Genetic monitoring using noninvasive samples provides a complement or alternative to traditional population methods. However, next-generation sequencing approaches typically require high quality DNA and the use of (e.g., scat) is often challenged by poor contamination nontarget species. One promising solution highly multiplexed approach called genotyping-in-thousands (GT-seq), which can enable cost-efficient genomics-based for populations based on noninvasively collected samples. Here, we...

Abstract In this study, we evaluated how well DNA metabarcoding of environmental samples captures changes in marine mesozooplankton community composition to optimize the use sequencing data for studying seasonal dynamics. Although is increasingly used monitor distribution communities, there a lack standardized methods, and it remains uncertain what extent reflects patterns dynamics observed by other methods. Zooplankton net were collected every second week throughout 2017 northern Salish...

Toadlets of the genus Brachycephalus are endemic to Atlantic rainforests southeastern and southern Brazil. The 14 species currently described have snout-vent lengths less than 18 mm thought evolved through miniaturization: an evolutionary process leading extremely small adult body size. Here, we present first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis for Brachycephalus, using a multilocus approach based on two nuclear (Rag-1 Tyr) three mitochondrial (Cyt b, 12S, 16S rRNA) gene regions....

A new species of brachycephalid frog is described from the highlands Atlantic Forest in Serra do Mar, municipality Cunha, São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. Specimens were collected amidst leaf litter at approximately 920 m above sea level. The distinguished all its congeners by combination following characters: snout–vent length 9.5–15.6 mm; rough dorsum; general background color orange with a variable density whitish spots on skin head and dorsum granular dermal ossification; skull,...

Abstract Predicting the consequences of environmental changes, including human‐mediated climate change on species, requires that we quantify range‐wide patterns genetic diversity and identify ecological, environmental, historical factors have contributed to it. Here, generate baseline data polar bear population structure across most Canadian subpopulations ( n = 358) using 13,488 genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified with double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA...

Abstract Marine biodiversity is a key indicator of ecosystem health and can be assessed using variety methods, including environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. However, the ecology eDNA in physically dynamic nearshore environments remains uncertain, particularly with regards to how stratifies depth. Here, we paired sampling dive surveys at six sites Knight Inlet, British Columbia, Canada. samples were collected from surface, midwater column bottom (8–25 m depth) each site, while focused on...

Abstract Marine scientific trawl surveys are commonly used to assess the distribution and population size of fisheries‐related species, yet method is effort‐intensive can be environmentally destructive. Sequencing environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples reveal presence organisms in a community without capturing them; however, we expect detectability taxa differ between eDNA surveys, understanding how species traits variables contribute detection differences help calibrate our...

Species of the genus Brachycephalus, have a snout-vent length less than 18 mm and are believed to evolved through miniaturization. Brachycephalus ephippium, is particularly interesting; because its entire skull hyperossified, presacral vertebrae transverse processes covered by dorsal shield. We demonstrate in this paper that, at macroscopic level, completely hyperossified shield occur only B. but not ferruginus, izechsohni, pernix, pombali, brunneus, didactylus, hermogenesi. An intermediate...

Parasite prevalence and diversity are determined by the distribution of hosts vectors interplay among a suite environmental factors. Distributions parasite lineages vary based on host susceptibility geographical barriers. Hemoparasites genera Haemoproteus Plasmodium have wide distributions, high genetic within perching birds (Order Passeriformes). The rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) is widely distributed in Central South America across an immense environments from sea level to...

Abstract Using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, we compared fish diversity in two distinct water bodies within the Yangtze River Basin with known populations of critically endangered finless porpoise ( Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ; YFP ) : Tian-e-Zhou Reserve and Poyang Lake. We aimed to create a surveying tool for use Basin, while also gaining better understanding prey distribution remaining strongholds YFP. 16S rRNA universal primers were developed amplify eDNA. After...

Abstract Predator diets are largely influenced by prey availability and abundance. Yet, in heterogenous marine environments, identifying the species consumed diving mammals remains a fundamental challenge. For rorqual whales, energetic constraints of engulfment require that whales seek areas high abundance execute discrete lunge feeding events on patches high‐density prey. Prey occurrences feces should therefore provide meaningful insight into dominant taxa food selected animal. We...

We describe a new toadlet species of the genus Brachycephalus from Atlantic rain forest in State São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Specimens were collected leaf litter at approximately 750 m above sea level. The differs its congers by following combination characteristics: SVL adult males 11.3–12.1 mm and females 13.4–14.2 mm, skin on head dorsum with co-ossification, general color life orange dorsal greenish irregular markings covered small dark spots dots, skull hyperossified, spinal...

The description of patterns variation in any character system within well-defined species is fundamental for understanding lineage diversification and the identification geographic units that represent opportunities sustained evolutionary divergence. In this paper, we analyze intraspecific cranial shape Pumpkin Toadlet, Brachycephalus ephippium–a miniaturized composed isolated populations on slopes mountain ranges southeastern Brazil. Shape variables were derived using geometric-statistical...

