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Baltensperger AP, Lanier HC, Olson LE. Extralimital terrestrials: A reassessment of range limits in Alaska's land mammals. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0294376. [PMID: 38739612 PMCID: PMC11090306 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic climate change on species distributions requires the ability to track range shifts over time. This is particularly true for species occupying high-latitude regions, which are experiencing more extreme climate change than the rest of the world. In North America, the geographic ranges of many mammals reach their northernmost extent in Alaska, positioning this region at the leading edge of climate-induced distribution change. Over a decade has elapsed since the publication of the last spatial assessments of terrestrial mammals in the state. We compared public occurrence records against commonly referenced range maps to evaluate potential extralimital records and develop repeatable baseline range maps. We compared occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility for 61 terrestrial mammal species native to mainland Alaska against a variety of range estimates (International Union for Conservation of Nature, Alaska Gap Analysis Project, and the published literature). We mapped extralimital records and calculated proportions of occurrences encompassed by range extents, measured mean direction and distance to prior range margins, evaluated predictive accuracy of published species models, and highlighted observations on federal lands in Alaska. Range comparisons identified 6,848 extralimital records for 39 of 61 (63.9%) terrestrial mainland Alaskan species. On average, 95.5% of Alaska Gap Analysis Project occurrence records and ranges were deemed accurate (i.e., > 90.0% correct) for 31 of 37 species, but overestimated extents for 13 species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature range maps encompassed 68.1% of occurrence records and were > 90% accurate for 17 of 39 species. Extralimital records represent either improved sampling and digitization or actual geographic range expansions. Here we provide new data-driven range maps, update standards for the archiving of museum-quality locational records and offer recommendations for mapping range changes for monitoring and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P. Baltensperger
- University of Alaska Museum, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States of America
- International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR, United States of America
| | - Hayley C. Lanier
- Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States of America
| | - Link E. Olson
- University of Alaska Museum, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States of America
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Zhang J, Xiao C, Duan X, Gao X, Zeng H, Dong R, Feng G, Ma K. Species' geographical range, environmental range and traits lead to specimen collection preference of dominant plant species of grasslands in Northern China. PLANT DIVERSITY 2024; 46:353-361. [PMID: 38798734 PMCID: PMC11119519 DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Many different factors, such as species traits, socio-economic factors, geographical and environmental factors, can lead to specimen collection preference. This study aims to determine whether grassland specimen collection in China is preferred by species traits (i.e., plant height, flowering and fruiting period), environmental range (i.e., the temperature and precipitation range) and geographical range (i.e., distribution range and altitudinal range). Ordinary least squares models and phylogenetic generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze the relationships between specimen number and the explanatory variables. Random Forest models were then used to find the most parsimonious multivariate model. The results showed that interannual variation in specimen number between 1900 and 2020 was considerable. Specimen number of these species in southeast China was notably lower than that in northwest China. Environmental range and geographical range of species had significant positive correlations with specimen number. In addition, there were relatively weak but significant associations between specimen number and species trait (i.e., plant height and flowering and fruiting period). Random Forest models indicated that distribution range was the most important variable, followed by flowering and fruiting period, and altitudinal range. These findings suggest that future floristic surveys should pay more attention to species with small geographical range, narrow environmental range, short plant height, and short flowering and fruiting period. The correction of specimen collection preference will also make the results of species distribution model, species evolution and other works based on specimen data more accurate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingya Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Cui Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Xiaoyu Duan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Hao Zeng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Rong'an Dong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Gang Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Keping Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
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3
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Selva N, Hobson KA, Zalewski A, Cortés-Avizanda A, Donázar JA. Mammal communities of primeval forests as sentinels of global change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17045. [PMID: 38014477 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the drivers and consequences of global environmental change is crucial to inform predictions of effects on ecosystems. We used the mammal community of Białowieża Forest, the last lowland near-primeval forest in temperate Europe, as a sentinel of global change. We analyzed changes in stable carbon (δ13 C) and nitrogen (δ15 N) isotope values of hair in 687 specimens from 50 mammal species across seven decades (1946-2011). We classified mammals into four taxonomic-dietary groups (herbivores, carnivores, insectivores, and bats). We found a significant negative trend in hair δ15 N for the mammal community, particularly strong for herbivores. This trend is consistent with temporal patterns in nitrogen deposition from (15 N depleted) industrial fertilizers and fossil fuel emissions. It is also in line with global-scale declines in δ15 N reported in forests and other unfertilized, non-urban terrestrial ecosystems and with local decreases in N foliar concentrations. The global depletion of 13 C content in atmospheric CO2 due to fossil fuel burning (Suess effect) was detected in all groups. After correcting for this effect, the hair δ13 C trend became non-significant for both community and groups, except for bats, which showed a strong decline in δ13 C. This could be related to an increase in the relative abundance of freshwater insects taken by bats or increased use of methane-derived carbon in food webs used by bats. This work is the first broad-scale and long-term mammal isotope ecology study in a near-primeval forest in temperate Europe. Mammal communities from natural forests represent a unique benchmark in global change research; investigating their isotopic temporal variation can help identify patterns and early detections of ecosystem changes and provide more comprehensive and integrative assessments than single species approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
- Departamento de Ciencias Integradas, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Física, Matemáticas y Computación, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | - Keith A Hobson
- University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Andrzej Zalewski
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Ainara Cortés-Avizanda
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Sevilla, Spain
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Antonio Donázar
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Sevilla, Spain
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4
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Rayfield KM, Mychajliw AM, Singleton RR, Sholts SB, Hofman CA. Uncovering the Holocene roots of contemporary disease-scapes: bringing archaeology into One Health. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230525. [PMID: 38052246 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The accelerating pace of emerging zoonotic diseases in the twenty-first century has motivated cross-disciplinary collaboration on One Health approaches, combining microbiology, veterinary and environmental sciences, and epidemiology for outbreak prevention and mitigation. Such outbreaks are often caused by spillovers attributed to human activities that encroach on wildlife habitats and ecosystems, such as land use change, industrialized food production, urbanization and animal trade. While the origin of anthropogenic effects on animal ecology and biogeography can be traced to the Late Pleistocene, the archaeological record-a long-term archive of human-animal-environmental interactions-has largely been untapped in these One Health approaches, thus limiting our understanding of these dynamics over time. In this review, we examine how humans, as niche constructors, have facilitated new host species and 'disease-scapes' from the Late Pleistocene to the Anthropocene, by viewing zooarchaeological, bioarchaeological and palaeoecological data with a One Health perspective. We also highlight how new biomolecular tools and advances in the '-omics' can be holistically coupled with archaeological and palaeoecological reconstructions in the service of studying zoonotic disease emergence and re-emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Rayfield
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology & Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alexis M Mychajliw
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology & Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biology & Program in Environmental Studies, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753-6203, USA
| | - Robin R Singleton
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology & Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
| | - Sabrina B Sholts
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Courtney A Hofman
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology & Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0390, USA
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
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5
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Nachman MW, Beckman EJ, Bowie RCK, Cicero C, Conroy CJ, Dudley R, Hayes TB, Koo MS, Lacey EA, Martin CH, McGuire JA, Patton JL, Spencer CL, Tarvin RD, Wake MH, Wang IJ, Achmadi A, Álvarez-Castañeda ST, Andersen MJ, Arroyave J, Austin CC, Barker FK, Barrow LN, Barrowclough GF, Bates J, Bauer AM, Bell KC, Bell RC, Bronson AW, Brown RM, Burbrink FT, Burns KJ, Cadena CD, Cannatella DC, Castoe TA, Chakrabarty P, Colella JP, Cook JA, Cracraft JL, Davis DR, Davis Rabosky AR, D’Elía G, Dumbacher JP, Dunnum JL, Edwards SV, Esselstyn JA, Faivovich J, Fjeldså J, Flores-Villela OA, Ford K, Fuchs J, Fujita MK, Good JM, Greenbaum E, Greene HW, Hackett S, Hamidy A, Hanken J, Haryoko T, Hawkins MTR, Heaney LR, Hillis DM, Hollingsworth BD, Hornsby AD, Hosner PA, Irham M, Jansa S, Jiménez RA, Joseph L, Kirchman JJ, LaDuc TJ, Leaché AD, Lessa EP, López-Fernández H, Mason NA, McCormack JE, McMahan CD, Moyle RG, Ojeda RA, Olson LE, Kin Onn C, Parenti LR, Parra-Olea G, Patterson BD, Pauly GB, Pavan SE, Peterson AT, Poe S, Rabosky DL, Raxworthy CJ, Reddy S, Rico-Guevara A, Riyanto A, Rocha LA, Ron SR, Rovito SM, Rowe KC, Rowley J, Ruane S, Salazar-Valenzuela D, Shultz AJ, Sidlauskas B, Sikes DS, Simmons NB, Stiassny MLJ, Streicher JW, Stuart BL, Summers AP, Tavera J, Teta P, Thompson CW, Timm RM, Torres-Carvajal O, Voelker G, Voss RS, Winker K, Witt C, Wommack EA, Zink RM. Specimen collection is essential for modern science. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002318. [PMID: 37992027 PMCID: PMC10664955 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural history museums are vital repositories of specimens, samples and data that inform about the natural world; this Formal Comment revisits a Perspective that advocated for the adoption of compassionate collection practices, querying whether it will ever be possible to completely do away with whole animal specimen collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Nachman
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth J. Beckman
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Rauri CK Bowie
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Carla Cicero
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Chris J. Conroy
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Robert Dudley
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Tyrone B. Hayes
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Michelle S. Koo
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Eileen A. Lacey
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher H. Martin
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Jimmy A. McGuire
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - James L. Patton
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Carol L. Spencer
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Rebecca D. Tarvin
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Marvalee H. Wake
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Ian J. Wang
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Anang Achmadi
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia
| | | | - Michael J. Andersen
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Jairo Arroyave
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Christopher C. Austin
- Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - F Keith Barker
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Lisa N. Barrow
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | | | - John Bates
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Aaron M. Bauer
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kayce C. Bell
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Rayna C. Bell
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Allison W. Bronson
- Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Arcata, California, United States of America
| | - Rafe M. Brown
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Frank T. Burbrink
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kevin J. Burns
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | | | - David C. Cannatella
- Biodiversity Center & Dept. of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Todd A. Castoe
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
| | - Prosanta Chakrabarty
- Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jocelyn P. Colella
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Joseph A. Cook
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Joel L. Cracraft
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Drew R. Davis
- Natural History Museum and Dept. of Biology, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico, United States of America
| | | | - Guillermo D’Elía
- Instituto de Cs. Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - John P. Dumbacher
