Variation In Morphological Traits Research Articles

Morphological trait variation of the immature liberica coffee (Coffea liberica) from West Java applied difference of coffee husk compost and biofertilizer

Abstract. Maxiselly Y, Nafy FR, Anjarsari IRD. 2023. Morphological trait variation of the immature liberica coffee (Coffea liberica) from West Java applied difference of coffee husk compost and biofertilizer. Biodiversitas 24: 5988-5994. Improving the growth of immature Liberica coffee is achievable through fertilizer application. This is because nutrients can be provided to plants by microorganisms from organic and biological fertilizers. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the response and the best treatment for applying coffee husk compost and consortium biofertilizer, which contained nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria on the growth of immature Liberica plant. The experiment was held at Ciparanje Research Center, Padjadjaran University, West Java, with an altitude of ±750 meters above sea level (masl) from January to May 2023. Furthermore, a randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted with six treatment combinations. Each treatment was repeated four times including control (Urea 20 g.plant-1 + SP36 25 g.plant-1 + KCl 15 g.plant-1), solid coffee husk compost 3 kg.plant-1, liquid coffee husk compost 80 mL.L-1, biofertilizer 10 mL.L-1, solid coffee husk compost 3 kg.plant-1 + biofertilizer 10 mL.L-1, and liquid coffee husk compost 80 mL.L-1 + biofertilizer 10 mL.L-1. The results showed that biofertilizer significantly affected for increasing the morphology trait of immature Liberica coffee, namely the plant height, stem diameter, number of primary branches, length of primary branches, leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll index. The best treatment for immature Liberica plants was the liquid coffee husk compost 80 mL.L-1 + biofertilizer 10 mL.L-1. Based on this research, the combination of coffee husk compost, especially the liquid form, and biofertilizer is the potential application to boost the immature Liberica coffee growth.

Characterization of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) landraces: Genetic, chemotypic, and agro-morphologic perspectives

Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.), an endangered herb, faces significant threats due to the loss of biodiversity driven by land-use change. The seeds of seven landraces of D. moldavica were collected from various native populations in different regions of Northwest Iran. Subsequently, they were cultivated in 10 replications, spanning a total of 70 plots. This cultivation took place at the Ekbatan station of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center in Hamadan province. This study aimed to assess the morphological traits, essential oil (EO) content, and genetic diversity within seven populations of Dracocephalum moldavica. Significant variations in morphological traits were observed among populations, indicating phenotypic diversity and potential for selective breeding programs. The EO content ranged from 0.03 % to 0.13 % (w/w), with the highest in the HO population and the lowest in the KE population. EO yield varied from 1.97 in the KE populations to 13.97 Kg/ha in the HO populations. The chemical composition of the EOs varied among populations and consisted of 18–24 components, with geranyl acetate being the dominant component. PCA analysis identified population differences primarily related to geranyl acetate, nerol, geraniol, neryl acetate, and neral. The observed variation in EO composition may result from genetic and environmental factors. ISSR analysis revealed high genetic diversity, with 84 out of 94 scorable bands being polymorphic. Cluster and PCoA analysis revealed distinct genetic clusters among populations, although some diversities did not align with geographical origin, suggesting seed transfer or high heterozygosity. The study highlights the effectiveness of ISSR markers in assessing genetic diversity and provides insights into the genetic structure and variability of D. moldavica populations. Furthermore, the correlation between ISSR markers and phytochemical traits suggests their potential for breeding programs to enhance important traits in D. moldavica. Considering both phytochemical and morphological properties is crucial in breeding programs due to pleiotropic effects of genetic loci.

Intraspecific variation of morphological traits backed up with molecular evidence votes for re-appraisal of hitherto distinguished Balaustium species—a case study of Balaustium murorum (Acariformes: Parasitengona, Erythraeidae)

Molecular examination of representatives of Balaustium from several populations in SW Poland, performed using the sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, confirmed their common specific affiliation and identity with Balaustium murorum. The potential presence of distinct species in the studied material, preliminarily inferred from the discovery of clusters as a result of Principal Component Analysis exploring the metric data sets, was rejected due to the finding of only one haplotype, at intra- and inter-population sampling. An insight into meristic traits in larvae, focused on chaetotaxy of legs, revealed wider variation than hitherto recognized for the species. The variation was higher in laboratory-reared larvae compared to field-collected ones. The overall deviations from the mean character values at intra- and interpopulation levels, higher than hitherto observed for the species, vote for the reappraisal of the criteria adopted for discrimination of members of Balaustium with the application of an integrative approach.

