BMC ecology and evolution最新文献

{"title":"Genetic mixed diversity landscape in the paternal lineages of 11 populations inhabiting Southwest China according to the analysis of 25 Y-STRs.","authors":"Yunyan Luo, Anmin Chi, Xuehong Guo, Juhui Song, Xiuxiu Zhang, Yangting Dong, Chanjuan Wang, Ting Zhang, Jie Deng, Jinhao Ma, Xueshuang Li, Keren Shan, Zhizhong Guan, Yan He","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02400-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02400-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Y-STR genotyping can be used to predict the genetic mixed landscape of different populations effectively. In this study, 25 Y-STR loci were detected in 745 unrelated healthy males from the Bai, Bouyei, Dong, Gelao, Hui, Maonan, Mulao, Shui, Tujia, Yi and Han groups in Guizhou Province via a Y27Plex fluorescence detection kit. The results revealed that the kit had high gene diversity (GD: 0.0878 ~ 0.9581; HD: 0.9781 ~ 0.9987). The genetic distance ranged from 0.0172-0.3750. On the basis of PCA, phylogenetic tree and structure analysis, the same language groups tended to show closer genetic relationships among the 11 sample populations. According to the genetic relationship analysis of the 11 samples and 22 reference populations, the genetic relationships of Guizhou Han and Guangxi Gin were the closest (0.018), whereas those of the Tujia and She nationalities were the farthest in Guizhou (0.4483). Additionally, Guizhou Tujia, Guizhou Hui, Xinjiang Mongolians, Yunnan Lahu, Kazakh Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were clustered together. This study provides a reference for the genetic structure and genetic differentiation of 11 indigenous populations in Guizhou Province and provides useful paternal information for population genetics, archaeology and historical research.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"61"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12147288/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sexual size and shape dimorphism are consistent with predictions that both natural and sexual selection are driving the evolution of sexual dimorphism in Mormon crickets, Anabrus simplex.","authors":"Kevin A Judge, Stacy R Demma, Laura J Robson, Patrick D Lorch, Christopher J Vinyard, Darryl T Gwynne","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02401-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02401-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Selection can be a powerful force causing morphological adaptation in populations. We tested predictions about the role of both natural and sexual selection in shaping morphology in the Mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex, a species with two population types that differ in their ecological conditions. Solitary populations are characterized by low densities, non-migratory individuals, and typical mating roles (males compete for access to choosy females), whereas gregarious populations are characterized by high densities, migratory behaviour, reversed mating roles, and widespread cannibalism. We collected individuals from both solitary and gregarious populations - characterized by their behaviour and not morphology - and measured several morphological traits. We transformed these traits to shape variables by dividing each measurement by a geometric mean of several metric dimensions representing body size. We tested for population type and sex differences in size and shape variables, and we tested for population type differences in several sex-limited shape variables. We also used discriminant function analysis to test whether a previously enigmatic population, found to be genetically like gregarious populations, but exhibiting many aspects of solitary population behaviour, was morphologically more like solitary or gregarious populations. Our analysis was used to determine the minimum number of measurements needed to assign specimens to the correct population type.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that gregarious populations were larger in body size than solitary populations and that females were larger than males in both population types. This sexual size dimorphism was more pronounced in solitary populations. Solitary and gregarious populations displayed several other shape differences as well as differences in the degree of sexual dimorphism in shape. The enigmatic population was unambiguously classified as morphologically more like gregarious populations, a finding which agrees with previous work showing genetic similarities with gregarious populations. Head width was consistently the best character to distinguish members of both populations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Patterns of sexual size and shape dimorphism are consistent with predictions that both natural and sexual selection are driving the evolution of sexual dimorphism in Mormon crickets. Future work should measure the direction and shape of selection on both males and females in solitary and gregarious populations, focusing particular attention on head shape.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"60"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12147377/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical and chemical characteristics of Aedes larval habitats in Metema District, Northwest, Ethiopia.","authors":"Wondmeneh Jemberie, Sisay Dugassa, Abebe Animut","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02368-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02368-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aedes-transmitted viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika are increasing public health and economic challenge globally. In the absence of treatments and vaccines for arboviral diseases, surveillance and control of Aedes larvae remains a top priority. However, Aedes larvae control strategies relay to a large extent on the knowledge of the distribution and characteristics of their habitats. The study assessed habitats, indices, habitat physico-chemical characteristics and composition of Aedes larvae and pupae in three towns.