A new species of miniaturized froglet (genus Brachycephalus) is described from Morro Prumirim in the municipality Ubatuba, São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Specimens were collected leaf litter at approximately 800 m above sea level. The distinguished all its congeners by combination following characters: snout–vent length 8.7–13.4 mm; skin on head and dorsum with dermal ossification; general color orange, a narrow brownish vertebral stripe belly without spots; skull, spinal processes sacral...

The golden-crowned (Zonotrichia atricapilla) and white-crowned (Z. leucophrys) sparrows have been presented as a compelling case for rapid speciation. They display divergence in song plumage with overlap their breeding ranges implying reproductive isolation, but almost identical mitochondrial genomes. Previous research proposed hybridization subsequent introgression an alternate explanation, lacked robust nuclear gene trees to distinguish between incomplete lineage sorting. We test...

Sampling and sequencing marine environmental DNA (eDNA) provides a tool that can increase our ability to monitor biodiversity, but movement mixing of eDNA after release from organisms before collection could affect inference species distributions. To assess how conditions at differing spatial scales influence the inferred richness compositional turnover, we conducted paired metabarcoding capture (beach seining) survey fishes on coast British Columbia. We found more taxa were typically...

A recent study demonstrated marked variation in cranial shape between a population of Brachycephalus ephippium from Jundiaí São Paulo state and populations Atibaia Francisco Xavier (São Paulo) Macaé de Cima the Rio Janeiro southeastern Brazil. This result contrasts with earlier work describing differences those Paulo. Here, we investigate nature extent B. using two lines evidence. First, reevaluate patterns morphological by incorporating semi-landmarks into quantitative description scanning...

Abstract Miniaturized amphibians of the genus Brachycephalus are phenotypically diverse. The species have bufoniform or leptodactyliform Baupläne and any three skeletal states: nonhyperossified, hyperossified without dorsal shield, with shield. We integrate high‐resolution microcomputed tomography, geometric morphometrics, an estimate molecular phylogenetic relationships to investigate skull diversity in shape size‐shape space selected . Skull amongst can be partitioned into according four...

Shellfish industries are threatened worldwide by recurrent summer mortality events. Such incidences often associated with Vibrio disease outbreaks, and thus, it is critical that animals able to mount sufficient immune responses.

Subsurface foraging is an important proportion of the activity budget rorqual whales, yet information on their behaviour underwater remains challenging to obtain. Rorquals are assumed feed throughout water column and select prey as a function depth, availability density, but there remain limitations in precise identification targeted prey. Current data western Canadian waters have thus been limited observations species amenable surface feeding, such euphausiids Pacific herring ( Clupea...

Most miniaturized froglets of the genus Brachycephalus occur in isolation slopes mountain ranges at elevations varying from 600 to 1,800 m Atlantic Forest eastern Brazil. For organisms such as Bracycephalus with spatially discontinuous distributions, a fundamental task is determine whether observed patterns variation are consistent geographic differentiation among allopatric populations within single species or suggestive potential boundary. We address this problem by focusing on continental...

Crossodactylus werneri was described based on specimens collected in the 1970’s at Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, being also reported for nearby localities. We that we assigned to C. werneri, and recorded calls of species during fieldworks Serra das Cabras (Campinas, state São Paulo). In this paper, describe first time vocalizations, tadpole, coloration life, comment aspects natural history werneri. Besides, examination zoological collections allowed us extend geographic range species. make...

Demographic changes during the late Pleistocene-Holocene left signatures in DNA of contemporary populations. These reveal demographic phenomena like increase or decrease effective population size. In this paper we searched for change Neotropical freshwater fish Poecilia vivipara. Also, investigated whether are correlated with palaeoclimatic events Pleistocene-Holocene, particular, if size expansion and contraction available habitats, induced by global ice-volume sea-level fluctuations. We...

The objective of this study was to isolate and select autochthonous strains Bacillus subtilis from the fat snook, Centropomus parallelus, examine viability bacteria determine their beneficial effect on gut colonization in reared fish. Twenty were isolated further confirmed as B. using PCR. Among 20 strains, two (B02 B03) exhibited an inhibitory performance against five tested pathogens. B02 B03 added fish ration, after 30 days number viable colonies maintained or increased under conditions...

Cultivation studies evaluating land-use histories and coevolutionary dynamics between humans plants focus predominantly on domesticated species. Traditional anthropological divisions of “foragers” “farmers” have shaped our understanding ancient cultivation practices but several limitations, including how people stewarded managed nondomesticated To investigate the long-term effects plant management in Pacific Northwest, this study focuses beaked hazelnut ( Corylus cornuta ) which has a long,...