Mating System Research Articles

Effect of the host plant on the life history, behaviour and fungal community of a fungus‐farming ambrosia beetle

Abstract Although there are benefits to being a generalist, the majority of herbivorous insects are diet specialists. This raises the question whether the ability to reproduce on various host plants hides an unknown ecological optimum. Our study investigated the existence of such an ecological optimum in the fungus‐farming ambrosia beetle, Xyleborinus saxesenii Ratzeburg (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). We hypothesised that X. saxesenii may exhibit higher fitness in specific hosts that are particularly abundant in their respective regions. To test this hypothesis, we bred X. saxesenii from a broadleaved forest population in semi‐artificial media mimicking either a coniferous or a broadleaved host‐tree species. As trade‐offs between different traits can occur, we examined various aspects of the life history, social behaviour and fungal symbionts of X. saxesenii. We found that dispersing females did not exhibit any preference, and that the host tree did not have any impact on life history parameters or larval and adult behaviours. The fungal community associated with the species was made up of identical fungal species, albeit with different relative abundances between host trees. Our findings indicate that X. saxesenii does not exhibit a specific adaptation to the most abundant host trees in its native habitat. However, we identified significant effects of laboratory breeding on life history traits, social behaviour and adult dispersal. This generalism in host use in combination with inbreeding mating system may be the main drivers of the invasion success of the Eurasian X. saxesenii, which is currently among the most prevalent and widely distributed ambrosia beetle species worldwide.

Gymnadenia winkeliana-A New Orchid Species to Romanian Flora.

A novel species, Gymnadenia winkeliana, has been identified in the Bucegi Natural Park ROSCI0013, located in the Southern Carpathians of Central Romania. Two moderately sized populations of Gymnadenia winkeliana, totalling 120-140 individuals, were discovered inhabiting the alpine grasslands of the park, situated 2.000 m above sea level. To describe this newly found population as comprehensively as possible, 44 vegetative and floral organs/organ parts were directly studied and measured from living plants. Special attention was focused on the characteristics that proved to have taxonomic significance, particularly those involving distinctive details in the morphology of the leaves, perianth, labellum and gynostemium. A total of 223 characteristics were analysed encompassing the morphology of every organ of the plant, cytology and breeding system. Furthermore, comprehensive taxonomic treatment and description, accompanied by colour photographs illustrating the holotype, are provided. Voucher specimens were deposited at the Herbarium of the University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest (USAMVB Herbarium barcode: 40102, NEA); Gymnadenia winkeliana, a (micro)endemic species, is characterized as a putative allogamous, facultatively apomict that significantly differs from other Gymnadenia R.Br. species found in Romania. Notably, it distinguishes itself through its smaller habitus (reaching heights of up to 8-10 cm), its two-coloured, rounded/hemispherical inflorescence displaying a gradient of pink hues in an acropetal fashion (ranging from whitish-pink at the base to vivid-pink at the topmost flowers), and its limited distribution in high-altitude areas, encompassing approximately 8-10 km2 in the central area of the Bucegi Natural Park. This species has been under observation since 2005, with observed population numbers showing a significant increase over time, from ca. 50-55 (counted at the time of its discovery) to 120-140 individuals (counted in June 2023). Additionally, comprehensive information regarding the habitat, ecology, phenology and IUCN conservation assessments of Gymnadenia winkeliana are provided, including maps illustrating its distribution.

Arranged and non-arranged marriages have similar reproductive outcomes in Nepal

Much of the evolutionary literature on mate choice presumes that individual mate preferences function to increase individual fitness, and this assumption has been confirmed in several experimental studies with animals. However, human mate choice, in many cultures, is heavily controlled by parents via arranged marriages, rather than the selection of the marrying individuals. Several studies have demonstrated that parents and offspring do not exhibit identical preferences for an in-law or spouse, respectively. If parental choice thwarts offspring’s evolved mate preferences from being expressed, then arranged marriages should reduce fitness. Using data from the Chitwan Valley Family Study, I examined whether having an arranged marriage, as compared to a non-arranged marriage, is associated with differences in total births, offspring survival to age 15, or interbirth intervals in Nepal, a culture with a rich history of arranged marriage. I find that there are no differences in any reproductive outcomes between arranged, co-selected, and self-selected marriages. These results indicate that individuals in arranged and non-arranged marriages may achieve similar fitness outcomes via different pathways, which may be unique to human mating systems.