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Jonathan L. Dunnum
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Scott V. Edwards
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jacob A. Esselstyn
- Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Julián Faivovich
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jon Fjeldså
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Kassandra Ford
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Jérôme Fuchs
- ISYEB, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Matthew K. Fujita
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey M. Good
- Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Eli Greenbaum
- Biodiversity Collections and Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Harry W. Greene
- Biodiversity Center & Dept. of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shannon Hackett
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Amir Hamidy
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - James Hanken
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tri Haryoko
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Melissa TR Hawkins
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Lawrence R. Heaney
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - David M. Hillis
- Biodiversity Center & Dept. of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Angela D. Hornsby
- Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Peter A. Hosner
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mohammad Irham
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Sharon Jansa
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Rosa Alicia Jiménez
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Leo Joseph
- Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Travis J. LaDuc
- Biodiversity Center & Dept. of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Adam D. Leaché
- Burke Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Enrique P. Lessa
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Hernán López-Fernández
- Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Nicholas A. Mason
- Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - John E. McCormack
- Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Caleb D. McMahan
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Robert G. Moyle
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Ricardo A. Ojeda
- CONICET, Centro de Ciencia y Técnica Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Link E. Olson
- University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | | | - Lynne R. Parenti
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Gabriela Parra-Olea
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Bruce D. Patterson
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Gregory B. Pauly
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Silvia E. Pavan
- Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Arcata, California, United States of America
| | - A Townsend Peterson
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Steven Poe
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Daniel L. Rabosky
- Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | | | - Sushma Reddy
- Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | | | - Awal Riyanto
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia
| | - Luiz A. Rocha
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Santiago R. Ron
- Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Kevin C. Rowe
- Museums Victoria Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jodi Rowley
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sara Ruane
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | | | - Allison J. Shultz
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Brian Sidlauskas
- Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Derek S. Sikes
- University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Nancy B. Simmons
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
| | | | | | - Bryan L. Stuart
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Adam P. Summers
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Pablo Teta
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cody W. Thompson
- Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Timm
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | | | - Gary Voelker
- Dept. Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Robert S. Voss
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kevin Winker
- University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Christopher Witt
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A. Wommack
- University of Wyoming Museum of Vertebrates, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Zink
- University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
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6
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Li Y, Hopkins AJM, Davis RA. Going, Going, Gone The Diminishing Capacity of Museum Specimen Collections to Address Global Change Research: A Case Study on Urban Reptiles. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13061078. [PMID: 36978619 PMCID: PMC10044672 DOI: 10.3390/ani13061078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been increasingly popular to use natural history specimens to examine environmental changes. As the current functionality of museum specimens has extended beyond their traditional taxonomic role, there has been a renewed focus on the completeness of biological collections to provide data for current and future research. We used the collections of the Western Australian Museum to answer questions about the change in occurrence of five common reptile species due to the rapid urbanization of Perth. We recorded a significant decline in collection effort from the year 2000 onwards (F = 7.65, p < 0.01) compared to the period 1990–1999. Spatial analysis revealed that only 0.5% of our study region was well sampled, 8.5% were moderately sampled and the majority of the regions (91%) were poorly sampled. By analysing the trend of specimen acquisition from 1950 to 2010, we discovered a significant inconsistency in specimen sampling effort for 13 common reptile species across time and space. A large proportion of past specimens lacked information including the place and time of collection. An increase in investment to museums and an increase in geographically and temporally systematic collecting is advocated to ensure that collections can answer questions about environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Li
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
| | - Anna J. M. Hopkins
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
| | - Robert A. Davis
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
- Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australia Museum, 49 Kew St, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia
- Correspondence:
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7
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Pollen samples from a bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) collection show historic foraging on introduced and native plants in the South Island of New Zealand. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278860. [PMID: 36584012 PMCID: PMC9803242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Historic pollination networks are important to understand interactions between different plant and pollinator species, as well as to differentiate between causes and consequences of present insect population decline. Natural history collections in museums store biological proxy data, which is used to reconstruct historic pollination networks of bumble bees. Four bumble bee species (Bombus terrestris, B. ruderatus, B. hortorum and B. subterraneus) were introduced to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1885 specifically for pollination purposes. Pollen samples were collected from museum specimens of three of the four NZ species of bumble bee (excluding B. subterraneus) collected between 1954 and 1972 from 56 locations across the South Island, New Zealand. The most common plants identified on all three bumble bee species were Calluna vulgaris (heather), Ulex (gorse), Cytisus (broom), and Trifolium repens (white clover). However, all three bumble bee species also carried pollen from several native plants (e.g. Arthropodium, Weinmannia, Plagianthus, Quintinia, Veronica, Melicytus) and potentially had been involved in the pollination of these species. This study adds new plant species known to be foraged upon by bumble bees in Aotearoa New Zealand. Further studies on pollination networks in New Zealand will help us understand any changes in host plant preferences over time and after the time period covered by this study.
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8
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Alexander A, Robbins MB, Holmes J, Moyle RG, Peterson AT. Limited movement of an avian hybrid zone in relation to regional variation in magnitude of climate change. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6634-6648. [PMID: 36210655 PMCID: PMC9729445 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Studies of natural hybrid zones can provide documentation of range shifts in response to climate change and identify loci important to reproductive isolation. Using a temporal (36-38 years) comparison of the black-capped (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina (P. carolinensis) chickadee hybrid zone, we investigated movement of the western portion of the zone (western Missouri) and assessed whether loci and pathways underpinning reproductive isolation were similar to those in the eastern portion of the hybrid zone. Using 92 birds sampled along the hybrid zone transect in 2016 and 68 birds sampled between 1978 and 1980, we generated 11,669 SNPs via ddRADseq. These SNPs were used to assess movement of the hybrid zone through time and to evaluate variation in introgression among loci. We demonstrate that the interface has moved ~5 km to the northwest over the last 36-38 years, that is, at only one-fifth the rate at which the eastern portion (e.g., Pennsylvania, Ohio) of the hybrid zone has moved. Temperature trends over the last 38 years reveal that eastern areas have warmed 50% more than western areas in terms of annual mean temperature, possibly providing an explanation for the slower movement of the hybrid zone in Missouri. Our results suggest hybrid zone movement in broadly distributed species, such as chickadees, will vary between areas in response to local differences in the impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana Alexander
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA.,Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.,Corresponding author.
| | - Mark B. Robbins
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA
| | - Jesse Holmes
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA
| | - Robert G. Moyle
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA
| | - A. Townsend Peterson
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA
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9
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Suh YH, Ligon RA, Rohwer VG. Revisiting the Baltimore-Bullock's Oriole hybrid zone reveals changing plumage colour in Bullock's Orioles. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:221211. [PMID: 36533198 PMCID: PMC9748506 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid zones are dynamic areas where populations of two or more interbreeding species may change through an influx of novel genetic material resulting from hybridization or selection on standing genetic variation. Documenting changes in populations through time, however, is challenging because repeated samples are often missing or because long-term storage can affect trait morphologies, especially colour traits that may fade through time. We document a change in carotenoid-based orange breast feathers of Bullock's Orioles (Icterus bullockii) from the Great Plains hybrid zone, USA. Contemporary Bullock's Orioles are more orange than historic individuals from the same location sampled approximately 60 years ago. Spectrophotometry revealed that contemporary Bullock's Orioles resemble orange colour profiles of Baltimore Orioles (I. galbula), the species with which they hybridize. Fading or changes in diet hypotheses do not appear to explain the shift in colour we report for Bullock's Orioles. We propose that these changes in colour are facilitated through introgression with Baltimore Orioles, and favoured by females that choose brighter, more orange males. Our study highlights the long memory of natural history collections and how they offer new insights to the dynamic roll of hybrid zones in trait evolution between interacting species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Ha Suh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | | | - Vanya G. Rohwer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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10
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Soares GM, Barros F, Lanna E, da Silva MVS, Cavalcanti FF. Sponges as libraries: Increase in microplastics in Cinachyrella alloclada after 36 years. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114339. [PMID: 36395712 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many studies investigated the presence and effects of microplastics in marine species, but data about sponges are still incipient. We quantified these pollutants in a population of the tropical sponge Cinachyrella alloclada, comparing museum specimens sampled in 1981 with specimens sampled in 2017. The mean number of microplastics in specimens collected decades ago was one order of magnitude lower (0.13 ± 0.40/g of sponge tissue) than those sampled more recently (1.37 ± 0.94/g). We observed microplastics in only 10 % of the specimens collected in 1981 but in 80 % of those from 2017. According to Raman spectroscopy, fibers in C. alloclada consisted of polypropylene. Our results reinforce the importance of natural history collections to reduce the gap of knowledge on the interaction between marine sponges and microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Moreira Soares
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Campus Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Francisco Barros
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Campus Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Interdisciplinares e Transdisciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução (IN-TREE), Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Campus Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Emilio Lanna
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Campus Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Interdisciplinares e Transdisciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução (IN-TREE), Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Campus Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinicius Santos da Silva
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Campus Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Fernanda F Cavalcanti
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Campus Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Estudos Interdisciplinares e Transdisciplinares em Ecologia e Evolução (IN-TREE), Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo s/n, Campus Ondina, Salvador 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil.
