Intraspecific Level Research Articles

Intraspecific differences in plant functional traits are related to urban atmospheric particulate matter

BackgroundFunctional trait-based ecological research has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of environmental changes. It is still, however, unclear how the functional traits of urban plants respond to atmospheric particulate matter, and which trade-off strategies are shown. In order to explore the variation of plant functional traits with the gradient of urban atmospheric particulate matter, we divided atmospheric particulate matter into three levels according to road distance, and measured the variation of six essential leaf functional traits and their trade-off strategies.ResultsHere, we show that the functional traits of plants can be used as predictors of plant response to urban atmospheric particulate matter. Within the study, leaf thickness, leaf dry matter content, leaf tissue density, stomatal density were positively correlated with atmospheric particulate matter. On the contrary, chlorophyll content index and specific leaf area were negatively correlated with atmospheric particulate matter. Plants can improve the efficiency of gas exchange by optimizing the spatial distribution of leaf stomata. Under the atmospheric particulate matter environment, urban plants show a trade-off relationship of economics spectrum traits at the intraspecific level.ConclusionUnder the influence of urban atmospheric particulate matter, urban plant shows a “slow investment-return” type in the leaf economics spectrum at the intraspecific level, with lower specific leaf area, lower chlorophyll content index, ticker leaves, higher leaf dry matter content, higher leaf tissue density and higher stomatal density. This finding provides a new perspective for understanding the resource trades-off strategy of plants adapting to atmospheric particulate matter.

A molecular and ecological study of Grillotia (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) larval infection in small to mid-sized benthonic sharks in the Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea.

AimTrypanorhyncha cestodes comprise a wide range of heteroxenous parasites infecting elasmobranchs as definitive hosts. Limited data exist on the larval infection of these cestodes and the role of intermediate and paratenic hosts in the life cycle of these parasites. We investigated the factors that determine the occurrence and the level of infection of Grillotia plerocerci in the skeletal muscles of various benthonic sharks and analyzed the parasites through an integrative taxonomic approach.LocationMediterranean Sea.MethodsSharks obtained as bycatch of commercial trawling activities (i.e., Etmopterus spinax, Galeus melastomus, and Scyliorhinus canicula) were used in this study. Data from a limited number of Dalatias licha and Scyliorhinus stellaris were also included. Grillotia plerocerci were molecularly characterized using the partial 28S large subunit rDNA. Boosted regression trees were used to model the relationship between the abundance of infection with both morphological and physiological predictors in each host.ResultsPlerocerci of Grillotia were detected in all shark species except S. stellaris. Host species significantly differed in terms of parasite abundance, with the highest and lowest prevalence and abundance of infection detected in G. melastomus and E. spinax, respectively. The relative influence of the traits involved in explaining the parasite abundance was related to the host size in G. melastomus, while both morphology‐ and physiology‐related traits explained the patterns observed in E. spinax and S. canicula. The 28S rDNA sequences shared an identity of ∼99.40% with a Grillotia species previously found in the Mediterranean Sea. At intraspecific level, two different genotypes were found. A first type was retrieved only from D. licha, whereas a second type was found in G. melastomus, E. spinax, and S. canicula.Main conclusionsPresent results suggest that the two genotypes could be involved in different consumer‐resource systems and confirm most of the examined shark species as transport hosts of Grillotia species for unknown larger top predators.

A direct comparison of the effects and mechanisms between species richness and genotype richness in a dominant species on multiple ecosystem functions.

Both species (interspecific) richness and genotype (intraspecific) richness of dominant species have significant effects on ecosystem functioning directly or indirectly by regulating plant community functional structure. However, the similarities and differences of the effects between inter‐ and intraspecific levels are poorly understood. In this study, we selected the main species in the semi‐arid Eurasian typical steppe as study objects and simultaneously carried out a species richness experiment and a genotype richness experiment of Stipa grandis which is one of the dominant species in this region. We investigated how plants at each of the two richness levels affected multiple ecosystem functions (biomass, soil C, N and P cycles) directly and indirectly by regulating community functional structure, including community‐weighted mean trait values (CWM) and functional dispersion (FDis). Both species richness and genotype richness showed significant direct effects on soil P cycle, and FDis significantly mediated the responses of aboveground biomass and soil N cycle to the changes of species richness and the response of belowground biomass to the changes of genotype richness in S. grandis. CWM showed significant effects on biomass in the species richness experiment and soil nutrient cycles in the genotype richness experiment, independently of the levels of plant richness. These findings provide experimental insights of intraspecific richness effects into the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and highlight the importance of conserving the intraspecific diversity of dominant species in the semi‐arid steppe regions.