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Aedes larvae and pupae were collected in Metema-Yohannes, Kokit, and Gendawuha towns of northwestern Ethiopia, from January 2022 to December 2023 following standard procedures. Aedes larvae/pupae were surveyed along natural and artificial habitats in relation to residential houses, physico-chemical characteristics of habitats characterized, reared to adults and later identified to species based on their morphological features. Data were entered and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Aedes larvae and pupae were abundant in Metema-Yohannes, Kokit and Gendawuha towns. Breteau, house, and container indices exceeded the World Health Organization's risk levels for arboviral diseases. Density of Aedes larvae/pupae was positively correlated with habitat water temperature, conductivity, phosphate, ammonia, total hardness and sulphate both in the artificial and natural habitats (P < 0.001). Adult Ae. aegypti were the most abundant (56.77%; 5106/8993) that emerged from larvae/pupae followed by Ae. vittatus (37.25%; 3350/8993), Ae. communis (2.39%; 215/8993), Ae. opok (0.66%; 60) and Ae. albopictus (0.26; 24). The number of Ae. aegypti emerged from algal habitats was greater than the number from the algae free (p < 0.001) and the number from tadpole free habitats was greater than the number from tadpole infested (p < 0.001). Adults of Ae. vittatus followed a similar trend. The mean number of Ae. aegypti emerged from larvae/pupae of habitats closer to human habitations, not exposed to sunlight, free of emergent vegetation and tyre substrates were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than from habitats of corresponding attributes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Artificial water-holding containers maintained higher density of Aedes larvae/pupae than natural water-holding containers in Metema-Yohannes, Kokit and Gendawuha towns. Ae. aegypti, Ae. vittatus, Ae. communis, Ae. albopictus and Ae. opok occurred in the towns. Ae. aegypti and Ae. vittatus larvae/pupae were abundant in discarded tyres, Ae. communis in discarded metal containers, and Ae. albopictus and Ae. opok in tree holes during the wet seasons in Metema Woreda, Northwestern Ethiopia. This study indicates the importance of improving Aedes larvae/pupae surveillance and control measures in Metema Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"59"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139301/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144227966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contrasting effects of agriculture and urbanisation on bird and reptile communities in a Mediterranean delta (Gediz Delta, Türkiye).","authors":"Dilara Arslan, Elie Gaget, Kerim Çiçek, Anthony Olivier, Thomas Galewski, Ömer Döndüren, Anis Guelmami, Lisa Ernoul, Arnaud Béchet","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02390-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02390-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Wetlands have been some of the most destroyed ecosystems over the last century, with important land-use changes resulting from agricultural, industrial, and urban development. Gediz Delta is a large wetland on the Aegean coast of Western Türkiye with natural areas affected by conversion to agriculture and urban developments from the Izmir metropolis. We assessed the effects of landscape type (natural, agricultural, and urban) on the composition of breeding bird (90 species) and reptile (14 species) communities in the Gediz Delta between 2019 and 2021. We used generalized linear models to estimate the effect of landscape types on community indexes and joint species distribution models to assess how species-specific habitat preferences explained their responses to landscape type.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our results show that bird and reptile community compositions were impacted differently depending on landscape type. Landscape type significantly affected bird abundance and Shannon equality indices but had no significant effect on bird and reptile species richness. Natural landscapes accommodated higher bird abundance and lower diversity indexes than the other two landscapes. On the other hand, we found that urban and agricultural landscapes accommodated more generalist species than natural ones. Natural landscapes were preferred by Marine & Coastal and Inland wetland bird specialists and reptiles relying on Mediterranean Habitats. Overall, these results suggest that community composition encountered in different landscape types is explained by species' habitat specializations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We highlight the critical importance of natural landscapes for conserving specialist species within the Delta while showing the potential of agricultural areas for a few freshwater reptile species. These results imply that the Gediz Delta would benefit from biodiversity conservation planning to enhance the protection of natural habitats and mitigate the negative impacts of agricultural and urban development on bird and reptile populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"58"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12131356/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144217816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Eco-morphology of sagittal otoliths in five Macrouridae species from Central Mediterranean Sea.","authors":"Claudio D'Iglio, Sergio Famulari, Dario Di Fresco, Fabiana Rosano, Mariachiara Costanzo, Alex Carnevale, Marco Albano, Nunziacarla Spanò, Serena Savoca, Gioele Capillo","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02395-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02395-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increase in deep-sea exploitation and depletion related to fisheries activities has enhanced the importance of improving the knowledge about deep-sea species. Macrourids are an ecologically essential component of the bathyal community and are among the most abundant species in deep-sea environments worldwide. The present paper aims to investigate the sagittae morphology, morphometry, and shape of five Mediterranean Macrouridae species, investigating their intra and inter-specific variability. Shape and morphometric analyses highlighted the absence of directional bilateral asymmetry, with a morphometry and a mean contour shape changing among the investigated species. Despite this, statistically