetic status. This study identifies relict undomesticated populations of Rock Doves in the British Isles using genomic and morphological data, highlighting the role of hybridization in genetic homogenization.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Kin-Lan Han, Felipe S. Barreto
Summary: The study identified strong polygenic effects of mitonuclear coadaptation between nuclear and mitochondrial components in copepod populations, affecting the developmental rate phenotype. High-fitness hybrids showed biases for maternal alleles, while low-fitness hybrids shifted towards paternal population, indicating independent evolutionary trajectories for molecular coadaptation among isolated populations.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Qian Wang, Hong-Xiang Zhang
Summary: This study evaluated the conservation strategies of C. spinosa based on its genetic structure characteristics and genetic diversity patterns among 37 natural populations. The results revealed significant population structure and differentiation, influenced by geographic locations, isolation, and restricted gene flow. It is suggested to establish conservation units corresponding to different geographic groups and to pay attention to isolated and peripheral populations experiencing biodiversity loss for the preservation of the genetic integrity of C. spinosa.
Article
Biology
Andrei Papkou, Rebecca Schalkowski, Mike-Christoph Barg, Svenja Koepper, Hinrich Schulenburg
Summary: Our study found that host adaptation was constrained in small populations and to a lesser extent in bottlenecked populations. As a result, coevolution in large and small populations gave rise to different selection dynamics and produced different patterns of host-pathogen genotype-by-genotype interactions. Our results demonstrate a major influence of host population size on the ability of the antagonists to co-adapt to each other, thereby shaping the dynamics of antagonistic coevolution.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Luciano Atzeni, Samuel A. Cushman, Jun Wang, Philip Riordan, Kun Shi, David Bauman
Summary: Spatial genetic patterns of snow leopard population in the Qilian mountains of China were characterized using spatially explicit indices of diversity and Principal Component Analysis. The genetic patterns showed significant spatial structure, with broad geographical division and fine-scale cline of differentiation. The study highlights the importance of considering spatial factors in understanding genetic diversity and isolation effects in wildlife populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Atte Moilanen, Janne S. Kotiaho
Summary: Biodiversity offsetting involves compensating for ecological losses caused by development activities through conservation actions, with the goal of achieving no net loss (NNL) or even a net positive impact (NPI). Different strategies can be used to achieve NPI, such as using NPI multipliers and a modified mitigation hierarchy. Success in achieving NPI is contingent on first achieving NNL, which has often failed due to inadequate policies or poor implementation.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mikael Puurtinen, Merja Elo, Janne S. Kotiaho
Article
Ecology
Anna-Lotta Hiillos, Anne Thonig, Karelyn Emily Knott
Summary: Interactions between symbiotic organisms and hosts play a key role in ecological and evolutionary processes. This study developed a ddPCR assay to detect an undescribed agamococcidian symbiont, providing precise and reproducible results for detecting cryptic symbionts in low target concentrations. The assay was used to investigate symbiont infection dynamics in naturally occurring host populations, revealing spatial differences in prevalence, stable seasonal patterns, and varying infection loads among populations. Additionally, symbiont prevalence was influenced by host length and population density, with larger hosts more likely to be infected and high host densities associated with lower infection probabilities.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Bram De Wever, Raija Hamalainen, Kari Nissinen, Joonas Mannonen, Lisse Van Nieuwenhove
Summary: This study focuses on the problem solving skills of teachers in technology-rich environments and examines their associations with sociodemographic, work-related, and everyday-life factors. The findings reveal that teachers' problem solving skills are influenced by sociodemographic and work-related factors. Comparing teachers with other professionals, high problem solving skills are related to numeracy skill use at home, while weak skills are associated with less ICT skill use at work. Therefore, teachers may benefit from more opportunities for professional development in their work.
STUDIES IN CONTINUING EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
H. Cecilie Petersen, K. Emily Knott, Gary T. Banta, Benni W. Hansen
Summary: The Baltic Sea is a marginal ecosystem between marine and freshwater extremes, and the differences in invasion history and dispersal capabilities of Baltic species have resulted in large variations in species distributions, genetic structure, and edge populations. Through a phylogenomic approach, we found that there is little relation between populations of P. elegans and C. volutator, but a higher degree of resemblance among populations of M. arenaria. Each species exhibited unique phylogenetic patterns.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Anna-Lotta Hiillos, Irin Rony, Sonja Rueckert, K. Emily Knott
Summary: Coinfections of two marine apicomplexans, Rhytidocystis sp. and Selenidium pygospionis, in the polychaete Pygospio elegans, were investigated in relation to host genetic diversity. The results showed that factors other than host genetic diversity might be more influential in the infection patterns of marine apicomplexans.
JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Kaisa Leino, Kari Nissinen, Marjo Siren
Summary: This study investigates the associations between teacher quality, instructional quality, and student outcomes in reading achievement and reading motivation. Using data from four Nordic countries, the study finds weak associations between student outcomes and teacher quality and instructional quality, with little variation between the countries. The strongest positive association observed in all countries is the perceived teacher support and students' liking for reading.
LARGE-SCALE ASSESSMENTS IN EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Heidi Hyytinen, Kari Nissinen, Katri Kleemol, Jani Ursin, Auli Toom
Summary: This study investigated the impact of self-regulation and effort on undergraduate students' performance in critical thinking assessment. The results indicate that self-regulation indirectly affects critical thinking performance through effort and time. Planning contributes to critical thinking indirectly through test-taking time and effort, while monitoring has no significant relation to critical thinking performance. The findings suggest the need for careful design and implementation of performance-based assessments to capture the multifaceted nature of critical thinking.
STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
H. Cecilie Petersen, Rumakanta Sapkota, Anna-Lotta Hiillos, Benni W. Hansen, Gary T. Banta, K. Emily Knott
Summary: This study used amplicon sequencing to analyze the microbial sediment communities in the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea and North Sea, and found that salinity affects the alpha diversity of bacteria but not eukaryotes. Additionally, the community network structure and beta diversity are also influenced by other environmental factors.
AQUATIC MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Matti Taajamo, Aini-Kristiina Jappinen, Kari Nissinen
Summary: This study examines the essential elements of school culture in global contexts by applying Schein's model of organizational culture and interpreting through principals' voices. The elements were defined based on five themes from TALIS 2018: school leadership, school climate, innovation, teacher feedback and development, and job satisfaction. Factor analysis was used to find relevant factors, and content analysis was used to describe the essential elements based on these factors. The underlying assumptions, espoused beliefs, and values in Schein's model are related to inner dynamism and ensuring professionality. Inner dynamism is manifested as ambition and principals' job satisfaction, while ensuring professionality involves principals' responsibilities and activities, as well as improving and strengthening teachers' professionality. Importantly, these essential elements are interconnected and have special demands in diverse global contexts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
H. Cecilie Petersen, Benni W. Hansen, K. Emily Knott, Gary T. Banta
Summary: This study evaluated the species-genetic diversity correlation (SGDC) in benthic macrofauna communities in the Baltic Sea. The results showed no significant correlation between species diversity and genetic diversity for any focal species. Both positive and negative trends of SGDC were observed for individual species, and no common environmental factors driving the SGDC relationships were found among species. The study highlights the importance of assessing SGDC using multiple species and considering the ecology and life history of focal species.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Teea Kortetmaki, Mikael Puurtinen, Miikka Salo, Riikka Aro, Stefan Baumeister, Remi Duflot, Merja Elo, Panu Halme, Hanna-Mari Husu, Suvi Huttunen, Katriina Hyvonen, Sanna Karkulehto, Saana Kataja-aho, Kirsi E. Keskinen, Inari Kulmunki, Tuuli Makinen, Annukka Nayha, Mari-Anne Okkolin, Tommi Perala, Jenna Purhonen, Kaisa J. Raatikainen, Liia-Maria Raippalinna, Kirsi Salonen, Katri Savolainen, Janne S. Kotiaho
Summary: Tensions between the well-being of present humans, future humans, and nonhuman nature have led to the current ecological crisis, prompting the proposal of the concept of planetary well-being to address the crisis and promote societal and cultural transformation. This concept shifts focus from individuals to Earth system and ecosystem processes underlying all well-being, aiming to ensure the integrity of these processes for species and populations to persist into the future.
HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Atte Komonen, Janne S. Kotiaho
Summary: The importance of reflecting species extinction risk accurately on the Red List status is highlighted, as species may be threatened by extinction even if they are not listed. Predicting species risk of extinction based on ecological characteristics can proactively target conservation measures effectively. The study confirms that using ecological characteristics to predict extinction risk can aid in advancing conservation biology practices.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2021)