Analysis of the effect of permeant solutes on the hydraulic resistance of the plasma membrane in cells of Chara corallina.

In the cells of Chara corallina, permeant monohydric alcohols including methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol increased the hydraulic resistance of the membrane (Lp). We found that the relative value of the hydraulic resistance (Lp) was linearly dependent on the concentration (C) of the alcohol. The relationship is expressed in the equation: Lp = ρC + 1, where ρ is the hydraulic resistance modifier coefficient of the membrane.

The influence of gene flow on population viability in an isolated urban caracal population.

Wildlife populations are becoming increasingly fragmented by anthropogenic development. Small and isolated populations often face an elevated risk of extinction, in part due to inbreeding depression. Here, we examine the genomic consequences of urbanization in a caracal (Caracal caracal) population that has become isolated in the Cape Peninsula region of the City of Cape Town, South Africa, and is thought to number ~50 individuals.

Reference genome of Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii.

Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii, is a cave- and mine-roosting species found largely in western North America. Considered a species of conservation concern throughout much of its range, protection efforts would greatly benefit from understanding patterns of population structure, genetic diversity, and local adaptation. To facilitate such research, we present the first de novo genome assembly of C.

Demographic history shapes North American gray wolf genomic diversity and informs species' conservation.

Effective population size estimates are critical information needed for evolutionary predictions and conservation decisions. This is particularly true for species with social factors that restrict access to breeding or experience repeated fluctuations in population size across generations. We investigated the genomic estimates of effective population size along with diversity, subdivision, and inbreeding from 162,109 minimally filtered and 81,595 statistically neutral and unlinked SNPs genotyped in 437 grey wolf samples from North America collected between 1986 and 2021.

A genome assembly of the Yuma myotis bat, Myotis yumanensis.

The Yuma myotis bat (Myotis yumanensis) is a small vespertilionid bat and one of 52 species of new world Myotis bats in the subgenus Pizonyx. While M. yumanensis populations currently appear relatively stable, it is one of 12 bat species known or suspected to be susceptible to white-nose syndrome, the fungal disease causing declines in bat populations across North America.

The genomic footprint of whaling and isolation in fin whale populations.

Twentieth century industrial whaling pushed several species to the brink of extinction, with fin whales being the most impacted. However, a small, resident population in the Gulf of California was not targeted by whaling. Here, we analyzed 50 whole-genomes from the Eastern North Pacific (ENP) and Gulf of California (GOC) fin whale populations to investigate their demographic history and the genomic effects of natural and human-induced bottlenecks.

De novo assembly of a chromosome-level reference genome for the California Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma californica.

We announce the assembly of the first de novo reference genome for the California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica). The genus Aphelocoma comprises four currently recognized species including many locally adapted populations across Mesoamerica and North America. Intensive study of Aphelocoma has revealed novel insights into the evolutionary mechanisms driving diversification in natural systems.

Universal DNA methylation age across mammalian tissues.

Aging, often considered a result of random cellular damage, can be accurately estimated using DNA methylation profiles, the foundation of pan-tissue epigenetic clocks. Here, we demonstrate the development of universal pan-mammalian clocks, using 11,754 methylation arrays from our Mammalian Methylation Consortium, which encompass 59 tissue types across 185 mammalian species. These predictive models estimate mammalian tissue age with high accuracy (r > 0.

A highly contiguous reference genome for the Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri).

The Steller's jay is a familiar bird of western forests from Alaska south to Nicaragua. Here, we report a draft reference assembly for the species generated from PacBio HiFi long-read and Omni-C chromatin-proximity sequencing data as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). Sequenced reads were assembled into 352 scaffolds totaling 1.

Genomic Underpinnings of Population Persistence in Isle Royale Moose.

Island ecosystems provide natural laboratories to assess the impacts of isolation on population persistence. However, most studies of persistence have focused on a single species, without comparisons to other organisms they interact with in the ecosystem. The case study of moose and gray wolves on Isle Royale allows for a direct contrast of genetic variation in isolated populations that have experienced dramatically differing population trajectories over the past decade.

Long-term Small Population Size, Deleterious Variation, and Altitude Adaptation in the Ethiopian Wolf, a Severely Endangered Canid.

