Fundamental questions in meiofauna research highlight how small but ubiquitous animals can improve our understanding of Nature

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: March 17, 2025

This paper identifies the top-50 priority questions for meiofaunal research, highlighting their critical roles in biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity. It calls a balanced research agenda, international cooperation, advances technology to overcome current challenges unlock meiofauna's full potential.

Language: Английский

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Understanding natural selection and similarity: Convergent, parallel and repeated evolution

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(20), P. 5451 - 5462

Published: Sept. 19, 2023

Parallel and convergent evolution offer some of the most compelling evidence for significance natural selection in evolution, as emergence similar adaptive solutions is unlikely to occur by random chance alone. However, these terms are often employed inconsistently, leading misinterpretation confusion, recently proposed definitions have unintentionally diminished emphasis on solutions. Here, I examine various conceptual frameworks related parallel propose a consolidated framework that enhances our comprehension evolutionary patterns. The primary aim this harmonize concepts together with idea similarity. Both involve result environmental challenges. distinction lies ancestral phenotypes. takes place when phenotypes (before selection) lineages similar. Convergent happens distinct selection). Because an ancestral-based will inevitably lead cases where uncertainty may arise, includes general term, repeated which can be used term applying genotypes well responses pressures. Based argument genetic similarity frequently arise without selection, posits sequences not great interest unless linked actions or origins (mutation, standing variation, gene flow) locations sequences.Os casos de evolução paralela e convergente apresentam-se como provas convincentes da relevância selecção no processo evolutivo, já que é improvável soluções adaptativas semelhantes evoluam apenas por acaso. No entanto, estes dois termos são utilizados frequentemente forma inconsistente definições recentemente propostas diminuíram involuntariamente ênfase na semelhantes. Nesta contribuição, examino os quadros conceptuais relacionadas com proponho um quadro consolidado aumenta compreensão destes padrões evolutivos. O objectivo desta contribuição harmonizar conceitos juntamente similaridade. Ambos implicam resultado pressões evolutivas. A distinção reside nos fenótipos ancestrais: ocorre quando ancestrais (antes selecção) das linhagens eram acontece tinham distintos selecção). Dado uma baseada ancestralidade caracteres levará, inevitavelmente, em incerteza pode surgir, sugiro inclusão termo geral: repetida, ser aplicado à genótipos semelhantes, assim respostas ambientais. Com base argumentação similaridade genética surgir sem selecção, eu postulo similitude sequências genéticas não grande interesse, menos esteja relacionada às ações ou origens (mutação, variação existente, fluxo génico) localizações semelhantes.La evolución y ofrecen algunas las pruebas más contundentes la importancia selección en evolución, ya es improbable emergencia soluciones similares se produzca únicamente casualidad. Sin embargo, estos términos emplean menudo inconsistente, lo lugar interpretaciones erróneas confusión. Además, definiciones recientemente propuestas han restado importancia, involuntariamente, similares. En este artículo, diversos marcos conceptuales con convergente, propongo un marco mejora nuestra comprensión patrones El objetivo principal armonizar los conceptos similitud. implican presiones La distinción radica fenotipos ancestrales: ocurre cuando ancestrales selección) linajes eran produce lijanes tenían selección). una basada ancestralidad conducirá inevitablemente puede incertidumbre distinción, el incluye término general: utilizarse laxo aplicable genotipos similares, así respuestas ambientales. Basándose argumento similitud frecuentemente sin selección, postula secuencias gran interés esté vinculada acciones o orígenes (mutación, variación flujo genético) ubicaciones

Language: Английский

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Phylogeography and cohesion species delimitation of California endemic trapdoor spiders within the Aptostichus icenoglei sibling species complex (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Euctenizidae)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(4)

Published: April 1, 2023

Species delimitation is an imperative first step toward understanding Earth's biodiversity, yet what constitutes a species and the relative importance of various processes by which new arise continue to be debatable. in spiders has traditionally used morphological characters; however, certain mygalomorph exhibit homogeneity despite long periods population-level isolation, absence gene flow, consequent high degrees molecular divergence. Studies have shown strong geographic structuring significant genetic divergence among several complexes within trapdoor spider genus

Language: Английский

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nRCFV: a new, dataset-size-independent metric to quantify compositional heterogeneity in nucleotide and amino acid datasets

BMC Bioinformatics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: April 12, 2023