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11
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Castañeda-Rico S, Edwards CW, Hawkins MTR, Maldonado JE. Museomics and the holotype of a critically endangered cricetid rodent provide key evidence of an undescribed genus. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.930356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Historical DNA obtained from voucher specimens housed in natural history museums worldwide have allowed the study of elusive, rare or even extinct species that in many cases are solely represented by museum holdings. This has resulted in the increase of taxonomic representation of many taxa, has led to the discovery of new species, and has yielded stunning novel insights into the evolutionary history of cryptic or even undescribed species. Peromyscus mekisturus, is a critically endangered cricetid rodent endemic to Mexico and is only known from two museum specimens collected in 1898 and 1947. Intensive field work efforts to attempt to determine if viable populations still exist have failed, suggesting that this species is extinct or is nearing extinction. In addition, a recent study using mitogenomes demonstrated that P. mekisturus forms a well-supported clade outside the genus Peromyscus and hypothesized that this taxon is the sister group of the genus Reithrodontomys. Here, we used target enrichment and high-throughput sequencing of several thousand nuclear ultraconserved elements and mitogenomes to reconstruct dated phylogenies to test the previous phylogenetic hypothesis. We analyzed the holotype and the only other known specimen of P. mekisturus and museum samples from other peromyscine rodents to test the phylogenetic position of the species. Our results confirm that the only two specimens known to science of P. mekisturus belong to the same species and support the hypothesis that this species belongs to an undescribed genus of cricetid rodents that is sister to the genus Reithrodontomys. We dated the origin of P. mekisturus together with other speciation events in peromyscines during the late Pliocene – early Pleistocene and related these events with the Pleistocene climatic cycles. In light of our results, we recommend a taxonomic re-evaluation of this enigmatic species to properly recognize its taxonomic status as a new genus. We also acknowledge the relevance of generating genomic data from type specimens and highlight the need and importance of continuing to build the scientific heritage of the collections to study and better understand past, present, and future biodiversity.
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12
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Speer KA, Hawkins MTR, Flores MFC, McGowen MR, Fleischer RC, Maldonado JE, Campana MG, Muletz-Wolz CR. A comparative study of RNA yields from museum specimens, including an optimized protocol for extracting RNA from formalin-fixed specimens. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.953131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal specimens in natural history collections are invaluable resources in examining the historical context of pathogen dynamics in wildlife and spillovers to humans. For example, natural history specimens may reveal new associations between bat species and coronaviruses. However, RNA viruses are difficult to study in historical specimens because protocols for extracting RNA from these specimens have not been optimized. Advances have been made in our ability to recover nucleic acids from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples (FFPE) commonly used in human clinical studies, yet other types of formalin preserved samples have received less attention. Here, we optimize the recovery of RNA from formalin-fixed ethanol-preserved museum specimens in order to improve the usability of these specimens in surveys for zoonotic diseases. We provide RNA quality and quantity measures for replicate tissues subsamples of 22 bat specimens from five bat genera (Rhinolophus, Hipposideros, Megareops, Cynopterus, and Nyctalus) collected in China and Myanmar from 1886 to 2003. As tissues from a single bat specimen were preserved in a variety of ways, including formalin-fixed (8 bats), ethanol-preserved and frozen (13 bats), and flash frozen (2 bats), we were able to compare RNA quality and yield across different preservation methods. RNA extracted from historical museum specimens is highly fragmented, but usable for short-read sequencing and targeted amplification. Incubation of formalin-fixed samples with Proteinase-K following thorough homogenization improves RNA yield. This optimized protocol extends the types of data that can be derived from existing museum specimens and facilitates future examinations of host and pathogen RNA from specimens.
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13
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Roycroft E, Moritz C, Rowe KC, Moussalli A, Eldridge MDB, Portela Miguez R, Piggott MP, Potter S. Sequence Capture From Historical Museum Specimens: Maximizing Value for Population and Phylogenomic Studies. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.931644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of high-throughput, short-read sequencing to degraded DNA has greatly increased the feasibility of generating genomic data from historical museum specimens. While many published studies report successful sequencing results from historical specimens; in reality, success and quality of sequence data can be highly variable. To examine predictors of sequencing quality, and methodological approaches to improving data accuracy, we generated and analyzed genomic sequence data from 115 historically collected museum specimens up to 180 years old. Data span both population genomic and phylogenomic scales, including historically collected specimens from 34 specimens of four species of Australian rock-wallabies (genus Petrogale) and 92 samples from 79 specimens of Australo-Papuan murine rodents (subfamily Murinae). For historical rodent specimens, where the focus was sampling for phylogenomics, we found that regardless of specimen age, DNA sequence libraries prepared from toe pad or bone subsamples performed significantly better than those taken from the skin (in terms of proportion of reads on target, number of loci captured, and data accuracy). In total, 93% of DNA libraries from toe pad or bone subsamples resulted in reliable data for phylogenetic inference, compared to 63% of skin subsamples. For skin subsamples, proportion of reads on target weakly correlated with collection year. Then using population genomic data from rock-wallaby skins as a test case, we found substantial improvement in final data quality by mapping to a high-quality “closest sister” de novo assembly from fresh tissues, compared to mapping to a sample-specific historical de novo assembly. Choice of mapping approach also affected final estimates of the number of segregating sites and Watterson's θ, both important parameters for population genomic inference. The incorporation of accurate and reliable sequence data from historical specimens has important outcomes for evolutionary studies at both population and phylogenomic scales. By assessing the outcomes of different approaches to specimen subsampling, library preparation and bioinformatic processing, our results provide a framework for increasing sequencing success for irreplaceable historical specimens.
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14
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Regacho T, delBarco-Trillo J. Morphological stability of rural populations supports their use as controls in urban ecology studies. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01253-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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15
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Edmonds JW, King KBS, Neely MB, Hensley RT, Goodman KJ, Cawley KM. Using large, open datasets to understand spatial and temporal patterns in lotic ecosystems:
NEON
case studies. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer W. Edmonds
- Department of Physical and Life Sciences Nevada State College Henderson Nevada USA
| | - Katelyn B. S. King
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
| | | | - Robert T. Hensley
- Battelle, National Ecological Observatory Network Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Keli J. Goodman
- Battelle, National Ecological Observatory Network Boulder Colorado USA
| | - Kaelin M. Cawley
- Battelle, National Ecological Observatory Network Boulder Colorado USA
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16
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Christoph Liedtke H, Lyakurwa JV, Lawson LP, Menegon M, Garrido-Priego M, Mariaux J, Ngalason W, Channing A, Owen NR, Bittencourt-Silva GB, Wilkinson M, Larson JG, Loader SP. Thirty years of amphibian surveys in the Ukagurus Mountains of Tanzania reveal new species, yet others are in decline. AFR J HERPETOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2022.2043945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H Christoph Liedtke
- Ecology, Evolution and Development Group, Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - John V Lyakurwa
- Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Lucinda P Lawson
- Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Michele Menegon
- Division of Biology & Conservation Ecology, School of Science & the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- PAMS Foundation, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Marina Garrido-Priego
- Ecology, Evolution and Development Group, Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean Mariaux
- Natural History Museum of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Wilirk Ngalason
- Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Alan Channing
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Nisha R Owen
- On the EDGE Conservation, London, UK
- The Society for Environmental Exploration (Frontier), London, UK
| | - Gabriela B Bittencourt-Silva
- Ecology, Evolution and Development Group, Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Mark Wilkinson
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Joanna G Larson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Simon P Loader
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
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17
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Tomotani BM, Salvador RB, Sabadel AJM, Miskelly CM, Brown JCS, Delgado J, Boussès P, Cherel Y, Waugh SM, Bury SJ. Extreme bill dimorphism leads to different but overlapping isotopic niches and similar trophic positions in sexes of the charismatic extinct huia. Oecologia 2021; 198:67-77. [PMID: 34842996 PMCID: PMC8803797 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05082-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The New Zealand huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) had the most extreme bill sexual dimorphism among modern birds. Given the quick extinction of the species, the cause of the dimorphism could only be hypothesised to reflect different trophic niches and reduce male/female competition. We tested that hypothesis by combining museum specimens, geometric morphometrics, and isotopic analyses. We used geometric morphometrics to describe bill shape; measured bulk (δ15Nbulk) and (δ13Cbulk) values from feather as proxies of the birds’ foraging habitat and diet; and compared compound-specific stable isotopes analyses (CSIA) of nitrogen in amino acids (δ15NAA) in male–female pairs to estimate their trophic position. Sexes had significantly different, but overlapping feather δ15Nbulk and δ13Cbulk values, but δ15NAA indicated identical trophic positions and δ15Nbulk was not related to bill shape. Trophic position was less variable among females, consistent with a specialised foraging behaviour and, thus, supporting a partial male/female foraging segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara M Tomotani
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology, NIOO-KNAW, Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands. .,Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | | | - Amandine J M Sabadel
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand.,Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Colin M Miskelly
- Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Julie C S Brown
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Josette Delgado
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Patrick Boussès
- Institut Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Susan M Waugh
- Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Rochefort, France
| | - Sarah J Bury
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
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18
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Abstract
Natural history collections are invaluable repositories of biological information that provide an unrivaled record of Earth's biodiversity. Museum genomics-genomics research using traditional museum and cryogenic collections and the infrastructure supporting these investigations-has particularly enhanced research in ecology and evolutionary biology, the study of extinct organisms, and the impact of anthropogenic activity on biodiversity. However, leveraging genomics in biological collections has exposed challenges, such as digitizing, integrating, and sharing collections data; updating practices to ensure broadly optimal data extraction from existing and new collections; and modernizing collections practices, infrastructure, and policies to ensure fair, sustainable, and genomically manifold uses of museum collections by increasingly diverse stakeholders. Museum genomics collections are poised to address these challenges and, with increasingly sensitive genomics approaches, will catalyze a future era of reproducibility, innovation, and insight made possible through integrating museum and genome sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daren C Card
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA; .,Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Beth Shapiro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA; .,Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Craig Moritz
- Centre for Biodiversity Analysis and Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA; .,Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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19
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Mining museums for historical DNA: advances and challenges in museomics. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:1049-1060. [PMID: 34456066 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Historical DNA (hDNA), obtained from museum and herbarium specimens, has yielded spectacular new insights into the history of organisms. This includes documenting historical genetic erosion and extinction, discovering species new to science, resolving evolutionary relationships, investigating epigenetic effects, and determining origins of infectious diseases. However, the development of best-practices in isolating, processing, and analyzing hDNA remain under-explored, due to the substantial diversity of specimen preparation types, tissue sources, archival ages, and collecting histories. Thus, for hDNA to reach its full potential, and justify the destructive sampling of the rarest specimens, more experimental work using time-series collections, and the development of improved methods to correct for data asymmetries and biases due to DNA degradation are required.
