scholarly journals Variation in founder groups promotes establishment success in the wild

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1739) ◽  
pp. 2800-2806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Forsman ◽  
Lena Wennersten ◽  
Magnus Karlsson ◽  
Sofia Caesar
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Colour Morph ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Establishment Success ◽  
Evolutionary Rescue ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Colour Morphs ◽  
Founder Group

Environmental changes currently pose severe threats to biodiversity, and reintroductions and translocations are increasingly used to protect declining populations and species from extinction. Theory predicts that establishment success should be higher for more variable groups of dissimilar individuals. To test this ‘diversity promotes establishment’ hypothesis, we introduced colour polymorphic pygmy grasshoppers ( Tetrix subulata ) to different sites in the wild. The number of descendants found at the release sites the subsequent year increased with increasing number of colour morphs in the founder group, and variation in founder groups also positively affected colour morph diversity in the established populations. Since colour morphs differ in morphology, physiology, behaviour, reproductive life history and types of niche used, these findings demonstrate that variation among individuals in functionally important traits promotes establishment success under natural conditions, and further indicate that founder diversity may contribute to evolutionary rescue and increased population persistence.

scholarly journals Heterospecific aggression bias towards a rarer colour morph

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1815) ◽  
pp. 20151551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Topi K. Lehtonen ◽  
Will Sowersby ◽  
Bob B. M. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Social Dominance ◽  
Crater Lake ◽  
Phenotypic Diversity ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Colour Morph ◽  
Expected Frequency ◽  
Dark Colour ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Colour Morphs ◽  
Heterospecific Aggression

Colour polymorphisms are a striking example of phenotypic diversity, yet the sources of selection that allow different morphs to persist within populations remain poorly understood. In particular, despite the importance of aggression in mediating social dominance, few studies have considered how heterospecific aggression might contribute to the maintenance or divergence of different colour morphs. To redress this gap, we carried out a field-based study in a Nicaraguan crater lake to investigate patterns of heterospecific aggression directed by the cichlid fish, Hypsophrys nicaraguensi s, towards colour polymorphic cichlids in the genus Amphilophus . We found that H. nicaraguensis was the most frequent territorial neighbour of the colour polymorphic A. sagittae . Furthermore, when manipulating territorial intrusions using models, H. nicaraguensis were more aggressive towards the gold than dark colour morph of the sympatric Amphilophus species, including A . sagittae . Such a pattern of heterospecific aggression should be costly to the gold colour morph, potentially accounting for its lower than expected frequency and, more generally, highlighting the importance of considering heterospecific aggression in the context of morph frequencies and coexistence in the wild.

scholarly journals Additive genetic variance for lifetime fitness and the capacity for adaptation in an annual plant

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mason W. Kulbaba ◽  
Seema N. Sheth ◽  
Rachel E. Pain ◽  
Vince M. Eckhart ◽  
Ruth G. Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Chamaecrista Fasciculata ◽  
Evolutionary Rescue ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Population Sustainability ◽  
Mean Fitness ◽  
Fisher’S Fundamental Theorem

AbstractThe immediate capacity for adaptation under current environmental conditions is directly proportional to the additive genetic variance for fitness, VA(W). Mean absolute fitness, , is predicted to change at the rate , according to Fisher’s Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection. Despite ample research evaluating degree of local adaptation, direct assessment of VA(W) and the capacity for ongoing adaptation is exceedingly rare. We estimated VA(W) and in three pedigreed populations of annual Chamaecrista fasciculata, over three years in the wild. Contrasting with common expectations, we found significant VA(W) in all populations and years, predicting increased mean fitness in subsequent generations (0.83 to 6.12 seeds per individual). Further, we detected two cases predicting “evolutionary rescue”, where selection on standing VA(W) was expected to increase fitness of declining populations ( < 1.0) to levels consistent with population sustainability and growth. Within populations, interannual differences in genetic expression of fitness were striking. Significant genotype-by-year interactions reflected modest correlations between breeding values across years (all r < 0.490), indicating temporally variable selection at the genotypic level; that could contribute to maintaining VA(W). By directly estimating VA(W) and total lifetime , our study presents an experimental approach for studies of adaptive capacity in the wild.