Characterization of Diverse Pepper (Capsicum spp.) Germplasms Based on Agro-Morphological Traits and Phytochemical Contents

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) is one of the most important crops worldwide. The fruits of Capsicum species are known to contain high amounts of vitamins and carotenoids, and they have health-promoting properties. In this study, a total of 513 pepper accessions belonging to two Capsicum species, C. annuum and C. frutescens, were investigated for their morphological characteristics and contents of phytochemicals including carotenoids, β-carotene, vitamin C, capsaicinoids, and total soluble solids. The results revealed wide variations in morphological traits and phytochemical contents between the accessions and across species. In addition, the association of fruit color and orientation with phytochemical contents was evaluated; the results indicated that germplasm with yellow-colored and pendant-oriented fruits could be important due to their high vitamin C levels. Multivariate analysis of the agro-morphological and phytochemical parameters revealed that Capsicum germplasm were clearly distinguished according to species. Furthermore, cluster analysis showed that germplasms belonged to three groups, and six genotypes were determined as being good genetic resources with high health-promoting phytochemical contents. Especially, vitamin C content was positively correlated with fruit diameter, weight, and wall thickness. Our findings revealed morphological and phytochemical characteristics potentially useful for breeding programs.

Differentiation of Morphological Traits and Genome-Wide Expression Patterns between Rice Subspecies Indica and Japonica.

Changes in gene expression patterns can lead to the variation of morphological traits. This phenomenon is particularly evident in recent evolution events such as crop domestication and responses to environmental stress, where alterations in expression levels can efficiently give rise to domesticated syndromes and adaptive phenotypes. Rice (Oryza sativa L.), one of the world's most crucial cereal crops, comprises two morphologically distinct subspecies, Indica and Japonica. To investigate the morphological divergence between these two rice subspecies, this study planted a total of 315 landrace individuals of both Indica and Japonica under identical cultivation conditions. Out of the 16 quantitative traits measured in this study, 12 exhibited significant differences between the subspecies. To determine the genetic divergence between Indica and Japonica at the whole-genome sequence level, we constructed a phylogenetic tree using a resequencing dataset encompassing 95 rice landrace accessions. The samples formed two major groups that neatly corresponded to the two subspecies, Indica and Japonica. Furthermore, neighbor-joining (NJ) trees based on the expression quantity of effectively expressed genes (EEGs) across five different tissues categorized 12 representative samples into two major clades aligning with the two subspecies. These results imply that divergence in genome-wide expression levels undergoes stabilizing selection under non-stressful conditions, with evolutionary trends in expression levels mirroring sequence variation levels. This study further supports the pivotal role of changes in genome-wide expression regulation in the divergence of the two rice subspecies, Indica and Japonica.

Integrative taxonomy and evolutionary history reveal cryptic diversity in Myotis riparius (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Abstract Myotis riparius is an insectivorous bat species widely distributed in the Neotropics with evident geographical variation in morphological traits. We conducted an integrative study using mitochondrial DNA, qualitative and quantitative morphology, and current and past species distribution models to investigate the variation, population structure, and distributional limits within M. riparius populations. Phylogenetic inferences indicated that M. riparius is monophyletic, and populations are divided into geographically structured clades that split during the middle Pleistocene. There is no shared haplotype between geographical populations and strong evidence of partial restriction in gene flow. Morphological and morphometric variations revealed subtle distinctions among different populations, but little correspondence with molecular analysis. The distribution models indicated that M. riparius is associated with forest environments, with discontinuity between populations from South American ecoregions. Past distribution modelling, however, indicated that M. riparius had a larger distribution range in the Last Glacial Maximum than currently. Results of modelling and genetic analyses indicated that M. riparius consisted of a large, widespread, and panmictic (meta)population until the middle Pleistocene, when environmental changes driven by climatic dynamics fragmented and isolated the populations. Myotis riparius is here considered a complex of at least four allopatric and parapatric cryptic evolutionary units.