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20
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Edwards SV, Robin V, Ferrand N, Moritz C. The evolution of comparative phylogeography: putting the geography (and more) into comparative population genomics. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 14:6339579. [PMID: 34347070 PMCID: PMC8743039 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative population genomics is an ascendant field using genomic comparisons between species to draw inferences about forces regulating genetic variation. Comparative phylogeography, by contrast, focuses on the shared lineage histories of species codistributed geographically and is decidedly organismal in perspective. Comparative phylogeography is approximately 35 years old, and, by some metrics, is showing signs of reduced growth. Here, we contrast the goals and methods of comparative population genomics and comparative phylogeography and argue that comparative phylogeography offers an important perspective on evolutionary history that succeeds in integrating genomics with landscape evolution in ways that complement the suprageographic perspective of comparative population genomics. Focusing primarily on terrestrial vertebrates, we review the history of comparative phylogeography, its milestones and ongoing conceptual innovations, its increasingly global focus, and its status as a bridge between landscape genomics and the process of speciation. We also argue that, as a science with a strong “sense of place,” comparative phylogeography offers abundant “place-based” educational opportunities with its focus on geography and natural history, as well as opportunities for collaboration with local communities and indigenous peoples. Although comparative phylogeography does not yet require whole-genome sequencing for many of its goals, we conclude that it nonetheless plays an important role in grounding our interpretation of genetic variation in the fundamentals of geography and Earth history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Vv Robin
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Karakambadi Road, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, 517507, India
| | - Nuno Ferrand
- CIBIO/InBIO, Laboratório Associado, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Craig Moritz
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
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21
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O'Connell KA, Mulder KP, Wynn A, de Queiroz K, Bell RC. Genomic library preparation and hybridization capture of formalin-fixed tissues and allozyme supernatant for population genomics and considerations for combining capture- and RADseq-based single nucleotide polymorphism data sets. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:487-502. [PMID: 34329532 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Until recently many historical museum specimens were largely inaccessible to genomic inquiry, but high-throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches have allowed researchers to successfully sequence genomic DNA from dried and fluid-preserved museum specimens. In addition to preserved specimens, many museums contain large series of allozyme supernatant samples, but the amenability of these samples to HTS has not yet been assessed. Here, we compared the performance of a target-capture approach using alternative sources of genomic DNA from 10 specimens of spring salamanders (Plethodontidae: Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) collected between 1985 and 1990: allozyme supernatants, allozyme homogenate pellets and formalin-fixed tissues. We designed capture probes based on double-digest restriction-site associated sequencing (RADseq) derived loci from frozen blood samples available for seven of the specimens and assessed the success and consistency of capture and RADseq approaches. This study design enabled direct comparisons of data quality and potential biases among the different data sets for phylogenomic and population genomic analyses. We found that in phylogenetic analyses, all enrichment types for a given specimen clustered together. In principal component space all capture-based samples clustered together, but RADseq samples did not cluster with corresponding capture-based samples. Single nucleotide polymorphism calls were on average 18.3% different between enrichment types for a given individual, but these discrepancies were primarily due to differences in heterozygous/homozygous single nucleotide polymorphism calls. We demonstrate that both allozyme supernatant and formalin-fixed samples can be successfully used for population genomic analyses and we discuss ways to identify and reduce biases associated with combining capture and RADseq data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A O'Connell
- Global Genome Initiative, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Biomedical Data Science Lab, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Arlington, Virginia, USA
| | - Kevin P Mulder
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Addison Wynn
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kevin de Queiroz
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Rayna C Bell
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Herpetology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA
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22
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Hilton EJ, Watkins-Colwell GJ, Huber SK. The Expanding Role of Natural History Collections. ICHTHYOLOGY & HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1643/t2020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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23
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Asymmetry in the frequency and proportion of arm truncation in three sympatric California Octopus species. ZOOLOGY 2021; 147:125940. [PMID: 34198204 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2021.125940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Octopuses have eight radially symmetrical arms that surround the base of a bilaterally symmetrical body. These numerous appendages, which explore the environment, handle food, and defend the animal against predators, are highly susceptible to truncation or loss. Here, we used scaling relationships specific to the arms of three sympatric octopus species of the genus Octopus, to calculate the proportion of arm truncation. We then compared the frequency and proportion of arm losses between different body locations. Truncated arms were found in 59.8 % of specimens examined, with individuals bearing one to as many as seven injured arms. We found a significant left side bias for greater proportion of arm truncation for all species and sexes except in O. bimaculatus males. We also found that sister species O. bimaculatus and O. bimaculoides had a greater proportion of their anterior arms (pairs 1 and 2) truncated, while in O. rubescens, posterior arms (pairs 3 and 4) were more truncated. The mean percent of arm that was truncated was 28.1 % overall but varied between species and by sex and was highest in O. rubescens females (56 %). The arms of O. rubescens also exhibited the steepest scaling patterns, and showed a positive correlation between body size and number of truncated arms. Overall, we show that arm injuries in our sampling of three intertidal species are frequent and asymmetrical, and that when injured, octopus on average lose a considerable proportion of their arm. Through quantifying the variation in arm truncation, this study provides a new foundation to explore behavioral compensation for arm loss in cephalopods.
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24
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Haskins DL, Brown MK, Qin C, Xu X, Pilgrim MA, Tuberville TD. Multi-decadal trends in mercury and methylmercury concentrations in the brown watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116722. [PMID: 33640654 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is an environmental contaminant that poses a threat to aquatic systems globally. Temporal evaluations of Hg contamination have increased in recent years, with studies focusing on how anthropogenic activities impact Hg bioavailability in a variety of aquatic systems. While it is common for these studies and ecological risk assessments to evaluate Hg bioaccumulation and effects in wildlife, there is a paucity of information regarding Hg dynamics in reptiles. The goal of this study was to investigate temporal patterns in total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations across a 36-year period, as well as evaluate relationships among and between destructive (kidney, liver, muscle) and non-destructive (blood, tail) tissue types in a common watersnake species. To accomplish this, we measured THg and MeHg concentrations in multiple tissues from brown watersnakes (Nerodia taxispilota) collected from Steel Creek on the Savannah River Site (SRS; Aiken, SC, USA) from two time periods (1983-1986 and 2019). We found significant and positive relationships between tail tips and destructive tissues. In both time periods, THg concentrations varied significantly by tissue type, and destructive tissues exhibited higher but predictable THg values relative to tail tissue. Methylmercury concentrations did not differ among tissues from the 1980s but was significantly higher in muscle compared to other tissues from snakes collected in 2019. Percent MeHg of THg in N. taxispilota tissues mirrored patterns reported in other reptiles, although the range of % MeHg in liver and kidney differed between time periods. Both THg and MeHg concentrations in N. taxispilota declined significantly from the 1980s to 2019, with average values 1.6 to 4-fold lower in contemporary samples. Overall, our data add further evidence to the utility of watersnakes to monitor Hg pollution in aquatic environments and suggest attenuation of this contaminant in watersnakes in our study system.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Haskins
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30605, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30605, USA; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA.
