Ecology and Evolution最新文献

{"title":"Integrative Taxonomy Does Not Support a Cosmopolitan <i>Desmophyllum pertusum</i>: Resurrecting <i>D. californicum</i> and Validating the Genus <i>Desmophyllum</i>.","authors":"Claudia F Vaga, Alexis M Weinnig, Stephen D Cairns, Michelle L Taylor, Meredith Everett, Santiago Herrera, Erik E Cordes, Andrea M Quattrini, Cheryl L Morrison","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74485","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74485","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reef-building corals are key contributors in marine ecosystems, from warm, shallow reefs to cold, deep-water habitats worldwide. <i>Desmophyllym pertusum</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most important habitat-forming cold-water corals and has long been considered a cosmopolitan species. Yet phylogenetic relationships within the genus, as well as its relatedness to the synonymized genus <i>Lophelia</i> (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849), remain poorly understood and debated. Here, we use nuclear ultraconserved elements and exons, complete mitochondrial genomes, and single nucleotide polymorphism data to show that populations of <i>D. pertusum</i> in the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean are genetically differentiated from those in the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean. Our results support the previously proposed synonymy of genera <i>Lophelia</i> and <i>Desmophyllum</i> (Ehrenberg, 1834). Morphological features of specimens from the Pacific Ocean, particularly budding pattern and corallite size, match those of the previously synonymized <i>D. californicum</i> comb. nov., which we therefore reinstate. We also incorporated solitary <i>Desmophyllum</i> spp. lineages into phylogenomic analyses, including a multispecies coalescence model. Taken together, these integrative taxonomic results indicate the presence of multiple <i>Desmophyllum</i> species beyond those currently recognized as valid. Future studies could incorporate phylogenomic approaches to better delimit species boundaries and avoid grouping distinct coral species.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74485"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13674452/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Refugial Squeeze: A Globally Relevant Mechanism of Species Decline Revealed by a Threatened Amphibian.","authors":"Kate Tunstill, Matt W Hayward, Hannah Power, Darren Southwell, John Gould, Will Farebrother, Michael Mahony, Alex Callen","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74417","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74417","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A key outcome of the Global Biodiversity Crisis is the contraction and range shift of species distribution into refugial habitats that afford protection against threatening processes. Range contractions driven by spatially overlapping threats may fragment populations to the point where functional habitat is lost. This study identifies a range contraction of the Vulnerable green and golden bell frog (<i>Ranoidea aurea</i>) in south-east Australia using a multi-method approach. We fitted alpha hulls, species distribution models (MaxEnt, Random Forest, Boosted Regression Trees and an AUC-weighted ensemble model) and conducted a hypervolume analysis to quantify change in the species' range and niche between full (historical) and contemporary periods. Our findings suggest <i>R. aurea</i> has undergone niche contraction <i>and</i> displacement with a directional shift into coastal saline-influenced refugia. Our results demonstrated a 76% reduction in extent of occurrence, a suitable habitat reduction of ~96%, and an environmental niche contraction of 57%. The remaining habitat was strongly associated with coastal proximity with shifts towards more saline environments. The concentration of <i>R. aurea</i> in coastal regions suggests intensified dependence on coastal refugia, persisting in salt-exposed habitat that may suppress chytrid fungus. Yet, the threat abatement afforded by low-lying, saline coastal environments is wedging <i>R. aurea</i> into chytrid refugia that is at risk from sea level rise. Refugial squeeze is a globally relevant phenomenon likely affecting a suite of coastal species that highlights the value of integrating geometric and probabilistic niche approaches with species distribution models to resolve temporal contraction in species distributions. Protection of refugial squeeze zones from sea level rise will ultimately determine the future range and population viability of coastal species.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74417"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13671101/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biology and Comparative Mitogenomics of <i>Psyttalia carinata</i>, Newly Recorded From China as a Parasitoid of <i>Rhagoletis batava</i>.","authors":"Kailiang Li, Zhiqiang Ge, Zhenyu Zhang, Wenchao Guo, Hongying Hu","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74415","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74415","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reliable species identification, host confirmation, and biological information are essential for evaluating parasitoids in natural-enemy systems. We integrated regional surveys, taxonomic evidence, direct host verification, life-history observations, and comparative mitogenomics to characterize <i>Psyttalia carinata</i>, newly recorded from China as a parasitoid of the sea buckthorn fruit fly, <i>Rhagoletis batava</i>. Surveys covered 30 sites across Xinjiang. Species identity was established by morphological diagnosis and expert verification, while host association was confirmed by parasitoid emergence and dissection of puparia formed by larvae from sea buckthorn fruits; all emerged tephritids were <i>R. batava</i>. Of 8260 puparia from Altay and Akqi, 595 yielded adults or contained immature <i>P. carinata</i>, giving an overall