Pollen morphology of Ipomoea L. from Garhwal Himalaya, India

Pollen morphology serves as a valuable tool for identification, phylogenetic analysis and evolutionary studies. The present study aims to investigate the pollen morphology of 12 species of the genus Ipomoea L. (a diverse and economically important genus within the family Convolvulaceae) from Garhwal Himalaya, India. Fresh flower buds were collected from the study area and pollen preparation completed using the acetolysis method. The morphology of the pollen grains were examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains of all the studied species were apolar, spheroidal, pantoporate, subtectate with fine reticulation and echinate, but they differed from one another in their size, number of spines and pores, spine length and spine types. The size of grains ranged from 53.3 to 128.7 μm. Cluster analysis was performed based on pollen characters to show the relationship among the species; a key was prepared and is discussed. The observed variation in pollen morphological traits gives important taxonomic information that is useful for distinguishing Ipomoea species and establishing taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships.

Morphological Diversity of an Underutilized and Wild Edible Fruit (Cordia) Species in Three Districts of Bastar Region of Chhattisgarh, India

The multipurpose deciduous tree Cordia dichotoma belongs to the family Boraginaceae and it is variously called as Glueberry, Goonda, Lasora and locally as ‘Bohaar’ in Bastar (Chhattisgarh). The diversity in morphological traits in Cordia species were marked and identified at different locations of three districts of Bastar region to assess phenotypic morphological variation and to estimate genotypic and phenotypic variability for various morphological traits of fruits for future use. The quantitative traits like fruit weight, length, and diameter are important quality traits in many horticultural crops are used in genetic diversity studies. The underutilized fruits are advantageous crops being hardy in nature and tolerate extreme climatic conditions and possess high potential to provide nutritional and social benefits. The present investigation is performed for the identification, morphological analysis and diversity exploration with respect to food value of underutilized and wild edible fruit Cordia dichotoma found in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. A Total of ten numbers of representative trees of Cordia species from each district were selected for morphological and silvicultural studies. It is found that genotype of Cordia has morphological variations in the region. Two species of Cordia i.e., Cordia obliqua and Cordia dichotoma were taken for the study. This study revealed that source/provenance Jagdalpur and Dantewada had Cordia species with better fruit size than district Kondagaon source, also morphological variations of Cordia species in different sources or provenance with respect to fruit fresh weight, pulp weight, peel weight, pulp and peel ratio revealed that Cordia dichotoma G. Forst has better fruit size and pulp percentage.

Variability in variability: does variation in morphological and physiological traits differ between men and women?

Many researchers presume greater variability between female participants than between males due to the menstrual cycle. This view has encouraged a sex bias in health and medical research, resulting in considerable knowledge gaps with important clinical implications. Yet in another field-evolutionary biology-the received wisdom is the reverse: that men are more variable, possibly due to male heterogamety. To test these competing hypotheses, we compared variance between the sexes for 50 morphological and physiological traits, analysing data from the NHANES database. Nearly half the traits did not exhibit sexual dimorphism in variation, while 18 exhibited greater female variation (GFV), indicating GFV does not dominate human characteristics. Only eight traits exhibited greater male variation (GMV), indicating GMV also does not dominate, and in turn offering scant support for the heterogamety hypothesis. When our analysis was filtered to include only women with regular menstrual cycles (and men of equivalent age), the number of traits with GFV and GMV were low and not statistically different, suggesting that the menstrual cycle does not typically explain GFV when it occurs. In practical terms, health and medical researchers should no longer simply assume that female participants will induce additional variation in the traits of interest.

Deciphering transcriptomic signatures explaining the phenotypic plasticity of nonheading lettuce genotypes under artificial light conditions.