Adding New Pieces to the Puzzle of Karyotype Evolution in Harttia (Siluriformes, Loricariidae): Investigation of Amazonian Species.

Simple SummaryFishes represent a useful model for evolutionary studies, given their diversity of species and habitats. In this study, we investigate the chromosomes of three unexplored Harttia fish species from the Amazonian region and compare the obtained data with previous analyses. Our data reveal that both Harttia dissidens and Harttia sp. 3 exhibit the same number of chromosomes in their cells (54), but that they differ in the karyotype organization. Harttia guianensis possesses 58 chromosomes, being thus the first representative from north Brazil to present this feature for both sexes. Although otherwise rather common in Harttia species, we observed no chromosomal differences between sexes in all but one species. Namely in Harttia sp. 3, we revealed signs of initial differentiation between homologues of one chromosome pair in males but not in females. Altogether, our data bring new evidence strengthening the view that Harttia spp. represent an informative model for studying patterns of karyotype and sex chromosome dynamics in teleost fishes. A remarkable morphological diversity and karyotype variability can be observed in the Neotropical armored catfish genus Harttia. These fishes offer a useful model to explore both the evolution of karyotypes and sex chromosomes, since many species possess male-heterogametic sex chromosome systems and a high rate of karyotype repatterning. Based on the karyotype organization, the chromosomal distribution of several repetitive DNA classes, and the rough estimates of genomic divergences at the intraspecific and interspecific levels via Comparative Genomic Hybridization, we identified shared diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 54) but different karyotype compositions in H. dissidens (20m + 26sm + 8a) and Harttia sp. 3 (16m + 18sm + 14st + 6a), and different 2n in H. guianensis (2n = 58; 20m + 26sm + 2st + 10a). All species further displayed similar patterns of chromosomal distribution concerning constitutive heterochromatin, 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sites, and most of the surveyed microsatellite motifs. Furthermore, differences in the distribution of 5S rDNA sites and a subset of microsatellite sequences were identified. Heteromorphic sex chromosomes were lacking in H. dissidens and H. guianensis at the scale of our analysis. However, one single chromosome pair in Harttia sp. 3 males presented a remarkable accumulation of male genome-derived probe after CGH, pointing to a tentative region of early sex chromosome differentiation. Thus, our data support already previously outlined evidence that Harttia is a vital model for the investigation of teleost karyotype and sex chromosome dynamics.

The Atacama toad (Rhinella atacamensis) exhibits an unusual clinal pattern of decreasing body size towards more arid environments

BackgroundThe causes of geographic variation of body size in ectotherms have generally been attributed to environmental variables. Research in amphibians has favored mechanisms that involve water availability as an explanation for the geographic variation of body size. However, there are few studies at intraspecific level on amphibians that inhabit desert or semi-desert environments, where hydric restrictions are stronger. Here, we describe and inquire as to the causes of the geographic variation of body size in the semi-desert toad Rhinella atacamensis, a terrestrial anuran that is distributed over 750 km along a latitudinal aridity gradient from the southern extreme of the Atacama Desert to the Mediterranean region of central Chile. We measured the snout-vent length of 315 adults from 11 representative localities of the entire distribution of the species. Then, using an information-theoretic approach, we evaluate whether the data support eight ecogeographic hypotheses proposed in literature.ResultsRhinella atacamensis exhibits a gradual pattern of decrease in adult body size towards the north of its distribution, where the climate is more arid, which conforms to a Bergmann’s cline. The best model showed that the data support the mean annual precipitation as predictor of body size, favoring the converse water availability hypothesis.ConclusionsMost studies in amphibians show that adult size increases in arid environments, but we found a converse pattern to expected according to the hydric constraints imposed by this type of environment. The evidence in R. atacamensis favors the converse water availability hypothesis, whose mechanism proposes that the foraging activity determined by the precipitation gradient has produced the clinal pattern of body size variation. The variation of this trait could also be affected by the decreasing productivity that exists towards the north of the species distribution. In addition, we found evidence that both pattern and mechanism are independent of sex. Lastly, we suggest that behavioral traits, such as nocturnal habits, might also play an important role determining this differential response to aridity. Therefore, the support for the converse water availability hypothesis found in this study shows that amphibians can respond in different ways to water restrictions imposed by arid environments.