The distribution of self-incompatibility systems in angiosperms: the relationship between mating system diversity, life span, growth habit and latitude in a changing global environment.

There is ample theoretical and experimental evidence that angiosperms harbouring self-incompatibility (SI) systems are likely to respond to global changes in unique ways relative to taxa with other mating systems. In this paper, we present an updated database on the prevalence of SI systems across angiosperms and examine the relationship between the presence of SI and latitude, biomes, life-history traits and management conditions to evaluate the potential vulnerability of SI taxa to climate change and habitat disturbance. We performed literature searches to identify studies that employed controlled crosses, microscopic analyses and/or genetic data to classify taxa as having SI, self-compatibility (SC), partial self-compatibility (PSC) or self-sterility (SS). Where described, the site of the SI reaction and the presence of dimorphic versus monomorphic flowers were also recorded. We then combined this database on the distribution of mating systems with information about the life span, growth habit, management conditions and geographic distribution of taxa. Information about the geographic distribution of taxa was obtained from a manually curated version of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database, and from vegetation surveys encompassing 9 biomes. We employed multinomial logit regression to assess the relationship between mating system and life-history traits, management condition, latitude and latitude-squared using self-compatible taxa as the baseline. Additionally, we employed LOESS regression to examine the relationship between the probability of SI and latitude. Finally, by summarizing information at the family level, we plotted the distribution of SI systems across angiosperms including information about the presence of SI or dioecy, the inferred reaction site of the SI system when known, as well as the proportion of taxa in a family for which information is available. We obtained information about the SI status of 5686 hermaphroditic taxa, of which 55% exhibited SC, and the remaining 45% harbour SI, self-sterility (SS), or PSC. Highlights of the multinomial logit regression include that taxa with PSC have a greater odds of being short- (OR=1.3) or long- (OR=1.57) lived perennials relative to SC ones, and that SS/SI taxa (pooled) are less likely to be annuals (OR=0.64) and more likely to be long-lived perennials (OR=1.32). SS/SI taxa had a greater odds of being succulent (OR=2.4) or a tree (OR=2.05), and were less likely to be weeds (OR=0.34). Further, we find a quadratic relationship between the probability of being SI with latitude: SI taxa were more common in the tropics, a finding that was further supported by the vegetation surveys which showed fewer species with SS/SI in temperate and northern latitudes compared to mediterranean and tropical biomes. We conclude that in the short-term habitat fragmentation, pollinator loss and temperature increases may negatively impact plants with SI systems, particularly long-lived perennial and woody species dominant in tropical forests. In the longer term, these and other global changes are likely to select for self-compatible or partially self-compatible taxa which, due to the apparent importance of SI as a driver of plant diversification across the angiosperm tree of life, may globally influence plant species richness.

Effects of ecological factors on the pollination biology and seed production of Salvia daiguii: A critically endangered ornamental species from China

Salvia constitutes one of the largest genera in the Lamiaceae, with approximately 1,000 species found worldwide, and is recognized for its high ornamental and medicinal value. Salvia daiguii is a multipurpose perennial herb that grows on cliffs in the Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China. Nevertheless, the pollination biology of vulnerable plants on cliffs, specifically the effects of abiotic factors on flower visitation and seed set, remains poorly understood. In this study, we observed the effects of biotic factors: flowering phenology and flower characteristics, flower longevity, nectar volume and concentration, pollen viability and stigma receptivity, pollinator visitation frequency, pollen remaining and deposition, and breeding systems, as well as abiotic factors: habitat fountain, temperature, and humidity, on the pollination and seed production of S. daiguii in two populations in Zhangjiajie City. The pollination biology results reveal that S. daiguii has a mixed mating system that depends on pollinators. The flower visitation and seed set of S. daiguii in the absence of natural fountain areas in Tianmenshan National Forest Park was scarcely affected by biotic factors. However, we observed a significant reduction in pollinator types, visitation frequency, and natural seed set of this population owing to abiotic factors, including the presence of a fountain habitat and increased humidity. Further, seed set in the Zhangjiaxi Ecological Forest Reserve was affected by both biotic (serious pollen limitation) and abiotic (higher population temperature) factors. We considered that pollinators types, flower visitation frequency, and natural seed set are vulnerable to the influence of ecological factors in fragmented habitats. Our results reveal the mechanisms contributing to the endangerment of species exemplified by S. daiguii and underscore the significance of conservation efforts for the sustainable use of other endangered species.

