A5027442178- Marine animal studies overview
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Marine and fisheries research
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Aquatic life and conservation
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Spaceflight effects on biology
University of Oslo
2023-2025
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
2020-2024
Bangor University
2016-2022
University of Bern
2016-2021
Vitensenteret i Trondheim
2021
NTNU Samfunnsforskning
2020
University of Copenhagen
2009-2019
University College Cork
2019
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics
2018
Primary Health Care
2017
Andrew Foote and colleagues report the whole-genome sequences de novo assemblies of three marine mammal species—the walrus, killer whale manatee—and an improved bottlenose dolphin genome. Their comparative genomic analysis finds evidence parallel evolution across genomes. Marine mammals from different mammalian orders share several phenotypic traits adapted to aquatic environment therefore represent a classic example convergent evolution. To investigate at level, we sequenced performed...
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) currently comprise a single, cosmopolitan species with diverse diet. However, studies over the last 30 yr have revealed populations of sympatric "ecotypes" discrete prey preferences, morphology, and behaviors. Although these ecotypes avoid social interactions are not known to interbreed, genetic date found extremely low levels diversity in mitochondrial control region, few clear phylogeographic patterns worldwide. This level is likely due mutation rates that...
Abstract Organochlorine (OC) pesticides and the more persistent polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have well-established dose-dependent toxicities to birds, fish mammals in experimental studies, but actual impact of OC pollutants on European marine top predators remains unknown. Here we show that several cetacean species very high mean blubber PCB concentrations likely cause population declines suppress recovery. In a large pan-European meta-analysis stranded (n = 929) or biopsied 152)...
The exploitation of non-invasive samples has been widely used in genetic monitoring terrestrial species. In aquatic ecosystems, such as feces, shed hair or skin, are less accessible. However, the use environmental DNA (eDNA) recently shown to be an effective tool for species presence freshwater ecosystems. Detecting marine environment using eDNA potentially offers a greater challenge due dilution, amount mixing and salinity compared with most To determine potential we specific primers that...
Abstract Analysing population genomic data from killer whale ecotypes, which we estimate have globally radiated within less than 250,000 years, show that genetic structuring including the segregation of potentially functional alleles is associated with socially inherited ecological niche. Reconstruction ancestral demographic history revealed bottlenecks during founder events, likely promoting divergence and drift resulting in a wide range genome-wide differentiation between pairs allopatric...
Abstract Ecological divergence has a central role in speciation and is therefore an important source of biodiversity. Studying the micro‐evolutionary processes ecological diversification at its early stages provides opportunity for investigating causative mechanisms conditions promoting divergence. Here we use morphological traits, nitrogen stable isotope ratios tooth wear to characterize two disparate types North Atlantic killer whale. We find highly specialist type, which reaches up 8.5 m...
Evolutionary processes, including selection, can be indirectly inferred based on patterns of genomic variation among contemporary populations or species. However, this often requires unrealistic assumptions ancestral demography and selective regimes. Sequencing ancient DNA from temporally spaced samples inform about past selection as time series data allow direct quantification population parameters collected before, during, after genetic changes driven by selection. In Comment Opinion, we...
Abstract Runs of homozygosity (ROH) occur when offspring inherit haplotypes that are identical by descent from each parent. Length distributions ROH informative about population history; specifically, the probability inbreeding mediated mating system and/or demography. Here, we investigated whether variation in killer whale ( Orcinus orca ) demographic history is reflected genome‐wide heterozygosity and length distributions, using a global data set 26 genomes representative geographic...
Mitochondria produce up to 95 per cent of the eukaryotic cell's energy. The coding genes mitochondrial DNA may therefore evolve under selection owing metabolic requirements. killer whale, Orcinus orca, is polymorphic, has a global distribution and occupies range ecological niches. It suitable organism for testing this hypothesis. We compared dataset complete genomes 139 individuals amino acid changes that were associated with radical physico-chemical property influenced by positive...
Population genetic structure of North Atlantic killer whale samples was resolved from differences in allele frequencies 17 microsatellite loci, mtDNA control region haplotype and for a subset samples, using complete mitogenome sequences. Three significantly differentiated populations were identified. Differentiation based on greater between the two allopatric than pairs partially sympatric populations. Spatial clustering individuals within each these overlaps with distribution particular...
Abstract Background Previous DNA-based phylogenetic studies of the Delphinidae family suggest it has undergone rapid diversification, as characterised by unresolved and poorly supported taxonomic relationships (polytomies) for some species within this group. Using an increased amount sequence data we test between alternative hypotheses soft polytomies caused speciation, slow evolutionary rate and/or insufficient data, hard simultaneous speciation family. Combining mitogenome sequences five...
Global climate change during the Late Pleistocene periodically encroached and then released habitat glacial cycles, causing range expansions contractions in some species. These dynamics have played a major role geographic radiations, diversification speciation. We investigate these most widely distributed of marine mammals, killer whale (Orcinus orca), using global data set over 450 samples. This top predator inhabits coastal pelagic ecosystems ranging from ice edge to tropics, often...
Abstract Practical biodiversity conservation relies on delineation of biologically meaningful units. Manta and devil rays (Mobulidae) are threatened worldwide, yet morphological similarities a succession recent taxonomic changes impede the development an effective strategy. Here, we generate genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from geographically taxonomically representative set manta ray samples to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships evaluate species boundaries under...
Abstract Reconstruction of the demographic and evolutionary history populations assuming a consensus tree‐like relationship can mask more complex scenarios, which are prevalent in nature. An emerging genomic toolset, has been most comprehensively harnessed reconstruction human history, enables molecular ecologists to elucidate population histories. Killer whales have limited extrinsic barriers dispersal radiated globally, therefore good candidate model for application such tools. Here, we...
Abstract Chromosomal inversions can play an important role in divergence and reproductive isolation by building maintaining distinct allelic combinations between evolutionary lineages. Alternatively, they take the form of balanced polymorphisms that segregate within populations until one arrangement becomes fixed. Many questions remain about how inversion arise, are maintained over long term, ultimately, whether contribute to speciation. The long‐snouted seahorse ( Hippocampus guttulatus )...
The strength of selection to increase the span a life stage is dependent upon individuals at that being able contribute towards individual fitness and probability their surviving stage. Complete reproductive cessation long post-reproductive female lifespan as found in humans are also killer whale ( Orcinus orca ) short-finned pilot Globicephala macrorhynchus ), but not long-finned melaena ). Each species forms kin-based, stable matrilineal groups exhibits kin-directed behaviours could...
The persistence and size of social groups can be plastic governed by ecological selection or under greater genetic control constrained phylogenetic inertia. Comparing sociality phylogenetically divergent populations the same conditions between within a population different identify relative influence on group formation. Here, we compare community Atlantic killer whales, comparing data collected from an area around Scotland where whales have mainly been seen to hunt seals Iceland herring....
Invasive plants provide ample opportunity to study evolutionary shifts that occur after introduction novel environments. However, although genetic characters pre-dating can be important determinants of later success, large-scale investigations historical structure have not been feasible. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is an invasive weed native North America known for its allergenic pollen. Palynological records from sediment cores indicate this species was uncommon before...