Abstract Malaria parasites use vertebrate hosts for asexual multiplication and Culicidae mosquitoes sexual development, yet the literature on avian malaria remains biased towards examining stages of life cycle in birds. To fully understand parasite evolution mechanism transmission, knowledge all three components vector‐host‐parasite system is essential. Little known about parasite–vector associations African rainforests where numerous species birds are infected with haemosporidians genera...

Avian influenza virus (AIV) is an important public health issue because pandemic viruses in people have contained genes from that infect birds. The H5 and H7 AIV subtypes periodically mutated low pathogenicity to high form. Analysis of the geographic distribution can identify areas where reassortment events might occur how travel if it enters wild bird populations US. Modelling number cases rate co-infection with multiple increases source give rise new strains influenza, which occurred...

Abstract Premise Azolla is a genus of floating ferns that has closely evolved with vertically transmitted obligate cyanobacterium endosymbiont— Anabaena azollae —that fixes nitrogen. There are also other lesser‐known symbionts whose role and mode transmission unknown. Methods We sequenced 112 specimens collected across the state California characterized their metagenomes to identify common bacterial endosymbionts assess patterns interaction. Results Four genera were found all samples,...

Conservation science and environmental regulation are sibling constructs of the latter half 20th century, part a more general awakening to humanity's effect on natural world in wake 2 wars. Efforts understand evolution biodiversity using models population genetics data derived from DNA sequencing, paired with legal political mandates protect through novel laws, regulations, conventions arose concurrently. The extremely rapid rate development new molecular tools document compare genetic...

Abstract Incorporating measures of taxonomic diversity into research and management plans has long been a tenet conservation science. Increasingly, active programs are turning toward multispecies landscape regional actions, away from single species approaches. This is both reflection changing trends in science advances foundational technologies, including genomics geospatial Multispecies approaches may provide more fundamental insights evolutionary processes equip managers with holistic...

Abstract Damselflies and dragonflies (Order: Odonata) play important roles in both aquatic terrestrial food webs can serve as sentinels of ecosystem health predictors population trends other taxa. The habitat requirements limited dispersal lotic damselflies make them especially sensitive to loss fragmentation. As such, landscape genomic studies these taxa help focus conservation efforts on watersheds with high levels genetic diversity, local adaptation, even cryptic endemism. Here, part the...

Abstract The northwestern pond turtle, Actinemys marmorata, and its recently recognized sister species, the southwestern A. pallida, are sole aquatic testudines occurring over most of western North America only living representatives genus Actinemys. Although it historically ranged from Washington state through central California, USA, populations turtle have been in decline for decades species is afforded state-level protection across range; currently being considered under US Endangered...

Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae) species, commonly known as manzanitas, are an invaluable fire-adapted chaparral clade in the California Floristic Province (CFP), a world biodiversity hotspot on west coast of North America. This diverse woody genus includes many rare and/or endangered taxa, and plays essential ecological roles native ecosystems. Despite their importance conservation management, evolutionary studies that have focused virtually no research has been conducted genomics any manzanita...

Abstract CaliPopGen is a database of population genetic data for native and naturalized eukaryotic species in California, USA. It summarizes the published literature (1985–2020) 5,453 unique populations with from more than 187,394 individuals 448 (513 plus subspecies) across molecular markers including allozymes, RFLPs, mtDNA, microsatellites, nDNA, SNPs. Terrestrial habitats accounted majority (46.4%) data. Taxonomic groups greatest representation were Magnoliophyta (20.31%), Insecta...

Abstract Azolla is a floating fern that has closely evolved with vertically transmitted obligate cyanobacterium endosymbiont— Anabaena azollae —that performs nitrogen fixation in specialized leaf pockets. This cyanobac-terium greatly reduced genome and appears to be the “advanced” stages of symbiosis, potentially evolving into nitrogen-fixing organelle. However, there are also other lesser-known inhabitants pocket whose role mode transmission unknown. We sequenced 112 specimens collected...

Azolla is a genus of freshwater ferns that economically important as nitrogen-fixing biofertilizer, biofuel, bioremediator, and for potential carbon sequestration, but also contains weedy invasive species. In California, only two species are currently recognized there may be up to six putative species, with the discrepancy being due difficulty in identifying taxa, hybridization, introduction non-native Here, we report new haplotype-resolved, chromosome-level assembly caroliniana part...