| | - M Kyle Brown
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30605, USA; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| | - Chongyang Qin
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Xu
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| | - Melissa A Pilgrim
- Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC, 29303, USA
| | - Tracey D Tuberville
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
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25
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Gómez C, Hobson KA, Bayly NJ, Rosenberg KV, Morales-Rozo A, Cardozo P, Cadena CD. Migratory connectivity then and now: a northward shift in breeding origins of a long-distance migratory bird wintering in the tropics. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210188. [PMID: 33849318 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporal variation in the connectivity of populations of migratory animals has not been widely documented, despite having important repercussions for population ecology and conservation. Because the long-distance movements of migratory animals link ecologically distinct and geographically distant areas of the world, changes in the abundance and migratory patterns of species may reflect differential drivers of demographic trends acting over various spatial scales. Using stable hydrogen isotope analyses (δ2H) of feathers from historical museum specimens and contemporary samples obtained in the field, we provide evidence for an approximately 600 km northward shift over 45 years in the breeding origin of a species of songbird of major conservation concern (blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata) wintering in the foothills of the eastern Andes of Colombia. Our finding mirrors predictions of range shifts for boreal-breeding species under warming climate scenarios and habitat loss in the temperate zone, and underscores likely drivers of widespread declines in populations of migratory birds. Our work also highlights the value of natural history collections to document the effects of global change on biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Gómez
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Keith A Hobson
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Environment and Climate Change Canada, Wildlife Research Division, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Nicholas J Bayly
- SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Kenneth V Rosenberg
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,American Bird Conservancy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrea Morales-Rozo
- Grupo de investigación ECOTONOS, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad de Los Llanos, Villavicencio, Colombia.,Grupo de investigación Ecología y conservación de fauna silvestre, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Amazonia, Leticia, Colombia
| | - Paula Cardozo
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Daniel Cadena
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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26
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Thompson CW, Phelps KL, Allard MW, Cook JA, Dunnum JL, Ferguson AW, Gelang M, Khan FAA, Paul DL, Reeder DM, Simmons NB, Vanhove MPM, Webala PW, Weksler M, Kilpatrick CW. Preserve a Voucher Specimen! The Critical Need for Integrating Natural History Collections in Infectious Disease Studies. mBio 2021; 12:e02698-20. [PMID: 33436435 PMCID: PMC7844540 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02698-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being nearly 10 months into the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, the definitive animal host for SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), the causal agent of COVID-19, remains unknown. Unfortunately, similar problems exist for other betacoronaviruses, and no vouchered specimens exist to corroborate host species identification for most of these pathogens. This most basic information is critical to the full understanding and mitigation of emerging zoonotic diseases. To overcome this hurdle, we recommend that host-pathogen researchers adopt vouchering practices and collaborate with natural history collections to permanently archive microbiological samples and host specimens. Vouchered specimens and associated samples provide both repeatability and extension to host-pathogen studies, and using them mobilizes a large workforce (i.e., biodiversity scientists) to assist in pandemic preparedness. We review several well-known examples that successfully integrate host-pathogen research with natural history collections (e.g., yellow fever, hantaviruses, helminths). However, vouchering remains an underutilized practice in such studies. Using an online survey, we assessed vouchering practices used by microbiologists (e.g., bacteriologists, parasitologists, virologists) in host-pathogen research. A much greater number of respondents permanently archive microbiological samples than archive host specimens, and less than half of respondents voucher host specimens from which microbiological samples were lethally collected. To foster collaborations between microbiologists and natural history collections, we provide recommendations for integrating vouchering techniques and archiving of microbiological samples into host-pathogen studies. This integrative approach exemplifies the premise underlying One Health initiatives, providing critical infrastructure for addressing related issues ranging from public health to global climate change and the biodiversity crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody W Thompson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Marc W Allard
- Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph A Cook
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jonathan L Dunnum
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Adam W Ferguson
- Gantz Family Collections Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Magnus Gelang
- Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Deborah L Paul
- Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
- Species File Group, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maarten P M Vanhove
- Hasselt University, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Research Group Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Paul W Webala
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Maasai Mara University, Narok, Kenya
| | - Marcelo Weksler
- Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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27
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Shultz AJ, Adams BJ, Bell KC, Ludt WB, Pauly GB, Vendetti JE. Natural history collections are critical resources for contemporary and future studies of urban evolution. Evol Appl 2021; 14:233-247. [PMID: 33519967 PMCID: PMC7819571 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban environments are among the fastest changing habitats on the planet, and this change has evolutionary implications for the organisms inhabiting them. Herein, we demonstrate that natural history collections are critical resources for urban evolution studies. The specimens housed in these collections provide great potential for diverse types of urban evolution research, and strategic deposition of specimens and other materials from contemporary studies will determine the resources and research questions available to future urban evolutionary biologists. As natural history collections are windows into the past, they provide a crucial historical timescale for urban evolution research. While the importance of museum collections for research is generally appreciated, their utility in the study of urban evolution has not been explicitly evaluated. Here, we: (a) demonstrate that museum collections can greatly enhance urban evolution studies, (b) review patterns of specimen use and deposition in the urban evolution literature, (c) analyze how urban versus rural and native versus nonnative vertebrate species are being deposited in museum collections, and (d) make recommendations to researchers, museum professionals, scientific journal editors, funding agencies, permitting agencies, and professional societies to improve archiving policies. Our analyses of recent urban evolution studies reveal that museum specimens can be used for diverse research questions, but they are used infrequently. Further, although nearly all studies we analyzed generated resources that could be deposited in natural history collections (e.g., collected specimens), a minority (12%) of studies actually did so. Depositing such resources in collections is crucial to allow the scientific community to verify, replicate, and/or re-visit prior research. Therefore, to ensure that adequate museum resources are available for future urban evolutionary biology research, the research community-from practicing biologists to funding agencies and professional societies-must make adjustments that prioritize the collection and deposition of urban specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison J. Shultz
- Urban Nature Research CenterNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
- Ornithology DepartmentNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Benjamin J. Adams
- Urban Nature Research CenterNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
- Entomology DepartmentNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesGeorge Washington UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Kayce C. Bell
- Urban Nature Research CenterNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
- Mammalogy DepartmentNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - William B. Ludt
- Ichthyology DepartmentNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Gregory B. Pauly
- Urban Nature Research CenterNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
- Herpetology DepartmentNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Jann E. Vendetti
- Urban Nature Research CenterNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
- Malacology DepartmentNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyLos AngelesCAUSA
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28
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Colella JP, Stephens RB, Campbell ML, Kohli BA, Parsons DJ, Mclean BS. The Open-Specimen Movement. Bioscience 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The open-science movement seeks to increase transparency, reproducibility, and access to scientific data. As primary data, preserved biological specimens represent records of global biodiversity critical to research, conservation, national security, and public health. However, a recent decrease in specimen preservation in public biorepositories is a major barrier to open biological science. As such, there is an urgent need for a cultural shift in the life sciences that normalizes specimen deposition in museum collections. Museums embody an open-science ethos and provide long-term research infrastructure through curation, data management and security, and community-wide access to samples and data, thereby ensuring scientific reproducibility and extension. We propose that a paradigm shift from specimen ownership to specimen stewardship can be achieved through increased open-data requirements among scientific journals and institutional requirements for specimen deposition by funding and permitting agencies, and through explicit integration of specimens into existing data management plan guidelines and annual reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryan B Stephens
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham
| | - Mariel L Campbell
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, Division of Genomic Resources, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | - Brooks A Kohli
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Danielle J Parsons
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Bryan S Mclean
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
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29
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Farooq H, Azevedo JAR, Soares A, Antonelli A, Faurby S. Mapping Africa's Biodiversity: More of the Same Is Just Not Good Enough. Syst Biol 2020; 70:623-633. [PMID: 33306123 PMCID: PMC8048386 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syaa090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Species distribution data are fundamental to the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes. Yet, such data are strongly affected by sampling biases, mostly related to site accessibility. The understanding of these biases is therefore crucial in systematics, biogeography, and conservation. Here we present a novel approach for quantifying sampling effort and its impact on biodiversity knowledge, focusing on Africa. In contrast to previous studies assessing sampling completeness (percentage of species recorded in relation to predicted), we investigate whether the lack of knowledge of a site attracts scientists to visit these areas and collect samples of species. We then estimate the time required to sample 90% of the continent under a Weibull distributed biodiversity sampling rate and the number of sampling events required to record $ \ge $50% of the species. Using linear and spatial regression models, we show that previous sampling has been strongly influencing the resampling of areas, attracting repeated visits. This bias has existed for over two centuries, has increased in recent decades, and is most pronounced among mammals. It may take between 172 and 274 years, depending on the group, to achieve at least one sampling event per grid cell in the entire continent. Just one visit will, however, not be enough: in order to record $ \ge $50% of the current diversity, it will require at least 12 sampling events for amphibians, 13 for mammals, and 27 for birds. Our results demonstrate the importance of sampling areas that lack primary biodiversity data and the urgency with which this needs to be done. Current practice is insufficient to adequately classify and map African biodiversity; it can lead to incorrect conclusions being drawn from biogeographic analyses and can result in misleading and self-reinforcing conservation priorities. [Amphibians; birds; mammals; sampling bias; sampling gaps; Wallacean shortfall.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Harith Farooq
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden1.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.,Departamento de Biologia e CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.,Faculty of Natural Sciences at Lúrio University, Campus universitário da Universidade Lúrio, Bairro Eduardo Mondlane, 3200, Pemba, Cabo Delgado, Moçambique
| | - Josué A R Azevedo
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden1.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.,Coordenação de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Caixa Postal 2223, CEP 69008-971, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Amadeu Soares
- Departamento de Biologia e CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Antonelli
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden1.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.,Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, U.K
| | - Søren Faurby
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden1.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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30
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Niemeier S, Müller J, Struck U, Rödel MO. Superfrogs in the city: 150 year impact of urbanization and agriculture on the European Common Frog. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:6729-6741. [PMID: 32975007 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite growing pressure on biodiversity deriving from increasing anthropogenic disturbances, some species successfully persist in altered ecosystems. However, these species' characteristics and thresholds, as well as the environmental frame behind that process are usually unknown. We collected data on body size, fluctuating asymmetry (FA), as well as nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15 N) from museum specimens of the European Common Frog, Rana temporaria, all originating from the Berlin-Brandenburg area, Germany, in order to test: (a) if specimens have changed over the last 150 years (1868-2018); and (b) if changes could be attributed to increasing urbanization and agricultural intensity. We detected that after the Second World War, frogs were larger than in pre-war Berlin. In rural Brandenburg, we observed no such size change. FA analysis revealed a similar tendency with lower levels in Berlin after the war and higher levels in Brandenburg. Enrichment of δ15 N decreased over time in both regions but was generally higher and less variable in sites with agricultural land use. Frogs thus seem to encounter favorable habitat conditions after pollution in postwar Berlin improved, but no such tendencies were observable in the predominantly agricultural landscape of Brandenburg. Urbanization, characterized by the proportion of built-up area, was not the main associated factor for the observed trait changes. However, we detected a relationship with the amount of urban greenspace. Our study exemplifies that increasing urbanization must not necessarily worsen conditions for species living in urban habitats. The Berlin example demonstrates that public parks and other urban greenspaces have the potential to serve as suitable refuges for some species. These findings underline the urgency of establishing, maintaining, and connecting such habitats, and generally consider their importance for future urban planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Niemeier
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research - BBIB, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Müller
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research - BBIB, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Struck
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research - BBIB, Berlin, Germany
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31
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Ferguson AW. On the role of (and threat to) natural history museums in mammal conservation: an African small mammal perspective. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.20028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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32
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Kühl HS, Bowler DE, Bösch L, Bruelheide H, Dauber J, Eichenberg D, Eisenhauer N, Fernández N, Guerra CA, Henle K, Herbinger I, Isaac NJ, Jansen F, König-Ries B, Kühn I, Nilsen EB, Pe'er G, Richter A, Schulte R, Settele J, van Dam NM, Voigt M, Wägele WJ, Wirth C, Bonn A. Effective Biodiversity Monitoring Needs a Culture of Integration. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2020.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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33
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Hipsley CA, Aguilar R, Black JR, Hocknull SA. High-throughput microCT scanning of small specimens: preparation, packing, parameters and post-processing. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13863. [PMID: 32807929 PMCID: PMC7431592 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70970-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
High-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography, or microCT (μCT), enables the digital imaging of whole objects in three dimensions. The power of μCT to visualize internal features without disarticulation makes it particularly valuable for the study of museum collections, which house millions of physical specimens documenting the spatio-temporal patterns of life. Despite the potential for comparative analyses, most μCT studies include limited numbers of museum specimens, due to the challenges of digitizing numerous individuals within a project scope. Here we describe a method for high-throughput μCT scanning of hundreds of small (< 2 cm) specimens in a single container, followed by individual labelling and archival storage. We also explore the effects of various packing materials and multiple specimens per capsule to minimize sample movement that can degrade image quality, and hence μCT investment. We demonstrate this protocol on vertebrate fossils from Queensland Museum, Australia, as part of an effort to track community responses to climate change over evolutionary time. This system can be easily modified for other types of wet and dry material amenable to X-ray attenuation, including geological, botanical and zoological samples, providing greater access to large-scale phenotypic data and adding value to global collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy A Hipsley
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, BioSciences 4, Building 147, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia. .,Museums Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia.