Phylogenetic Analysis and Genetic Diversity of Colletotrichum falcatum Isolates Causing Sugarcane Red Rot Disease in Bangladesh.

Simple SummarySugarcane is an important agro-industrial crop because it is one of the major sources of white sugar. Red rot which is caused by Colletotrichum falcatum is the most devastating disease of sugarcane because its infestation results in significant sugarcane yield loss. The intra- and inter-specific genetic diversity, population structure and phylogenetic relationship amongst C. falcatum isolates from Bangladesh remain unclear. This information is essential for the effective management of red rot and to also develop resistant sugarcane varieties through plant breeding programmes. This paper demonstrates the phylogenetic relationship and genetic diversity of C. falcatum isolates from Bangladesh. Also, it provides baseline information that can be used to establish red rot disease management strategies for future application.Colletotrichum falcatum Went causes red rot disease in sugarcane farming in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. This disease causes significant economic loss to the sugarcane production industry. Successful disease management strategies depend on understanding the evolutionary relationship between pathogens, genetic diversity, and population structure, particularly at the intra-specific level. Forty-one isolates of C. falcatum were collected from different sugarcane farms across Bangladesh for molecular identification, phylogeny and genetic diversity study. The four genes namely, ITS-rDNA, β-tubulin, Actin and GAPDH sequences were conducted. All the 41 C. falcatum isolates showed a 99–100% similarity index to the conserved gene sequences in the GenBank database. The phylogram of the four genes revealed that C. falcatum isolates of Bangladesh clustered in the same clade and no distinct geographical structuring were evident within the clade. The four gene sequences revealed that C. falcatum isolates from Bangladesh differed from other countries´ isolates because of nucleotides substitution at different loci. The genetic structure of C. falcatum isolates were determined using ISSR marker generated 404 polymorphic loci from 10 selected markers. The percentage of polymorphic loci was 99.01. The genetic variability at species level was slightly higher than at population level. Total mean gene diversity at the species level was 0.1732 whereas at population level it was 0.1521. The cluster analysis divided 41 isolates into four main genetic groups and the principal component analysis was consistent with cluster analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first finding on characterizing C. falcatum isolates infesting sugarcane in Bangladesh. The results of this present study provide important baseline information vis a vis C. falcatum phylogeny analysis and genetic diversity study.

Functional traits as indicators of ecological strategies of savanna woody species under contrasting substrate conditions

Environmental filters and functional adjustments of species to local conditions are major determinants of plant communities in stressing habitats. We set out to understand the role of different substrates in functional trait variation in wood plants by investigating key functional traits at the community and intraspecific levels in different types of Brazilian savanna: two sites of alluvial savannas (lowland savannas that occur in old alluvial deposits in riverbeds with sandy soils and low water-holding capacity), and two sites of typical savannas (upland savannas that occur in interfluvial zones, far from the influence of rivers, in which clay soils with higher fertility and water-holding capacity predominate). We conducted this study in four sites with savanna vegetation in the northeast region of the Cerrado Biome, nearby the transition with the Amazon. In each site we sampled six functional traits for each tree species: leaf area, leaf thickness, specific leaf area (SLA), stem-specific density, relative bark thickness and maximum plant height. We sampled 101 wood species, ranging from 26 to 62 species within each site. In both community and intraspecific levels, alluvial savanna plants showed higher SLA and specific-stem density, and lower leaf area, leaf thickness, bark thickness, and plant height compared with the typical savanna. We also found that, at a given leaf thickness, species from typical savanna exhibited ∼20% higher SLA. In addition, at a given plant height, typical species showed ∼56% higher bark thickness and ∼20% lower specific-stem density. Our findings suggest that savanna tree species growing on alluvial savannas tend to adopt strategies related to water acquisition while species growing on typical savannas invest in both water conservation strategies and protection against high-intensity fires. We conclude that water deficit and fire, both related to substrate properties, play a key role in determining the woody plant communities functioning in savannas.