Ecology and social behavior of the midday gerbil Meriones meridianus: Insights from long-term research in the wild and seminatural environments

The present review provides a compilation of the published data on the ecology and social behavior of midday gerbils. Both field studies and observations under semi-natural conditions provide evidence that the midday gerbil is a nocturnal, primarily granivorous rodent that lives in highly seasonal habitats. A typical feature of the midday gerbils’ spatial organization is formation of multi-male–multi-female associations (breeding colonies) in which male home ranges overlap each other and with female ranges to a great extent, while females tend to occupy exclusive home ranges. The mating system of this species can be defined as polygynandry or promiscuity; males appear to compete for access to receptive females. The social structure in the midday gerbil is primarily based on aggressive interactions between conspecifics resulting in a dominance hierarchy among males and site-dependent dominance among females, especially during the breeding season. After the cessation of reproduction, a tendency towards more pronounced gregariousness appears, and midday gerbils form wintering groups; gerbils, however, lead solitary lives within these groups. Overall, the data presented expand our understanding of socio-ecology of gerbils.

A new plant genus and species from south‐eastern Spain: Castrila latens (Rubieae, Rubiaceae)

AbstractA new genus and species, Castrila latens, native to the south‐eastern Iberian Peninsula, is described here for the first time and compared with its closest relatives. The plant is characterized by being annual, glabrous, having reduplicate leaves in whorls of (5)6–7, inflorescences capitate and involucrate, corolla shortly hypocrateriform and white, with yellowish doliiform tube, stamens included, and ovary and mericarps densely papillose. An endemic plant, it grows on the calcareous mountains of the Sierra Seca, Sierra de Castril, and Sierra de la Cabrilla, between 1800 and 2100 m of elevation, in the Granada and Jaén provinces (eastern Andalusia, Spain). For this genus and species, a description, an illustration, a distribution map, the chromosome number, the assessment of the conservation status, an estimate of the breeding system, and the situation in the Rubieae phylogenetic tree are provided.

Equivalent mating system parameters in post‐mining and undisturbed native plant populations confirms restitution of bird‐pollinator function

Abstract The restoration of diverse self‐sustaining ecosystems requires re‐establishment of functional interactions among species. For plant communities, pollinators are usually essential for pollination, seed set and seed quality. A common assumption in ecological restoration for plants pollinated by animals is one of ‘build it and they will come’, which is rarely tested. Beyond seed set, there may be negative genetic consequences for seed quality if pollinators and their behaviour do not reflect those in reference populations. Here, we conduct an ecological genetic assessment of seed quality via mating system parameters in Lambertia multiflora (Proteaceae), a species dependent on nectar‐feeding birds for pollination. Four populations of L. multiflora in disturbed sites that were rehabilitated following mineral sands mining were compared with four native reference populations, near Eneabba, Western Australia. In each population, approximately 10 offspring from each of 10 maternal plants were genotyped with 11 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. From these data, genetic diversity and mating system parameters were assessed, and found to be equivalent across all populations. Mean allelic diversity and heterozygosity across loci were very high. All populations were completely outcrossing with no bi‐parental inbreeding. Mean correlated paternity, sibship and effective population size estimates for restored and natural populations were not significantly different and reflected uniformly high paternal diversity and wide outcrossing. Equivalent genetic results for restored and natural reference populations indicate successful restitution of bird‐pollinator services for L. multiflora in these post‐mining rehabilitation sites. Synthesis and applications. Reviewing our results with other published studies to date suggests a resilience of bird‐pollinator services in restored plant communities. These findings provide some reassurance to restoration practitioners working in these global south systems where bird pollination is a feature, at least for similar landscape scenarios. Our study also highlights the global contribution of ecological genetics to the objective assessment of functional species interactions in ecological restoration, an increasingly important goal of land managers and regulators seeking to improve restoration standards.

