Evidence for simple genetic control of a fruit-colour polymorphism in Acacia ligulata

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 363
Author(s):  
Kenneth D. Whitney
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Architecture ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Colour Polymorphism ◽  
Fruit Colour ◽  
Plant Populations ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Yellow Orange ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories ◽  
Acacia Ligulata ◽  
Adult Plants

Fruit-colour polymorphisms are common in nature, but their genetic bases have rarely been examined in wild species. Here, I report on controlled crosses in Acacia ligulata A.Cunn. ex Benth., an Australian arid-zone shrub with a red–yellow–orange aril colour polymorphism. The evidence is consistent with 1-locus, 2-allele control of red v. yellow phenotypes; these phenotypes comprise 98.7% of the adult plants in nature. At this proposed r locus, yellow is dominant to red. Evidence concerning the rare orange morph is limited, but is consistent with models in which orange is produced by either (a) a third allele at the r locus or (b) modification by a second locus. Simple genetic architecture for ecologically relevant traits, such as fruit colour, should aid in linking ecological processes such as frugivory and seed dispersal to the evolutionary trajectories of plant populations.

scholarly journals Behavioral syndromes shape evolutionary trajectories via conserved genetic architecture

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphael Royauté ◽  
Ann Hedrick ◽  
Ned A. Dochtermann
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Architecture ◽  
Behavioral Syndromes ◽  
Behavioral Syndrome ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Genetic Covariance ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Field Crickets ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories ◽  
Gryllus Integer

AbstractBehaviors are often correlated within broader syndromes, creating the potential for evolution in one behavior to drive evolutionary changes in other behaviors. Despite demonstrations that behavioral syndromes are common across taxa, whether this potential for evolutionary effects is realized has not yet been demonstrated. Here we show that populations of field crickets (Gryllus integer) exhibit a genetically conserved behavioral syndrome structure despite differences in average behaviors. We found that the distribution of genetic variation and genetic covariance among behavioral traits was consistent with genes and cellular mechanisms underpinning behavioral syndromes rather than correlated selection. Moreover, divergence among populations’ average behaviors was constrained by the genetically conserved behavioral syndrome. Our results demonstrate that a conserved genetic architecture linking behaviors has shaped the evolutionary trajectories of populations in disparate environments—illustrating an important way by which behavioral syndromes result in shared evolutionary fates.

Environmental flow requirements in arid zone rivers – a case study from the Lake Eyre Basin, central Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F. Costelloe ◽  
J.T. Puckridge ◽  
J.R.W. Reid ◽  
J. Pritchard ◽  
P. Hudson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
Environmental Flow ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Biological Responses ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
Real Flow

The ARIDFLO project takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the collection and analysis of data required to formulate appropriate environmental flow requirements for rivers in the Lake Eyre Basin. The key drivers of the ecological processes underpinning the health of these rivers are identified by modelling whole-of-ecosystem biological responses to hydrological events over a range of spatial and temporal scales. First, the hydrology of these poorly gauged (often ungauged) rivers needs to be modelled and validated to mimic real flow and inundation patterns at the catchment, reach and waterbody scale. Modelled and actual discharge data are then used to provide a suite of hydrological predictor variables which, in conjunction with other environmental variables, are used to model observed biotic responses. The key hydrologic and environmental drivers identified by the statistical models need to be taken into account when determining environmental flow requirements for these river systems. Further work is required to assess the predictive power of the models in the highly variable, complex systems of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers.

scholarly journals Isolation and Lack of Potential Mates may Threaten an Endangered Arid-Zone Acacia

2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 738-745
Author(s):  
Cairo N Forrest ◽  
David G Roberts ◽  
Andrew J Denham ◽  
David J Ayre
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Genotypic Diversity ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Reproductive Assurance ◽  
Threatened Plants ◽  
Self Fertilization ◽  
Adult Plants

Abstract Clonality may provide reproductive assurance for many threatened plants while limiting sexual reproductive success either through energetic tradeoffs or because clones are self-incompatible. Most stands of the Australian arid-zone plant Acacia carneorum, flower annually but low seed set and an absence of sexual recruitment now suggest that this species and other, important arid-zone ecosystem engineers may have low genotypic diversity. Indeed, our recent landscape-scale genetic study revealed that stands are typically monoclonal, with genets usually separated by kilometers. An inability to set sexually produced seed or a lack of genetically diverse mates may explain almost system-wide reproductive failure. Here, using microsatellite markers, we genotyped 100 seeds from a rare fruiting stand (Middle-Camp), together with all adult plants within it and its 4 neighboring stands (up to 5 km distant). As expected, all stands surveyed were monoclonal. However, the Middle-Camp seeds were generated sexually. Comparing seed genotypes with the single Middle-Camp genotype and those of genets from neighboring and other regional stands (n = 26), revealed that 73 seeds were sired by the Middle-Camp genet. Within these Middle-Camp seeds we detected 19 genotypes in proportions consistent with self-fertilization of that genet. For the remaining 27 seeds, comprising 8 different genotypes, paternity was assigned to the nearest neighboring stands Mallee and Mallee-West, approximately 1 km distant. Ironically, given this species’ vast geographic range, a small number of stands with reproductively compatible near neighbors may provide the only sources of novel genotypes.

