BMC ecology and evolution最新文献

Background: Evolutionary fitness is determined by the match between an organism's phenotype and its local environment. When mismatched, individuals may disperse to more suitable habitats. For flightless insects, however, the range of dispersal is typically limited. Numerous flightless species have, therefore, evolved a dispersal dimorphism, that is, some individuals in otherwise short-winged populations develop long wings. Wing development may be genetically or environmentally determined, but these two drivers have rarely been analysed together.

Results: We studied the inheritance and density-dependent plasticity in the dispersal dimorphism of the meadow grasshopper Pseudochorthippus parallelus. Using a full-sib half-sib breeding design, we found that the development of long wings strongly depends on rearing density, with tactile stimulation being the most likely proximate cause. Additionally, we found heritable variation in the development of long wings, both in the propensity to produce long wings and in response to density (genotype-by-environment interactions). While at high and low densities, the environmental effect dominates, genetic variation is most consequential at intermediate densities.

Conclusions: Our results have implications for the phenotype-environment match and ultimately the evolution of individualised niches. Induced dimorphisms represent a form of adaptive phenotypic plasticity by offering a much greater potential for active niche choice and both genetic and induced dispersal dimorphisms facilitate niche choice in allowing individuals to sample a greater range of environments. Our study shows that niche-related polymorphisms can evolve via selection on the sensitivity threshold.

Accurate three-dimensional localisation of ultrasonic bat calls is essential for advancing behavioural and ecological research. I present a comprehensive, open-source simulation framework-Array WAH-for designing, evaluating, and optimising microphone arrays tailored to bioacoustic tracking. The tool incorporates biologically realistic signal generation, frequency-dependent propagation, and advanced Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) localisation algorithms, enabling precise quantification of both positional and angular accuracy. The framework supports both frequency-modulated (FM) and constant-frequency (CF) call types, the latter characteristic of Hipposiderid and Rhinolophid bats, which are particularly prone to localisation errors due to their long-duration emissions. A key innovation is the integration of source motion modelling during call emission, which introduces Doppler-based time warping and phase shifts across microphones-an important and often overlooked source of error in source localisation. I systematically compare four array geometries-a planar square, a pyramid, a tetrahedron, and an octahedron-across a volumetric spatial grid. The tetrahedral and octahedral configurations demonstrate superior localisation robustness, while planar arrays exhibit limited angular resolution. My simulations reveal that spatial resolution is fundamentally constrained by array geometry and the signal structure, with typical localisation error ranging between 5-10 cm at 0.5 m arm lengths. By providing a flexible, extensible, and user-friendly simulation environment, Array WAH supports task-specific design and deployment of compact, field-deployable localisation systems. It is especially valuable for investigating the acoustic behaviour of free-flying bats under naturalistic conditions, and complements emerging low-power multichannel ultrasonic recorders for field deployment and method validation.

Background: Heteroplasmy, the presence of more than one type of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within an individual, is an exception to the maternal transmission of mtDNA and has been observed in several animal species. A central question is whether heteroplasmy among individuals and across generations is mainly influenced by genetic drift or by selection.

Results: We quantified heteroplasmy in eight males, eight females and eight unfertilized eggs per female from a natural population of the hybrid frog species Pelophylax esculentus (between P. ridibundus and P. lessonae). After excluding sequencing error and potential sources of contamination, we found that all individuals and most of the eggs were heteroplasmic, containing 2-5 different haplotypes, from which one was very common and the rest appeared at very low frequencies (at maximum 2%). We observed a single lessonae haplotype, which was present in females and in their eggs but absent from all males. On the other hand, we observed four different ridibundus haplotypes that were present in males, females and eggs. Eggs had significantly lower heteroplasmy levels than their mothers.

Conclusions: The distribution of haplotypes between males and females, the difference of heteroplasmy levels between mothers and their eggs, and results from simulations suggest that drift alone is not sufficient to explain the observed patterns of heteroplasmy.

Deforestation in the Atlantic Forest has reached critical levels, threatening multiple levels of biodiversity. In these deforested landscapes, conservation strategies could benefit from preserving agroforestry systems known as Cabruca, a traditional method of cultivating cocoa under a canopy of native trees. In this context, Cariniana legalis (Jequitibá-rosa), an endemic tree species of the Atlantic Forest listed as endangered, was selected to evaluate the role of cocoa agroforests (Cabrucas) and forest remnants in the genetic conservation of this species. The study assessed the genetic diversity, inbreeding levels, and genetic structure of five populations of C. legalis located in forest remnants protected by law and in Cabrucas in southern Bahia, Brazil. Using 11 microsatellite loci, 294 individuals were genotyped for adult and juvenile ontogenetic stages. Despite forest fragmentation, some populations, especially those located in Cabrucas, retained high levels of genetic diversity in both stages. In contrast, a protected area exhibited lower genetic diversity and elevated inbreeding levels (f > 0.43) in both adults and juveniles. Analyses of genetic differentiation (F_ST) and migration rate (Nm) indicated reduced historical gene flow in certain populations, while network analysis and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) identified Cabrucas as central genetic hubs promoting connectivity across the landscape in both ontogenetic stages. Our results highlight the conservation value of cocoa agroforests for maintaining the genetic diversity and connectivity of this endangered tree species. We therefore recommend the inclusion of Cabrucas in integrated genetic conservation strategies for C. legalis in anthropogenically modified Atlantic Forest landscapes.