Elucidating the mechanisms and pathways involved in genotype-environment (G×E) interactions and phenotypic plasticity is critical for improving plant growth. Controlled environment agricultural systems allow growers to modulate the environment for particular genotypes. In this study, we evaluated the effects of interactions among 14 genotypes and four artificial light environments on leaf lettuce phenotypes and dissected the underlying molecular mechanism via transcriptome-based modeling. Variations in morphological traits and phytochemical concentrations in response to artificial light treatments revealed significant G×E interactions. The appropriate genotype and artificial light combinations for maximizing phenotypic expression were determined on the basis of a joint regression analysis and the additive main effect and multiplicative interaction model for these G×E interactions. Transcriptome-based regression modeling explained approximately 50%-90% of the G×E variations. Further analyzes indicated Red Lettuce Leaves 4 (RLL4) regulates UV-B and blue light signaling through the effects of the HY5-MBW pathway on flavonoid biosynthesis and contributes to natural variations in the light-responsive plasticity of lettuce traits. Our study represents an important step toward elucidating the phenotypic variations due to G×E interactions in nonheading lettuce under artificial light conditions.

Development of Interspecific Hybrids of Pleurotus sajor-caju and P. flabellatus for Better Yield

Existence of variability in morphological traits and growth rate of mycelium of homokaryotic single basidiospores can be exploited for the development of interspecific hybrids of mushroom. To explore this, interspecific hybrids of P. flabellatus, P. sajor-caju having earliness in production, better nutritional qualities and higher yield as compared to their parent strains tried at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya. Eighteen and six monosporus culture of P. flabellatus, P. sajor-caju, respectively were isolated by spore print or serial dilution or hyphal tip fragmentation techniques. Twenty interspecific hybrids were developed from different cross combinations of parents P. flabellatus and P. sajor-caju. The hybrids were grown on malt extract agar media. Highest growth rate shown by the hybrids in media were selected to study qualitative and quantitative response during cultivation. In cultivation spawn running and pin head formation was faster in PF × PSC5 and PF × PSC7. Comparing all the parameters, growth of PF × PSC6 and PF × PSC8 were found to be more efficient. Nitrogen and protein content was good enough in PF × PSC4, PF × PSC7, PF × PSC5 and PF × PSC10. Regarding all the quantitative parameters of the hybrids, biological efficiency and yield of 1st and 2nd harvest of PF × PSC6 and PF × PSC8, PF × PSC5, PF × PSC10 and PF × PSC3 were better than the rest hybrid combinations. In interspecific hybrids of P. flabellatus and P. sajor-caju, the highest yield and biological efficiency was found in PF × PSC6 combination and may be selected for better mushroom production.

New integrated evidences reveal male polymorphism and species delimitation in stalk‐eyed fruit flies

AbstractSpecies of stalk‐eyed fruit flies, in the genera Pelmatops Enderlein and Pseudopelmatops Shiraki, have a distinct head structure with eyes located at the ends of stalks, setting them apart from other tephritids. Despite their unique morphology, the intraspecific variation of morphological and behavioural traits in these flies is still not well‐studied, leaving some questions about species definition unresolved. To address this, we conducted a study combining morphological evidence, behavioural studies, and molecular analyses. Our findings revealed male polymorphism in stalk‐eyed fruit flies for the first time, with four morphotypes observed in Pe. fukienensis and three in Pe. ichneumoneus and Ps. angustifasciatus. These morphotypes differ in eyestalk length, wing pattern, and the presence of projections or spikes at the ends of the compound eye. We also propose phylogenetic and phylogeographic implications for the group based on new molecular evidence, along with our observations of courtship and mating behaviours between previously recognized different species. Our study examined four nominal species (Pe. ichneumoneus and Pe. tangliangi, Ps. angustifasciatus and Ps. continentalis) and revealed rich evolutionary interactions within this group. Based on the results, we propose the synonymy of Pe. tangliangi Chen with Pe. ichneumoneus (Westwood) and Ps. continentalis Zia & Chen with Ps. angustifasciatus Zia & Chen.

Variation in oxidative status, but not structural and physiological development, associated with changing ontogenetic environments.