Ethiopian wolves, a canid species endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands, have been steadily declining in numbers for decades. Currently, out of 35 extant species, it is now one of the world's most endangered canids. Most conservation efforts have focused on preventing disease, monitoring movements and behavior, and assessing the geographic ranges of sub-populations.

A manager's guide to using eDNA metabarcoding in marine ecosystems.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a powerful tool that can enhance marine ecosystem/biodiversity monitoring programs. Here we outline five important steps managers and researchers should consider when developing eDNA monitoring program: (1) select genes and primers to target taxa; (2) assemble or develop comprehensive barcode reference databases; (3) apply rigorous site occupancy based decontamination pipelines; (4) conduct pilot studies to define spatial and temporal variance of eDNA; and (5) archive samples, extracts, and raw sequence data. We demonstrate the importance of each of these considerations using a case study of eDNA metabarcoding in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Disease outbreaks select for mate choice and coat color in wolves.

We know much about pathogen evolution and the emergence of new disease strains, but less about host resistance and how it is signaled to other individuals and subsequently maintained. The cline in frequency of black-coated wolves () across North America is hypothesized to result from a relationship with canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreaks. We tested this hypothesis using cross-sectional data from wolf populations across North America that vary in the prevalence of CDV and the allele that makes coats black, longitudinal data from Yellowstone National Park, and modeling.

Comparative genomics uncovers the evolutionary history, demography, and molecular adaptations of South American canids.

The remarkable radiation of South American (SA) canids produced 10 extant species distributed across diverse habitats, including disparate forms such as the short-legged, hypercarnivorous bush dog and the long-legged, largely frugivorous maned wolf. Despite considerable research spanning nearly two centuries, many aspects of their evolutionary history remain unknown. Here, we analyzed 31 whole genomes encompassing all extant SA canid species to assess phylogenetic relationships, interspecific hybridization, historical demography, current genetic diversity, and the molecular bases of adaptations in the bush dog and maned wolf.

Soil Microbial Community Composition and Tolerance to Contaminants in an Urban Brownfield Site.

Brownfields are unused sites that contain hazardous substances due to previous commercial or industrial use. The sites are inhospitable for many organisms, but some fungi and microbes can tolerate and thrive in the nutrient-depleted and contaminated soils. However, few studies have characterized the impacts of long-term contamination on soil microbiome composition and diversity at brownfields.

A Reference Genome Assembly of the Bobcat, Lynx rufus.

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a medium-sized carnivore well adapted to various environments and an indicator species for landscape connectivity. It is one of the 4 species within the extant Lynx genus in the family Felidae. Because of its broad geographic distribution and central role in food webs, the bobcat is important for conservation.

Calcium control of the hydraulic resistance in cells of Chara corallina.

The hydraulic resistance (the reciprocal of the hydraulic conductivity Lp) Lp was measured in cells of Chara corallina by the method of transcellular osmosis. Treatment of cells with 100 mM KCl decreased Lp significantly. Subsequent treatment of the cells with 70 mM CaCl recovered the decreased Lp to the original value.

The critically endangered vaquita is not doomed to extinction by inbreeding depression.

In cases of severe wildlife population decline, a key question is whether recovery efforts will be impeded by genetic factors, such as inbreeding depression. Decades of excess mortality from gillnet fishing have driven Mexico's vaquita porpoise () to ~10 remaining individuals. We analyzed whole-genome sequences from 20 vaquitas and integrated genomic and demographic information into stochastic, individual-based simulations to quantify the species' recovery potential.

Hibernation slows epigenetic ageing in yellow-bellied marmots.

Species that hibernate generally live longer than would be expected based solely on their body size. Hibernation is characterized by long periods of metabolic suppression (torpor) interspersed by short periods of increased metabolism (arousal). The torpor-arousal cycles occur multiple times during hibernation, and it has been suggested that processes controlling the transition between torpor and arousal states cause ageing suppression.

Endocrine and neuroendocrine regulation of social status in cichlid fishes.

Position in a dominance hierarchy profoundly impacts group members' survival, health, and reproductive success. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that regulate or are associated with an individuals' social position is important. Across taxa, various endocrine and neuroendocrine signaling systems are implicated in the control of social rank.