Signaled Similarity of Personality Dimensions in Mate Choice

Signaling theory offers an interpretation of how one’s impression of a potential mate’s personality affects mating strategies. It remains unclear how people perceive the (dis)similarity of a potential mate to one’s own personality and use this information in mating contexts. We focus on this distance in personality similarity between a potential mate and oneself, particularly in deciding whether to interact. We present a novel framework for investigating this issue via an online chatting tool. The actual personality of 24 participants was measured according to the Big Five Inventory. Then, participants were paired to have a conversation. Their face, occupations, and income were hidden, and their voice transformed to be neutral in pitch. They talked about their own experiences as related to the Big Five dimensions. Analysis of their communications showed their willingness to consider their partners as a friend, lover, and spouse was most explained by the distance between self-recognition of the impression of one’s own personality presumably held by the partner and the impression of the partner’s personality. Our results suggest people rely on the meta-perception of their personality rather than their actual personality, at least when considering potential mates when they first meet.

Eviction-driven infanticide and sexually selected adoption and infanticide in a neotropical parrot

Infanticide and adoption have been attributed to sexual selection, where an individual later reproduces with the parent whose offspring it killed or adopted. While sexually selected infanticide is well known, evidence for sexually selected adoption is anecdotal. We report on both behaviors at 346 nests over 27 y in green-rumped parrotlets (Forpus passerinus) in Venezuela. Parrotlets are monogamous with long-term pair bonds, exhibit a strongly male-biased adult sex ratio, and nest in cavities that are in short supply, creating intense competition for nest sites and mates. Infanticide attacks occurred at 256 nests in two distinct contexts: 1) Attacks were primarily committed by nonbreeding pairs (69%) attempting to evict parents from the cavity. Infanticide attacks per nest were positively correlated with population size and evicting pairs never adopted abandoned offspring. Competition for limited nest sites was a primary cause of eviction-driven infanticide, and 2) attacks occurred less frequently at nests where one mate died (31%), was perpetrated primarily by stepparents of both sexes, and was independent of population size. Thus, within a single species and mating system, infanticide occurred in multiple contexts due to multiple drivers. Nevertheless, 48% of stepparents of both sexes adopted offspring, and another 23% of stepfathers exhibited both infanticide and long-term care. Stepfathers were often young males who subsequently nested with widows, reaching earlier ages of first breeding than competitors and demonstrating sexually selected adoption. Adoption and infanticide conferred similar fitness benefits to stepfathers and appeared to be equivalent strategies driven by limited breeding opportunities, male-biased sex ratios, and long-term monogamy.