scholarly journals RpoS-Dependent Stress Response and Exoenzyme Production in Vibrio vulnificus

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 6114-6120 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hülsmann ◽  
T. M. Rosche ◽  
I.-S. Kong ◽  
H. M. Hassan ◽  
D. M. Beam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Vibrio Vulnificus ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Striking Difference ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Hydrolytic Activities ◽  
In The Wild

ABSTRACT Vibrio vulnificus is an estuarine bacterium capable of causing rapidly fatal infections through both ingestion and wound infection. Like other opportunistic pathogens, V. vulnificus must adapt to potentially stressful environmental changes while living freely in seawater, upon colonization of the oyster gut, and upon infection of such diverse hosts as humans and eels. In order to begin to understand the ability of V. vulnificus to respond to such stresses, we examined the role of the alternate sigma factor RpoS, which is important in stress response and virulence in many pathogens. An rpoS mutant of V. vulnificus strain C7184o was constructed by homologous recombination. The mutant strain exhibited a decreased ability to survive diverse environmental stresses, including exposure to hydrogen peroxide, hyperosmolarity, and acidic conditions. The most striking difference was a high sensitivity of the mutant to hydrogen peroxide. Albuminase, caseinase, and elastase activity were detected in the wild type but not in the mutant strain, and an additional two hydrolytic activities (collagenase and gelatinase) were reduced in the mutant strain compared to the wild type. Additionally, the motility of the rpoS mutant was severely diminished. Overall, these studies suggest that rpoS in V. vulnificus is important for adaptation to environmental changes and may have a role in virulence.

scholarly journals Considering adaptive genetic variation in climate change vulnerability assessment reduces species range loss projections

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 10418-10423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orly Razgour ◽  
Brenna Forester ◽  
John B. Taggart ◽  
Michaël Bekaert ◽  
Javier Juste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Adaptive Genetic Variation ◽  
Climate Change Vulnerability ◽  
Species Vulnerability ◽  
Evolutionary Rescue

Local adaptations can determine the potential of populations to respond to environmental changes, yet adaptive genetic variation is commonly ignored in models forecasting species vulnerability and biogeographical shifts under future climate change. Here we integrate genomic and ecological modeling approaches to identify genetic adaptations associated with climate in two cryptic forest bats. We then incorporate this information directly into forecasts of range changes under future climate change and assessment of population persistence through the spread of climate-adaptive genetic variation (evolutionary rescue potential). Considering climate-adaptive potential reduced range loss projections, suggesting that failure to account for intraspecific variability can result in overestimation of future losses. On the other hand, range overlap between species was projected to increase, indicating that interspecific competition is likely to play an important role in limiting species’ future ranges. We show that although evolutionary rescue is possible, it depends on a population’s adaptive capacity and connectivity. Hence, we stress the importance of incorporating genomic data and landscape connectivity in climate change vulnerability assessments and conservation management.

Examining effects of persistent retroviral infection on fitness and pathogen susceptibility in a natural feline host

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Biek ◽  
Toni K Ruth ◽  
Kerry M Murphy ◽  
Charles R Anderson, Jr. ◽  
Mary Poss
Keyword(s):  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Stochastic Simulations ◽  
Nonsignificant Trend ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Retroviral Infection ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Secondary Infections ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Serological Data ◽  
Two Populations

