Caio A. Brunharo, Aidan W. Short, Lucas K. Bobadilla, Matthew A. Streisfeld
{"title":"The Genome of Lolium multiflorum Reveals the Genetic Architecture of Paraquat Resistance","authors":"Caio A. Brunharo, Aidan W. Short, Lucas K. Bobadilla, Matthew A. Streisfeld","doi":"10.1111/mec.17775","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17775","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Herbicide resistance in agricultural weeds has become one of the greatest challenges for sustainable crop production. The repeated evolution of herbicide resistance provides an excellent opportunity to study the genetic and physiological basis of the resistance phenotype and the evolutionary responses to human-mediated selection pressures. <i>Lolium multiflorum</i> is a ubiquitous weed that has evolved herbicide resistance repeatedly around the world in various cropping systems. We assembled and annotated a chromosome-scale genome for <i>L. multiflorum</i> and elucidated the genetic architecture of paraquat resistance by performing quantitative trait locus analysis, genome-wide association studies, genetic divergence analysis and transcriptome analyses from paraquat-resistant and -susceptible <i>L. multiflorum</i> plants. We identified two regions on chromosome 5 that were associated with paraquat resistance. These regions both showed evidence for positive selection among the resistant populations we sampled, but the effects of this selection on the genome differed, implying a complex evolutionary history. In addition, these regions contained candidate genes that encoded cellular transport functions, including a novel multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) protein and a cation transporter previously shown to interact with polyamines. Given that <i>L. multiflorum</i> is a weed and a cultivated crop species, the genomic resources generated will prove valuable to a wide spectrum of the plant science community. Our work contributes to a growing body of knowledge on the underlying evolutionary and ecological dynamics of rapid adaptation to strong anthropogenic selection pressure that could help initiate efforts to improve weed management practices in the long term for a more sustainable agriculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mec.17775","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143909573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrative Taxonomy for Species Delimitation: A Case Study in Two Widely Accepted Yet Morphologically Confounding Rosa Species Within Sect. Pimpinellifoliae (Rosaceae).","authors":"Yumei Yuan, Yu Feng, Jingbo Wang, Fazal Ulah, Meng Yuan, Yundong Gao","doi":"10.1111/mec.17779","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17779","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of morphological traits as a practical approach for delimiting taxa at various ranks has long been regarded as a reliable basis for taxonomy. However, its efficacy has been increasingly called into question in many taxonomic groups due to its inherent limitations, such as failing to account for phenotypic plasticity, ecologically driven variation (e.g., ecotypes), and parallel evolution. These factors often introduce ambiguity or misleading similarities, thereby obscuring the true evolutionary relationships among taxa, particularly in the context of species delimitation. In the present study, we employ an integrated methodology that combines quantitative morphological analyses, whole-genome data, and ecological measurements to resolve the species boundaries of two morphologically similar roses, Rosa sericea and Rosa hugonis, which have long been considered as two distinct species but lack clear morphological boundaries. Our findings reveal that the unbiased analysis of morphological data based on a large and representative sample size was insufficient to identify effective diagnostic traits. However, when complemented with genome-wide population-level sequencing data or integrated with geographic and ecological niche assessments, the delineation of species boundaries was significantly improved. Furthermore, ecological data provide additional insight into the abiotic factors driving interspecific and intraspecific divergence. By integrating multiple lines of evidence-spanning genomic (intrinsic) and phenotypic (extrinsic) traits-and incorporating the interaction between species and their environments, species boundaries can be delineated with greater confidence. A well-defined species can thus be established through the mutual corroboration of diverse datasets, thereby ensuring a more rigorous and comprehensive taxonomic framework.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":" ","pages":"e17779"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143961815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Janay A. Fox, Simon M. Reader, Rowan D. H. Barrett