apparent parasitism of 7.2%. <i>Psyttalia carinata</i> developed as a solitary larval-pupal koinobiont endoparasitoid and overwintered as a pupa within the host puparium. Malaise trap monitoring across two field seasons detected one concentrated annual period of adult activity in the Altay population, consistent with a univoltine life cycle. A factorial experiment with 720 adults showed that longevity decreased with increasing temperature, was markedly extended by honey feeding, and was generally greater in females than males. Illumina sequencing yielded a complete 15,633-bp mitochondrial genome containing 37 genes and 82.7% A + T. Across five available <i>Psyttalia</i> mitogenome assemblies, variation was concentrated in tRNA gene order. <i>P. carinata</i> and <i>P. incisi</i> shared the same complete mitochondrial gene order, including nad4L-trnT-trnP-nad6, whereas <i>P. concolor</i>, <i>P. humilis</i>, and <i>P. lounsburyi</i> shared nad4L-trnP-trnT-nad6. However, phylogenetic analyses placed <i>P. carinata</i> as sister to the latter three-species clade rather than to <i>P. incisi</i>, indicating that identical gene order did not correspond to the closest sequence-based relationship. These findings provide an integrated biological and mitogenomic reference for <i>P. carinata</i> and a basis for evaluating its ecological role in the <i>R. batava</i> system.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74415"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13671880/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selection on PER2 Phosphorylation Regulation Underlies Atypical Mammalian Circadian Rhythms.","authors":"Yujie Chong, Qingqing Liu, Haojia Jiang, Linxue Tan, Huan Chen, Wenhua Ren, Shixia Xu, Guang Yang, Daiqing Yin","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74524","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74524","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Circadian rhythms are fundamental biological processes that enhance survival and reproductive fitness by coordinating physiology and behavior with predictable environmental cycles. However, in some species, circadian rhythms are weakened, irregular, or even undetectable, likely reflecting evolutionary responses to extreme environments or specialized ecological niches. Nevertheless, the genetic basis of these atypical phenotypes remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the molecular evolution of 20 PER2-associated genes across 71 representative mammalian species. We identified four genes under positive selection in mammalian lineages exhibiting atypical circadian phenotypes, three of which (<i>CDK5</i>, <i>CSNK1E</i>, and <i>GSK3B</i>) are involved in the post-translational regulation of PER2 phosphorylation, suggesting that PER2 phosphorylation regulators may contribute to lineage-specific circadian variation. Notably, CSNK1E, a key kinase regulating PER2 phosphorylation, showed signatures of positive selection and accelerated evolution in cetaceans, which exhibit unihemispheric slow-wave sleep (USWS). In vitro assays showed that dolphin CSNK1E increased phosphorylation at the stabilizing FASP site S662 of PER2 and extended the half-life of the PER2 protein, a molecular feature closely linked to circadian oscillator amplitude and sleep regulation. Increased PER2 phosphorylation may contribute to altered sleep and locomotor activity associated with sustained wakefulness during USWS, as supported by our cellular and whole-animal assays. Consistently, zebrafish overexpressing dolphin CSNK1E exhibited elevated locomotor activity and reduced sleep duration. Overall, our findings provide evidence that evolutionary changes in PER2 phosphorylation regulation are associated with atypical circadian phenotypes and offer novel insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying circadian plasticity in mammals.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74524"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13671881/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-Scale Temporal Patterns of Small Cetacean Behaviour in the Bay of Biscay","authors":"Samuele Tecchio,&nbsp;Laura Couraud,&nbsp;Ludivine Martinez,&nbsp;Achraf Drira,&nbsp;Alessio Maglio","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74509","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74509","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Marine mammals are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic pressures, yet knowledge of their behavioural ecology remains limited, hindering effective conservation planning. Two years of continuous passive acoustic data were collected with porpoise detectors (C-POD and F-POD) in the northern Bay of Biscay (northeastern Atlantic Ocean), as part of the baseline assessment for an offshore wind farm development in the South Brittany area. Distinct temporal patterns in small cetacean presence and behaviour were observed. Dolphins exhibited dominant year-round presence with pronounced peaks in August–September and feeding concentrated during daylight hours. Harbour porpoises (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) showed consistently low activity with autumn-spring presence and variable diel feeding patterns. Porpoise feeding intensity peaked in November–December, with a diel pattern emerging exclusively at nearshore stations, where buzzes were more frequent during daytime than at night. Environmental modelling identified salinity and current speed as key drivers of dolphin activity, though explained variance remained low, highlighting the complexity of acoustic detection patterns that integrate both occurrence and behaviour. For porpoises, zooplankton biomass was the primary negative driver of activity, while bottom temperature and current speed had positive effects; however, explained variance was even lower than for dolphins, suggesting that factors not captured by the available environmental variables largely govern their distribution. Correlation between C-POD and F-POD diel profiles was high for dolphins across all seasons, while it was lower for porpoises. These findings provide a behavioural baseline for this region and directly inform Environmental Impact Assessment procedures by identifying periods of heightened cetacean activity and feeding intensity.