Many animal populations carry endemic (i.e., permanently present) viruses but few studies have assessed the demographic consequences of these infections under natural conditions. We examined the effects of chronic infection with FIVPco, a feline retrovirus, on the fitness and pathogen susceptibility of its natural host, the cougar (Puma concolor (L., 1771)), in the wild. Based on data obtained through intensive monitoring of 160 cougars from two populations, we estimated survival and different measures of host fecundity of infected and uninfected individuals. In addition, we used serological data collected from 207 cougars to test whether FIVPcopredisposes individuals to a higher probability of infection with other pathogens. We found no evidence for an overall reduction in survival due to FIVPcowhen accounting for other sources of demographic variation (age, sex, and population). There was a consistent but nonsignificant trend towards poorer reproductive performance in FIVPco-infected females. We found no serological evidence for a higher probability of secondary infections associated with FIVPco. Overall, these results support the premise that chronic FIVPcoinfection is asymptomatic in its natural cougar host, probably because of a long evolutionary association between virus and host. However, results of stochastic simulations indicate that only larger reductions in annual survival (>20%) can be excluded with confidence. Also, the possibility of a so far unrecognized cost of FIVPcoinfection on cougar fecundity remains.

scholarly journals Introduction. Integration of ecology and endocrinology in avian reproduction: a new synthesis

2007 ◽  
Vol 363 (1497) ◽  
pp. 1581-1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C Wingfield ◽  
Tony D Williams ◽  
Marcel E Visser
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Biological Knowledge ◽  
Avian Reproduction ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
New Synthesis ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
Common Framework ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

Birds are some of the most familiar organisms of global ecosystems. Changes in the visibility and abundance of birds are therefore excellent indicators of population and physiological responses to habitat changes and are a major focus for public concern about detrimental environmental changes. In order to understand how birds respond to these challenges, it is essential to determine how the environment affects reproduction under natural conditions. The continuum from environmental variables (cues) to reproductive life-history traits depends upon a cascade of neural and physiological processes that determine the extent and rate at which birds will be able to adapt to changes in their environment. For a full understanding of this ability to adapt, ecologists and endocrinologists need to collaborate and build a common framework. The objective of this theme issue is to bring together a series of papers addressing how evolutionary ecologists and endocrinologists can collaborate directly using avian reproduction as a model system. First, we address the need to integrate ecology and endocrinology and what benefits to biological knowledge will be gained. The papers collected in this issue represent a new synthesis of ecology and endocrinology as discussed in three E-BIRD workshops. The three main foci are trade-offs and constraints, maternal effects and individual variation. Authors within each group present ecological and endocrinological aspects of their topics and many go on to outline testable hypotheses. Finally, we discuss where the major problems remain and how this issue points out where these need collaborative efforts of ecologists and endocrinologists. Specific challenges are raised to future researchers to break through intellectual barriers and explore new frontiers. This framework of topics will ultimately apply to all taxa because the principles involved are universal and hopefully will have direct application to programmes integrating organisms and genes throughout biological sciences.

Habitat-correlated seed germination behaviour in populations of wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa L.) from northern Italy

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Mondoni ◽  
Robin Probert ◽  
Graziano Rossi ◽  
Fiona Hay ◽  
Costantino Bonomi
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Mountain Site ◽  
Radicle Emergence ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Shoot Emergence ◽  
Mountain Population

AbstractAlthough various aspects of the biology of Anemone nemorosa have been examined, few studies present data on seed germination, and even then information tends to be rather contradictory. A. nemorosa L. is a spring-flowering, woodland geophyte, widely distributed across much of Europe. Germination phenology, including embryo development and radicle and shoot emergence, were investigated in one mountain and three lowland populations from northern Italy. Immediately after harvest, seeds were either sown on agar in the laboratory under simulated seasonal temperatures, or placed in nylon mesh sachets and buried in the wild. Embryos, undifferentiated at the time of dispersal, grew under summer conditions in the laboratory and in the wild. However, seeds did not germinate under continuous summer conditions. Radicle emergence in the field was first recorded at the beginning of autumn, when soil temperatures had dropped to c. 15°C in the case of the three lowland populations, and to c. 10°C at the mountain site. Shoot emergence was delayed under natural conditions until late autumn/early winter, when soil temperatures had dropped to c. 10°C in the lowlands and c. 6°C at the mountain site. In the laboratory, a period of cold stratification was required for shoot emergence, and this requirement was more pronounced in the mountain population. Seeds of the mountain population completed embryo development, radicle emergence and shoot emergence at cooler temperatures compared with the lowland populations. These results suggest that germination in A. nemorosa is highly adapted and finely tuned to local climate. We conclude that seeds of A. nemorosa display deep, simple epicotyl, morphophysiogical dormancy, and this is the first report of such dormancy for the genus Anemone. However, the continuous development and growth of embryos from the time of natural dispersal, and the lack of evidence of developmental arrest under natural conditions, suggests that radicles are non-dormant.