Differences in seed germination response of two populations of Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel to a set of GR24 concentrations and durations of stimulation

AbstractPhelipanche ramosa is a major weed holoparasite characterized by a broad host range with a suboptimal development on numerous hosts, suggesting inter- or intra-species specificities. Seeds of P. ramosa germinate after exposure to exogenous chemicals exuded by surrounding host roots such as strigolactones, the concentrations of these germination stimulants varying between hosts. In France, P. ramosa is characterized by genetically differentiated populations presenting varying germination rates and a host specificity. The objective of our study was to investigate the sensitivity of seeds of two P. ramosa populations harvested on tobacco and oilseed rape, to a set of GR24 concentrations, a synthetic strigol analogue. The assessment of the germination rate was based on in vitro experiments. Seeds of P. ramosa were placed in Petri dishes with various concentrations of GR24. The cumulative number of germinated seeds of P. ramosa was counted several times after application of the treatment. Cumulative germination curves were analysed using a three-parameter log-logistic model and a time-to-event approach. The results show that the germination rate of P. ramosa seeds depends on the GR24 concentration and the duration of stimulation, but also that the response to these two factors varies greatly according to the origin of the P. ramosa seeds. The difference in germination speed between P. ramosa populations further shows distinct responses at the intraspecific level, thus suggesting that the specialization of P. ramosa probably occurs at least from the first stage of the holoparasite cycle.

Evaluating different methods for retrieving intraspecific leaf trait variation from hyperspectral leaf reflectance

Leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and leaf water content/ equivalent water thickness (EWT) are commonly used functional plant traits in ecology. Whereas spectroscopy has recently proven to be a powerful tool to collect such functional trait information across large scales, it remains unclear whether these reflectance-based trait predictions are accurate enough to reliably model trait variation at the intraspecific level (i.e. across individuals of one species). We explored the potential of hyperspectral leaf reflectance-based methods to predict LMA, LDMC and EWT at the intraspecific level for two herbs (Hieracium umbellatum and Jacobaea vulgaris) and two shrubs (Rosa rugosa and Rubus caesius), based on 2400 leaf samples. More specifically we tested i) inversion of the PROSPECT-D radiative transfer model, ii) a generic PLSR approach using the multibiome LMA PLSR model and iii) a data-specific PLSR approach at the species level. For the latter approach we furthermore assessed both model transferability across species and the trade-off between sample size and model accuracy. Although the PROSPECT-D model inversion and the multibiome LMA PLSR model were relatively accurate for intraspecific LMA predictions of shrubs (R2 > 71 and 76%, respectively, however NRMSE = 33–47%), their performance was lower for herbs (R2 < 61%, NRMSE = 28–50%). PROSPECT-D was furthermore slightly less successful in retrieving EWT at the intraspecific level (R2 < 70%, NRMSE = 16–43%), and unsuccessful in retrieving LDMC through combining LMA and EWT inversion results (R2 < 10%, NRMSE = 9–192%). The highest correlation accuracy was obtained for all three traits with the species-specific PLSR models (R2 > 70%, NRMSE < 10%). If high predictive accuracy is needed, we thus suggest the use of species-specific PLSR models. The training of species-specific PLSR models comes at the cost of a needed sample size of 100–160 leaves however, depending on the trait. Although transferability of species-specific PLSR models seems limited overall, our results suggest potentially high transferability across herbaceous species.

From micro to macroevolution: drivers of shape variation in an island radiation of Podarcis lizards.

Phenotypictraits have been shown to evolve in response to variation in the environment. However, the evolutionary processes underlying the emergence of phenotypic diversity can typically only be understood at the population level. Consequently, how subtle phenotypic differences at the intraspecific level can give rise to larger-scale changes in performance and ecology remains poorly understood. We here tested for the covariation between ecology, bite force, jaw muscle architecture, and the three-dimensional shape of the cranium and mandible in 16 insular populations of the lizards Podarcis melisellensis and P. sicula. We then compared the patterns observed at the among-population level with those observed at the interspecific level. We found that three-dimensional head shape as well as jaw musculature evolve similarly under similar ecological circumstances. Depending on the type of food consumed or on the level of sexual competition, different muscle groups were more developed and appeared to underlie changes in cranium and mandible shape. Our findings show that the local selective regimes are primary drivers of phenotypic variation resulting in predictable patterns of form and function. Moreover, intraspecific patterns of variation were generally consistent with those at the interspecific level, suggesting that microevolutionary variation may translate into macroevolutionary patterns of ecomorphological diversity.

