Ancient Bears Polar bears are well known for adapting to their cold Arctic climate. Some recent studies, based on mitochondrial DNA, concluded that they a relatively young species and these adaptations occurred quite quickly. Although DNA is regularly used estimate evolutionary history, it has some well-known drawbacks, including sex-biased dispersal hybridization. Thus, Hailer et al. (p. 344 ) looked at neutral genetic data distributed more widely across the genome of large sample polar,...

We describe methods for the preservation, extraction and amplification of DNA from faeces that facilitate field applications faecal technology. Mitochondrial, protein encoding microsatellite nuclear extracted amplified Malayan sun bears North American black is shown to be identical same individual's tissue or blood. A simple drying agent, silica beads, a particularly effective preservative, allowing easy safe transport samples field. Methods are also developed eliminate risk contamination...

Ursine bears are a mammalian subfamily that comprises six morphologically and ecologically distinct extant species. Previous phylogenetic analyses of concatenated nuclear genes could not resolve all relationships among bears, appeared to conflict with the mitochondrial phylogeny. Evolutionary processes such as incomplete lineage sorting introgression can cause gene tree discordance complicate inferences, but accounted for in data. We generated high-resolution data set autosomal introns from...

Abstract Population-genomic studies can shed new light on the effect of past demographic processes contemporary population structure. We reassessed phylogeographical patterns a classic model species postglacial recolonisation, brown bear ( Ursus arctos ), using range-wide resequencing dataset 128 nuclear genomes. In sharp contrast to erratic geographical distribution mtDNA and Y-chromosomal haplotypes, autosomal X-chromosomal multi-locus datasets indicate that structure is largely explained...

Brown and polar bears have become prominent examples in phylogeography, but previous phylogeographic studies relied largely on maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or were geographically restricted. The male-specific Y chromosome, a natural counterpart to mtDNA, has remained underexplored. Although this paternally chromosome is indispensable for comprehensive analyses of patterns, technical difficulties low variability hampered its application most mammals. We developed 13 novel...

Populations of the temperate seagrass, Zostera marina L. (eelgrass), often exist as discontinuous beds in estuaries, harbors, and bays where they can reproduce sexually or vegetatively through clonal propagation. We examined genetic structure three geographically morphologically distinct populations from central California (Elkhorn Slough, Tomales Bay, Del Monte Beach), using multilocus restriction fragment length polymorphisms (DNA fingerprints). Within-population similarity (Sw) values for...

Abstract The available scientific literature was reviewed to assess the taxonomic standing of North American wolves, including subspecies gray wolf, Canis lupus. recent proposal that eastern C. l. lycaon, is not a but full species, well-supported by both morphological and genetic data. This species' range extends westward Minnesota, it hybridizes with wolves where two species are in contact Canada Upper Peninsula Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Genetic data support close relationship between...

The global distribution of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) is a complex assembly consisting large number populations and described subspecies. How these lineages are related to one another still not fully resolved, largely due fact that geographical regions remain poorly sampled both at core periphery species' range. Analyses ancient wolves have also suffered from uneven sampling, but shown indications major turnover some point during Pleistocene-Holocene boundary in northern North America. Here...

Projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and sea ice forecasts suggest that Arctic will decline markedly in coming decades. Expected effects entire ecosystem include a contraction of suitable polar bear habitat into one or few refugia. Such large-scale fragmentation could lead to reduced genetic diversity. Here we compare variability four vagrant bears reached Iceland with recognized subpopulations from across range, examining 23 autosomal microsatellites,...

The contemporary genetic structure of animal populations is sculpted by past events, including demographic bottlenecks and expansions movement animals humans. In an analysis microsatellite DNA black bears (Ursus americanus; n = 540) across California, we discovered distinct population evidence 2 historic colonization events. First, genotypes sampled in southern California are most related to those from the Yosemite National Park region not with spatially intervening populations. Historical...

