Dolphin whistles can be useful tools in identifying units of conservation

Abstract Background Prioritizing groupings of organisms or ‘units’ below the species level is a critical issue for conservation purposes. Several techniques encompassing different time-frames, from genetics to ecological markers, have been considered to evaluate existing biological diversity at a sufficient temporal resolution to define conservation units. Given that acoustic signals are expressions of phenotypic diversity, their analysis may provide crucial information on current differentiation patterns within species. Here, we tested whether differences previously delineated within dolphin species based on i) geographic isolation, ii) genetics regardless isolation, and iii) habitat, regardless isolation and genetics, can be detected through acoustic monitoring. Recordings collected from 104 acoustic encounters of Stenella coeruleoalba, Delphinus delphis and Tursiops truncatus in the Azores, Canary Islands, the Alboran Sea and the Western Mediterranean basin between 1996 and 2012 were analyzed. The acoustic structure of communication signals was evaluated by analyzing parameters of whistles in relation to the known genetic and habitat-driven population structure. Results Recordings from the Atlantic and Mediterranean were accurately assigned to their respective basins of origin through Discriminant Function Analysis, with a minimum 83.8% and a maximum 93.8% classification rate. A parallel pattern between divergence in acoustic features and in the genetic and ecological traits within the basins was highlighted through Random Forest analysis. Although it is not yet possible to establish a causal link between each driver and acoustic differences between basins, we showed that signal variation reflects fine-scale diversity and may be used as a proxy for recognizing discrete units. Conclusion We recommend that acoustic analysis be included in assessments of delphinid population structure, together with genetics and ecological tracer analysis. This cost-efficient non-invasive method can be applied to uncover distinctiveness and local adaptation in other wide-ranging marine species.

Download Full-text

GENOTYPIC DIVERSITY IN 291 MAIZE LINES FROM CIMMYT AND PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION IN SOUTHERN CORDOBA, ARGENTINA

Journal of Basic and Applied Genetics ◽

10.35407/bag.2019.xxx.01.04 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 25-33

Author(s):

E.A. Rossi ◽

M. Ruiz ◽

M. Di Renzo ◽

N.C. Bonamico

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Genotypic Diversity ◽

Inbred Lines ◽

Environmental Adaptation ◽

Procrustes Analysis ◽

Phenotypic Characterization ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Maize Inbred Lines

CIMMYT maize inbred lines (CMLs) are freely distributed to breeding programs around the world. Better information on phenotypic and genotypic diversity may provide guidance to breeders on how to use more efficiently the CMLs in their breeding programs. In this study a group of 291 CIMMYT maize inbred lines, was phenotyped by nine agro-morphological traits in south Córdoba, Argentina and genotyped using 18,082 SNPs. Based on the geographic information and the environmental adaptation, 291 CMLs were classified into eight subgroups. Anthesis-silking interval (IAE) was the trait with higher phenotypic diversity. A 40% of maize inbred lines, with IAE less than five days, show a good adaptation to growing conditions in south Córdoba, Argentina. The low phenotypic variation explained by environmental adaptation subgroups indicates that population structure is only a minor factor contributing to phenotypic diversity in this panel. Principal component analysis (ACP) allowed us to obtain phenotypic and genotypic orderings. Generalized procrustes analysis (APG) indicated a 60% consensus between both data type from the total panel of maize lines. In each environmental adaptation subgroup, the APG consensus was higher. This result, which might indicate linkage disequilibrium between SNPs markers and the genes controlling these agro-morphological traits, is promising and could be used as an initial tool in the identification of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). Information on genetic diversity, population structure and phenotypic diversity in local environments will help maize breeders to better understand how to use the current CIMMYT maize inbred lines group. Key words: broad-sense heritability, multivariate analysis, SNPs, agro-morphological traits.

Download Full-text

Gender Differences in Persistence in Computer-Related Fields

Journal of Educational Computing Research ◽

10.2190/rlnq-ud8h-ubbj-22dp ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 185-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Carolyn M. Jagacinski ◽

William K. Lebold ◽

Gavriel Salvendy

Keyword(s):

Discriminant Function ◽

Computer Technology ◽

Function Analysis ◽

School Science ◽

Important Variable ◽

High School Science ◽

Computer Engineering ◽

Classification Rate ◽

Men And Women ◽

Math Ability

The effectiveness of precollege and college achievement measures in predicting persistence for men and women in computer-related fields was examined. Persistence rates were similar for men and women in computer technology, electrical/computer engineering, and industrial engineering. However, fewer women than men persisted in computer science. Discriminant function analysis was conducted separately for men and women in each field and was equally effective for men and women in correctly classifying persisters and nonper-sisters (64–72%) in each field except computer technology where the classification rate was considerably lower for women (58%). GPA was generally the most important variable followed by a measure of math ability. High school science grades and number of semesters were often selected for the discriminant function for men, but not for women. The potential role of nonachievement factors in persistence such as peer and faculty support and expectancies are also discussed.