| | - Rocio Aguilar
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, BioSciences 4, Building 147, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Museums Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Jay R Black
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Scott A Hocknull
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, BioSciences 4, Building 147, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Queensland Museum, Geosciences, 122 Gerler Rd., Hendra, QLD, 4011, Australia
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34
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Hamm PS, Taylor JW, Cook JA, Natvig DO. Decades-old studies of fungi associated with mammalian lungs and modern DNA sequencing approaches help define the nature of the lung mycobiome. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008684. [PMID: 32730326 PMCID: PMC7392203 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paris S. Hamm
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - John W. Taylor
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Joseph A. Cook
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Donald O. Natvig
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Miller SE, Barrow LN, Ehlman SM, Goodheart JA, Greiman SE, Lutz HL, Misiewicz TM, Smith SM, Tan M, Thawley CJ, Cook JA, Light JE. Building Natural History Collections for the Twenty-First Century and Beyond. Bioscience 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Natural history collections (NHCs) are important resources for a diverse array of scientific fields. Recent digitization initiatives have broadened the user base of NHCs, and new technological innovations are using materials generated from collections to address novel scientific questions. Simultaneously, NHCs are increasingly imperiled by reductions in funding and resources. Ensuring that NHCs continue to serve as a valuable resource for future generations will require the scientific community to increase their contribution to and acknowledgement of collections. We provide recommendations and guidelines for scientists to support NHCs, focusing particularly on new users that may be unfamiliar with collections. We hope that this perspective will motivate debate on the future of NHCs and the role of the scientific community in maintaining and improving biological collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Miller
- Cornell University Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Ithaca, New York
| | - Lisa N Barrow
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and with the Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | - Sean M Ehlman
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Department, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Saint Paul
| | - Jessica A Goodheart
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, in Santa Barbara, California
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Stephen E Greiman
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro Georgia
| | - Holly L Lutz
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Tracy M Misiewicz
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman
| | - Stephanie M Smith
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Milton Tan
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, Champaign
| | - Christopher J Thawley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
- Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Neumann University, Aston, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph A Cook
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and with the Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | - Jessica E Light
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station
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36
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Keppeler FW, Winemiller KO. Can ancestry and morphology be used as surrogates for species niche relationships? Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6562-6578. [PMID: 32724533 PMCID: PMC7381567 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Species interactions are difficult to quantify, and, consequently, many studies have used species traits and phylogeny as proxies under an assumption of niche conservatism (i.e., closely related and morphologically similar species should have similar niches). However, few studies have investigated whether niches actually are conserved within and across diverse communities. Here, we tested the degree to which phylogenetic relatedness and morphological similarity predict diets and stable isotopic ratios (δ 15N and δ 13C), two common descriptors of the trophic niche, in fish assemblages of two small streams in the Neotropics. We also tested the strength of the association between isotopic ratios and diet composition and found significant correlations implying that isotopic signals reveal trophic structure despite error associated with estimates of trophic enrichment and variation associated with tissue preservation, metabolism, and other factors affecting isotopic ratios. Morphological traits yielded a significant phylogenetic signal, and both morphological traits and phylogeny were correlated with diet composition, with morphological traits being a stronger predictor. We infer that functionally relevant morphological traits of fish can be used to infer trophic niches for certain kinds of questions and analyses when trophic data are lacking. However, we highlight that using phylogenetic and morphological data in combination with dietary and/or isotopic data can improve resolution of assemblage trophic structure and niche diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich W. Keppeler
- Department of Ecology and Conservation BiologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Kirk O. Winemiller
- Department of Ecology and Conservation BiologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
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37
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Lyra ML, Lourenço ACC, Pinheiro PDP, Pezzuti TL, Baêta D, Barlow A, Hofreiter M, Pombal JP, Haddad CFB, Faivovich J. High-throughput DNA sequencing of museum specimens sheds light on the long-missing species of the Bokermannohyla claresignata group (Anura: Hylidae: Cophomantini). Zool J Linn Soc 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The two species of the Bokermannohyla claresignata species group (Anura: Hylidae) have not been collected for the last four decades. It is the only species group of the hyline tribe Cophomantini that has not yet been analysed genetically. Its phylogenetic position is thus uncertain, and it has a combination of adult and larval character states that make this group a crucial missing piece that hinders our understanding of Cophomantini phylogenetics and character evolution. We obtained DNA sequences from a museum larval specimen of Bok. claresignata, using specialized extraction methods and high-throughput DNA sequencing, and combined the molecular phylogenetic results with available phenotypic information to provide new insights into the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of its species group. Our phylogenetic results place Bok. claresignata as sister to the Boana pulchella group, supporting its inclusion in Boana, together with Bokermannohyla clepsydra. In light of this new finding, we recognize a newly defined Boana claresignata group to accommodate these species, thus resolving both the polyphyly of Bokermannohyla and the paraphyly of Boana. Considering the phylogenetic relationships of the Boana claresignata group, we also discuss the evolution of suctorial tadpoles and mature oocyte/egg pigmentation in Cophomantini.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana L Lyra
- Departamento de Biodiversidade e Centro de Aquicultura, I.B., Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, CEP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina C Lourenço
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Campus Ubá, Avenida Olegário Maciel, Ubá, Minas Gerais, CEP, Brazil
| | - Paulo D P Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Anfíbios, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa, Sala, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, São Paulo, CEP, Brazil
| | - Tiago L Pezzuti
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP, Brazil
| | - Délio Baêta
- Departamento de Biodiversidade e Centro de Aquicultura, I.B., Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, CEP, Brazil
- Setor de Herpetologia, Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista,, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP, Brazil
| | - Axel Barlow
- Evolutionary Adaptive Genomics, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Potsdam, Germany
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Michael Hofreiter
- Evolutionary Adaptive Genomics, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Potsdam, Germany
| | - José P Pombal
- Setor de Herpetologia, Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista,, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP, Brazil
| | - Célio F B Haddad
- Departamento de Biodiversidade e Centro de Aquicultura, I.B., Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, CEP, Brazil
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’-CONICET, Ángel Gallardo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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38
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Colella JP, Tigano A, MacManes MD. A linked-read approach to museomics: Higher quality de novo genome assemblies from degraded tissues. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:856-870. [PMID: 32153100 PMCID: PMC7496956 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing technologies are a proposed solution for accessing the molecular data in historical specimens. However, degraded DNA combined with the computational demands of short-read assemblies has posed significant laboratory and bioinformatics challenges for de novo genome assembly. Linked-read or "synthetic long-read" sequencing technologies, such as 10× Genomics, may provide a cost-effective alternative solution to assemble higher quality de novo genomes from degraded tissue samples. Here, we compare assembly quality (e.g., genome contiguity and completeness, presence of orthogroups) between four new deer mouse (Peromyscus spp.) genomes assembled using linked-read technology and four published genomes assembled from a single shotgun library. At a similar price-point, these approaches produce vastly different assemblies, with linked-read assemblies having overall higher contiguity and completeness, measured by larger N50 values and greater number of genes assembled, respectively. As a proof-of-concept, we used annotated genes from the four Peromyscus linked-read assemblies and eight additional rodent taxa to generate a phylogeny, which reconstructed the expected relationships among species with 100% support. Although not without caveats, our results suggest that linked-read sequencing approaches are a viable option to build de novo genomes from degraded tissues, which may prove particularly valuable for taxa that are extinct, rare or difficult to collect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn P Colella
- Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.,Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Anna Tigano
- Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.,Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Matthew D MacManes
- Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.,Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
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39
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Preservation-Induced Morphological Change in Salamanders and Failed DNA Extraction from a Decades-Old Museum Specimen: Implications for Plethodon ainsworthi. J HERPETOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1670/19-012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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40
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Salvador RB, Cunha CM. Natural history collections and the future legacy of ecological research. Oecologia 2020; 192:641-646. [PMID: 32056020 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04620-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Natural history collections are now being championed as key to broad ecological studies, especially those involving human impacts in the Anthropocene. However, collections are going through a crisis that threatens their present and future value, going beyond underfunding/understaffing to a more damaging practice: current researchers are no longer depositing material. This seems to be especially true for ecological studies that now benefit from historical collections, as those researchers are not trained to think about voucher specimens. We investigated indexed journals in Ecology and Zoology to assess if they have guidelines concerning voucher specimens. Only 4% of ecological journals presently encourage (but mostly do not require) voucher deposition, while 15% of zoological journals encourage it. In the first place, this goes contrary to scientific standards of reproducibility, since specimens are primary data. Secondly, this erodes the legacy we will leave for future researchers, because if this trend goes on unchecked, it will leave a massive gap in collections' coverage, undermining the quality that is presently acclaimed. The scientific community needs a wakeup call to avoid impoverishing the future value of natural history collections. Training and changing researchers' mindsets is essential, but that takes time. For the moment, we propose a stopgap measure: at the minimum, academic journals should encourage authors to deposit specimens in open collections, such as museums and universities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo B Salvador
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 169 Tory Street, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand.