PSIII-13 Putative metabolites for sow lifetime opportunity and production traits

Abstract Identifying females with favorable lifetime born alive (opportunity) and weaned (wn; production) traits requires extended observation. Estimate of lifetime (4 parities) difference in the economic margin over genetic cost between a high producing female (48 pigs weaned; wn) and a low producing female (31 wn) is approximately $1,000. Determining metabolic compounds present from females with favorable or unfavorable longevity traits may provide profiles that could be assessed in younger females prior to entry within the breeding system to indicate their potential productivity. Females within the USMARC breeding system were retained through four parities then harvested between 12 to 15 d following their post-weaning estrus. Liver, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipose tissues were collected and stored at -80° C for later analyses. Females were categorically identified by the level of opportunity (born alive; ba) and production (wn) over their lifetime. Females with consistent opportunity and production traits at each parity were categorized as high (H; 61 ba), medium (M; 50 ba), or low (L; 39 ba) opportunity and H (50 wn), M (42 wn), or L (34 wn) production resulting in six categories (HH, HL, MH, ML, LH, LL). Tissue extracts were subjected to positive mode UPLC-MS and numerous features were detected. Using Progenesis Q software features were annotated and those with a fold-change ≥ 2.0 and P < 0.05 by category were then tested using a mixed model in SAS to determine LS Mean differences of raw abundances among the six categories. Of those compounds tested in SAS, a significance threshold was set at P < 0.01 as a false discovery adjustment. Within liver 877 compounds were analyzed with 152 yielding a significant (P < 0.01) categorical effect. Of those, 43 compounds predominantly identified either HH or LL from other categories. Within skeletal muscle 359 compounds were subjected to mixed models, 221 compounds had significance for a category effect, and 105 compounds were predominantly different for HH or LL from all other categories. Within adipose tissue, 406 compounds were submitted to mixed model testing, 186 compounds had a categorical effect with 44 compounds predominantly different for HH or LL categories. Annotation of these compounds suggest differences in metabolites associated with, but not limited to, bacteria by-products (pradmicin, adifolin, lactobacillic acid), alkyloids, sapogenins, amino acids (lysine, tyrosine), minerals (calcium, copper), lipids (sphingomyelin), and fatty acids (mono-, di-, tri-acylglycerol). Future confirmation and evaluation of these metabolites in young pre-breeding females will need to be done. Establishing a metabolic profile panel that could discern young pre-breeding gilts with a likelihood of becoming a LL female will improve economic productivity and animal welfare concerns.

Impact of a heterogeneous environment on the population expansion of the harmful plant Iris ruthenica Ker-Gawl. in the high mountain grasslands.

Iris ruthenica Ker-Gawl. (Russian iris) is a perennial, clonal, herbaceous plant that is spread across the degraded mountain grasslands in northern Xinjiang. In this study, to explore the breeding system and the impact of slope orientation on the flowering phenology, pollination characteristics, and other aspects of I. ruthenica, we used a combination of field observations and controlled experiments to compare the population density, flowering phenology, floral characteristics, breeding system, and pollinator type and behavior of plants on different slope orientations. Vegetation coverage on the north (N), southwest (SW), and southeast (SE) slopes was 90%, 67%, and 53%, respectively. Differences in plant height and diameter were observed between the SE slope and the N and SW slopes, whereas the N and SW slopes were similar in these respects. The SE slope exhibited the earliest initial flowering time, followed by the SW and N slopes. The diameter of the corolla, distance between the stigma and anther, length of the anther and ovary, number of pollen grains, and number of ovules on the N slope were smaller than those on the SE and SW slopes, whereas those of the SE and SW slopes were similar. Artificial pollination experiments showed that neither bagging nor unbagging resulted in seed formation after emasculation for all slope orientations. The pollinating insects of I. ruthenica included Bombus sp., Amegilla leptocoma, Andrena sp., and Halictus sp.; the types and numbers of pollinating insects differed among slopes. In summary, on SE and SW slopes with high temperatures and sufficient sunlight, this species attracted pollinators and provided them with more opportunities to visit and pollinate by flowering early, with large numbers of blooms, and a longer flowering period and lifespan, ensuring successful reproduction. Under unfavorable conditions, such as insufficient pollinators and limited activity caused by the more stressful environmental conditions of the N slope (including low temperature and insufficient light), this species ensures a certain seed yield by increasing its self-compatibility.

Multidrug resistance in Salmonella isolates of swine origin: mobile genetic elements and plasmids associated with cephalosporin resistance with potential transmission to humans.