Despite the potential for temporally-dependent relationships between trait values and fitness (e.g., as juveniles approach life-stage transitions such as fledging), how developmental stage affects canalization (a measure of robustness to environmental variation) of morphological and physiological traits is rarely considered. To test the sensitivity of morphological and physiological traits to environmental variation in two developmental stages, we manipulated brood size at hatch in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and cross-fostered chicks between enlarged and reduced broods approaching fledging. We measured body size (mass, tarsus, wing length) and physiological state (aerobic capacity, oxidative status) at asymptotic mass on day 15, then cross-fostered chicks between 'high' and 'low' quality environments and assessed the same traits again on day 20, after five days of pre-fledging mass recession. Chicks in reduced broods were heavier at asymptotic mass and had lower reactive oxygen metabolites than enlarged broods, while structural size, aerobic capacity, and antioxidant capacity were unaffected by experimental brood size. The observed canalization of structural and physiological traits during early development was maintained after cross-fostering, during late development. However, in contrast to early development, antioxidant capacity approaching fledging appeared sensitive to environmental conditions, as trajectories varied by cross-fostering treatment. Elevated reactive oxygen metabolites observed after early development in enlarged brood chicks were maintained after cross-fostering, suggesting canalized development in low-quality environments could produce oxidative costs that carry over between life-stages, even when conditions improve. These data reveal trait-specific relationships between environmental conditions and development and highlight how natal environment effects may vary by developmental stage.

Evaluation of genetic variation of morphological and clubroot-resistance traits of radish and metabonomic analysis of clubroot-resistant cultivar

Global commercial production of radish (Raphanus sativus) is highly threatened by Plamodiophora brassicae. Germplasm evaluation and the deep analysis of variants with clubroot-resistant trait are needed to produce quality cultivars. The genetic diversity was analyzed for 97 radish germplasms based on 20 agronomic traits and the response to clubroot. Additionally, differentially regulated metabolites (DRMs) between healthy and P. brassicae-infected resistant cultivars were measured. The genetic diversity index values of quality traits varied from 0.396 to 1.350, and that of quantitative traits varied from 1.65–2.15. The variation of radish quantitative traits ranged from 19.18% to 54.44%. The principal component analysis indicated 8 comprehensive indicators, allowing classification of germplasms into 4 classes, with 71 in class I, 20 in class II, 4 in class III, and 2 in class IV. The results of classification of germplasms by the response to clubroot infection only or by comprehensive agronomic traits including response of plants to clubroot disease infection were similar. Among all traits assessed in the present study, the clubroot severity and the depth of in-soil root were closely linked. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the metabolites changes of clubroot resistant cultivar “DHBC” pre- and post- P. brassicae infection was relatively stable. P. brassicae infection resulted in limited DRMs, significant down-regulation was identified on ginsenoside, dihydro-2(3H)-thiophenone, proline, 1-pyrroline, while apiosylglucosyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, chrycolide, glucomalcomiin, and phosphocholine were significantly up-regulated. We revealed more extensive genetic variation in quantitative traits than in quality indexes in radish and we summarized that the response of radish to clubroot disease may be a dominate indicator in evaluation of radish varieties. Finally, untargeted metabolomic study confirmed the clubroot resistance of “DHBC” and revealed a sophisticated metabolites (including some precious pharmaceutical ingredients) variation in response to clubroot infection, offers new directions in the studies of clubroot resistance mechanism of radish.

Goat genetic and phenotypic variation of body measurement traits in a sample of the Venezuelan creole goat population

Variation within a given population is due basically to environmental and genetic deviations among the individuals. Genetic deviations are heritable and therefore the base for selection. In animal production, reproduction of outstanding individuals is allowed in a higher degree to improve forthcoming generations. The genetic variation is a property of genes influencing the traits and genes frequency may change among populations, basically due to genetic drift and animal husbandry. Phenotypic and genetic variation of morphological quantitative traits was estimated in the Venezuelan Creole goat population. The additive direct genetic variation or heritable fraction out of the total phenotypic variance found in this study is indicative that most traits evaluated can be improved through selection which should be taken into consideration in any breeding program.