The role of neutral and adaptive genomic variation in population diversification and speciation in two ground squirrel species of conservation concern

Understanding the neutral (demographic) and adaptive processes leading to the differentiation of species and populations is a critical component of evolutionary and conservation biology. In this context, recently diverged taxa represent a unique opportunity to study the process of genetic differentiation. Northern and southern Idaho ground squirrels (Urocitellus brunneus-NIDGS, and U.endemicus-SIDGS, respectively) are a recently diverged pair of sister species that have undergone dramatic declines in the last 50years and are currently found in metapopulations across restricted spatial areas with distinct environmental pressures. Here we genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from buccal swabs with restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq). With these data we evaluated neutral genetic structure at both the inter- and intraspecific level, and identified putatively adaptive SNPs using population structure outlier detection and genotype-environment association (GEA) analyses. At the interspecific level, we detected a clear separation between NIDGS and SIDGS, and evidence for adaptive differentiation putatively linked to torpor patterns. At the intraspecific level, we found evidence of both neutral and adaptive differentiation. For NIDGS, elevation appears to be the main driver of adaptive differentiation, while neutral variation patterns match and expand information on the low connectivity between some populations identified in previous studies using microsatellite markers. For SIDGS, neutral substructure generally reflected natural geographical barriers, while adaptive variation reflected differences in land cover and temperature, as well as elevation. These results clearly highlight the roles of neutral and adaptive processes for understanding the complexity of the processes leading to species and population differentiation, which can have important conservation implications in susceptible and threatened species.

Male sperm storage impairs sperm quality in the zebrafish

Variation in sperm traits is widely documented both at inter- and intraspecific level. However, sperm traits vary also between ejaculates of the same male, due for example, to fluctuations in female availability. Variability in the opportunities to mate can indeed have important consequences for sperm traits, as it determines how often sperm are used, and thus the rate at which they are produced and how long they are stored before the mating. While being stored within males’ bodies, sperm are subjected to ageing due to oxidative stress. Sperm storage may significantly impair sperm quality, but evidence linking male sperm storage and variation in sperm traits is still scarce. Here, we tested the effect of the duration of sperm storage on within-male variation in sperm traits in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. We found that without mating opportunities, sperm number increased as storage duration increased, indicating that sperm continue to be produced and accumulate over time within males without being discharged in another way. Long sperm storage (12 days) was associated with an overall impairment in sperm quality, namely sperm motility, sperm longevity, and sperm DNA fragmentation, indicating that sperm aged, and their quality declined during storage. Our results confirm that male sperm storage may generate substantial variation in sperm phenotype, a source of variation which is usually neglected but that should be accounted for in experimental protocols aiming to assay sperm traits or maximise fertilization success.

ALPACA: A fast and accurate computer vision approach for automated landmarking of three-dimensional biological structures.

Landmark‐based geometric morphometrics has emerged as an essential discipline for the quantitative analysis of size and shape in ecology and evolution. With the ever‐increasing density of digitized landmarks, the possible development of a fully automated method of landmark placement has attracted considerable attention. Despite the recent progress in image registration techniques, which could provide a pathway to automation, three‐dimensional (3D) morphometric data are still mainly gathered by trained experts. For the most part, the large infrastructure requirements necessary to perform image‐based registration, together with its system specificity and its overall speed, have prevented its wide dissemination.Here, we propose and implement a general and lightweight point cloud‐based approach to automatically collect high‐dimensional landmark data in 3D surfaces (Automated Landmarking through Point cloud Alignment and Correspondence Analysis). Our framework possesses several advantages compared with image‐based approaches. First, it presents comparable landmarking accuracy, despite relying on a single, random reference specimen and much sparser sampling of the structure's surface. Second, it can be efficiently run on consumer‐grade personal computers. Finally, it is general and can be applied at the intraspecific level to any biological structure of interest, regardless of whether anatomical atlases are available.Our validation procedures indicate that the method can recover intraspecific patterns of morphological variation that are largely comparable to those obtained by manual digitization, indicating that the use of an automated landmarking approach should not result in different conclusions regarding the nature of multivariate patterns of morphological variation.The proposed point cloud‐based approach has the potential to increase the scale and reproducibility of morphometrics research. To allow ALPACA to be used out‐of‐the‐box by users with no prior programming experience, we implemented it as a SlicerMorph module. SlicerMorph is an extension that enables geometric morphometrics data collection and 3D specimen analysis within the open‐source 3D Slicer biomedical visualization ecosystem. We expect that convenient access to this platform will make ALPACA broadly applicable within ecology and evolution.