Compositional heterogeneity-when the proportions of nucleotides and amino acids are not broadly similar across dataset-is a cause great number phylogenetic artefacts. Whilst variety methods can identify it post-hoc, few metrics exist to quantify compositional heterogeneity prior computationally intensive task tree reconstruction. Here we assess efficacy one such existing, widely used, metric: Relative Composition Frequency Variability (RCFV), using both real simulated data.Our results show that RCFV be biased by sequence length, taxa, possible character states within dataset. However, also find missing data does appear have an appreciable effect on RCFV. We discuss theory behind this, consequences this for future usage value propose new metric, nRCFV, which accounts these biases. Alongside present software calculates called nRCFV_Reader.nRCFV has been implemented in RCFV_Reader, available at: https://github.com/JFFleming/RCFV_Reader . Both our simulation at Datadryad: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.wpzgmsbpn

Language: Английский

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The integrative taxonomy of Beauveria asiatica and B. bassiana species complexes with whole-genome sequencing, morphometric and chemical analyses

Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 47(1), P. 136 - 150

Published: Oct. 2, 2021

Fungi are rich in complexes of cryptic species that need a combination different approaches to be delimited, including genomic information.

Language: Английский

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Divergence and serial colonization shape genetic variation and define conservation units in Asian elephants

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Pervasive admixture and the spread of a large‐lipped form in a cichlid fish radiation

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 30(21), P. 5551 - 5571

Published: Aug. 21, 2021

Abstract Adaptive radiations have proven important for understanding the mechanisms and processes underlying biological diversity. The convergence of form function, as well admixture adaptive introgression, are common in radiations. However, distinguishing between these two scenarios remains a challenge evolutionary research. Midas cichlid species complex ( Amphilophus spp.) is prime example radiation, with phenotypic diversification occurring at various stages genetic differentiation. One species, A . labiatus , has large fleshy lips, associated rocky lake substrates, occurs patchily within Lakes Nicaragua Managua. By contrast, similar, but thin‐lipped, congener, citrinellus more widespread. We investigated history large‐lipped form, specifically regarding whether trait evolved independently both lakes from ancestral thin‐lipped populations, or via dispersal and/or events. collected samples distinct locations lakes, assessed differences morphology ecology. Using RAD‐seq, we genotyped thousands SNPs to measure population structure divergence, demographic history, admixture. found significant between‐species ecology morphology, local intraspecific body shape trophic traits, only limited variation lip shape. Despite clear ecological differences, our genomic approach uncovered pervasive low differentiation, being genetically similar than lakes. Taken together, results suggest single origin large‐lips, followed by driven opportunities, despite ongoing gene‐flow.

Language: Английский

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The role of systematics for understanding ecosystem functions: Proceedings of the Zoologica Scripta Symposium, Oslo, Norway, 25 August 2022

Zoologica Scripta, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 52(3), P. 187 - 214

Published: March 7, 2023

Abstract On 25 August 2022, the Zoologica Scripta ‐ An International Journal of Systematic Zoology and Norwegian Academy Sciences Letters arranged a symposium entitled ‘The role systematics for understanding ecosystem functions’ in Academy's premises Oslo, Norway. The aimed at offering forum exploring discussing trends future developments field systematics. Eleven international experts contributed expertise on various issues related to global challenges, such as biodiversity assessments, databases, cutting‐edge analysis tools, consequences taxonomic impediment. Here, we compiled multi‐author proceedings paper contributions that are chapters presents content key conclusions majority presentations.

Language: Английский

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Microbial evolutionary reconstruction in the presence of mosaic sequences

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 177 - 217

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Darwin’s overlooked radiation: genomic evidence points to the early stages of a radiation in the Galápagos prickly pear cactus (Opuntia, Cactaceae)

Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract In the Galápagos Islands, much attention has been devoted to radiation of iconic species like Darwin’s finches, yet Islands offer an overlooked but equally remarkable opportunity for investigating plant radiations. Using a combination genomic and phenotypic data, we present evidence early stages in prickly pear cactus (Opuntia), lineage widespread across archipelago. We show that despite extensive ecophenotypic variation, there is limited differentiation, consistent with hypothesis Opuntia diversification process. Phylogenomic population analyses notwithstanding low genetic differentiation islands, marked geographical structure broadly palaeogeography Galápagos. Because stands stark contrast exceptional eco-phenotypic diversity displayed by cacti, it plausible architecture divergence mismatches our sequencing, plasticity precedes source adaptive evolution, or introgression influences local adaptation. Models relationships including admixture indicate gene flow common, probably facilitated dispersal via animals known feed on flowers, fruits, seeds. cacti are making, they provide exciting investigate interplay between ecological mechanisms promoting diversification.

Language: Английский

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