scholarly journals Selection of Restoration Material for Abies koreana Based on Its Genetic Diversity on Mt. Hallasan

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Seung-Beom Chae ◽  
Hyo-In Lim ◽  
Yong-Yul Kim
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Target Distance ◽  
Planting Material ◽  
Abies Koreana ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
The Republic

The restoration of damaged or disrupted forests with genetically appropriate restoration planting material that can adapt to future environmental conditions will ensure the conservation of forest genetic resources. Abies koreana is endemic to the Republic of Korea, with declining populations under current environmental changes. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity of its largest population growing on Mt. Hallasan to determine the sampling size of planting material from the population that will ensure 95% coverage of alleles in the population. We evaluated the genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of three subpopulations of A. koreana on Mt. Hallasan. A total of 456 samples were evaluated using 10 microsatellites. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity were 0.538 and 0.614 at the population level, respectively. The differences among the subpopulations accounted for 4% of the total variance. Intervals between individuals of the sample to be extracted were based on the two-target distance (5 and 10 m) inferred from the spatial genetic structure. Through random sampling methods considering the target distance, we showed that genetic diversity can be captured by obtaining at least 35 individuals in the population of A. koreana on Mt. Hallasan.

scholarly journals Inheritance of Tail Colour and White-spotting in Conilurus penicillatus (Muridae)

1988 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 489
Author(s):  
Catherine M Kemper ◽  
Lincoln H Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Small Proportion ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pedigree Data ◽  
The Past ◽  
The North ◽  
Laboratory Colony ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Mendelian Character ◽  
Colour Morphs

In the wild, Coni/urus penicillatus has two tail colour morphs, one entirely black and the other with a white distal brush of variable length. These colour morphs have been used in the past for taxonomic purposes. A small proportion (4'6%) of laboratory-reared animals have a white interstitial section. Pedigree data were collected from a laboratory colony (n = 173) established using seven wild-caught animals from the north Kimberley region, Western Australia. The hypothesis tested was that black tail is inherited as a Mendelian character recessive to white tip. Matings between black-tailed individuals always gave black offspring. Crosses between other colour morphs also supported this hypothesis.

scholarly journals Avoiding extinction under nonlinear environmental change: models of evolutionary rescue with plasticity

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip B. Greenspoon ◽  
Hamish G. Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
Species At Risk ◽  
Adaptive Genetic Variation ◽  
Change Models ◽  
Numerous Species ◽  
Evolutionary Rescue

Rapid environmental changes are putting numerous species at risk of extinction. For migration-limited species, persistence depends on either phenotypic plasticity or evolutionary adaptation (evolutionary rescue). Current theory on evolutionary rescue typically assumes linear environmental change. Yet accelerating environmental change may pose a bigger threat. Here, we present a model of a species encountering an environment with accelerating or decelerating change, to which it can adapt through evolution or phenotypic plasticity (within-generational or transgenerational). We show that unless either form of plasticity is sufficiently strong or adaptive genetic variation is sufficiently plentiful, accelerating or decelerating environmental change increases extinction risk compared to linear environmental change for the same mean rate of environmental change.

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