| | - Carlo M Cunha
- Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Avenida Conselheiro Nébias 536, Santos, SP, 11045-002, Brazil
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41
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Bakker FT, Antonelli A, Clarke JA, Cook JA, Edwards SV, Ericson PGP, Faurby S, Ferrand N, Gelang M, Gillespie RG, Irestedt M, Lundin K, Larsson E, Matos-Maraví P, Müller J, von Proschwitz T, Roderick GK, Schliep A, Wahlberg N, Wiedenhoeft J, Källersjö M. The Global Museum: natural history collections and the future of evolutionary science and public education. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8225. [PMID: 32025365 PMCID: PMC6993751 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural history museums are unique spaces for interdisciplinary research and educational innovation. Through extensive exhibits and public programming and by hosting rich communities of amateurs, students, and researchers at all stages of their careers, they can provide a place-based window to focus on integration of science and discovery, as well as a locus for community engagement. At the same time, like a synthesis radio telescope, when joined together through emerging digital resources, the global community of museums (the ‘Global Museum’) is more than the sum of its parts, allowing insights and answers to diverse biological, environmental, and societal questions at the global scale, across eons of time, and spanning vast diversity across the Tree of Life. We argue that, whereas natural history collections and museums began with a focus on describing the diversity and peculiarities of species on Earth, they are now increasingly leveraged in new ways that significantly expand their impact and relevance. These new directions include the possibility to ask new, often interdisciplinary questions in basic and applied science, such as in biomimetic design, and by contributing to solutions to climate change, global health and food security challenges. As institutions, they have long been incubators for cutting-edge research in biology while simultaneously providing core infrastructure for research on present and future societal needs. Here we explore how the intersection between pressing issues in environmental and human health and rapid technological innovation have reinforced the relevance of museum collections. We do this by providing examples as food for thought for both the broader academic community and museum scientists on the evolving role of museums. We also identify challenges to the realization of the full potential of natural history collections and the Global Museum to science and society and discuss the critical need to grow these collections. We then focus on mapping and modelling of museum data (including place-based approaches and discovery), and explore the main projects, platforms and databases enabling this growth. Finally, we aim to improve relevant protocols for the long-term storage of specimens and tissues, ensuring proper connection with tomorrow’s technologies and hence further increasing the relevance of natural history museums.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freek T Bakker
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Julia A Clarke
- Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Joseph A Cook
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States of America.,Gothenburg Centre for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Per G P Ericson
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Søren Faurby
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Nuno Ferrand
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Magnus Gelang
- Department of Zoology, Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Göteborg, Sweden.,Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Rosemary G Gillespie
- Essig Museum of Entomology, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Martin Irestedt
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kennet Lundin
- Department of Zoology, Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Göteborg, Sweden.,Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Ellen Larsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.,Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Pável Matos-Maraví
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Johannes Müller
- Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ted von Proschwitz
- Department of Zoology, Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Göteborg, Sweden.,Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - George K Roderick
- Essig Museum of Entomology, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Alexander Schliep
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | | | - John Wiedenhoeft
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Mari Källersjö
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.,Gothenburg Botanical Garden, Göteborg, Sweden
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42
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Cahyadi G, Rasyidi R, Permadi D. Lighthouses for biodiversity: prospects and challenges for zoological university museum in Indonesia. BIO WEB OF CONFERENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1051/bioconf/20201900003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
University museums have been offering a great opportunity to study thematic collections. In zoology, it has been aiding the university biologist to keep safe extensive biodiversity collections from academic expeditions. When appropriately managed, this opens an opportunity for display, research, teaching, and outreach, especially for regions that may not have easy access to government-managed museums. However, Indonesian university museums have been positioned in a confusing situation in which university museums have limited opportunities to serve the main roles of museums. We use Museum Zoologi Sekolah Ilmu dan Teknologi Hayati, Institut Teknologi Bandung (MZSITH-ITB) as a study case. In this paper, we tried to explore the current roles of university museums being served and explore the prospects and challenges for university museums. Concurrent triangulation approach from desk evaluation, visitor analysis, and a semi-structured interview was conducted to see the current roles of MZSITH-ITB and prospects and challenges in the future. In conclusion, clear general procedures to standardize the collection management are urgently needed, so university museums can have a degree of independence to collect and study objects and collections. This can allow easier data integration and specimen sharing in which the museums can work together to shed some light on Indonesian biodiversity.
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43
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Cobb NS, Gall LF, Zaspel JM, Dowdy NJ, McCabe LM, Kawahara AY. Assessment of North American arthropod collections: prospects and challenges for addressing biodiversity research. PeerJ 2019; 7:e8086. [PMID: 31788358 PMCID: PMC6882419 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Over 300 million arthropod specimens are housed in North American natural history collections. These collections represent a "vast hidden treasure trove" of biodiversity -95% of the specimen label data have yet to be transcribed for research, and less than 2% of the specimens have been imaged. Specimen labels contain crucial information to determine species distributions over time and are essential for understanding patterns of ecology and evolution, which will help assess the growing biodiversity crisis driven by global change impacts. Specimen images offer indispensable insight and data for analyses of traits, and ecological and phylogenetic patterns of biodiversity. Here, we review North American arthropod collections using two key metrics, specimen holdings and digitization efforts, to assess the potential for collections to provide needed biodiversity data. We include data from 223 arthropod collections in North America, with an emphasis on the United States. Our specific findings are as follows: (1) The majority of North American natural history collections (88%) and specimens (89%) are located in the United States. Canada has comparable holdings to the United States relative to its estimated biodiversity. Mexico has made the furthest progress in terms of digitization, but its specimen holdings should be increased to reflect the estimated higher Mexican arthropod diversity. The proportion of North American collections that has been digitized, and the number of digital records available per species, are both much lower for arthropods when compared to chordates and plants. (2) The National Science Foundation's decade-long ADBC program (Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections) has been transformational in promoting arthropod digitization. However, even if this program became permanent, at current rates, by the year 2050 only 38% of the existing arthropod specimens would be digitized, and less than 1% would have associated digital images. (3) The number of specimens in collections has increased by approximately 1% per year over the past 30 years. We propose that this rate of increase is insufficient to provide enough data to address biodiversity research needs, and that arthropod collections should aim to triple their rate of new specimen acquisition. (4) The collections we surveyed in the United States vary broadly in a number of indicators. Collectively, there is depth and breadth, with smaller collections providing regional depth and larger collections providing greater global coverage. (5) Increased coordination across museums is needed for digitization efforts to target taxa for research and conservation goals and address long-term data needs. Two key recommendations emerge: collections should significantly increase both their specimen holdings and their digitization efforts to empower continental and global biodiversity data pipelines, and stimulate downstream research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil S. Cobb
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Lawrence F. Gall
- Entomology Division, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Jennifer M. Zaspel
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Nicolas J. Dowdy
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America
| | - Lindsie M. McCabe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Akito Y. Kawahara
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
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Vilaça ST, Bienentreu JF, Brunetti CR, Lesbarrères D, Murray DL, Kyle CJ. Frog Virus 3 Genomes Reveal Prevalent Recombination between Ranavirus Lineages and Their Origins in Canada. J Virol 2019; 93:e00765-19. [PMID: 31341053 PMCID: PMC6798099 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00765-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ranaviruses are pathogens associated with the decline of amphibian populations across much of their distribution. In North America, frog virus 3 (FV3) is a widely distributed pathogen with wild populations of amphibians harboring different lineages and putative recombinants between FV3 and common midwife toad virus (CMTV). These recombinants have higher pathogenicity, and CMTV-derived genes associated with virulence are reported in wild strains in Canada. However, while FV3 is linked to amphibian die-offs in North America, CMTVs have been reported only in commercial frog farms in North America. We sequenced complete genomes of 18 FV3 isolates from three amphibian species to characterize genetic diversity of the lineages in Canada and infer possible recombinant regions. The 18 FV3 isolates displayed different signals of recombination, varying from none to interspersed recombination with previously isolated CMTV-like viruses. In general, most recombination breakpoints were located within open reading frames (ORFs), generating new ORFs and proteins that were a mixture between FV3 and CMTV. A combined spatial and temporal phylogeny suggests the presence of the FV3 lineage in Canada is relatively contemporary (<100 years), corroborating the hypothesis that both CMTV- and FV3-like viruses spread to North America when the international commercial amphibian trade started. Our results highlight the importance of pathogen surveillance and viral dynamics using full genomes to more clearly understand the mechanisms of disease origin and spread.IMPORTANCE Amphibian populations are declining worldwide, and these declines have been linked to a number of anthropogenic factors, including disease. Among the pathogens associated with amphibian mortality, ranaviruses have caused massive die-offs across continents. In North America, frog virus 3 (FV3) is a widespread ranavirus that can infect wild and captive amphibians. In this study, we sequenced full FV3 genomes isolated from frogs in Canada. We report widespread recombination between FV3 and common midwife toad virus (CMTV). Phylogenies indicate a recent origin for FV3 in Canada, possibly as a result of international amphibian trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibelle T Vilaça