Download Full-text

Korean soybean core collection: Genotypic and phenotypic diversity population structure and genome-wide association study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0224074 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. e0224074 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Namhee Jeong ◽

Ki-Seung Kim ◽

Seongmun Jeong ◽

Jae-Yoon Kim ◽

Soo-Kwon Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Association Study ◽

Core Collection ◽

Genome Wide Association Study ◽

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Genome Wide Association ◽

Genome Wide

Download Full-text

Coevolution is linked with phenotypic diversification but not speciation in avian brood parasites

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2015.2056 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 282 (1821) ◽

pp. 20152056 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Iliana Medina ◽

Naomi E. Langmore

Keyword(s):

Egg Size ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Arms Race ◽

Phenotypic Evolution ◽

Brood Parasites ◽

Parasitic Species ◽

Extinction Rates ◽

Rates Of Evolution ◽

Phenotypic Diversification

Coevolution is often invoked as an engine of biological diversity. Avian brood parasites and their hosts provide one of the best-known examples of coevolution. Brood parasites lay their eggs in the nests of other species, selecting for host defences and reciprocal counteradaptations in parasites. In theory, this arms race should promote increased rates of speciation and phenotypic evolution. Here, we use recently developed methods to test whether the three largest avian brood parasitic lineages show changes in rates of phenotypic diversity and speciation relative to non-parasitic lineages. Our results challenge the accepted paradigm, and show that there is little consistent evidence that lineages of brood parasites have higher speciation or extinction rates than non-parasitic species. However, we provide the first evidence that the evolution of brood parasitic behaviour may affect rates of evolution in morphological traits associated with parasitism. Specifically, egg size and the colour and pattern of plumage have evolved up to nine times faster in parasitic than in non-parasitic cuckoos. Moreover, cuckoo clades of parasitic species that are sympatric (and share similar host genera) exhibit higher rates of phenotypic evolution. This supports the idea that competition for hosts may be linked to the high phenotypic diversity found in parasitic cuckoos.

Download Full-text

Response of Orthoptera assemblages to management of montane grasslands in the Western Carpathians

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-011-0115-1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 66 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Vladimíra Fabriciusová ◽

Peter Kaňuch ◽

Anton Krištín

Keyword(s):

Function Analysis ◽

Biosphere Reserve ◽

Grassland Management ◽

Conservation Policy ◽

Western Carpathians ◽

Correct Classification Rate ◽

Classification Rate ◽

High Species Richness ◽

Characteristic Species ◽

The Impact

AbstractMontane grassy habitats in the Western Carpathians are relatively well preserved, maintain high species richness and are often important in accordance to the nature conservation policy in Europe. However, knowledge about the impact of farming on the habitat quality there is rather poor. The influence of various management types (permanent sheep pen, irregular grazing, mowing) on Orthoptera diversity and species determining assemblages of these habitats were analysed on 72 plots in Poľana Mts Biosphere Reserve. Altogether, 36 Orthoptera species (15 Ensifera, 21 Caelifera) were found, whereas the highest number of species was found on plots with irregular grazing (28 species), followed by plots with mown grass (17) and permanent sheep pens (14). All four measures of the assemblages’ diversity confirmed significant differences. Using Discriminant Function Analysis, correct classification rate of Orthoptera assemblages was unambiguous according to the type of management. Each form of the management harboured several characteristic species. Thus implications regarding the biodiversity conservation and grassland management were given.