{"title":"Rapid Neural DNA Methylation Responses to Predation Stress in Trinidadian Guppies","authors":"Janay A. Fox, Simon M. Reader, Rowan D. H. Barrett","doi":"10.1111/mec.17774","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17774","url":null,"abstract":"<p>DNA methylation (DNAm) is a well-studied epigenetic mechanism implicated in environmentally induced phenotypes and phenotypic plasticity. However, few studies investigate the timescale of DNAm shifts. Thus, it is uncertain whether DNAm can change on timescales relevant for rapid phenotypic shifts, such as during the expression of short-term behavioural plasticity. DNAm could be especially reactive in the brain, potentially increasing its relevance for behavioural plasticity. Most research investigating neural changes in methylation has been conducted in mammalian systems, on isolated individuals, and using stressors that are less ecologically relevant, reducing their generalisability to other natural systems. We exposed pairs of male and female Trinidadian guppies (<i>Poecilia reticulata</i>) to alarm cue, conspecific skin extract that reliably induces anti-predator behaviour, or a control cue. Whole-genome bisulphite sequencing on whole brains at various time points following cue exposure (0.5, 1, 4, 24, and 72 h) allowed us to uncover the timescale of neural DNAm responses. Males and females both showed rapid shifts in DNAm in as little as 0.5 h. However, males and females differed in the time course of their responses: both sexes showed a peak in the number of loci showing significant responses at 4 h, but males showed an additional peak at 72 h. We suggest that this finding could be due to the differing longer-term plastic responses between the sexes. This study shows that DNAm can be rapidly induced by an ecologically relevant stressor in fish and suggests that DNAm could be involved in short-term behavioural plasticity.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mec.17774","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143909472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dajana Radujković, Erik Verbruggen, Jan Clavel, Aníbal Pauchard, Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo, Agustina Barros, Valeria Aschero, Sylvia Haider, Amanda Ratier Backes, Jan Pergl, Michaela Vítková, Anna Lučanová, Martin A Nuñez, Jonathan Lenoir, Ivan Nijs, Jonas J Lembrechts
{"title":"Road Disturbance Shifts Root Fungal Symbiont Types and Reduces the Connectivity of Plant-Fungal Co-Occurrence Networks in Mountains.","authors":"Dajana Radujković, Erik Verbruggen, Jan Clavel, Aníbal Pauchard, Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo, Agustina Barros, Valeria Aschero, Sylvia Haider, Amanda Ratier Backes, Jan Pergl, Michaela Vítková, Anna Lučanová, Martin A Nuñez, Jonathan Lenoir, Ivan Nijs, Jonas J Lembrechts","doi":"10.1111/mec.17771","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17771","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Roads are currently one of the most disruptive anthropogenic disturbances to mountain ecosystems worldwide. These disturbances can have a profound effect on roadside soil properties and vegetation, typically favouring fast-growing and ruderal species. However, their effect on plant-associated fungal communities and plant-fungal interactions remains largely unknown. In this study, we examined the changes in root-associated fungal communities as well as plant-fungal and fungal-fungal co-occurrence networks along mountain roads from four biogeographical regions. We found that roadsides consistently altered plant and fungal community composition, generally favouring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and putative plant pathogens at the expense of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Moreover, roadsides consistently reduced the complexity of plant-fungal and fungal-fungal co-occurrence networks (with 66%-95% and 40%-94% reduction in total edge density, respectively), even though the richness of fungal communities was not reduced and many of the naturally occurring highly connected taxa were still present. Our findings suggest that altered and transient conditions in the roadsides may favour more generalist symbionts like AMF and pathogens with low fidelity for particular hosts as opposed to surrounding natural vegetation which is dominated by symbionts with higher specificity for the host (like ectomycorrhizal fungi). We conclude that road disturbance may have a consistent negative imprint on connectivity between plants and fungi; a consequence that deserves attention as it could render mountain roadside systems unstable and vulnerable to further pressures such as climate change and invasive species.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":" ","pages":"e17771"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143960414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexandra McElwee-Adame, Raya Esplin-Stout, Trevor Mugoya, George Vourlitis, Nautica Welch, John Henning, Kayser Afram, Maryam Ahmadi Jeshvaghane, Nathan Bingham, Alexis Dockter, Jacob Eslava, Giovanni Gil, Joshua Mergens, Amran Mohamed, Tram Nguyen, Fatum Noor, Nathan Salcedo, Arun Sethuraman