- Biology Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joe-Felix Bienentreu
- Genetics and Ecology of Amphibian Research Group (GEARG), Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Craig R Brunetti
- Biology Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Lesbarrères
- Genetics and Ecology of Amphibian Research Group (GEARG), Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dennis L Murray
- Biology Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher J Kyle
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensics Centre, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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45
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Van Valkenburgh B, Peterson RO, Smith DW, Stahler DR, Vucetich JA. Tooth fracture frequency in gray wolves reflects prey availability. eLife 2019; 8:48628. [PMID: 31549963 PMCID: PMC6759352 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Exceptionally high rates of tooth fracture in large Pleistocene carnivorans imply intensified interspecific competition, given that tooth fracture rises with increased bone consumption, a behavior that likely occurs when prey are difficult to acquire. To assess the link between prey availability and dental attrition, we documented dental fracture rates over decades among three well-studied populations of extant gray wolves that differed in prey:predator ratio and levels of carcass utilization. When prey:predator ratios declined, kills were more fully consumed, and rates of tooth fracture more than doubled. This supports tooth fracture frequency as a relative measure of the difficulty of acquiring prey, and reveals a rapid response to diminished food levels in large carnivores despite risks of infection and reduced fitness due to dental injuries. More broadly, large carnivore tooth fracture frequency likely reflects energetic stress, an aspect of predator success that is challenging to quantify in wild populations. Gray wolves roam many European and American landscapes, where they prey on large animals such as elk and moose. A healthy dentition is essential for these predators to kill, eat and defend themselves. As a result, they tend to avoid biting down on tough body parts, such as bones, so that their teeth do not break. If food becomes scarce however, the wolves may resort to consuming these hard elements, eating more of the carcasses and leading to more damaged teeth. It could therefore be possible to assess the food levels available to existing (or even extinct) wolf populations based on how many broken teeth the animals have. However, older individuals are also more likely to have more damaged teeth, so age would need to be taken into consideration. Van Valkenburgh et al. decided to evaluate whether it was indeed possible to deduce how much food was available to groups of wolves based on teeth damage. Tooth wear and fracture were quantified in three current populations of gray wolves whose skulls had been collected and preserved in natural history collections. For each group, there were data available about the variations of number of moose per wolf over time, and how much of the carcasses the wolves were consuming. The analyses showed that indeed, when prey became less abundant, the wolves ate more of the remains – including the bones – and therefore broke more teeth. These conclusions can be applied to other large predators and even to extinct species such as dire wolves or sabertooth cats. Tapping into the potential of museum specimens could help to retrace environmental conditions and the history of animals now long gone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaire Van Valkenburgh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Rolf O Peterson
- School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, United States
| | - Douglas W Smith
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
| | - Daniel R Stahler
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
| | - John A Vucetich
- School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, United States
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Lamichhaney S, Card DC, Grayson P, Tonini JFR, Bravo GA, Näpflin K, Termignoni-Garcia F, Torres C, Burbrink F, Clarke JA, Sackton TB, Edwards SV. Integrating natural history collections and comparative genomics to study the genetic architecture of convergent evolution. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180248. [PMID: 31154982 PMCID: PMC6560268 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary convergence has been long considered primary evidence of adaptation driven by natural selection and provides opportunities to explore evolutionary repeatability and predictability. In recent years, there has been increased interest in exploring the genetic mechanisms underlying convergent evolution, in part, owing to the advent of genomic techniques. However, the current 'genomics gold rush' in studies of convergence has overshadowed the reality that most trait classifications are quite broadly defined, resulting in incomplete or potentially biased interpretations of results. Genomic studies of convergence would be greatly improved by integrating deep 'vertical', natural history knowledge with 'horizontal' knowledge focusing on the breadth of taxonomic diversity. Natural history collections have and continue to be best positioned for increasing our comprehensive understanding of phenotypic diversity, with modern practices of digitization and databasing of morphological traits providing exciting improvements in our ability to evaluate the degree of morphological convergence. Combining more detailed phenotypic data with the well-established field of genomics will enable scientists to make progress on an important goal in biology: to understand the degree to which genetic or molecular convergence is associated with phenotypic convergence. Although the fields of comparative biology or comparative genomics alone can separately reveal important insights into convergent evolution, here we suggest that the synergistic and complementary roles of natural history collection-derived phenomic data and comparative genomics methods can be particularly powerful in together elucidating the genomic basis of convergent evolution among higher taxa. This article is part of the theme issue 'Convergent evolution in the genomics era: new insights and directions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeet Lamichhaney
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - Daren C Card
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 4 Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington , Arlington, TX 76019 , USA
| | - Phil Grayson
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - João F R Tonini
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - Gustavo A Bravo
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - Kathrin Näpflin
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - Flavia Termignoni-Garcia
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
| | - Christopher Torres
- 5 Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, MA 78712 , USA
- 6 Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, MA 78712 , USA
| | - Frank Burbrink
- 7 Department of Herpetology, The American Museum of Natural History , New York, NY 10024 , USA
| | - Julia A Clarke
- 5 Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, MA 78712 , USA
- 6 Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin, MA 78712 , USA
| | | | - Scott V Edwards
- 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
- 2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA 02138 , USA
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Reply to McLean et al.: Collections are critical. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:14413. [DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909035116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Assandri G, Franceschini A, Lencioni V. Dragonfly biodiversity 90 years ago in an Alpine region: The Odonata historical collection of the MUSE (Trento, Italy). Biodivers Data J 2019:e32391. [PMID: 30740025 PMCID: PMC6367308 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.7.e32391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Historical collections of natural science museums play a fundamental role in documenting environmental changes and patterns of biodiversity transformation. This considered, they should have a pivotal role to plan conservation and management actions. The MUSE - Science Museum of Trento is an Italian regional museum preserving about 5.5 million items (organised in 297 collections). About one million of them are invertebrates, 70% of which are of local origin, gathered in the collection "Miscellanea Invertebrati". Odonata account for a minor part of this collection; however, most of them are of local or regional relevance. A complete catalogue of this collection does not exist to date. New information The collection was studied in 2017-2018 and this contribution aims to present the Catalogue of the historic collection of Odonata of the MUSE - Museo delle Scienze of Trento (Italy). In all, 836 specimens of adult dragonflies and damselflies are found in the collection referring to an overall 56 species. The collection covers a period between 1924 and 1957 and refer to 74 defined localities, all located in northern Italy (most of them in Trentino - Alto Adige Region). The samples conserved in the collection are, for several species, the only indisputable confirmation of their former occurrence in that region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Assandri
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Trento, Italy MUSE - Science Museum of Trento Trento Italy
| | | | - Valeria Lencioni
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Trento, Italy MUSE - Science Museum of Trento Trento Italy
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Groom Q, Dillen M, Hardy H, Phillips S, Willemse L, Wu Z. Improved standardization of transcribed digital specimen data. Database (Oxford) 2019; 2019:baz129. [PMID: 31819990 PMCID: PMC6901386 DOI: 10.1093/database/baz129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
There are more than 1.2 billion biological specimens in the world's museums and herbaria. These objects are particularly important forms of biological sample and observation. They underpin biological taxonomy but the data they contain have many other uses in the biological and environmental sciences. Nevertheless, from their conception they are almost entirely documented on paper, either as labels attached to the specimens or in catalogues linked with catalogue numbers. In order to make the best use of these data and to improve the findability of these specimens, these data must be transcribed digitally and made to conform to standards, so that these data are also interoperable and reusable. Through various digitization projects, the authors have experimented with transcription by volunteers, expert technicians, scientists, commercial transcription services and automated systems. We have also been consumers of specimen data for taxonomical, biogeographical and ecological research. In this paper, we draw from our experiences to make specific recommendations to improve transcription data. The paper is split into two sections. We first address issues related to database implementation with relevance to data transcription, namely versioning, annotation, unknown and incomplete data and issues related to language. We then focus on particular data types that are relevant to biological collection specimens, namely nomenclature, dates, geography, collector numbers and uniquely identifying people. We make recommendations to standards organizations, software developers, data scientists and transcribers to improve these data with the specific aim of improving interoperability between collection datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Groom
- Department of Collections, Meise Botanic Garden, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, Belgium
| | - Mathias Dillen
- Department of Collections, Meise Botanic Garden, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, Belgium
| | - Helen Hardy
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD London, UK
| | - Sarah Phillips
- Department of Collections, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond TW9 3AB London, UK
| | - Luc Willemse
- Department of Entomological Collections, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Zhengzhe Wu
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Unioninkatu 44, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
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