Modularity and developmental (in)stability have the potential to influence phenotype production and, consequently, evolutionary trajectories of species. Depending on environmental factors involved buffering capacity an organism, different outcomes are expected. Cactophilic Drosophila species provide established eco-evolutionary model with well-studied ecological conditions, making them ideal for studying these phenomena. Here, we investigated how variations in larval diet exposure alkaloids...

High-throughput transcriptome studies are breaking new ground to investigate the responses that organisms deploy in alternative environments. Nevertheless, much remains be understood about genetic basis of host plant adaptation. Here, we genome-wide expression fly Drosophila buzzatii raised different conditions. This species uses decaying tissues cactus genus Opuntia as primary rearing substrate and secondarily, necrotic columnar Trichocereus terscheckii. The latter constitutes a harmful...

The evolution of cactophily in the genus Drosophila was a major ecological transition involving over hundred species Americas that acquired capacity to cope with variety toxic metabolites evolved as feeding deterrents Cactaceae. D. buzzatii and koepferae are sibling cactophilic repleta group. former is mainly associated relatively toxic-free habitat offered by prickly pears (Opuntia sulphurea) latter has ability use columnar cacti genera Trichocereus Cereus contain an array alkaloid...

Effective conservation relies on robust monitoring programmes to design and evaluate management actions (Nichols & Williams, 2006). Large vertebrates with slow life-history strategies present a challenge for given the necessary long-term investment of effort resources. Furthermore, many these possess expansive habitat requirements, demanding large-scale approaches (Rudnick, Katzner, DeWoody, 2009). For such species, localized efforts limited duration can result in partial or even biased...

Abstract Aim Evaluating the patterns of genetic variation and population connectivity is fundamental to effectively designing implementing conservation strategies for threatened species. However, in highly mobile vertebrates, especially avian species, are often overlooked as it generally assumed be driven by demographic panmixia or isolation distance. Herein, we investigated structure across four biomes a vagile bird, Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus ). Location Four major Neotropical...

The host-plant environment of phytophagous insects directly affects various aspects an insect's life cycle. Interestingly, relatively few insect groups have specialized in the exploitation plants Cactaceae family, potentially because chemical and ecological challenges imposed by these plants. cactophilic Drosophila buzzatii Patterson & Wheeler, 1942 is a well-studied model evolutionary ecology, partially its ability to exploit toxic cactus hosts. Previous studies shown negative effect on...

Host shifts cause drastic consequences on fitness in cactophilic species of Drosophila. It has been argued that changes the nutritional values accompanying host may elicit these responses, but they also reflect presence potentially toxic secondary compounds affect resource quality. Recent studies reported alkaloids extracted from columnar cactus Trichocereus terscheckii are for developing larvae Drosophila buzzatii. In this study, we tested effect artificial diets including increasing doses...

Several studies have shown the interesting properties of Opuntia spp. (“prickly pears”), although most this knowledge is based on O. ficus-indica. sulphurea a species that largely distributed in Monte region Argentina, where it has been used as an edible resource, especially periods food shortage. This first report evaluating chemical composition cladodes. Our results show cladodes are composed primarily water, with other prickly pears studied, which consistent their expected role water...

Abstract Drosophila buzzatii and D. koepferae are sibling cactophilic species. The former breeds primarily on prickly pears (genus Opuntia ) whereas the latter columnar cacti of genera Cereus Trichocereus , although with certain degree niche overlapping. We examined interspecific differences in diurnal temporal patterns adult emergence from puparia evaluated whether this behavior is affected by rearing different cactus hosts available nature. detected important host‐dependent genetic...

While genetic diversity of threatened species is a major concern conservation biologists, historic patterns variation are often unknown. A powerful approach to assess and processes erosion via ancient DNA techniques. Herein, we analyzed mtDNA from historical samples (1800s present) Andean Condors (

<i>Objective:</i> To examine the effect of two lipid emulsions administered with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on platelet aggregation and activation production eicosanoids in nonseptic critically ill patients. <i>Design:</i> Prospective, randomized, unblinded, non-crossover study. <i>Setting:</i> ICU a general teaching hospital. <i>Patients:</i> 23 adult, ill, patients, who were need TPN for at least 7 days....

The evolution of large vultures linked to mountainous habitats was accompanied by extreme physiological and behavioral specializations for energetically efficient flights. However, little is known on the genetic traits associated with these obligate soaring scavengers. Mitochondrial DNA plays a vital role in regulating oxidative stress energy production, hence may be an important target selection flight performance. Herein, we characterized first mitogenomes Andean California condors,...

Abstract Cultural transformations of lifestyles and dietary practices have been key drivers human evolution. However, while most the evidence genomic adaptations is related to hunter-gatherer transition agricultural societies, little known on influence other major cultural manifestations. Shamanism considered oldest religion that predominated throughout prehistory still prevails in many indigenous populations. Several lines from ethno-archeological studies demonstrated continuity importance...

The Pleistocene refugia theory proposes that recurrent expansions and contractions of xerophytic vegetation over periods climate change affected the evolution cactophilic Drosophila in South America. resulting demographic fluctuations linked to available patches should have been prone bottlenecks founder events, affecting fate gene pool dynamics. However, these events also promoted diversification cacti, creating an ecological opportunity for host specialization. We tested hypothesis...

Drosophila koepferae and buzzatii are closely related cactophilic species with overlapping distributions in Andean regions. Both exploit necrotic tissues, whereas the former breeds feeds mostly columnar cacti of Trichocereus Cereus genera rich secondary metabolites, latter primarily exploits a less toxic host genus Opuntia. Although metabolites have been to pattern exploitation, microbial community associated necrosis could also play key role nutrition and/or alkaloid tolerance flies. We...

Abstract Research Highlight : Bourbour et al., 2024. Feeding en route: Prey availability and traits influence prey selection by an avian predator on migration. Journal of Animal Ecology . Diet plays a key role in the eco‐evolutionary dynamics animals, exhibiting substantial variability across species, environments seasons. The complex interplay between movement capability, hunting strategies, habitat use, shapes foraging patterns predators. However, detailed information how these birds...

1. We assessed the host‐related niche breadth for D. koepferae and buzzatii , a pair of sibling cactophilic species with contrasting backgrounds host use. tested ‘Jack all trades‐ Master none’ scenario predicting more evident exhibition in rather than supposedly specialist . 2. Additionally, using laboratory strains both selected tolerance to extremely high concentrations columnar cacti's secondary metabolites, we whether adaptation high‐demanding involved loss performance capabilities other...