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ece3.74509","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Salinity Tolerance Thresholds and Acclimation Potential in the Invasive Macrophyte Crassula helmsii","authors":"Corentin Gaudichet,&nbsp;Michèle Tarayre,&nbsp;Gabrielle Thiébaut","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74496","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The salt gradient is a major driver of the composition of aquatic plant communities. The ionic composition of salt and exposure regime can influence the response of macrophytes, either positively or negatively. In European freshwaters, the New Zealand pigmyweed (<i>Crassula helmsii</i>) is a highly invasive macrophyte that should exhibit a small tolerance to salt, raising interest in salt-based control strategies. Two ex-situ experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of salinity on <i>C. helmsii</i>. The first experiment assessed survival and morphological responses to four salinity levels (0, 15, 30 and 60 g/L) using either road or sea salts. The second experiment compared gradual versus direct exposure to elevated salinity (20 and 30 g/L). Salinity exposure reduced apical growth and biomass. No significant differences were detected between the effects of road salt and sea salt. Median effective concentration (EC50) was approximately 33 g/L. Moderate salinity stimulated branching and root production, whereas higher salinity (&gt; 15 g/L) inhibited growth and increased mortality. Gradual exposure did not improve survival significantly compared with direct exposure. <i>C. helmsii</i> continued to grow at salinity levels up to 15 g/L, exceeding previously reported tolerance thresholds for the tested species. These findings indicate substantial tolerance to short-term stress and delayed mortality under progressive salinisation may suggest potential acclimation ability. Eradication of <i>C. helmsii</i> would require prolonged exposure to salinity levels approaching seawater concentration that should negatively affect other freshwater organisms and ecosystem functioning. Species salinity tolerance and potential acclimation suggest an increased invasion risk of <i>C. helmsii</i> for temporarily salinised freshwater ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ece3.74496","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat Preference and Spatiotemporal Habitat Use of the Endangered Flat-Headed Cat in the Proposed Lundu Mangrove Protected Forest, Sarawak, Malaysia.","authors":"Ahmad Ampeng, Hamden Mohammad, Happysupina Sait, Azahari Omar, Badrul Munir Md-Zain, Shukor Md-Nor, Carl Traeholt, Dayang Nuriza Abang Abdillah, Syafiani Osman, Jonny Ujeng, Rowina Ruth Cedric Jess, Abd Rahman Abg Anoi, Shannia June Ahmad, Roger Richard John Apiu, Bilhan Deli, Hazeri Yahya, Mohammad Saiful Mansor","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74248","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The flat-headed cat <i>Prionailurus planiceps</i> is one of the least-detected and most threatened felids in Southeast Asia, and limited field records have constrained understanding of its habitat associations and activity patterns. An initial biodiversity survey in the proposed Lundu Mangrove Protected Forest, Sarawak, yielded no detections; however, a subsequent photographic record in November 2021 prompted a targeted camera-trap survey to document habitat-specific detection patterns and spatiotemporal activity. Between August 2021 and May 2024, 148 camera trap units were deployed across multiple habitat types in this area. We obtained two still images and 57 video recordings, including documentation of an adult female with a kitten. Detection frequency varied markedly among habitat types, with 49 independent detections recorded in the nibong habitat, followed by nine in the buta-buta habitat and only one in the nipah swamp. Individual cats were frequently recorded foraging in shallow water puddles within the nibong habitat, suggesting localised resource use that may influence detection rates. Temporal patterns of detection were highly variable, ranging from consecutive-day occurrences to extended intervals of non-detection spanning weeks or months, while several camera stations yielded only a single detection event throughout the study period. Activity was concentrated from the evening through late morning, with activity peaking around midnight, while detections remained evident during daylight hours, particularly in the nibong habitat, indicating temporal flexibility rather than strict nocturnality. These findings indicate that nibong habitat represents the most suitable habitat for the flat-headed cat within the study area, while the buta-buta habitat also provides important complementary habitat under intermediate hydrological conditions. This study provides important baseline ecological information to support future monitoring, habitat management, and conservation planning for the species in tropical regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74248"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13662835/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149191997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Female Wild Turkeys Exhibit Context Dependence in Their Selection of Roads.","authors":"Kyle J Smelter, Erik J Blomberg, Liam A Berigan, Matthew B Gonnerman, Stephanie A Shea, Veronica A Winter, Kelsey Sullivan, Pauline L Kamath, Frances E Buderman","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74468","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74468","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is essential for wildlife managers to understand how animals interact with and respond to the landscape. However, wildlife-habitat relationships are often context-dependent, with habitat selection