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Savage AM, Willmott MJ, Moreno‐García P, Jagiello Z, Li D, Malesis A, Miles LS, Román‐Palacios C, Salazar‐Valenzuela D, Verrelli BC, Winchell KM, Alberti M, Bonilla‐Bedoya S, Carlen E, Falvey C, Johnson L, Martin E, Kuzyo H, Marzluff J, Munshi‐South J, Phifer‐Rixey M, Stadnicki I, Szulkin M, Zhou Y, Gotanda KM. Online toolkits for collaborative and inclusive global research in urban evolutionary ecology. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11633. [PMID: 38919647 PMCID: PMC11197044 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Urban evolutionary ecology is inherently interdisciplinary. Moreover, it is a field with global significance. However, bringing researchers and resources together across fields and countries is challenging. Therefore, an online collaborative research hub, where common methods and best practices are shared among scientists from diverse geographic, ethnic, and career backgrounds would make research focused on urban evolutionary ecology more inclusive. Here, we describe a freely available online research hub for toolkits that facilitate global research in urban evolutionary ecology. We provide rationales and descriptions of toolkits for: (1) decolonizing urban evolutionary ecology; (2) identifying and fostering international collaborative partnerships; (3) common methods and freely-available datasets for trait mapping across cities; (4) common methods and freely-available datasets for cross-city evolutionary ecology experiments; and (5) best practices and freely available resources for public outreach and communication of research findings in urban evolutionary ecology. We outline how the toolkits can be accessed, archived, and modified over time in order to sustain long-term global research that will advance our understanding of urban evolutionary ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M. Savage
- Department of Biology & Center for Computational and Integrative BiologyRutgers University – CamdenCamdenNew JerseyUSA
| | - Meredith J. Willmott
- Department of Biology & Center for Computational and Integrative BiologyRutgers University – CamdenCamdenNew JerseyUSA
| | - Pablo Moreno‐García
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Computation & TechnologyLouisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisianaUSA
| | - Zuzanna Jagiello
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research CentreUniversity of WarsawWarsawPoland
| | - Daijiang Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Computation & TechnologyLouisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisianaUSA
| | - Anna Malesis
- Department of Urban Design and PlanningUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Lindsay S. Miles
- Virginia Polytechnic and State UniversityEntomology DepartmentBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | | | - David Salazar‐Valenzuela
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático & Facultad de Ciencias de Medio AmbienteUniversidad IndoaméricaQuitoEcuador
| | - Brian C. Verrelli
- Center for Biological Data ScienceVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | | | - Marina Alberti
- Department of Urban Design and PlanningUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | | | - Elizabeth Carlen
- Department of BiologyWashington University of St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Cleo Falvey
- Department of Biology & Center for Computational and Integrative BiologyRutgers University – CamdenCamdenNew JerseyUSA
| | - Lauren Johnson
- Department of BiologyWashington University of St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Ella Martin
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Hanna Kuzyo
- Frankfurt Zoological SocietyFrankfurtGermany
| | - John Marzluff
- Department of Urban Design and PlanningUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Jason Munshi‐South
- Louis Calder Center & Department of Biological SciencesFordham UniversityArmonkNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Ignacy Stadnicki
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research CentreUniversity of WarsawWarsawPoland
| | - Marta Szulkin
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research CentreUniversity of WarsawWarsawPoland
| | - Yuyu Zhou
- Department of Geological and Atmospheric SciencesIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Kiyoko M. Gotanda
- Department of Biological SciencesBrock UniversitySt. CatharinesOntarioCanada
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Miles LS, Waterman H, Ayoub NA, Garb JE, Haney RA, Rosenberg MS, Krabbenhoft TJ, Verrelli BC. Insight into the adaptive role of arachnid genome-wide duplication through chromosome-level genome assembly of the Western black widow spider. J Hered 2024; 115:241-252. [PMID: 38567866 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Although spiders are one of the most diverse groups of arthropods, the genetic architecture of their evolutionary adaptations is largely unknown. Specifically, ancient genome-wide duplication occurring during arachnid evolution ~450 mya resulted in a vast assembly of gene families, yet the extent to which selection has shaped this variation is understudied. To aid in comparative genome sequence analyses, we provide a chromosome-level genome of the Western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus)-a focus due to its silk properties, venom applications, and as a model for urban adaptation. We used long-read