Abstract The passerine superfamily Certhioidea lacks a complete phylogeny despite decades of recognition as clade and extensive systematic work within all its constituent families. Here, we inferred near-complete species-level from molecular supermatrix, including the first comprehensive sampling wrens (Troglodytidae), used this to infer biogeographic diversification histories. We also an expanded nearly 100 putative phylospecies previously documented in literature, found that diversity had...

Abstract The wild turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo ) recovered from near extirpation because of protection unrestricted harvest and introductions translocations. In Nebraska, modern turkeys are descendants domestic, Eastern, Merriam's, Rio Grande turkeys. Whether introduced birds mated assortatively by plumage traits is unknown, the effects restoration efforts on genetic integrity unclear. We analyzed variation in mitogenome nuclear genome 16 selected to represent each subspecies. Analyses...

An important step in conservation is to identify whether threatened populations are evolutionarily discrete and significant the species. A prior mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeographic study of California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) revealed no geographic structure and, thus, did not support subspecies validity coastal (P. c. californica). The U.S. Fish Wildlife Service concluded that mtDNA data alone were insufficient test taxonomy. We sequenced eight nuclear loci search for...

The Rufous-naped Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha) is a sedentary, morphologically variable species distributed in the dry forests of Mesoamerica. It ranges from Colima, Mexico, south to Costa Rica along Pacific slope, with disjunct population central Veracruz. Populations two forms on slope intergrade Chiapas, apparently as result secondary contact. We sequenced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene explore phylogeographic patterns and hybridization. found three divergent lineages, geographically...

We analyzed the avifaunas of Caribbean islands and nearby continental areas their relationships using Parsimony Analysis Endemicity (PAE), in order to assess biogeographical patterns concordance with geological phylogenetic evidence. Using distributional information birds obtained from published literature, a presence/absence matrix for 695 genera 2026 species land freshwater was constructed analyzed. Three different analyses were performed: species, genera, combined. In combined analysis,...

Island biotas have become paradigms for illustrating many evolutionary processes. The fauna of the Galapagos Islands includes several taxa that been focal points studies. Perhaps their most famous inhabitants, Darwin's finches, represent a go-to icon when thinking about how species originate and adapt to environment. However, unlike other adaptive radiations, past morphological molecular studies finches yielded inconsistent hypotheses limits phylogenetic relationships. Expecting...

Abstract High-quality RNA is an important precursor for high-throughput sequencing (RNAseq) and subsequent analyses. However, the primary metric used to assess quality, Integrity Number (RIN), was developed based on model bacterial vertebrate organisms. Though phenomenon not widely recognized, invertebrate 28S ribosomal (rRNA) highly prone a form of denaturation known as gap deletion, in which subunit collapses into two smaller fragments. In many nonmodel invertebrates, this collapse appears...

We interpreted the results of nuclear DNA sequencing to be inconsistent with recognition California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) subspecies. McCormack and Maley (2015) suggested that our data did support 2 taxa, one which was P. c. californica, listed as Threatened under Endangered Species Act (ESA). summarize here how sets researchers access same reached different conclusions by including analyses. included southern subspecies' boundary from taxonomy Atwood (1991), taxonomic basis...

PRNP genotypes, number of octarepeats (PHGGGWGQ) and indels in the promoter can influence progression prion disease mammals. We found no relationship between presence white-tailed deer mule from Nebraska CWD presence. White-tailed with 95 H allele G20D were more likely to be CWD-free, but unlike other studies 96S allele(s) equally CWD-free. provide first information on genotypes for Key (all homozygous 96SS) Coues (lacked alleles, possessed a uniquely high frequency 103 T). All surveyed...

We evaluated geographic variation and subspecific taxonomy in the Le Conte's thrasher Toxostoma lecontei by analyzing DNA sequences from 16 nuclear loci, one mitochondrial locus, four study skin characters, compared these data sets with previously published on plumage coloration different mtDNA genes. Morphological support for southernmost taxon, T. l. arenicola , is relatively weak: multivariate analyses of morphometrics or back do not provide diagnostic support, although color character...

Abstract Infectious diseases create major challenges for wildlife management. In particular, prion are fatal and incurable, leaving managers with limited options. cervids, chronic wasting disease (CWD) can decimate captive wild populations by affecting neural tissue leading to body control loss, decay, ultimately death resulting in ecological economic consequences. Partial protection against CWD results from some genotypes at the (PRNP) locus encoding PrP proteins that less likely misfold...

The Pleistocene was characterized by worldwide shifts in community compositions. Some of these were a result changes fire regimes, which influenced the distribution species belonging to fire-dependent communities. We studied an endangered juniper-oak shrubland specialist, black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla). This locally extirpated parts Texas and Oklahoma end 1980s as habitat change loss, predation, brood parasitism, anthropogenic suppression. sequenced multiple nuclear loci used...

Abstract Despite their economic, cultural, and ecological significance, the phylogenetic relationships among North American deer remain uncertain, due in part to discordance between phylogenies built from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) nuclear markers. However, data these two genomic regions have heretofore been analyzed isolation. We compared mtDNA Cyt b , single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mitogenome (ultraconserved elements, UCEs) markers same individuals investigate mito-nuclear within...

The study of ecological mechanisms influencing organisms' phenotypic variation is a central subject evolutionary biology. In this study, we characterized morphological, plumage colour and acoustic in cactus wrens Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus throughout its distribution. We assessed whether Gloger's, Allen's Bergmann's ecogeographical rules, the adaptation hypothesis relate to geographical trait variation. analysed specimen coloration belly crown plumage, beak shape structural song...

ABSTRACT We compared mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences of ring‐necked pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus ) from Midwestern United States (SD and NE, USA) to a molecular phylogeographic hypothesis in the native Eurasian range understand which subspecies are represented by wild captive‐released birds. found that these birds represent 2 lineages, we refer generally as northern Colchicus group) eastern China Torquatus group). These DNA lineages occur different frequencies wild, with latter being...

Background. Oil spills are major environmental disasters. Dispersants help control spills, as they emulsify oil into droplets to speed bioremediation. Although dispersant toxicity is controversial, the genetic consequences and damages of dispersed exposure poorly understood. We used RNA-seq measure gene expression flatback mudcrabs ( Eurypanopeus depressus, Decapoda, Brachyura, Panopeidae) exposed oil. Methods. Our experimental design included two types, oil-only, oil-dispersant treatments...

Abstract Comparative phylogeography explores the historical congruence of co-distributed species to understand factors that led their current genetic and phenotypic structures. Even span same biogeographic barrier can exhibit different phylogeographic structures owing differences in effective population sizes, marker bias, dispersal abilities. The Baja California peninsula adjacent desert regions include several barriers have left patterns some but not all species. We found mitochondrial...

Background. Oil spills are major environmental disasters. Dispersants help control spills, as they emulsify oil into droplets to speed bioremediation. Although dispersant toxicity is controversial, the genetic consequences and damages of dispersed exposure poorly understood. We used RNA-seq measure gene expression flatback mudcrabs ( Eurypanopeus depressus, Decapoda, Brachyura, Panopeidae) exposed oil. Methods. Our experimental design included two types, oil-only, oil-dispersant treatments...