Genome and Tissue‐Specific Transcriptome of the Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)

Plant Direct, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 9(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Tropical milkweed ( Asclepias curassavica ) serves as a host plant for monarch butterflies Danaus plexippus and other insect herbivores that can tolerate the abundant cardiac glycosides are characteristic of this species. Cardiac glycosides, along with additional specialized metabolites, also contribute to ethnobotanical uses A. . To facilitate further research on metabolism, we assembled 197‐Mbp genome fifth‐generation inbred line into 619 contigs, an N50 10 Mbp. Scaffolding resulted in 98% assembly being anchored 11 chromosomes, which mostly colinear previously common syriaca genome. Assembly completeness evaluations showed BUSCO gene set is present assembly. The transcriptomes six tissue types (young leaves, mature stems, flowers, buds, roots), without defense elicitation by methyl jasmonate treatment, both tissue‐specific expression induced genes may be involved glycoside biosynthesis. Expression CYP87A gene, predicted first biosynthesis pathway, was observed only stems roots jasmonate. Together, sequence transcriptome analysis provide important resources investigation ecological medicinal

Language: Английский

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Population genetics of a recent range expansion and subsequent loss of migration in monarch butterflies

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(17), P. 4544 - 4557

Published: July 2, 2022

Abstract Range expansions—whether permanent or transient—strongly influence the distribution of genetic variation in space. Monarch butterflies are best known for long‐distance seasonal migration within North America but also established as nonmigratory populations around world, including on Pacific Islands. Previous research has highlighted stepwise expansion across Pacific, though questions remain about timing and population consequences loss. Here, we present reduced‐representation sequencing data 275 monarchs from ( n = 85), 12 Islands 136) three locations Australia 54), with goal understanding (i) how monarch's shaped patterns (ii) loss influenced spatial differentiation. We find support previously described dispersal document an additional Hawaii into Mariana Nonmigratory show strong differentiation, despite their proximity; by contrast, migratory American samples form a single genetically panmictic continent. Estimates establishment highly uncertain (~100–1,000,000 years ago) overlap historical records that indicate recent expansion. Our whose overlaps available role determining variation. results noteworthy because they demonstrate evolution partial can drive differentiation over contemporary timescales.

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic Landscape Alteration, but Not Urbanization, Influences Non‐Adaptive Evolution in Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Urbanization can alter mating and dispersal, with consequences for non-adaptive evolution in populations. Potential outcomes vary widely due to the heterogeneity of urban landscapes diverse life history strategies taxa. Furthermore, it is unclear how plants, which are significantly understudied this context, impacted. To better understand urbanization influences a native plant conservation importance, we analyzed patterns neutral genetic variation common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). From 256 individuals sampled across 122 locations throughout Greater Toronto Area, Canada, created two datasets 2,835 972 single nucleotide polymorphisms through genotype-by-sequencing. Genetic diversity effective population size N e were mostly consistent between rural habitats. differentiation habitats was low, samples originated from population. Demographic analysis indicated that decreased by > 99% within past 800 years, rate loss accelerating over time. These findings suggest A. syriaca little affected transition habitat; rather, anthropogenic activity prior urbanization, such as precontact Indigenous inhabitation colonial settlement, had observable effects on demography. This study demonstrates factors modify degree impacts emphasizes importance contextualizing results demographic, ecological, cultural histories.

Language: Английский

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Additional common milkweed would help Canada meet its share of the trinational eastern migratory monarch butterfly recovery target

FACETS, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 10, P. 1 - 14

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

The eastern migratory monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) population has declined by ∼84% between 1993 and 2024. Population recovery in the Midwestern United States is limited availability of monarch's main host plant for egg laying—common milkweed Asclepias syriaca). extent to which common limiting other breeding regions unknown. Our objective was determine whether Canada enough support its share trinational target, given ∼29 stems are needed contribute one adult into fall population. To meet this objective, we estimated number using published estimates land cover type. We also size Canadian if target achieved wintering density Mexico, migration survival rates, relative proportion monarchs entering from Canada. estimate that currently 484 million (range: 111 million–1 billion stems) increasing amount 1.61 times (i.e., ∼295 stems), or equivalently, 61%, would target.

Language: Английский

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Population dynamics and drivers of the eastern monarch (Danaus plexippus) across its full annual cycle: a cross-scale synthesis of a model migratory species

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 60, P. 101132 - 101132

Published: Oct. 21, 2023

Language: Английский

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Dramatic Recent Declines in the Size of Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Roosts During Fall Migration

Published: May 24, 2024

The conservation status of monarch butterflies in North America is a topic intense scrutiny and debate. It clear that winter colonies Mexico are declining, yet some recent studies suggest summer breeding populations relatively stable similar to historical abundances. One possible explanation for these discordant patterns fall migration success has been recently disrupted. Here, we use unexplored citizen-scientist dataset on the size “roosts,” which resting aggregations vegetation, infer changes abundance along route over last 17 years. We found timing remained unchanged while flyway generally become warmer greener. Warmer greener conditions were associated with larger roosts, steady, dramatic declines roost sizes through time independent climate landscape factors. Roost have declined as much 80%, losses increasing from north south route. These findings failure during could explain apparent drop numbers overwintering populations. This turn suggests efforts support most needed, such limiting planting non-native milkweeds enhance parasite loads perhaps dampen success. Overall, it appears under imminent threat, even if species’ overall survival not.

Language: Английский

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Dramatic recent declines in the size of monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus ) roosts during fall migration

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(43)

Published: Oct. 15, 2024

The conservation status of monarch butterflies in North America is a topic intense scrutiny and debate. It clear that winter colonies Mexico are declining, yet some recent studies suggest summer breeding populations relatively stable similar to historical abundances. One possible explanation for these discordant patterns fall migration success has been recently disrupted. Here, we use unexplored citizen-scientist dataset on the size “roosts,” which resting aggregations vegetation, infer changes abundance along route over last 17 y. We found timing remained unchanged while flyway generally become warmer greener. Warmer greener conditions were associated with larger roosts, steady, dramatic declines roost sizes through time independent climate landscape factors. Roost have declined as much 80%, losses increasing from north south route. These findings failure during could explain apparent drop numbers overwintering populations. This turn suggests efforts support most needed, such providing high quality nectar plants or limiting planting nonnative milkweeds enhance parasite loads. Overall, it appears under imminent threat, even if species’ overall survival not.

Language: Английский

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Migration genetics take flight: genetic and genomic insights into monarch butterfly migration

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 59, P. 101079 - 101079

Published: June 28, 2023

Language: Английский

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