{"title":"Evolutionary History and Rhizosphere Microbial Community Composition in Domesticated Hops (Humulus lupulus L.).","authors":"Alexandra McElwee-Adame, Raya Esplin-Stout, Trevor Mugoya, George Vourlitis, Nautica Welch, John Henning, Kayser Afram, Maryam Ahmadi Jeshvaghane, Nathan Bingham, Alexis Dockter, Jacob Eslava, Giovanni Gil, Joshua Mergens, Amran Mohamed, Tram Nguyen, Fatum Noor, Nathan Salcedo, Arun Sethuraman","doi":"10.1111/mec.17769","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17769","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Humulus lupulus L., commonly known as hop, is a perennial crop grown worldwide and is well known for its pharmacological, commercial, and most importantly brewing applications. For hundreds of years, hop has undergone intense artificial selection, with over 250 cultivated varieties being developed worldwide, all displaying differences in key characteristics such as bitter acid concentrations, flavour and aroma profiles, changes in photoperiod, growth, and pathogen/pest resistances. Previous studies have individually explored differences between cultivars, aiming to identify markers that can quickly and cost-effectively differentiate between cultivars. However, little is known about their evolutionary history and the variability in their associated rhizospheric microbial communities. Coupling phenotypic, genomic, and soil metagenomic data, our study explores the global population structure and domestication history of 98 hop cultivars. We assessed differences in growth rates, rates of viral infection, usage of dissolvable nitrogen, and soil microbial community compositions between US and non-US based cultivars. Our study revealed that worldwide hop cultivars cluster into four subpopulations: Central European, English, and American ancestry as previously reported, and one new group, the Nobles, revealing further substructure amongst Central European cultivars. Modelling the evolutionary history of domesticated hop reveals divergence of the common ancestors of modern US cultivars around 2800 years before present (ybp), and more recent divergences with gene flow across English, Central European, and Noble cultivars, reconciled with key events in human history and migrations. Furthermore, cultivars of US origin were shown to overall outperform non-US cultivars in both growth rates and usage of dissolvable nitrogen and display novel microbial composition under common-garden settings in the United States.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":" ","pages":"e17769"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143952990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Madeline Bursell, Manav Rohilla, Lucia Ramirez, Yuhuan Cheng, Enrique J Schwarzkopf, Rafael F Guerrero, Caiti Smukowski Heil
{"title":"Mixed Outcomes in Recombination Rates After Domestication: Revisiting Theory and Data.","authors":"Madeline Bursell, Manav Rohilla, Lucia Ramirez, Yuhuan Cheng, Enrique J Schwarzkopf, Rafael F Guerrero, Caiti Smukowski Heil","doi":"10.1111/mec.17773","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17773","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The process of domestication has altered many phenotypes. Selection on these phenotypes has long been hypothesised to indirectly select for increases in the genome-wide recombination rate. This hypothesis is potentially consistent with theory on the evolution of the recombination rate, but empirical support has been unclear. We review relevant theory, lab-based experiments, and data comparing recombination rates in wild progenitors and their domesticated counterparts. We utilise population sequencing data and a deep learning method to infer genome-wide recombination rates for new comparisons of chicken/red junglefowl, sheep/mouflon, and goat/bezoar. We find evidence of increased recombination in domesticated goats compared to bezoars but more mixed results in chicken and generally decreased recombination in domesticated sheep compared to mouflon. Our results add to a growing body of literature in plants and animals that finds no consistent evidence of an increase in genome-wide recombination with domestication.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":" ","pages":"e17773"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143959299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bridget O. Ogolowa, Alan Brelsford, Jon Fjeldså, Andrea Fulgione, Louis Hadjioannou, Elisa C. Henderson, Robert G. Moyle, Michaella Moysi, Emmanuel C. Nwankwo, Loïs Rancilhac, Thomas B. Smith, Bridgett M. von Holdt, Alexander N. G. Kirschel
