scholarly journals Herbivore corridors sustain genetic footprint in plant populations: a case for Spanish drove roads

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo García-Fernández ◽  
Pablo Manzano ◽  
Javier Seoane ◽  
Francisco M. Azcárate ◽  
Jose M. Iriondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Human Settlements ◽  
Inbreeding Coefficients ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Plant Population Genetics ◽  
Migration Capacity ◽  
The Impact

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem productivity mediated by direct human impact. Its consequences include genetic depauperation, comprising phenomena such as inbreeding depression or reduction in genetic diversity. While the capacity of wild and domestic herbivores to sustain long-distance seed dispersal has been proven, the impact of herbivore corridors in plant population genetics remains to be observed. We conducted this study in the Conquense Drove Road in Spain, where sustained use by livestock over centuries has involved transhumant herds passing twice a year en route to winter and summer pastures. We compared genetic diversity and inbreeding coefficients of Plantago lagopus populations along the drove road with populations in the surrounding agricultural matrix, at varying distances from human settlements. We observed significant differences in coefficients of inbreeding between the drove road and the agricultural matrix, as well as significant trends indicative of higher genetic diversity and population nestedness around human settlements. Trends for higher genetic diversity along drove roads may be present, although they were only marginally significant due to the available sample size. Our results illustrate a functional landscape with human settlements as dispersal hotspots, while the findings along the drove road confirm its role as a pollinator reservoir observed in other studies. Drove roads may possibly also function as linear structures that facilitate long-distance dispersal across the agricultural matrix, while local P. lagopus populations depend rather on short-distance seed dispersal. These results highlight the role of herbivore corridors for conserving the migration capacity of plants, and contribute towards understanding the role of seed dispersal and the spread of invasive species related to human activities.

scholarly journals Herbivore corridors sustain genetic footprint in plant populations: a case for Spanish drove roads

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo García-Fernández ◽  
Pablo Manzano ◽  
Javier Seoane ◽  
Francisco M Azcárate ◽  
José M Iriondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Linear Structure ◽  
Long Distance Dispersal ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Human Settlements ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Plant Population Genetics ◽  
Migration Capacity ◽  
The Impact

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity conservation and productivity, that are mediated by direct human impact. Its consequences include genetic depauperation, including phenomena such as inbreeding depression or reduction in genetic diversity. While the capacity of wild and domestic herbivores to sustain long-distance dispersal has been proven, the impact of herbivore corridors in plant population genetics remains to be observed. We conducted this study in the Conquense Drove Road in Spain, with a sustained use by livestock during centuries where transiting herds passed by twice a year en route to winter and summer pastures. We compared genetic descriptors of Plantago lagopus populations in the drove road with populations in the surrounding agricultural matrix, at varying distances from human settlements. We observed significant differences for coefficients of inbreeding between the drove road and the agricultural matrix, as well as significant trends for higher genetic diversity around human settlements. Trends for higher genetic diversity in drove roads may be present, although they were not significant with the available sample size. The resulting functional landscape has human settlements as dispersal hotspots, while the drove road act as a pollinator reservoir and possibly also as a linear structure facilitating long-distance dispersal in an agricultural matrix where local P. lagopus populations depend rather on short-distance dispersal. These results highlight the role of herbivore corridors for conserving the migration capacity of plants, and they contribute as well in understanding the role of human dispersal for the spread of invasive species.

scholarly journals Herbivore corridors sustain genetic footprint in plant populations: a case for Spanish drove roads

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo García-Fernández ◽  
Pablo Manzano ◽  
Javier Seoane ◽  
Francisco M Azcárate ◽  
José M Iriondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Linear Structure ◽  
Long Distance Dispersal ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Human Settlements ◽  
Agricultural Matrix ◽  
Plant Population Genetics ◽  
Migration Capacity ◽  
The Impact