The intraspecific variation of functional traits modulates drought resilience of European beech and pubescent oak

Abstract A higher frequency and intensity of droughts will impair forest productivity. Therefore, improving our understanding of which factors enhance tree growth resilience against drought has become a crucial issue, but we lack information at the intraspecific level. In this study, we investigate the role played by climatic conditions and tree characteristics in the growth response to severe droughts in two deciduous Fagaceae species near their southern distribution limit: the temperate European beech Fagus sylvatica and the Mediterranean pubescent oak Quercus pubescens. The study area is located in Catalonia, NE Spain, where 149 trees were cored covering the water availability gradient of the species in the region. In addition, tree size (diameter and height) and an ensemble of stem, leaf and hydraulic traits were collected for each tree. Growth responses to extreme droughts during the period 1980–2015 were assessed using resilience indicators based on residual basal area increment series predicted by a model including growing season water balance. Although resistance was unrelated to drought intensity, higher water availability improved recovery and reduced drought legacy effects. Taller trees showed higher resilience against drought, which could be explained by the relationship between the variation in tree height and functional traits, such as leaf nitrogen concentration, leaf turgor loss point and resistance to xylem embolism. For both species, trees with lower cavitation resistance, higher leaf nitrogen concentration and tighter stomatal regulation (suggested by less negative turgor loss point and carbon isotope composition) displayed better performance during and after severe droughts. Both species showed a progressive decrease in resilience and increase in legacy effects. Synthesis. This study highlights the relevance of analysing intraspecific variation of functional traits involved in tree water and carbon balance to improve our understanding of the resilience and variability of growth responses to drought within species.

Proximate drivers of population inter-annual variation in seed output for a masting conifer species

Assessing the drivers of population inter-annual variation in reproductive output (CVp) is key for conservation and management of forest resources, as these drivers determine variation in seed crops which are closely related to seedling recruitment (i.e. forest regeneration) and understanding the mechanisms by which they affect reproductive output sheds light into population-level resilience to changing abiotic conditions. Proximate drivers of CVp include weather conditions which act as cues for reproduction and resource-driven lagged negative autocorrelations between past and current reproduction. Increased temporal variability in weather cues and strong negative autocorrelations are both expected to increase CVp, but very few studies have robustly tested these predictions at the intra-specific level using long-term, multi-population datasets. Based on a published dataset, we used approximately 2,000 yearly observations spanning 130 years (1886–2015) and 61 populations to test for effects of temporal variability in weather cues and lagged autocorrelations on CVp in seed output for a masting conifer species (Picea abies). We found that lagged (lag –1) summer (June–July) mean temperature was the best predictor of population-level annual seed output. Contrary to expectations, however, we observed a significant negative (not positive) effect of the standard deviation of lag –1 summer mean temperature on CVp. In addition, we found a non-linear, hump-shaped relationship between lag –1 reproductive autocorrelation and CVp, suggesting a qualitative change in the effects of resource constraints on reproductive variability whereby expected positive effects change to negative when the strength of negative autocorrelations exceeds a certain level. These patterns point at unexpected mechanisms whereby temporal variability in weather cues dampens variability in reproductive output, whereas the non-linear association with the lagged autocorrelations suggest thresholds associated with resource availability leading to qualitative changes in temporal patterns of reproduction.