ABSTRACT A method for the isolation of total blade, chloroplast and nuclear DNAs from kelp is described. Total blade DNA was isolated various species at yields about 1.0 μg.g −1 wet weight tissue extracted. Purified were Macrocystis integrifolia respective 0.05 Hybridization experiments with a cloned portion 23S rRNA gene M. as probe (pMiR23S) showed that genome contains two copies gene. Three regions studied by restriction analysis cpDNA five genera. Respective differences assessed...

ABSTRACT The rates of net photosynthesis as a function irradiance and temperature were determined for gametophytes embryonic sporophytes the kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. Gametophytes exhibited higher photosynthetic based on oxygen pH measurements than their derived sporophytes, but reached light saturation at comparable levels. maximum 66.4 mg O 2 g dry wt −1 h (86.5 CO ), value approximately seven times rate reported previously adult sporophyte blades. saturated 70 μE m −2 s...

Abstract The red wolf ( Canis rufus ) of the eastern US was driven to near‐extinction by colonial‐era persecution and habitat conversion, which facilitated coyote C . latrans range expansion widespread hybridization with wolves. observation some grey lupus ancestry within wolves sparked controversy over whether it historically a subspecies its predominant “coyote‐like” obtained from post‐colonial (2‐species hypothesis) versus distinct species closely related that hybridized (3‐species...

The Hawaiian monk seal ( Monachus schauinslandi) is a critically endangered species that has failed to recover from human exploitation despite decades of protection and ongoing management efforts designed increase population growth. seals breed at five principal locations in the northwestern islands, inter‐island migration limited. Genetic variation this expected be low due recent bottleneck probable inbreeding within small subpopulations. To test hypothesis size strong site fidelity led...

Abstract We report a new approach for molecular sex identification of extant U rsinae and T remarctinae bears. Two Y‐specific fragments ( SMCY 318.2 ) one X‐specific fragment ZFX are amplified in multiplex PCR, yielding double test male‐specific amplification an internal positive control. The primers were designed tested to be bear‐specific, thereby minimizing the risk cross‐amplification other species including humans. high sensitivity small amplicon sizes (100, 124, 160 base pairs)...

Range expansion is a widespread biological process, with well-described theoretical expectations associated the colonization of novel ranges. However, comparatively few empirical studies address genomic outcomes accompanying genome-wide consequences range particularly in recent or ongoing expansions. Here, we assess two and distinct eastward fronts highly mobile carnivore, coyote (Canis latrans), to investigate patterns diversity identify variants that may have been under selection during...

Admixture and introgression play a critical role in adaptation genetic rescue that has only recently gained deeper appreciation. Here, we explored the geographical genomic landscape of cryptic ancestry endangered red wolf persists within genome ubiquitous sister taxon, coyote, all while been extinct wild since early 1980s. We assessed admixture across 120,621 single nucleotiode polymorphism (SNP) loci genotyped 293 canid genomes. found support for increased along west-to-east gradient...

Abstract A passive sampling technique was developed to collect eggs and confirm potential spawning sites for paddlefish Polyodon spathula in sandbed reaches of the lower Yellowstone River, Montana North Dakota. In 2000, egg collectors modeled after mats used sturgeon research proved difficult retrieve from riverbed did not eggs. 2001 2002, tubular designed remain suspended off bottom were successfully retrieved 97% time collected 130 acipenseriform along suspected (99% differentiable...

Spawning activity of paddlefish Polyodon spathula in the Missouri River, Montana 2008–2009 was examined to delineate spawning sites and times relation discharge, water temperature turbidity. One hundred thirty-six eggs were collected at temperatures ranging from 12.0 20.7°C (mean, 16.3°C; SD, 2.5). Only 12 89 (13%) congregations radio-tagged adults observed during period coincided with egg captures. Six larvae 19.1 21.7°C 20.5°C; 0.86). Peak discharge 2008 (903 m3 s−1 on 14 June)...