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity conservation and productivity, that are mediated by direct human impact. Its consequences include genetic depauperation, including phenomena such as inbreeding depression or reduction in genetic diversity. While the capacity of wild and domestic herbivores to sustain long-distance dispersal has been proven, the impact of herbivore corridors in plant population genetics remains to be observed. We conducted this study in the Conquense Drove Road in Spain, with a sustained use by livestock during centuries where transiting herds passed by twice a year en route to winter and summer pastures. We compared genetic descriptors of Plantago lagopus populations in the drove road with populations in the surrounding agricultural matrix, at varying distances from human settlements. We observed significant differences for coefficients of inbreeding between the drove road and the agricultural matrix, as well as significant trends for higher genetic diversity around human settlements. Trends for higher genetic diversity in drove roads may be present, although they were not significant with the available sample size. The resulting functional landscape has human settlements as dispersal hotspots, while the drove road act as a pollinator reservoir and possibly also as a linear structure facilitating long-distance dispersal in an agricultural matrix where local P. lagopus populations depend rather on short-distance dispersal. These results highlight the role of herbivore corridors for conserving the migration capacity of plants, and they contribute as well in understanding the role of human dispersal for the spread of invasive species.

Modeling no-take marine reserves in regulated fisheries: assessing the role of larval dispersal

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 2509-2523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carey R. McGilliard ◽  
Ray Hilborn
Keyword(s):  
Larval Dispersal ◽  
Marine Reserves ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Maximum Sustainable Yield ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Total Allowable Catch ◽  
Dispersal Distances ◽  
The Impact

We explored the effects of larval dispersal distance on the impact of no-take marine reserves (NTMRs) implemented in fisheries with catch regulations. NTMRs exist in many fisheries with harvest regulated by annual catch limits. In these fisheries, catch is taken from outside NTMRs, potentially resulting in reduced abundance outside NTMRs and an overall reduction in catch. We used a spatial model with two life stages (larvae and adults) to evaluate the effects of larval dispersal distance for fisheries managed by a total allowable catch (TAC) and an NTMR. We examined effects of the timing of density-dependent mortality in relation to larval movement. Abundance reached similar values for populations with long and short larval dispersal distances. Catch declined substantially for stocks with short larval dispersal distances. When larval dispersal distances were long, catch declined to values below maximum sustainable yield (MSY), but stabilized. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) declined to 9% of CPUE at MSY for stocks with short distance larval dispersal after the implementation of an NTMR; with long distance larval dispersal, CPUE declined to approximately 50% or less of the CPUE at MSY. The CPUE did not reflect trends in abundance after the implementation of an NTMR.

scholarly journals A missing link in mutualistic networks: symbiotic fungi in plant-animal interactions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Chaverri ◽  
Gloriana Chaverri
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Plant Disease ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Tropical Plants ◽  
Mutualistic Relationship ◽  
Symbiotic Fungi ◽  
Mutualistic Networks ◽  
Microbial Symbionts ◽  
Plant Animal Interactions

AbstractWe explored the hypothesis of an indirect mutualistic relationship (i.e., when the association between two species is modified by a third one) within a plant-animal seed dispersal network. Bats are important long-distance dispersers of many tropical plants, yet, by consuming fruits they may disperse not only the plant’s seeds, but also the endosymbiotic fungi within those fruits. We characterized fungal communities in fruits of Ficus colubrinae and in feces of Ectophylla alba to determine if passage through the digestive tract of the bats affected the total mycobiome. Results show a significant reduction, after passage through the gut, of fungi known to be plant pathogenic, while abundance of species known to have beneficial properties significantly increased. These findings suggest that the role of frugivores in plant-animal mutualistic networks may extend beyond seed dispersal: they also promote the dispersal of potentially beneficial microbial symbionts while hindering those that can cause plant disease.

Food and Empire

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayeeta Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
American Empire ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
The Past ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
Elite Status ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Global Food ◽  
Modern Technologies

Between 1926 and 1933, the Empire Marketing Board used a myriad of advertisements, posters, exhibits, and films to promote the empire's food products to British homes. The publicity campaigns were intended to show that tea from India or fruit from Australia was not foreign, but also British. Whether the Board was successful in its bid to promote intra-imperial food consumption, indeed, whether those efforts were needed in the first place, was not clear. This article focuses on foods from Asia and America that were originally thought to be exotic in Europe, initially served as indicators of elite status, and their gradual dissemination downwards. It also examines the role of long-distance trade and modern technologies in the production and distribution of new agro-industrial foods across networks of imperial knowledge and commodity circulation. The article concludes by assessing the impact of global food corporations' domination in the contemporary era, which in many ways can be seen as the equivalent of the European and American empire of the past.