Download Full-text

The Impact of Herbicide-Resistant Rice Technology on Phenotypic Diversity and Population Structure of United States Weedy Rice

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY ◽

10.1104/pp.114.242719 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 166 (3) ◽

pp. 1208-1220 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

N. R. Burgos ◽

V. Singh ◽

T. M. Tseng ◽

H. Black ◽

N. D. Young ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Population Structure ◽

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Weedy Rice ◽

Herbicide Resistant ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Identification of disease-linked hyperactivating mutations in UBE3A through large-scale functional variant analysis

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-27156-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kellan P. Weston ◽

Xiaoyi Gao ◽

Jinghan Zhao ◽

Kwang-Soo Kim ◽

Susan E. Maloney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Angelman Syndrome ◽

Large Scale ◽

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Genetic Disorders ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

Monogenic Disorders ◽

Functional Variant ◽

Variant Analysis

AbstractThe mechanisms that underlie the extensive phenotypic diversity in genetic disorders are poorly understood. Here, we develop a large-scale assay to characterize the functional valence (gain or loss-of-function) of missense variants identified in UBE3A, the gene whose loss-of-function causes the neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome. We identify numerous gain-of-function variants including a hyperactivating Q588E mutation that strikingly increases UBE3A activity above wild-type UBE3A levels. Mice carrying the Q588E mutation exhibit aberrant early-life motor and communication deficits, and individuals possessing hyperactivating UBE3A variants exhibit affected phenotypes that are distinguishable from Angelman syndrome. Additional structure-function analysis reveals that Q588 forms a regulatory site in UBE3A that is conserved among HECT domain ubiquitin ligases and perturbed in various neurodevelopmental disorders. Together, our study indicates that excessive UBE3A activity increases the risk for neurodevelopmental pathology and suggests that functional variant analysis can help delineate mechanistic subtypes in monogenic disorders.

Download Full-text

Effects of search intent on eye-movement patterns in a change detection task

Journal of Eye Movement Research ◽

10.16910/jemr.8.2.5 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Sangil Lee ◽

Minho Lee ◽

Hyeonggyu Park ◽

Mun-Seon Chang ◽

Ho-Wan Kwak

Keyword(s):

Eye Movements ◽

Change Detection ◽

Eye Movement ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Movement Patterns ◽

Detection Task ◽

Primary Task ◽

Change Detection Task ◽

Classification Rate ◽

Movement Index

The goal of the present study was to examine whether intention type affects eye movement patterns in a change detection task In addition, we assessed whether the eye movement index could be used to identify human implicit intent. We attempted to generate three types of intent amongst the study participants, dividing them into one of three conditions; each condition received different information regarding an impending change to the visual stimuli. In the “navigational intent” condition, participants were asked to look for any interesting objects, and were not given any more information about the impending change. In the “low-specific intent” condition, participants were informed that a change would occur. In the “high-specific intent” condition, participants were told that a change would occur, and that an object would disappear. In addition to this main change detection task, participants also had to perform a primary task, in which they were required to name aloud the colors of objects in the pre-change scene. This allowed us to control for the visual searching process during the pre-change scene. The main results were as follows: firstly, the primary task successfully controlled for the visual search process during the pre-change scene, establishing that there were no differences in the patterns of eye movements across all three conditions despite differing intents. Secondly, we observed significantly different patterns of eye movement between the conditions in the post-change scene, suggesting that generating a specific intent for change detection yields a distinctive pattern of eye-movements. Finally, discriminant function analysis showed a reasonable classification rate for identifying a specific intent. Taken together, it was found that both participant intent and the specificity of information provided to the participants affect eye movements in a change detection task.

Download Full-text

Phenotypic diversity created by a transposable element increases productivity and resistance to competitors in plant populations

10.1101/2021.10.04.462998 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vít Latzel ◽

Javier Puy ◽

Michael Thieme ◽

Etienne Bucher ◽

Lars Götzenberger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽

Ecosystem Functioning ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Epigenetic Variation ◽

Plant Populations ◽

Natural Plant ◽

Copy Numbers ◽

Diversity Effects

AbstractAn accumulating body of evidence indicates that natural plant populations harbour a large diversity of transposable elements (TEs). TEs provide genetic and epigenetic variation that can substantially translate into changes in plant phenotypes. Despite the wealth of data on the ecological and evolutionary effects of TEs on plant individuals, we have virtually no information on the role of TEs on populations and ecosystem functioning. On the example of Arabidopsis thaliana, we demonstrate that TE-generated variation creates differentiation in ecologically important functional traits. In particular, we show that Arabidopsis populations with increasing diversity of individuals differing in copy numbers of the ONSEN retrotransposon had higher phenotypic and functional diversity. Moreover, increased diversity enhanced population productivity and reduced performance of interspecific competitors. We conclude that TE-generated diversity can have similar effects on ecosystem as usually documented for other biological diversity effects.

Download Full-text