{"title":"Plio-Pleistocene Climatic Fluctuations and Divergence With Gene Flow Drive Continent-Wide Diversification in an African Bird","authors":"Bridget O. Ogolowa, Alan Brelsford, Jon Fjeldså, Andrea Fulgione, Louis Hadjioannou, Elisa C. Henderson, Robert G. Moyle, Michaella Moysi, Emmanuel C. Nwankwo, Loïs Rancilhac, Thomas B. Smith, Bridgett M. von Holdt, Alexander N. G. Kirschel","doi":"10.1111/mec.17770","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17770","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Diversification mechanisms in Sub-Saharan Africa have long attracted research interest, with varying support for either allopatric or parapatric models of speciation. However, studies have seldom been performed across the entire continent, a scale which could elucidate the relative importance of allopatric and parapatric models of divergence. To shed light on continental-scale patterns of African biogeography and diversification, we investigated the historical demography of a bird with a continent-wide distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird, <i>Pogoniulus bilineatus</i>. We sampled populations from across the continent and, using genomic data, assessed genetic diversity, structure, and differentiation, reconstructed the phylogeny, and performed alternative demographic model selection between neighbouring clade pairs. We uncovered substantial genetic structure and differentiation patterns which corroborated the phylogenetic topology. Structure was chiefly influenced by the arid corridor, a postulated biogeographical barrier in Sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, peak genetic diversities coincided with postulated refugial areas while demographic reconstructions between genetic lineages supported allopatric models consistent with the Pleistocene Forest Refuge hypothesis. However, within lineages, divergence with gene flow was supported. Continent-wide patterns of diversification involve an integration of both allopatric and parapatric mechanisms, with a role for both periods of divergence in isolation and across ecological gradients. Furthermore, our study emphasises the importance of the arid corridor as a primary biogeographical feature across which diversification occurs, yet one that has hitherto received scant attention regarding its importance in avian diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mec.17770","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143909466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rebecca K French, Stephanie J Waller, Janelle R Wierenga, Rebecca M Grimwood, James Hodgkinson-Bean, Andrew Digby, Lydia Uddstrom, Daryl Eason, Lisa S Argilla, Patrick J Biggs, Adrian Cookson, Nigel P French, Jemma L Geoghegan
{"title":"Evidence for a Role of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus gallolyticus in the Aetiology of Exudative Cloacitis in the Critically Endangered Kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus).","authors":"Rebecca K French, Stephanie J Waller, Janelle R Wierenga, Rebecca M Grimwood, James Hodgkinson-Bean, Andrew Digby, Lydia Uddstrom, Daryl Eason, Lisa S Argilla, Patrick J Biggs, Adrian Cookson, Nigel P French, Jemma L Geoghegan","doi":"10.1111/mec.17761","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17761","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The kākāpō is a critically endangered flightless parrot which suffers from exudative cloacitis, a debilitating disease resulting in inflammation of the vent margin or cloaca. Despite this disease emerging over 20 years ago, the cause of exudative cloacitis remains elusive. We used total RNA sequencing and metatranscriptomic analysis to characterise the infectome of lesions and cloacal swabs from nine kākāpō affected with exudative cloacitis, and compared this to cloacal swabs from 45 non-diseased kākāpō. We identified three bacterial species-Streptococcus gallolyticus, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli-as significantly more abundant in diseased kākāpō compared to healthy individuals. The genetic diversity observed in both S. gallolyticus and E. faecalis among diseased kākāpō suggests that these bacteria originate from exogenous sources rather than from kākāpō-to-kākāpō transmission. The presence of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC)-associated virulence factors in the diseased kākāpō population suggests that E. coli may play a critical role in disease progression by facilitating iron acquisition and causing DNA damage in host cells, possibly in association with E. faecalis. No avian viral, fungal nor other parasitic species were identified. These results, combined with the consistent presence of one E. coli gnd sequence type across multiple diseased birds, suggest that this species may be the primary cause of exudative cloacitis. These findings shed light on possible causative agents of exudative cloacitis, and offer insights into the interplay of microbial factors influencing the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":" ","pages":"e17761"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143954380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samuel A May, Samuel W Rosenbaum, Devon E Pearse, Marty Kardos, Craig R Primmer, Diana S Baetscher, Robin S Waples