The emergence of foodborne Salmonella strains carrying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in mobile genetic elements (MGE) is a significant public health threat in a One Health context requiring continuous surveillance. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and cephalosporins is of particular concern. Since pigs are a relevant source of foodborne Salmonella for human beings, we studied transmissible AMR genes and MGE in a collection of 83 strains showing 9 different serovars and 15 patterns of multidrug resistant (MDR) previously isolated from pigs raised in the conventional breeding system of Northern Spain. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and three isolates carried blaCMY-2 or blaCTX-M-9 genes responsible for cefotaxime resistance. Filter mating experiments showed that the two plasmids carrying blaCTX-M-9 were conjugative while that carrying blaCMY-2 was self-transmissible by transformation. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative analyses were performed on the isolates and plasmids. The IncC plasmid pSB109, carrying blaCMY-2, was similar to one found in S. Reading from cattle, indicating potential horizontal transfer between serovars and animal sources. The IncHI2 plasmids pSH102 in S. Heidelberg and pSTM45 in S. Typhimurium ST34, carrying blaCTX-M-9, shared similar backbones and two novel "complex class 1 integrons" containing different AMR and heavy metal genes. Our findings emphasize the importance of sequencing techniques to identify emerging AMR regions in conjugative and stable plasmids from livestock production. The presence of MGE carrying clinically relevant AMR genes raises public health concerns, requiring monitoring to mitigate the emergence of bacteria carrying AMR genes and subsequent spread through animals and food.IMPORTANCEThe emergence of foodborne Salmonella strains carrying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in mobile genetic elements (MGE) is a significant public health threat in a One Health context. Since pigs are a relevant source of foodborne Salmonella for humans, in this study, we investigate different aspects of AMR in a collection of 83 Salmonella showing nine different serovars and 15 patterns of multidrug resistant (MDR) isolated from pigs raised in the conventional breeding system. Our findings emphasize the importance of sequencing techniques to identify emerging AMR regions in conjugative and stable plasmids from livestock production. The presence of MGE carrying clinically relevant AMR genes raises public health concerns, requiring monitoring to mitigate the emergence of bacteria carrying AMR genes and subsequent spread through animals and food.

Impact of pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism on genetic diversity and efficacy of selection.

Factors that increase reproductive variance among individuals act to reduce effective population size (Ne), which accelerates the loss of genetic diversity and decreases the efficacy of purifying selection. These factors include sexual cannibalism, offspring investment and mating system. Pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism, where the female consumes the male prior to mating, exacerbates this effect. We performed comparative transcriptomics in two spider species, the cannibalistic Trechaleoides biocellata and the non-cannibalistic T. keyserlingi, to generate genomic evidence to support these predictions. First, we estimated heterozygosity and found that genetic diversity is relatively lower in the cannibalistic species. Second, we calculated dN/dS ratios as a measure of purifying selection; a higher dN/dS ratio indicated relaxed purifying selection in the cannibalistic species. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that sexual cannibalism impacts operational sex ratio and demographic processes, which interact with evolutionary forces to shape the genetic structure of populations. However, other factors such as the mating system and life-history traits contribute to shaping Ne. Comparative analyses across multiple contrasting species pairs would be required to disentangle these effects. Our study highlights that extreme behaviours such as pre-copulatory cannibalism may have profound eco-evolutionary effects.

A survey of the Sli gene in wild and cultivated potato.

Inbred-hybrid breeding of diploid potatoes necessitates breeding lines that are self-compatible. One way of incorporating self-compatibility into incompatible cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) germplasm is to introduce the S-locus inhibitor gene (Sli), which functions as a dominant inhibitor of gametophytic self-incompatibility. To learn more about Sli diversity and function in wild species relatives of cultivated potato, we obtained Sli gene sequences that extended from the 5'UTR to the 3'UTR from 133 individuals from 22 wild species relatives of potato and eight diverse cultivated potato clones. DNA sequence alignment and phylogenetic trees based on genomic and protein sequences show that there are two highly conserved groups of Sli sequences. DNA sequences in one group contain the 533 bp insertion upstream of the start codon identified previously in self-compatible potato. The second group lacks the insertion. Three diploid and four polyploid individuals of wild species collected from geographically disjointed localities contained Sli with the 533 bp insertion. For most of the wild species clones examined, however, Sli did not have the insertion. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Sli sequences with the insertion, in wild species and in cultivated clones, trace back to a single origin. Some diploid wild potatoes that have Sli with the insertion were self-incompatible and some wild potatoes that lack the insertion were self-compatible. Although there is evidence of positive selection for some codon positions in Sli, there is no evidence of diversifying selection at the gene level. In silico analysis of Sli protein structure did not support the hypothesis that amino acid changes from wild-type (no insertion) to insertion-type account for changes in protein function. Our study demonstrated that genetic factors besides the Sli gene must be important for conditioning a switch in the mating system from self-incompatible to self-compatible in wild potatoes.

