Determinants of genetic variation across eco-evolutionary scales in pinnipeds.

The effective size of a population (N), which determines its level of neutral variability, is a key evolutionary parameter. N can substantially depart from census sizes of present-day breeding populations (N) as a result of past demographic changes, variation in life-history traits and selection at linked sites. Using genome-wide data we estimated the long-term coalescent N for 17 pinniped species represented by 36 population samples (total n = 458 individuals).

Nuclear and mtDNA phylogenetic analyses clarify the evolutionary history of two species of native Hawaiian bats and the taxonomy of Lasiurini (Mammalia: Chiroptera).

Previous studies on genetics of hoary bats produced differing conclusions on the timing of their colonization of the Hawaiian Islands and whether or not North American (Aeorestes cinereus) and Hawaiian (A. semotus) hoary bats are distinct species. One study, using mtDNA COI and nuclear Rag2 and CMA1, concluded that hoary bats colonized the Hawaiian Islands no more than 10,000 years ago based on indications of population expansion at that time using Extended Bayesian Skyline Plots.

Speciation by monobrachial centric fusions: a test of the model using nuclear DNA sequences from the bat genus Rhogeessa.

Members of Rhogeessa are hypothesized to have undergone speciation via chromosomal rearrangements in a model termed speciation by monobrachial centric fusions. Recently, mitochondrial cytochrome-b sequence data tentatively supported this hypothesis but could not explicitly test the model's expectations regarding interbreeding among karyotypic forms. These data showed potential evidence for hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting between the karyotypically distinct R.