{"title":"The Genomics Revolution in Nonmodel Species: Predictions vs. Reality for Salmonids.","authors":"Samuel A May, Samuel W Rosenbaum, Devon E Pearse, Marty Kardos, Craig R Primmer, Diana S Baetscher, Robin S Waples","doi":"10.1111/mec.17758","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17758","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing feasibility of whole-genome sequencing has been highly anticipated, promising to transform our understanding of the biology of nonmodel species. Notably, dramatic cost reductions beginning around 2007 with the advent of high-throughput sequencing inspired publications heralding the 'genomics revolution', with predictions about its future impacts. Although such predictions served as useful guideposts, value is added when statements are evaluated with the benefit of hindsight. Here, we review 10 key predictions made early in the genomics revolution, highlighting those realised while identifying challenges limiting others. We focus on predictions concerning applied aspects of genomics and examples involving salmonid species which, due to their socioeconomic and ecological significance, have been frontrunners in applications of genomics in nonmodel species. Predicted outcomes included enhanced analytical power, deeper insights into the genetic basis of phenotype and fitness variation, disease management and breeding program advancements. Although many predictions have materialised, several expectations remain unmet due to technological, analytical and knowledge barriers. Additionally, largely unforeseen advancements, including the identification and management applicability of large-effect loci, close-kin mark-recapture, environmental DNA and gene editing have added under-anticipated value. Finally, emerging innovations in artificial intelligence and bioinformatics offer promising new directions. This retrospective evaluation of the impacts of the genomic revolution offers insights into the future of genomics for nonmodel species.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":" ","pages":"e17758"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143956884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wesley J. Read, Rebecca J. Laver, Ching Ching Lau, Craig Moritz, Stephen M. Zozaya
{"title":"Repeated Mitochondrial Capture With Limited Genomic Introgression in a Lizard Group","authors":"Wesley J. Read, Rebecca J. Laver, Ching Ching Lau, Craig Moritz, Stephen M. Zozaya","doi":"10.1111/mec.17766","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17766","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mitochondrial introgression is common among animals and is often first identified through mitonuclear discordance—discrepancies between evolutionary relationships inferred from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nuDNA). Over recent decades, genomic data have also revealed extensive nuclear introgression in many animal groups, with implications for genetic and phenotypic diversity. However, the extent to which mtDNA introgression corresponds to nuDNA introgression varies. Here, we investigated historical and recent introgression in the <i>Gehyra nana-occidentalis</i> clade, a complex group of Australian geckos with documented cases of mitonuclear discordance suggestive of repeated mtDNA introgression. We hypothesised that mitonuclear discordance in this clade reflects mtDNA introgression with substantial nuclear introgression. Despite evidence of repeated mtDNA introgression, however, we found little to no evidence of historical nuDNA introgression using exon capture and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. We also found no evidence of gene flow at modern contact zones and detected only a single early generation hybrid. Unsurprisingly, given these results, we found no evidence of transgressive, intermediate, or more variable morphological phenotypes in taxa with introgressed mtDNA. These findings suggest that hybridisation in this system has, at least in some cases, resulted in repeated mitochondrial introgression with little or no nuclear introgression. This pattern aligns with other studies showing limited nuDNA introgression in taxa with mitonuclear discordance, highlighting a potentially broader trend in animal radiations.</p>","PeriodicalId":210,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Ecology","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mec.17766","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143909285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}