Effect of genetic and sex effect on genomic prediction for horn development in Nellore cattle

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of phenotypic classification of horn development, animal sex effect, and non-autosomal SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) markers on the genetic parameters and genomic prediction ability for horn development in Nellore cattle using the single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction method. The polled phenotype was evaluated in two (presence and absence of horns), three (scurs and polled offspring from a horned parent, and the polled and horned animals), and four (absence of horn, polled born to a parent with horn, scurs, and presence of horn) phenotypic categories. A total of 12 statistical models were evaluated. The variance components were estimated using the THRGIBBS1F90 software, and a threshold animal model was used for genomic prediction analyses with the single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) procedure. Accuracy, bias, and dispersion parameters were evaluated based on the linear regression (LR) method. The highest heritability (0.84) was obtained when the polled character was evaluated as a binary trait. The lowest heritability estimates (0.44 to 0.45) for horn development were obtained when the phenotype was classified into three categories. For the same horn development classification method, the heritability estimates were similar regardless of the genomic evaluated models and fixed effects included in the model. For models considering four and three phenotypic categories for horn development, the inclusion of the sex effect as a fixed effect within the CG did not improve the accuracy, bias, and dispersion of genomic predictions for horn development. Analyzing the trait with binary expression, the highest prediction accuracy was observed when the effect of sex was not included in the CG and without the SNPs in the sex chromosomes. These models displayed the highest dispersion, pointing out the low robustness of genomic prediction. In addition, models that use less than four categories to classify the horn development phenotype, with no discrimination between polled and homozygous polled displayed lower prediction ability. The inclusion of non-autosomal SNPs in the analyses for the models considering four phenotypic categories leads to an improvement in prediction accuracy in 5,26 %, bias, and dispersion reduction, 37 % and 4,55 %, respectively, compared with models that only considered autosomal SNPs. The selection using genomic information for the polled trait is feasible, and it is an alternative to obtaining polled Nellore animals. The binary coding of horn development is an unsuitable oversimplification of polled phenotype, and probably, the genetic background of horn development is more complex than previously proposed. The most adequate prediction model to evaluate the horn development in Nellore cattle was considering four phenotypic categories and including non-autosomal SNP in the analyses for genomic prediction purposes of naturally genetically polled animals. Genetic dehorning can be adopted on a large scale as a low-cost and non-invasive approach to increase the frequency of hornless animals using genomic information and mating strategies.

The Ne/N ratio in applied conservation.

Recent developments within the IUCN and the Convention on Biological Diversity have affirmed the increasingly key role that effective population size (N e) and the effective size: census size ratio (N e/N) play in applied conservation and management of global biodiversity. This paper reviews and synthesizes information regarding the definition of N e and demographic and genetic methods for estimating effective size, census size, and their ratio. Emphasis is on single-generation estimates of contemporary N e/N, which are the most informative for practical applications. It is crucial to clearly define which individuals are included in the census size (N). Defining N as the number of adults alive at a given time facilitates comparisons across species. For a wide range of applications and experimental designs, inbreeding N e is simpler to calculate and interpret than variance N e. Effects of skewed sex ratio are generally modest, so most reductions to N e/N arise from overdispersed (greater-than-Poisson) variance in offspring number (). Even when fecundity changes with age, overdispersed within-age variance generally contributes most to overall , and both random and deterministic (mediated by selection) factors can be important. Most species are age-structured, so it is important to distinguish between effective size per generation (N e) and the effective number of breeders in one season or year (N b). Both N e and N b are important for applied conservation and management. For iteroparous species, a key metric is variance in lifetime reproductive success (), which can be affected by a variety of additional factors, including variation in longevity, skip or intermittent breeding, and persistent individual differences in reproductive success. Additional factors that can be important for some species are also discussed, including mating systems, population structure, sex reversal, reproductive compensation, captive propagation, and delayed maturity.

