Spatial Genetic Structure and Demographic History of the Wild Boar in the Qinling Mountains, China

Abundant genetic variation is retained in many laboratory schistosome populations

Schistosomes are obligately sexual blood flukes that can be maintained in the laboratory using freshwater snails as intermediate and rodents as definitive hosts. The genetic composition of laboratory schistosome populations is poorly understood: whether genetic variation has been purged due to serial inbreeding or retained is unclear. We sequenced 19 - 24 parasites from each of five laboratory Schistosoma mansoni populations and compared their genomes with published exome data from four S. mansoni field populations. We found abundant genomic variation (0.897 - 1.22 million variants) within laboratory populations: these retained on average 49% (π = 3.27e-04 - 8.94e-04) of the nucleotide diversity observed in the four field parasite populations (π = 1.08e-03 - 2.2e-03). However, the pattern of variation was very different in laboratory and field populations. Tajima's D was positive in all laboratory populations except SmBRE, indicative of recent population bottlenecks, but negative in all field populations. Current effective population size estimates of laboratory populations were lower (2 - 258) compared to field populations (3,174 - infinity). The distance between markers at which linkage disequilibrium (LD) decayed to 0.5 was longer in laboratory populations (59 bp - 180 kb) compared to field populations (9 bp - 9.5 kb). SmBRE was the least variable; this parasite also shows low fitness across the lifecycle, consistent with inbreeding depression. The abundant genetic variation present in most laboratory schistosome populations has several important implications: (i) measurement of parasite phenotypes, such as drug resistance, using laboratory parasite populations will determine average values and underestimate trait variation; (ii) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can be conducted in laboratory schistosome populations by measuring phenotypes and genotypes of individual worms; (iii) genetic drift may lead to divergence in schistosome populations maintained in different laboratories. We conclude that the abundant genetic variation retained within many laboratory schistosome populations can provide valuable, untapped opportunities for schistosome research.

Genetic Diversity of Wild Boar and Deer

Genetic diversity provides the long-term capacity of species, communities, and the biosphere to persist under change [...].

An overview of remote monitoring methods in biodiversity conservation

Conservation of biodiversity is critical for the coexistence of humans and the sustenance of other living organisms within the ecosystem. Identification and prioritization of specific regions to be conserved are impossible without proper information about the sites. Advanced monitoring agencies like the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) had accredited that the sum total of species that are now threatened with extinction is higher than ever before in the past and are progressing toward extinct at an alarming rate. Besides this, the conceptualized global responses to these crises are still inadequate and entail drastic changes. Therefore, more sophisticated monitoring and conservation techniques are required which can simultaneously cover a larger surface area within a stipulated time frame and gather a large pool of data. Hence, this study is an overview of remote monitoring methods in biodiversity conservation via a survey of evidence-based reviews and related studies, wherein the description of the application of some technology for biodiversity conservation and monitoring is highlighted. Finally, the paper also describes various transformative smart technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning algorithms for enhanced working efficiency of currently available techniques that will aid remote monitoring methods in biodiversity conservation.

Population genomics reveal deep divergence and strong geographical structure in gentians in the Hengduan Mountains

Understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes driving population differentiation and speciation can provide critical insights into the formation of biodiversity. Here, we examine the link between population genetic processes and biogeographic history underlying the generation of diversity in the Hengduan Mountains (HM), a region harboring a rich and dynamic flora. We used restriction site-associated DNA sequencing to generate 1,907 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and four-kb of plastid sequence in species of the Gentiana hexaphylla complex (Gentianaceae). We performed genetic clustering with spatial and non-spatial models, phylogenetic reconstructions, and ancestral range estimation, with the aim of addressing the processes influencing diversification of G. hexaphylla in the HM. We find the G. hexaphylla complex is characterized by geographic genetic structure with clusters corresponding to the South, North and the central HM. Phylogenetic reconstruction and pairwise F _ST analyses showed deep differentiation between Southern and Northern populations in the HM. The population in Mount Taibai exhibited the highest genetic similarity to the North HM. Ancestral range estimation indicated that the G. hexaphylla complex originated in the central HM and then diverged in the Pliocene and the Early Pleistocene, before dispersing widely, resulting in the current distinct lineages. Overall, we found deep genomic differentiation in the G. hexaphylla complex corresponds to geographic barriers to dispersal in the HM and highlights a critical role of the uplift of the Daxue Mountains and subsequent climatic fluctuations underlying diversification. The colonization of G. hexaphylla in the Mount Taibai region suggests directional dispersal between the alpine flora of the Qinling Mountains and the HM.

Effects of spatial fragmentation on the elevational distribution of bird diversity in a mountain adjacent to urban areas

The biodiversity in mountainous ecosystems is high but is threatened by rapid environmental change. Urbanization and other anthropogenic factors in the mountains can affect land use and spatial fragmentation. Moreover, patterns of habitat are closely related to elevation and have a major effect on montane biodiversity. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of spatial fragmentation on the vertical distribution pattern of bird diversity by characterizing the structure of the bird community, species diversity, and landscape factors at different altitudes. From 2016 to 2019, this study made a four years of continuous monitoring of the breeding birds. The result indicated that Mount Tai harbored a high bird diversity. Bird richness, abundance, and Shannon-Wiener index decreased with latitude in Mount Tai monotonically. Moreover, the structure of bird communities varied along altitudinal gradients, and some special species were supported in different elevational bands due to the environmental filtering. Road density, number of habitat patches, patch density, and the percentage of forest were significantly related to bird diversity. Sufficient habitat and more patches in the low-mountain belt supported higher bird diversity. The middle-mountain belt and high-mountain belt showed contrasting patterns. Our results highlight the effects of on-going urbanization and human activities on montane biodiversity and emphasize the need for artificial habitats in the mountains to be managed.

The phylogeographical pattern of the Amur minnow Rhynchocypris lagowskii (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in the Qinling Mountains

In this study, the phylogeographical pattern of the Amur minnow (Rhynchocypris lagowskii) widely distributed in the cold freshwaters of the Qinling Mountains was examined. A total of 464 specimens from 48 localities were sequenced at a 540-bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) gene, and 69 haplotypes were obtained. The mean ratio of the number of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions per site (dN/dS) was 0.028 and indicated purifying selection. Haplotype diversity (h) and nucleotide diversity (π) of natural populations of R. lagowskii varied widely between distinct localities. Phylogenetic trees based on Bayesian inference (BI), maximum likelihood (ML), and maximum parsimony (MP) methods, and network analysis showed five well-differentiated lineages, but these did not completely correspond to localities and geographic distribution. Meanwhile, analysis of molecular variances (AMOVA) indicated the highest proportion of genetic variation was attributed to the differentiation between populations rather than by our defined lineages. In addition, there was no significant correlation between the pairwise Fst values and geographic distance (p > .05). Based on the molecular clock calibration, the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) was estimated to have emerged from the Late Miocene to the Early Pleistocene. Finally, the results of demographic history based on the neutrality test, mismatch distribution, and Bayesian skyline plot (BSP) analyses showed that collectively, the populations were stable during the Pleistocene while one lineage (lineage E) probably underwent a slight contraction during the Middle Pleistocene and a rapid expansion from the Middle to the Late Pleistocene. Therefore, the study suggests the current phylogeographical pattern of R. lagowskii was likely shaped by geological events that led to vicariance followed by dispersal and secondary contact, river capture, and climatic oscillation during the Late Miocene to the Early Pleistocene in the Qinling Mountains.