and Hi-C sequencing data, combined with transcriptomes, to assemble 14 chromosomes in a 1.46 Gb genome, with 38,393 genes annotated, and a BUSCO score of 95.3%. Our analyses identified high repetitive gene content and heterozygosity, consistent with other spider genomes, which has led to challenges in genome characterization. Our comparative evolutionary analyses of eight genomes available for species within the Araneoidea group (orb weavers and their descendants) identified 1,827 single-copy orthologs. Of these, 155 exhibit significant positive selection primarily associated with developmental genes, and with traits linked to sensory perception. These results support the hypothesis that several traits unique to spiders emerged from the adaptive evolution of ohnologs-or retained ancestrally duplicated genes-from ancient genome-wide duplication. These comparative spider genome analyses can serve as a model to understand how positive selection continually shapes ancestral duplications in generating novel traits today within and between diverse taxonomic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay S Miles
- Center for Biological Data Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Hannah Waterman
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research and Education in Energy, Environment, and Water Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Nadia A Ayoub
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, United States
| | - Jessica E Garb
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, United States
| | - Robert A Haney
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, United States
| | - Michael S Rosenberg
- Center for Biological Data Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Trevor J Krabbenhoft
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research and Education in Energy, Environment, and Water Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Brian C Verrelli
- Center for Biological Data Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
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Cosentino BJ, Vanek JP, Gibbs JP. Rural selection drives the evolution of an urban-rural cline in coat color in gray squirrels. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10544. [PMID: 37829180 PMCID: PMC10565125 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic differences between urban and rural populations are well-documented, but the evolutionary processes driving trait variation along urbanization gradients are often unclear. We combined spatial data on abundance, trait variation, and measurements of fitness to understand cline structure and test for natural selection on heritable coat color morphs (melanic, gray) of eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) along an urbanization gradient. Population surveys using remote cameras and visual counts at 76 sites along the urbanization gradient revealed a significant cline in melanism, decreasing from 48% in the city center to <5% in rural woodlands. Among 76 squirrels translocated to test for phenotypic selection, survival was lower for the melanic than gray morph in rural woodlands, whereas there was no difference in survival between color morphs in the city. These results suggest the urban-rural cline in melanism is explained by natural selection favoring the gray morph in rural woodlands combined with relaxed selection in the city. Our study illustrates how trait variation between urban and rural populations can emerge from selection primarily in rural populations rather than adaptation to novel features of the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John P. Vanek
- Department of BiologyHobart and William Smith CollegesGenevaNew YorkUSA
- Department of Environmental BiologyState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
New York Natural Heritage ProgramAlbanyNew YorkUSA
| | - James P. Gibbs
- Department of Environmental BiologyState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNew YorkUSA
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Winchell KM, Losos JB, Verrelli BC. Urban evolutionary ecology brings exaptation back into focus. Trends Ecol Evol 2023:S0169-5347(23)00060-5. [PMID: 37024381 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
The contribution of pre-existing phenotypic variation to evolution in novel environments has long been appreciated. Nevertheless, evolutionary ecologists have struggled with communicating these aspects of the adaptive process. In 1982, Gould and Vrba proposed terminology to distinguish character states shaped via natural selection for the roles they currently serve ('adaptations') from those shaped under preceding selective regimes ('exaptations'), with the intention of replacing the inaccurate 'preadaptation'. Forty years later, we revisit Gould and Vrba's ideas which, while often controversial, continue to be widely debated and highly cited. We use the recent emergence of urban evolutionary ecology as a timely opportunity to reintroduce the ideas of Gould and Vrba as an integrated framework to understand contemporary evolution in novel environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Winchell
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Biology, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA.
| | - Jonathan B Losos
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Brian C Verrelli
- Center for Biological Data Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
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