Morphological aspects and its influence in the ecological role of two simpatric species (Lagodon rhomboides and Archosargus rhomboidalis) in Terminos lagoon, Mexico

In Terminos Lagoon the Sparidae family is represented mainly by Lagodon rhomboides (Lr) and Archosargus rhomboidalis (Ar), both reported with herbivorous habits, however, the record of carnivorous or omnivorous habits in other regions raises questions about the correct classification of the ecological role they play and the influences that morphological aspects may have (e.g. oral difference and intestine length). The objective was to analyze the trophic role (amplitude, overlap and trophic level) through the stomach content and its possible relationship with the morphological aspects of L. rhomboides. and A. rhomboidalis during three climatic seasons (30 individuals per species per season). As results, 180 individuals were analyzed with an average total length of 14.0 ± 2.5 (cm) for both species. According to the Index Importance Geometric (IGI), Thalassia testudinum was the main item of L. rhomboides (IGI= 86.3) and A. rhomboidalis (IGI= 63.3), however, the secondary items for A. rhombiodalis (Brachidontes (Hormomya) exustus= 5.70) and L. rhomboides (Parvilucina (Parvilucina) multilineata= 16.80) were different. The trophic breadth (“Bi”) indicated that L. rhomboides. and A. rhomboidalis are specialists (BiLr= 0.02 and BiAr= 0.01). At the intraspecific level, there is high similarity (ANOSIM) in the diet of both Sparids between seasons (RLr= 0.03 and RAr= 0.05), however, at the interspecific level, low similarity was observed (Rg= 0.15), which was reflected in the NT of both Sparids (NTLr= 2.22 and NTAr= 3.71). The average buccal area was smaller in L. rhomboides (12.90 mm) compared to A. rhomboidalis (13.07 mm). Based on the intestinal index, L. rhomboides is classified. (Ii= 2.20) as herbivore, and A. rhomboidalis (Ii= 0.71) as carnivore. In conclusion, both species presented differences in trophic roles, probably related to specific morphological aspects. This information is relevant to know the vulnerability of a species from simulation studies to different phenomena such as climate change. Keywords: Herbivore, Gulf of Mexico. Protected Natural Area, ANOSIM and Coastal Lagoons.

Characterization of physiological traits during development of the recalcitrant seeds of Quercus serrata.

We investigated how developmental stage affects seed traits, including the relative level of desiccation tolerance of Quercus serrata. We tested the hypothesis that the relative level of desiccation tolerance is a quantitative trait associated with seed development and that a maximum relative level of desiccation tolerance is reached during development. Seed growth and physiological traits of Q. serrata from a subtropical forest were examined in detail during the developmental process. During seed development, the relative level of desiccation tolerance and other seed traits of Q. serrata varied. Dry matter accumulation in seed components increased rapidly beginning in mid-August, and moisture content declined. At the peak period of seed dispersal in late September, seeds were fully mature, with 100% germination. Relative level of desiccation tolerance increased up to the point of peak dispersal; however, at this time seeds were still recalcitrant. Post-mature development was accompanied by further increases in seed dry matter and decreases in moisture content, which led to a decrease in seed germination and relative level of desiccation tolerance. Our results suggest that in species with recalcitrant seeds, the relative level of desiccation tolerance and other seed traits are quantitative at the intraspecific level. The relative level of desiccation tolerance for recalcitrant seeds does not increase infinitely during phase II of development. There is a maximum relative level of desiccation tolerance in recalcitrant seeds within a species.

Sex chromosomes in meiotic, hemiclonal, clonal and polyploid hybrid vertebrates: along the 'extended speciation continuum'.