scholarly journals The Impact of Evolutionary Driving Forces on Human Complex Diseases: A Population Genetics Approach

Scientifica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amr T. M. Saeb ◽  
Dhekra Al-Naqeb
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Complex Diseases ◽  
Human Movement ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Historical Origin ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Human Complex

Investigating the molecular evolution of human genome has paved the way to understand genetic adaptation of humans to the environmental changes and corresponding complex diseases. In this review, we discussed the historical origin of genetic diversity among human populations, the evolutionary driving forces that can affect genetic diversity among populations, and the effects of human movement into new environments and gene flow on population genetic diversity. Furthermore, we presented the role of natural selection on genetic diversity and complex diseases. Then we reviewed the disadvantageous consequences of historical selection events in modern time and their relation to the development of complex diseases. In addition, we discussed the effect of consanguinity on the incidence of complex diseases in human populations. Finally, we presented the latest information about the role of ancient genes acquired from interbreeding with ancient hominids in the development of complex diseases.

THE ROLE OF ABSCISSION IN LONG-DISTANCE SEED DISPERSAL BY THE WIND

Ecology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. 3105-3110 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Greene
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Long Distance

scholarly journals Global gene flow releases invasive plants from environmental constraints on genetic diversity

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (8) ◽  
pp. 4218-4227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annabel L. Smith ◽  
Trevor R. Hodkinson ◽  
Jesus Villellas ◽  
Jane A. Catford ◽  
Anna Mária Csergő ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Plantago Lanceolata ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Environmental Constraints ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
The Impact

When plants establish outside their native range, their ability to adapt to the new environment is influenced by both demography and dispersal. However, the relative importance of these two factors is poorly understood. To quantify the influence of demography and dispersal on patterns of genetic diversity underlying adaptation, we used data from a globally distributed demographic research network comprising 35 native and 18 nonnative populations of Plantago lanceolata. Species-specific simulation experiments showed that dispersal would dilute demographic influences on genetic diversity at local scales. Populations in the native European range had strong spatial genetic structure associated with geographic distance and precipitation seasonality. In contrast, nonnative populations had weaker spatial genetic structure that was not associated with environmental gradients but with higher within-population genetic diversity. Our findings show that dispersal caused by repeated, long-distance, human-mediated introductions has allowed invasive plant populations to overcome environmental constraints on genetic diversity, even without strong demographic changes. The impact of invasive plants may, therefore, increase with repeated introductions, highlighting the need to constrain future introductions of species even if they already exist in an area.

scholarly journals The impact of Pleistocene sea-level oscillations on plant genetic diversity: the case of the western Mediterranean endemic Carduncellus dianius (Asteraceae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 191 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-420
Author(s):  
Sonia Herrando-Moraira ◽  
Sergi Massó ◽  
Deborah Zani ◽  
Jordi López-Pujol ◽  
Roser Vilatersana
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Plastid Dna ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Niche Modelling ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Sea Level Fluctuations ◽  
Genetic Diversity And Structure ◽  
The Impact

Abstract To what extent Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations have affected the genetic diversity of species is one of the current topics in biogeographical research. Carduncellus dianius is a Mediterranean narrow endemic species, restricted to < 20 populations distributed along coastal areas in Alicante (mainland eastern Iberian Peninsula) and on the island of Ibiza (Balearic Islands). To get insights into its evolutionary history and its genetic diversity and structure, we combined the analysis of molecular markers (three plastid DNA regions and AFLP) with ecological niche modelling. Results from dated phylogeographical analyses revealed that this species might have originated in the continental region during the early Pleistocene. The colonization of Ibiza could have occurred by a single long-distance dispersal event, with a subsequent back-colonization from the island to the same continental area of origin. These results corroborate the role of islands as sources for mainland colonization (biodiversity reservoirs) and as refugia during glacial periods. Notably, we detected that populations located on stable landmasses (i.e. not affected by sea rising during interglacial cycles) harboured significantly higher genetic diversity than those that were periodically submerged during the periods of marine transgressions. Our results point out sea-level fluctuations as a factor to be considered in phylogeographical studies focused on species distributed along coastlines.

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