significant similarities were detected between Coelorinchus caelorhincus and Coryphaenoides guentheri, and between Nezumia aequalis and Nezumia sclerorhynchus. Otherwise, Hymenocephalus italicus showed the most marked differences in sagittae' features compared to the other species. The inter specific variability highlighted by results have confirmed the similarity in sagittae' shape and morphometry among both phylogenetically close species, and among those sharing similar depth distribution and feeding habits. Further analysis of the genetics, growth dynamics, feeding habits and environmental conditions experienced by species are required to confirm the environmental influence on sagittae, also comparing data from different Macrouridae populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"56"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117684/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144175651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differential expression of sex regulatory genes in gonads of Astyanax mexicanus surface fish and cavefish.","authors":"Kaitlyn A Webster, Bethany Ponte, Hans Vasquez-Gross, Juli Petereit, John Hutchinson, Misty R Riddle","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02376-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02376-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Astyanax mexicanus is a single species of fish that consists of river-dwelling (surface) and cave-dwelling morphotypes. Little is known about how sexual determination, differentiation or reproduction have evolved in the surface morphs or cavefish, though divergence in reproductive strategy is expected as the latter have adapted to the novel cave environment. Evolution of the gonad transcriptome may underlie the differences in gamete morphology, fertility, and fecundity previously reported between morphotypes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We compared the ovary and testis transcriptome of surface fish and cavefish at juvenile and adult stages. We found that samples clustered by developmental stage, sex, and morphotype identity. Several key genes that are typically associated with the female gonad in other vertebrates showed a reversal in sexual dimorphism or were not differentially expressed between sexes in A. mexicanus. In contrast, gene expression typically associated with male gonads was largely conserved and consistent with vertebrate testicular expression profiles. Transcriptional and physiological differences between surface fish and cavefish morphotypes were observed in gonads from both sexes. Cavefish ovaries exhibited unique upregulation of neuron development and differentiation genes, and extensive innervation of the ovarian epithelium, while cavefish testes showed increased expression of angiogenesis regulating genes, and greater vasculature density compared to surface fish testes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results reveal significant gene expression differences between A. mexicanus surface fish and cavefish morphotypes that may have functional consequences in gonad morphogenesis and fertility. Our findings provide a foundation for investigating the evolution of sex regulatory pathways and reproductive strategies in animals adapting to new and challenging environments in which nutrient availability, temperature, and mate selection are suboptimal.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"57"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117805/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144175696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new whip scorpion (Arachnida: Thelyphonida) with a phoretic mite (Acariformes: Trochometridiidae) from Mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber.","authors":"Ziying Wu, Jason A Dunlop, Pavel B Klimov, Huijuan Mai, Ancheng Peng, Yu Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02392-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02392-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber is a valuable resource for studying the diversity, evolution, and ecology of microarthropods, including arachnids. Its exceptional preservation offers a unique opportunity to uncover biological associations between organisms with high fidelity. Whip scorpions (Thelyphonida) are rare in the fossil record, with a few known from the Paleozoic era and Cretaceous period. However, the ecological interactions of these fossils with other organisms remain largely unexplored.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Here, we describe a new whip scorpion species, Mesothelyphonus xiaoae sp. nov., from Kachin amber. This species is diagnosed by its relatively small body size, an accessory tooth on the pedipalp coxal apophysis, six teeth on the pedipalpal trochanter, and an unmodified abdominal sternite III. Notably, the fossil includes a heterostigmatic mite (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Heterostigmata: Trochometridiidae) attached to the first leg of the whip scorpion. The mite appears to have selected a densely setose area on a limb primarily used for sensory purposes by the host, which may have made it more difficult to dislodge. This association likely represents an instance of phoresy, where the mite benefits from transportation and protection provided by the whip scorpion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Based on modern knowledge of Trochometridium biology and host associations, we suggest that while the whip scorpion served as an incidental host, the primary host was likely a ground-nesting Apoidea (bees or wasps). This hypothesis implies that Mid-Cretaceous ecosystems included early apoids exhibiting nesting behavior, providing an essential niche for the development of this ancient symbiosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"55"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105294/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144153126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological study on seaweed diversity in Suez, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, Red Sea, Egypt.","authors":"Mahmoud Sami, Fayrouz Ahmed, Tarek A Temraz, Amira A Ali","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02389-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02389-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Seaweed