Marine invertebrates release their gametes at an optimal time to produce the next generation. In reef-building scleractinian corals, synchronous spawning is essential for reproductive success. Molecular mechanisms of scleractinian gametogenesis have been studied; however, the mechanism by which coral gametes mature at specific times has yet to be discovered. The present study focused on two Acropora species with different spawning seasons. In Okinawa, Japan, Acropora digitifera spawns from May to June, whereas Acropora sp. 1 spawns in August. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that 60 genes are located in the diverged genomic regions between the two species, suggesting a possible association with timing of gametogenesis. Among candidate genes, we identified an Acropora sp. 1-specific amino acid change in gene WDR59, one of the components of a mTORC1 activator, GATOR2. Since regulation of gametogenesis by mTORC1 is widely conserved among eukaryotes, the difference in timing of gamete maturation observed in the two Acropora species may be caused by a substitution in WDR59 that slightly affects timing of mTORC1 activation via GATOR2. In addition, this substitution may lead to reproductive isolation between the two species, due to different spawning periods. Thus, we propose that A. digitifera and Acropora sp. 1 species pair is an effective model for studying coral speciation and understanding the molecular mechanisms that control coral spawning timing.

Mangrove ecosystems in Bedono Village, Demak Regency, Central Java, are seriously degraded due to aggressive coastal abrasion, extreme soil salinity (45‰-80‰), and failure of previous rehabilitation programmes. This study aims to assess the level of vulnerability of mangrove habitat and formulate an integrated rehabilitation strategy that includes ecological and institutional aspects. Data were collected through tidal analysis, measurement of sediment texture and soil salinity, identification of plankton and macrobenthos diversity, and analysis of mangrove species community structure. The Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) was calculated based on four biophysical parameters, namely tidal inundation duration, maximum inundation height, soil salinity, and substrate type. Spatial analysis was conducted using ArcGIS 10 software to map the zones with high vulnerability. In addition, the Analytical Network Process (ANP) approach was used to prioritise ecological and institutional problems and develop solutions based on stakeholder interviews and expert validation. The results showed that the mangrove ecosystem in Bedono is highly vulnerable, with tidal inundation for 29-31 days per month, an average inundation height of 0.97 m, and a dominance of loamy sand textured soil. Avicennia marina species dominated in all growth stages, while the diversity of other species was very low. Key problems identified include coastal abrasion, low planting success rates due to non-adaptive techniques, and weak coordination between stakeholders. Priority solutions include installation of sediment traps, implementation of adaptive planting techniques, community involvement in monitoring, and establishment of village regulations to support programme sustainability. This study provides a new framework for integrating CVI-based ecological vulnerability mapping and institutional analysis to support comprehensive mangrove rehabilitation planning in heavily impacted coastal areas.

Medicinal plants are invaluable sources of bioactive compounds and continue to serve as primary medicine for many people worldwide, despite advances in pharmaceuticals. Their recognition has increased with the popularity of herbal products, yet many are vanishing rapidly. Climate change further threatens these resources, making their conservation a pressing concern. This study aimed to evaluate current range and the potential impact of climate change on the future distribution of Zhumeria majdae, an endangered and endemic medicinal species in Iran, and to identify priority areas for its conservation. Using 56 occurrence records and 7 environmental variables, the MaxEnt model was employed to project current and future habitat suitability under two climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) for the 2050s and 2070s. The model performed excellently (AUC = 0.977, TSS = 0.807 ). Among the variables used, solar radiation contributed the most (26%), followed by slope (12%), pH index (2.5%), Bio6 (1.1%), Bio19 (26.3%), Bio10 (0.7%), and Bio18 (31.3%). The results predicted suitable range in Hormozgan, South of Kerman and Fars provinces. Also, modeling projected a notable shift in the geographic distribution of Z. majdae under climate change scenarios. The suitable habitat is projected to expand by 20.12% under RCP 4.5 and by 29.95% under RCP 8.5 in the 2050s. In the 2070s, an increase of 21.63% is expected under RCP 4.5, while a slight contraction of 1.15% is projected under RCP 8.5. Based on these findings, it is recommended to prioritize conservation efforts in areas projected to remain suitable in both current and future climates. Establishing in-situe and ex-situ conservation sites, introduce protected areas in new habitat projected, and initiating habitat restoration in emerging suitable zones could enhance the species' long-term survival prospects.