Lipid and sugar metabolism play an essential role in pollen development and male sterility: a case analysis in Brassica napus.

The genic male sterility (GMS) system is an important strategy for generating heterosis in plants. To better understand the essential role of lipid and sugar metabolism and to identify additional candidates for pollen development and male sterility, transcriptome and metabolome analysis of a GMS line of 1205AB in B. napus was used as a case study. To characterize the GMS system, the transcriptome and metabolome profiles were generated for 24 samples and 48 samples of 1205AB in B. napus, respectively. Transcriptome analysis yielded a total of 156.52 Gb of clean data and revealed the expression levels of 109,541 genes and 8,501 novel genes. In addition, a total of 1,353 metabolites were detected in the metabolomic analysis, including 784 in positive ion mode and 569 in negative ion mode. A total of 15,635 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 83 differential metabolites (DMs) were identified from different comparison groups, most of which were involved in lipid and sugar metabolism. The combination of transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed 49 orthologous GMS genes related to lipid metabolism and 46 orthologous GMS genes related to sugar metabolism, as well as 45 novel genes. The transcriptome and metabolome profiles and their analysis provide useful reference data for the future discovery of additional GMS genes and the development of more robust male sterility breeding systems for use in the production of plant hybrids.

Analysis of the Genetic Diversity and Mating System of the Endangered Plant Keteleeria davidiana var. calcarea

Keteleeria davidiana var. calcarea is an endangered plant endemic to China. It is mainly distributed in the karst areas of the Guangxi and Guizhou Provinces. It is characterized by small populations and intermittent distribution. This study aimed to explore the genetic diversity and mating system of wild populations of Keteleeria davidiana var. calcarea in fragmented habitats. To achieve this, we genotyped 46 maternal trees and 214 progenies from four fragmented populations of Keteleeria davidiana var. calcarea using nine pairs of microsatellite primers. The genetic diversity of Keteleeria davidiana var. calcarea (Ho = 0.68, He = 0.63) was lower than that of the species overall but higher than that of other Keteleeria plants. The incidence of unbiased expected heterozygosity (uHe) and allelic richness (Ar) was higher in the maternal generation than in the progeny. This suggests that the genetic diversity of the progeny was lower than that of the maternal generation. Keteleeria davidiana var. calcarea is divided into four populations, but there is significant genetic exchange between the populations according to STRUCTURE and gene flow analyses. The multilocus mating system analysis (MLTR) results indicate that the multilocus outcrossing rate (tm) was 0.902, the single-locus outcrossing rate (ts) was 0.606, the bimaternal inbreeding coefficient (tm-ts) was 0.295, and the coefficient of inbreeding depression(δ) was 0.904. These results suggest a certain degree of selfing and inbreeding in Keteleeria davidiana var. calcarea. To prevent problems associated with inbreeding and conserve the genetic diversity of Keteleeria davidiana var. calcarea, we recommend establishing seed gardens, using artificial pollination, and employing asexual propagation techniques for conservation intervention.

Sustainability: Management of Raising Peranakan Etawa Goats in Toari District, Kolaka Regency, Indonesia

The sustainability of livestock farming plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological and economic balance in a region. The primary focus in this context is the management of Peranakan Etawa Goat farming, which is the main subject of this article. The aim is to delve into the practices of Peranakan Etawa Goat husbandry management and its impact on the sustainability of farming in the Toari District, Kolaka Regency. This research was conducted in the villages of Ranojaya, Wonua Raya, and Rahabite, Kolaka Regency, from April to July 2023, with location selection adapted through purposive sampling. The observed variables include the management of Peranakan Etawa Goat husbandry, covering aspects such as breeding, feeding, housing, and husbandry systems. The collected data are presented in tables and percentages and analyzed descriptively. Findings indicate that the practices of Peranakan Etawa Goat husbandry management in the Toari District tend to involve purchasing breeding stock, feeding with foliage, and utilizing elevated pens with intensive husbandry systems