Bet-hedging and germination in the Australian arid zone shrub Acacia ligulata

2000 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Letnic ◽  
Christopher R. Dickman and Gayle M
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
Bet Hedging ◽  
Acacia Ligulata

scholarly journals Extent of variability in fruit morphological characters of local mango germplasm

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurbir Singh ◽  
Sukhdev Singh
Keyword(s):  
Mangifera Indica ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Fruit Shape ◽  
Fruit Colour ◽  
Light Yellow ◽  
Greenish Yellow ◽  
Orange Yellow ◽  
Fruit Skin ◽  
Yellow Orange ◽  
Medium Type

  A study was conducted on twenty five genotypes of seedling Mangoes to examine fruit morphological characters. Fruit shape of the evaluated germplasm varied enormously and fruits of obovoid, elliptic, round and oblong shapes were found. Fruit apex shape in the evaluated plants was round, acute and obtuse. Depth of fruit stalk cavity was either absent, shallow and of medium type, whereas, fruit neck prominence was absent to slightly prominent in the tested plants. Shape of fruit ventral shoulder was varied and found to be slopping abruptly, rising and then rounded and long curve type in the evaluated germplasm. Fruit beak varies from pointed to perceptible type and fruit sinus was absent to shallow type in the fruits from different plants. Fruit attractiveness varies from very good to excellent and fruit colour from greenish yellow to green colour of fruit skin at maturity was noted in fruits from selected trees. Peel colour of AA-15 was different amongst all the genotypes which were green with red blush. Pulp colour varied from light orange, yellow orange, orange yellow, yellow and light yellow, whereas, pulp texture was soft to intermediate in the evaluated germplasm. Key words: Mangifera indica; Genotype susceptibility; Punjab; India.  

scholarly journals Historical cartographic and topo-bathymetric database on the French Rhône River (17th–20th centuries)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanny Arnaud ◽  
Lalandy Sehen Chanu ◽  
Jules Grillot ◽  
Jérémie Riquier ◽  
Hervé Piégay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Historical Ecology ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Rhône River ◽  
Channel Changes ◽  
Rhone River ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories ◽  
River Training

Abstract. Space and time analyses of channel changes, especially within large rivers subject to high levels of human impact, are critical to address multiple questions about rivers in the Anthropocene era. The reconstruction of long-term (> 150 year) evolutionary trajectories permits an understanding of how natural and anthropogenic factors impact hydromorphological and ecological processes in rivers, helps with the design of sustainable management and restoration options, and may also help in the assessment of future changes. However, the reconstruction of channel changes can be challenging: historical data are often scattered across many archives, and the quantity and accuracy of information generally decreases as one goes back in time. This data article provides a historical database of 350 cartographic and topo-bathymetric resources on the French Rhône River (530 km in length) compiled from the 17th to mid-20th century, with a temporal focus prior to extensive river training (1860s). The data were collected in 14 national, regional, and departmental archive services. A table describes the properties of each archived data item and its associated iconographic files. Some of the historical maps are available in a georeferenced format. A GIS layer enables one-click identification of all archive data available for a given reach of the French Rhône River. This database provides substantial new material for deeper analyses of channel changes over a longer time period and at a finer time step compared with previously available data. The database has several potential applications in geomorphology, retrospective hydraulic modelling, historical ecology, and river restoration, as well as permitting comparisons with other large and multi-impacted rivers worldwide. The dataset is available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.922437 (Arnaud et al., 2020a). Iconographic extracts of the 350 archived items are available at http://photo.driihm.fr/index.php/category/52.

The effects of browsing by feral and re-introduced native herbivores on seedling survivorship in the Australian rangelands

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola T. Munro ◽  
Katherine E. Moseby ◽  
John L. Read
Keyword(s):  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Perennial Plant ◽  
Seedling Survivorship ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Perennial Shrubs ◽  
Acacia Aneura ◽  
Acacia Ligulata

Browsing by introduced cattle (Bos taurus) and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) can limit the recruitment of some arid zone tree and shrub species. In a study conducted at the Arid Recovery Reserve, Roxby Downs, SA, we aimed to quantify initial recruitment changes in shrubs after the removal of cattle and rabbits and the re-introduction of locally extinct fauna. The presence and abundance of seedlings was measured at groves of seven native perennial shrubs over 6 years under four browsing treatments: (1) ‘reserve-reintroductions’ [re-introduced greater stick-nest rats (Leporillus conditor), burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) and greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis)], (2) ‘reserve-no browsers’, (3) ‘pastoral-stocked’ (rabbits and cattle), and (4) ‘pastoral-destocked’ (rabbits). Recruitment of mulga (Acacia aneura F.Muell. ex Benth.), silver cassia (Senna artemisioides subsp. petiolaris Randell) and sandhill wattle (Acacia ligulata A.Cunn. ex Benth.) was significantly greater in the two browsing regimes inside the Reserve than in the two pastoral regimes. The number of recruits of these three species declined at ‘pastoral-destocked’ and ‘pastoral-stocked’ sites but increased at ‘reserve-reintroductions’ and ‘reserve-no browsers’ sites from 2001 to 2006. Narrow-leaf hopbush (Dodonaea viscose (L.) Jacq.) showed a trend towards increased recruitment at sites in both browsing regimes inside the Reserve, but decreased recruitment at sites in both pastoral regimes. Native plum (Santalum lanceolatum R.Br.), native apricot (Pittosporum phylliraeoides orth. var. DC.) and bullock bush (Alectryon oleifolius (Desf.) S.T.Reynolds) exhibited no significant difference in recruitment between the four browsing regimes within the study timeframe. These results suggest that excluding rabbits and stock may benefit the germination and survival of mulga, silver cassia and sandhill wattle. To date, re-introduced native herbivores at low numbers have not been found to negatively affect the recruitment or growth rate of the seven perennial plant species studied.

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