We review knowledge about the roles of sex chromosomes in vertebrate hybridization and speciation, exploring a gradient of divergences with increasing reproductive isolation (speciation continuum). Under early divergence, well-differentiated sex chromosomes in meiotic hybrids may cause Haldane-effects and introgress less easily than autosomes. Undifferentiated sex chromosomes are more susceptible to introgression and form multiple (or new) sex chromosome systems with hardly predictable dominance hierarchies. Under increased divergence, most vertebrates reach complete intrinsic reproductive isolation. Slightly earlier, some hybrids (linked in ‘the extended speciation continuum') exhibit aberrant gametogenesis, leading towards female clonality. This facilitates the evolution of various allodiploid and allopolyploid clonal (‘asexual’) hybrid vertebrates, where ‘asexuality' might be a form of intrinsic reproductive isolation. A comprehensive list of ‘asexual' hybrid vertebrates shows that they all evolved from parents with divergences that were greater than at the intraspecific level (K2P-distances of greater than 5–22% based on mtDNA). These ‘asexual' taxa inherited genetic sex determination by mostly undifferentiated sex chromosomes. Among the few known sex-determining systems in hybrid ‘asexuals', female heterogamety (ZW) occurred about twice as often as male heterogamety (XY). We hypothesize that pre-/meiotic aberrations in all-female ZW-hybrids present Haldane-effects promoting their evolution. Understanding the preconditions to produce various clonal or meiotic allopolyploids appears crucial for insights into the evolution of sex, ‘asexuality' and polyploidy.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Challenging the paradigm in sex chromosome evolution: empirical and theoretical insights with a focus on vertebrates (Part II)’.

Adaptation of Mediterranean forest species to climate: Lessons from common garden experiments

Abstract Mediterranean ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots located between temperate mesic climates and semi‐deserts and deserts. Mediterranean climates are characterized by a drought season but its length and severity can be highly variable across regions. In this review, we explored population genetic variation in functional traits and fitness in Mediterranean oak and pine species. We tested the hypothesis that increased drought tolerance has evolved as an adaptation to xeric and warm areas of the Mediterranean climate while increased competitive abilities have been favoured in more mesic regions, following a productivity‐persistence trade‐off within species. We first reviewed the literature and performed a meta‐analysis of studies on Pinus sp. and Quercus sp. from Mediterranean climates, and then analysed a set of unpublished data from Spanish common garden experiments of species from the Mediterranean Basin, searching for evidence of trait genetic variation among populations, local adaptation and trait–environment associations. The meta‐analysis showed that 82.9% (95% CI 75.7–89.4) of traits per study showed significant population genetic differentiation and that 52.5% (35.6–69.2) of traits in studies with two or more Mediterranean environments exhibited population‐by‐environment interaction. Population differences in traits related to drought tolerance, cold hardiness and fitness were usually correlated with provenance precipitation and temperature gradients, suggesting that adaptation to different climatic regimes is an important process driving intraspecific genetic divergence. Within the Spanish trial network, however, predicted fitness functions based on climatic transfer distance failed to reveal significantly higher fitness of populations at experimental sites with climates closer to their provenances’ ones. Neither the literature review nor the new analyses of the Spanish trial network provided evidence of a negative association between growth‐ and persistence‐related traits at the intraspecific level. Synthesis. Population genetic differentiation in functional traits and fitness is common in Mediterranean species, driven, at least in part, by the adaptation to contrasting temperature and precipitation regimes. Because of experimental constraints or biological reality, our study failed to detect a trade‐off between resource‐use strategies within species, calling for future studies to investigate further whether intraspecific evolution of stress tolerance occurs at the expense of growth potential in Mediterranean environments or not.

Intraspecific variability in cardinal growth temperatures and water activities within a large diversity of Penicillium roqueforti strains

Different strains of a given fungal species may display heterogeneous growth behavior in response to environmental factors. In predictive mycology, the consideration of such variability during data collection could improve the robustness of predictive models. Among food-borne fungi, Penicillium roqueforti is a major food spoiler species which is also used as a ripening culture for blue cheese manufacturing. In the present study, we investigated the intraspecific variability of cardinal temperatures and water activities (aw), namely, minimal (Tmin and awmin), optimal (Topt and awopt) and maximal (Tmax) temperatures and/or aw estimated with the cardinal model for radial growth, of 29 Penicillium roqueforti strains belonging to 3 genetically distinct populations. The mean values of cardinal temperatures and aw for radial growth varied significantly across the tested strains, except for Tmax which was constant. In addition, the relationship between the intraspecific variability of the biological response to temperature and aw and putative genetic populations (based on microsatellite markers) within the selected P. roqueforti strains was investigated. Even though no clear relationship was identified between growth parameters and ecological characteristics, PCA confirmed that certain strains had marginal growth response to temperature or aw. Overall, the present data support the idea that a better knowledge of the response to abiotic factors such as temperature and aw at an intraspecific level would be useful to model fungal growth in predictive mycology approaches.