Communities of nematodes, bacteria and fungi differ among soils of different wild cabbage populations

Plants exhibit significant variation in morphological and chemical traits of shoots and roots in response to an array of biotic and abiotic selection pressures, and this variation in turn affects their interactions with the biotic and abiotic environment. Thus far, most studies examining these interactions have focused on the aboveground domain, which is easier to study than the belowground domain. However, soil organisms significantly affect plant fitness directly through mutualisms e.g. growth promotion, or antagonisms e.g. herbivory and disease. Natural populations of wild Brassica oleracea L. growing along the south coastline of Great Britain exhibit significant differences in growth form and secondary chemistry. Studies in the field have shown that these differences affect aboveground plant-insect interactions, whereas soil communities have not been explored. We sampled belowground communities of nematodes, bacteria and fungi associated with roots, rhizosphere and bulk soil in five coastal wild cabbage populations in Dorset, England, and found significant differences among these communities. Site-related differences in nematode community composition were primarily found for nematodes in bulk soil and were consistent over two years of sampling. Nematode communities in roots of wild cabbage did not significantly differ across the cabbage populations but did differ between the two years. Results for communities in rhizosphere soil were spatially and temporally variable. The composition of nematode communities in cabbage roots differed strongly from those in the rhizosphere and bulk soil, showing that plants attract a subset of nematodes from the bulk soil community. For microbes, we analysed only rhizosphere samples, and found that fungal communities differed more strongly among plant populations than bacterial communities. Thus, while there is spatio-temporal variation in belowground communities, soil and/or plant properties differentially affect the assembly of nematodes, fungi and bacteria.

Morphological and molecular characteristics of Donax incarnatus (Bivalvia: Donacidae) from Badur Beach, Madura Island, Indonesia based on the COX1 gene

Abstract. Wijaya CB, Ambarwati R, Rahayu DA. 2023. Morphological and molecular characteristics of Donax incarnatus (Bivalvia: Donacidae) from Badur Beach, Madura Island, Indonesia based on the COX1 gene. Biodiversitas 24: 2805-2813. Donacidae, a family of marine bivalve mollusks, has a high diversity of morphological traits, including shape and color pattern variations. However, these variations often led to errors in morphological identification, necessitating the use of molecular identification methods for accurate species identification and support. This study aims to analyze the morphological and molecular characteristics of Donax incarnatus Gmelin, 1791 collected from Badur Beach of Madura Island, Sumenep District, East Java Province, Indonesia, using the COX1 gene as a molecular marker. Morphological characterization was conducted through qualitative and quantitative observations, while sequencing results were analyzed using bioinformatics software. The results showed that the exterior color of D. incarnatus has three morphological variations, namely purple-black (OQ692130.1), yellowish orange (OQ692131.1), and white (OQ692132.1). Molecular characterization indicated that the similarity value of D. incarnatus with these variations ranged from 96.06% to 99.61%. At the same time, the alignment results of all samples with reference species and outgroups obtained five variations of nucleotide bases. The average genetic distance between D. incarnatus and the in group was 0.01. The phylogenetic tree results obtained using Neighbor-Joining (NJ) and Maximum Likelihood (ML)methods were categorized into two subclusters: D. incarnatus species from Thailand and the study sample from Badur Beach, Madura Island, Indonesia, were placed in the same cluster.

Latitudinal origins of Fragaria vesca show adaptive variation in phenological, morphological and ecophysiological leaf traits associated with winter climate

