Publications by authors named "Serena Hackerott"

The plastic ability for a range of phenotypes to be exhibited by the same genotype allows organisms to respond to environmental variation and may modulate fitness in novel environments. Differing capacities for phenotypic plasticity within a population, apparent as genotype by environment interactions (GxE), can therefore have both ecological and evolutionary implications. Epigenetic gene regulation alters gene function in response to environmental cues without changes to the underlying genetic sequence and likely mediates phenotypic variation.

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Age information is often non-existent for most shark populations due to a lack of measurable physiological and morphological traits that can be used to estimate age. Recently, epigenetic clocks have been found to accurately estimate age for mammals, birds, and fish. However, since these clocks rely, among other things, on the availability of reference genomes, their application is hampered in non-traditional model organisms lacking such molecular resources.

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Article Synopsis
  • Corals can develop a long-lasting environmental memory that helps them cope with stress, which has significant consequences for conservation strategies.
  • The ability to handle repeated stress varies among coral species and types of environmental stress, with some corals showing improved responses after previous stress exposure.
  • Advances in molecular technology enable researchers to explore the mechanisms behind this memory in corals, possibly involving changes at the genetic level, and future studies should focus on how this memory can be harnessed to improve coral resilience amid climate change.
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Invasive lionfish are assumed to significantly affect Caribbean reef fish communities. However, evidence of lionfish effects on native reef fishes is based on uncontrolled observational studies or small-scale, unrepresentative experiments, with findings ranging from no effect to large effects on prey density and richness. Moreover, whether lionfish affect populations and communities of native reef fishes at larger, management-relevant scales is unknown.

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Biotic resistance is the idea that native species negatively affect the invasion success of introduced species, but whether this can occur at large spatial scales is poorly understood. Here we re-evaluated the hypothesis that native large-bodied grouper and other predators are controlling the abundance of exotic lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) on Caribbean coral reefs. We assessed the relationship between the biomass of lionfish and native predators at 71 reefs in three biogeographic regions while taking into consideration several cofactors that may affect fish abundance, including among others, proxies for fishing pressure and habitat structural complexity.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated biotic resistance, which refers to how native species might help control the invasion of new species like the red lionfish in Caribbean coral reefs through predation or competition.
  • - Researchers surveyed 71 reefs to assess lionfish abundance and the presence of native predators, while also considering various environmental factors such as reef protection status and habitat type.
  • - The findings indicated no significant impact of native predators on lionfish populations; however, lionfish were found to be less abundant in certain areas, like windward sites and marine protected areas, likely due to habitat preferences and management efforts.
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