Reversed evolution of grazer resistance to cyanobacteria.

Exploring the capability of organisms to cope with human-caused environmental change is crucial for assessing the risk of extinction and biodiversity loss. We study the consequences of changing nutrient pollution for the freshwater keystone grazer, Daphnia, in a large lake with a well-documented history of eutrophication and oligotrophication. Experiments using decades-old genotypes resurrected from the sediment egg bank revealed that nutrient enrichment in the middle of the 20th century, resulting in the proliferation of harmful cyanobacteria, led to the rapid evolution of grazer resistance to cyanobacteria.

Optimized and affordable high-throughput sequencing workflow for preserved and nonpreserved small zooplankton specimens.

Genomic analysis of hundreds of individuals is increasingly becoming standard in evolutionary and ecological research. Individual-based sequencing generates large amounts of valuable data from experimental and field studies, while using preserved samples is an invaluable resource for studying biodiversity in remote areas or across time. Yet, small-bodied individuals or specimens from collections are often of limited use for genomic analyses due to a lack of suitable extraction and library preparation protocols for preserved or small amounts of tissues.