Abstract Climate-driven changes in hydrological regimes are of global importance and particularly significant riparian ecosystems. Riparian ecosystems California provide refuge to many native vulnerable species within a xeric landscape. Tetragnatha spiders play key role ecosystems, serving as link between terrestrial aquatic elements. Their tight reliance on water paired with the widespread distributions make them ideal candidates better understand relative waterways versus geographic...

Abstract Rattlesnakes play important roles in their ecosystems by regulating prey populations, are involved complex coevolutionary dynamics with prey, and exhibit a variety of unusual adaptations, including maternal care, heat-sensing pit organs, hinged fangs, medically-significant venoms. The western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) is one the widest ranging species, distribution from British Columbia, where it listed as threatened, to Baja California east across Great Basin Wyoming,...

The rubber boa, Charina bottae is a semi-fossorial, cold-temperature adapted snake that ranges across the wetter and cooler ecoregions of California Floristic Province. boa 1 2 species in family Boidae native to currently has recognized subspecies, Northern C. Southern umbratica. Recent genomic work on indicates these subspecies are collectively composed 4 divergent lineages separated during late Miocene. Analysis habitat suitability umbratica montane sky-island populations from southern...

Abstract The Yuma myotis bat (Myotis yumanensis) is a small vespertilionid and one of 52 species new world Myotis bats in the subgenus Pizonyx. While M. yumanensis populations currently appear relatively stable, it 12 known or suspected to be susceptible white-nose syndrome, fungal disease causing declines across North America. Only two these have genome resources available, which limits ability resource managers use genomic techniques track responses syndrome generally. Here we present...

Abstract The barrier effect is a restriction of gene flow between diverged populations by genes. Restriction and asymmetric introgression over multiple transects indicates species wide (genetic) adaptations, whereas transect-specific loci may indicate local adaptation to flow. Asymmetric can be caused selection, hybrid zone movement, reproductive isolation, or combination these. We study two widely separated (northwest southeast France) for the 900 km long Bufo bufo B. spinosus toads, using...

The glossy snake (Arizona elegans) is a polytypic species broadly distributed across southwestern North America. occupies habitats ranging from California's coastal chaparral to the shortgrass prairies of Texas and southeastern Nebraska, extensive arid scrublands central México. Three subspecies are currently recognized in California, one which afforded state-level protection based on loss modification its preferred alluvial scrub inland desert habitat. We report first genome assembly A....

Abstract A recently published macrogenetic dataset of California’s flora and fauna, CaliPopGen, comprehensively summarizes population genetic research between 1985 2020. Integrating these data into the requisite “best available science” upon which conservation professionals rely should facilitate prioritization populations based on health. We evaluate extent to CaliPopGen Dataset provides diversity estimates that are 1) unbiased, 2) sufficient in quantity, 3) cover entire species’ ranges, 4)...

Abstract Genome assemblies are increasingly being used to identify adaptive genetic variation that can help prioritize the population management of protected species. This approach may be particularly relevant species like Blainville’s horned lizard, Phrynosoma blainvillii, due its specialized diet on noxious harvester ants, numerous adaptative traits for avoiding predation (e.g. cranial horns, dorsoventrally compressed body, cryptic coloration, and blood squirting from orbital sinuses),...

Abstract Spiny lizards (genus Sceloporus) have long served as important systems for studies of behavior, thermal physiology, dietary ecology, vector biology, speciation, and biogeography. The western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, is found across most the major biogeographical regions in United States northern Baja California, Mexico, inhabiting a wide range habitats, from grassland to chaparral open woodlands. As small ectotherms, are particularly vulnerable climate change, S....

Abstract Snakes in the family Colubridae include more than 2,000 currently recognized species, and comprise roughly 75% of global snake species diversity on Earth. For such a spectacular radiation, colubrid snakes remain poorly understood ecologically genetically. Two subfamilies, Colubrinae (788 species) Dipsadinae (833 species), bulk richness. Dipsadines are speciose diverse group that largely inhabit Central South America, with handful small-body-size genera have invaded North America....