Ongoing climate change is affecting vascular plants, but it is uncertain how plant species will react to the environmental changes, and therefore detailed understanding of adaptive phenotypic variation is needed. Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) has a large geographical range, thus having great phenotypic variation and ability to adapt to different climates. One adaptive trait that allows F. vesca to continue photosynthesis through an extended growing season is the production of two morphologically distinct sets of leaves – summer leaves, produced in the spring and summer, and winter leaves produced in the autumn. However, to date it was unknown whether F. vesca genotypes from warmer European countries produce winter leaves, and whether they could survive cold winter conditions. To test for local adaptation in F. vesca, we studied variation in phenology, morphology and ecophysiology among ten European F. vesca genotypes from populations extending over the natural latitudinal range of the species. All genotypes survived a harsh winter in a common garden in southern Finland and produced winter leaves. These leaves acclimated well to the winter climate, as the maximum capacity of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) remained high from late autumn to spring despite low temperatures. We found a latitudinal pattern in phenology with the northern European genotypes producing their first winter leaves earlier than the genotypes of southern European origin. This indicates that winter leaf phenology and climate acclimation are under genetic control and express local adaptation. In contrast, cessation of stolon production in the autumn did not show a latitudinal cline. Our finding that local adaptation causes clear differences among populations in functional traits in F. vesca provides a foundation for future studies to explore underlying genetic variation and molecular processes affecting these traits that might improve the resilience of plant populations in a changing climate.

Evolutionary Processes Shaping Postglacial Gene Pools of High-Altitude Forests: Evidence from the Endemic Eucalypts of Tasmania

Climatic changes during the Pleistocene were responsible for dramatic redistributions of plant species worldwide. On the rugged southern hemisphere island of Tasmania, temperature increases following the last glaciation saw upslope migration of climatically suitable species from lowland refugia and the expansion of eucalypt-dominated forests and woodlands in the Central Highlands. We integrate multiple lines of evidence (chloroplast and nuclear DNA markers, seedling morphology, and survival in common garden experiments) from a group of closely related endemic eucalypts (the alpine white gums) to argue that (i) the Central Highlands of the island were colonised by multiple glacial refugia with hybridisation among species and previously separated populations, and (ii) natural selection has filtered the admixed populations, resulting in local adaptation to the harsh sub-alpine environment. Chloroplast haplotype diversity decreased and nuclear microsatellite diversity increased with altitude, chloroplast sharing among taxa was common, and nuclear DNA differentiation of morphologically distinct taxa was lower in the Central Highlands compared with lowland regions. Local adaptation in the highlands was signalled by evidence from (i) a glasshouse trial in which directional selection (QST > FST) had shaped seedling morphological trait variation and (ii) population survival differences in 35-year-old reciprocal plantings along the major environmental gradients. We conclude that the evolutionary response of these island endemic trees to past climate change has involved the interplay of both hybridisation and natural selection, highlighting the importance of maintaining species interactions under future climate change.

Morphological Diversity and Morphometric Analysis of Commercially Traded Siganus spp. (Baronang Fish) in Tarakan's Beringin Market

This study aimed to investigate the morphological diversity and morphometric characteristics of commercially traded Siganus spp. (Baronang fish) in Tarakan's Beringin Market. A total of 100 fish specimens were collected from the market and analyzed using 23 morphometric measurements to identify differences in species and provide insights into their population structure. The measurements included total length, standard length, head length, head height, body height, caudal peduncle height, eye diameter, inter-eye distance, body width, and several other parameters related to fins and jaw length. The results showed a wide range of values for each morphometric parameter, suggesting a high degree of morphological variation among the sampled Baronang fish. For instance, the minimum and maximum total lengths were 15.07 cm and 22.17 cm, respectively, with an average of 10.84 cm and a standard deviation of 1.93. The head length ranged from 2.83 cm to 4.66 cm, with an average of 2.31 cm and a standard deviation of 0.46. Furthermore, the body height varied between 6.52 cm and 8.57 cm, with an average of 4.31 cm and a standard deviation of 0.53. These results, along with the other morphometric parameters, highlight the diverse morphological traits of Siganus spp. present in the Beringin Market. Comparisons with previous studies on Siganus spp. indicate that the morphological diversity observed in the present study is consistent with the known intraspecific variation within this genus. However, further research is required to determine if the observed differences are due to phenotypic plasticity, genetic differences, or a combination of both factors. This research contributes to a better understanding of the morphological diversity and morphometric characteristics of Siganus spp. in Tarakan's Beringin Market, which can be valuable for fisheries management, conservation efforts, and the sustainable use of this commercially important fish species. Future studies should explore the genetic diversity and population dynamics of Baronang fish to complement the findings of this study and further inform management strategies.