vegetation is widely distributed along the Red Sea coasts. Therefore, the current study presents an ecological study on the spatial and temporal variations of seaweed vegetation at three different sites (Suez, Hurghada and Marsa Alam) along the western coast of the northern Red Sea. The study was conducted through regular seasonal visits over four seasons, starting from winter 2022. Physicochemical parameters were measured, and the coverage of seaweed species was estimated using the quadrat method. Forty-seven species of seaweeds were collected and identified from the studied sites during the study period. Site II (Hurghada) had the highest number of species (n = 37), whereas site I (Suez) had the lowest (n = 11). The findings reveal significant variations in species composition, and coverage, highlighting the influence of environmental factors and seasonal changes on seaweed communities. Site I (Suez) recorded the highest average percentage cover of Chlorophyta (97%), where Phaeophyceae (50%) and Rhodophyta (38%) recorded the maximum at site II and site III (Marsa Alam), respectively. In general, winter and spring recorded the highest number of species (43 and 38, respectively), while autumn recorded the lowest (n = 33). In spring, Chlorophyta recorded the highest coverage (35.7%) mostly represented by Ulva lactuca, Caulerpa racemosa, Dictyosphaeria cavernosa, Valonia aegagropila and Cladophora prolifera, followed by Rhodophyta (34.3%) with a dominance of Actinotrichia fragilis and Jania rubens. Furthermore, regular biodiversity monitoring is necessary to continuously update the species and detect any changes that may occur in the physicochemical and biological parameters of the ecosystem, including the effects of climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"52"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105193/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144153128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal patterns and environmental drivers of the red junglefowl vocalization.","authors":"Peipei Hao, Xiaodong Rao, Wei Liang, Yanyun Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02391-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02391-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The vocalization behaviour of birds is influenced by multiple factors, such as reproductive status, photoperiod and climatic conditions, which drive adjustments in their calls to respond to environmental changes. This study employed passive acoustic monitoring and automated signal recognition technology to analyse the daily and seasonal variations in the vocal rhythms of the red junglefowl Gallus gallus jabouillei over a complete annual cycle, examining the impact of climatic factors on their calling activity. Results revealed significant diurnal and seasonal variations in the vocalization behaviour of red junglefowls. The daily activity patterns showed distinct morning and evening peaks, occurring one hour before sunrise and sunset, respectively. During the breeding season, calling activity progressively increased, reaching its peak during the incubation and brooding periods. The vocal intensity of red junglefowls fluctuated with environmental changes, showing significant associations with daily precipitation and morning temperatures but was unaffected by daily maximum wind speeds. During the full moon, the morning peak was observed to occur earlier than during other lunar phases, whereas the evening peak consistently coincided with sunset. This study further suggested the optimal sampling periods and minimum monitoring durations required to track red junglefowl vocal behaviour, offering guidance for call-based population surveys and passive acoustic monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"54"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105146/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144153129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brain-associated alterations of Hippo pathway transcription in early maturing Atlantic salmon.","authors":"Ehsan Pashay Ahi, Jukka-Pekka Verta, Johanna Kurko, Annukka Ruokolainen, Pooja Singh, Paul Vincent Debes, Jaakko Erkinaro, Craig R Primmer","doi":"10.1186/s12862-025-02398-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12862-025-02398-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pubertal timing is a key life history trait, shaped by ecological pressures to balance reproductive success and survival. Emerging evidence suggests a link between adiposity and early maturation, potentially through hormonal signaling pathways governing puberty timing. The timing of sexual maturation in Atlantic salmon has a strong genetic basis in addition to being linked with environmental shifts and lipid reserves. A gene encoding a co-factor of the Hippo pathway, vgll3, is a major determinant of maturation timing in salmon. The Hippo pathway is known for its evolutionary conserved molecular signal role in both sexual maturation and adipogenesis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, we tested the expression of Hippo pathway genes in the brain of immature and mature male Atlantic salmon carrying either the early or the late maturation genotype of vgll3. We found increased brain expression of a major Hippo pathway kinase (lats1b) in individuals with early maturation genotypes of vgll3 before maturation development of testes was evident. Moreover, we found components and regulating partners of the Hippo pathway showing differential expression in brain of individuals with early and late vgll3 genotypes prior to maturation. This may suggest a role for the Hippo pathway in central nervous system processes that regulate the preparation for maturation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study characterizes transcriptional changes in components of the Hippo pathway in the brain in relation to vgll3-mediated early maturation in Atlantic salmon, highlighting the potential involvement of this pathway in the central regulation of maturation prior to gonadal development.</p>","PeriodicalId":93910,"journal":{"name":"BMC ecology and evolution","volume":"25 1","pages":"53"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144153127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}