influenced by abiotic and biotic factors. Recognizing this, we investigated how roads influenced female wild turkey (<i>Meleagris gallopavo silvestris</i>; hereafter female) seasonal habitat selection in Maine, USA, as a function of road type, time-of-day, and land cover type to identify context-dependent responses. Because previous research has demonstrated that wildlife can display variable selection patterns in response to different road types, we assessed differences in selection between primary roads (state roads and highways) and secondary roads (local/township roads). When modeling baseline differences in seasonal habitat selection patterns, we found that females selected areas closer to secondary roads during winter and late spring and selected areas farther from primary roads during long-distance movements in early spring. When modeling differences in selection of roads across time-of-day and season, we found that females selected locations closer to secondary roads during winter and summer mornings, periods typically associated with elevated traffic. When modeling the effect of land cover type on seasonal habitat selection relative to hardwood forest, we found that females selected locations farther from primary and secondary roads in developed landscapes across most seasons. However, relative to hardwood forest, females selected locations closer to primary roads near conifer forest cover during winter. Notably, we observed considerable individual variation in seasonal selection of primary and secondary roads, demonstrating heterogeneity in selection patterns between individuals within the study. Our findings have implications for understanding the temporal risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions and suggest that factors such as season, time-of-day, and the surrounding landscape context of roads influence habitat selection, warranting consideration when evaluating the ecological effects of roads.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74468"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13668704/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inter- and Intraspecific Variation in Web Architecture and Its Significance in Australian Funnel-Web Spiders (Atracidae)","authors":"Noah Brown,&nbsp;Thomas E. White","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74473","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74473","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Web building is a defining trait of spiders, encompassing a remarkable diversity of architectures and functions. However, the order Mygalomorphae remains underrepresented compared to Araneomorphae, with limited research on their structural diversity and function. Mygalomorph designs provide valuable insights into the evolution of web-building and silk use in spiders. In this study, we described and quantified inter- and intraspecific variation in web architecture across three Atracidae species: <i>Hadronyche cerberea</i>, <i>H. versuta</i> and the <i>Atrax robustus</i> complex. Our research represents the first quantitative characterisation of web architecture within Atracidae. Using image-based morphometric analysis, we quantified structural traits that statistically differentiated web designs among species. In addition, we refined previous descriptions of their web structures through detailed qualitative accounts and schematic diagrams to enhance species identification and understanding of web architecture. Collectively, our findings revealed clear qualitative and quantitative differences among species, with several structural traits responsible for these variations. These results provide a foundation for exploring the ecological drivers and functional significance of web diversity in Atracidae, contributing to a broader understanding of mygalomorph evolution and behaviour.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13668323/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149192039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Host and Environment Shape the Giant Clam-Associated Photosymbiont Community.","authors":"John Bennedick Quijano, Kuselah M Tayaban, Jake Ivan P Baquiran, Gabriella Juliane Maala, Jeremiah Noelle C Requilme, Sherry Lyn G Sayco, Roger G Dolorosa, Patrick C Cabaitan, Cecilia Conaco","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74492","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Giant clams are some of the largest bivalve mollusks. They form a vital partnership with Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates that supply most of their energetic requirements. However, the factors that shape giant clam-associated photosymbiont communities remain unknown. Here, we profiled Symbiodiniaceae communities using ITS2 metabarcoding in eight giant clam species (<i>Hippopus hippopus</i>, <i>H. porcellanus</i>, <i>Tridacna crocea</i>, <i>T. derasa</i>, <i>T. gigas</i>, <i>T. maxima</i>, <i>T. noae</i>, and <i>T. squamosa</i>) from 11 sites across the Philippine archipelago. Symbiodiniaceae community structure was shaped by an interplay between giant clam host and environment. Most giant clams were dominated by members of a single symbiont genus, with <i>Cladocopium</i> as the most prevalent, followed by <i>Durusdinium</i> and <i>Symbiodinium</i>. However, giant clam hosts also exhibited flexibility in their symbiotic partners that was evident across sites. Differences in giant clam-associated symbiont communities may contribute to differences in holobiont function and adaptability to variable environments. These findings deepen our understanding of giant clam-Symbiodiniaceae associations, offering a framework for predicting how giant clams may be affected by increasingly stressful reef conditions and, more importantly, informing strategies to improve mariculture and conservation practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74492"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13668435/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149191999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}