A5080865220- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Plant and animal studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Forest Biomass Utilization and Management
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Health and Medical Research Impacts
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Gene expression and cancer classification
- Bayesian Methods and Mixture Models
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Insect and Pesticide Research
University of Wyoming
2015-2024
Wyoming Department of Education
2019-2021
Abstract Hybridization is a potent evolutionary process that can affect the origin, maintenance, and loss of biodiversity. Because its ecological consequences, an understanding hybridization important for basic applied sciences, including conservation biology agriculture. Herein, we review discuss ideas are relevant to recognition hybrids hybridization. We supplement this discussion with simulations. The present have long history, particularly in botany, clarifying them should practical...
The genetic and ecological factors that shape the evolution of animal diets remain poorly understood. For herbivorous insects, expectation has been trade-offs exist, such adaptation to one host plant reduces performance on other potential hosts. We investigated architecture alternative use by rearing individual Lycaeides melissa butterflies from two wild populations in a crossed design hosts (one native introduced) analysing basis differences using genomic approaches. Survival during...
Abstract Non‐random mating among individuals can lead to spatial clustering of genetically similar and population stratification. This deviation from panmixia is commonly observed in natural populations. Consequently, have parentage single populations or involving hybridization between differentiated Accounting for this mixture structure important when mapping the genetics traits learning about formative evolutionary processes that shape genetic variation Stratified relatedness quantified...
Hybridization between diverged taxa tests the strength of reproductive isolation and can therefore reveal mechanisms isolation. However, it remains unclear how consistent is across species' ranges to what extent might remain polymorphic as species diverge. To address these questions, we compared outcomes hybridization pairs Catostomus fishes in three rivers Upper Colorado River basin, where an introduced species, C. commersoni, hybridizes with at least two native discobolus latipinnis. We...
Abstract Interactions between species are central to evolution and ecology, but we do not know enough about how outcomes of interactions vary across geographic locations, in heterogeneous environments, or over time. Ecological dimensions known vary, evolutionary such as the establishment maintenance reproductive isolation often assumed be consistent instances an interaction species. Hybridization among Catostomus fish occurs a large area taxa with distinct histories, which allows us assess...
Molecular ecology regularly requires the analysis of count data that reflect relative abundance features a composition (e.g., taxa in community, gene transcripts tissue). The sampling process generates these can be modelled using multinomial distribution. Replicate samples inform abundances an underlying Dirichlet These distributions together form hierarchical model for among replicates and groups. This type Dirichlet-multinomial modelling (DMM) has been described previously, but its...
Abstract In non‐model organisms, evolutionary questions are frequently addressed using reduced representation sequencing techniques due to their low cost, ease of use, and because they do not require genomic resources such as a reference genome. However, evidence is accumulating that may be affected by specific biases, questioning the accuracy obtained genotypes, consequence, usefulness in studies. Here, we introduce three strategies estimate genotyping error rates from data: through...
Abstract Genomic outcomes of hybridization depend on selection and recombination in hybrids. Whether these processes have similar effects hybrid genome composition contemporary zones versus ancient lineages is unknown. Here we show that patterns introgression a zone Lycaeides butterflies predict ancestry geographically adjacent, older populations. We find particularly striking lack from one the hybridizing taxa, melissa , Z chromosome both old The same pattern reduced L. seen two other...
Despite substantial interest in coevolution's role diversification, examples of coevolution contributing to speciation have been elusive. Here, we build upon past studies that shown both between South Hills crossbills and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), high levels reproductive isolation other ecotypes the North American red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) complex. We used genotyping by sequencing generate population genomic data applied phylogenetic genetic analyses characterize structure...
Emotions coordinate our behavior and physiological states during survival-salient events pleasurable interactions. Even though we are often consciously aware of current emotional state, such as anger or happiness, the mechanisms giving ...Emotions felt in body, somatosensory feedback has been proposed to trigger conscious experiences. Here reveal maps bodily sensations associated with different emotions using a unique topographical self-report method. In ...
The genomic architecture of functionally important traits is key to understanding the maintenance reproductive barriers and trait differences when divergent populations or species hybridize. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in natural hybrids two ecologically Populus species. genotyped 472 seedlings from hybrid zone alba tremula for markers reduced representation sequencing, phenotyped plants common gardens 46 phytochemical (phenylpropanoid), morphological growth traits,...
The most remarkable feature of our planet is the diversity its life forms, ranging from viruses and nanobacteria to blue whales giant sequoias satanic leaf-tailed geckos leafy seadragons (look them up!). Life found in essentially all environments on earth, number species living many times greater than we could have imagined a century ago. A well-regarded estimate pegs eukaryotic earth at 8.7 million (±1.3 million), which fewer 15% are currently described (Mora et al., 2011). prokaryotes less...
Hybrid zones have been viewed as an opportunity to see speciation in action. When hybrid are replicated, it is assumed that if the same genetic incompatibilities maintaining reproductive isolation across all instances of secondary contact, those should be identifiable by consistent patterns genome. In contrast, changes allele frequencies due drift idiosyncratic for each zone. To test this assumption, we simulated 20 replicates 12 zone scenarios with varied incompatibilities, rates migration,...
Advances in DNA sequencing have made it feasible to gather genomic data for non-model organisms and large sets of individuals, often using methods subsets the genome. Several these sequence associated with endonuclease restriction sites (various RAD GBS methods). For use taxa without a reference genome, rely on de novo assembly fragments library. Many software options available this application were originally developed other types we do not know their accuracy reduced representation...
Effects of plant variation and interacting species explain the colonization a novel host by Melissa blue butterfly.
Plant-insect interactions are common and important in basic applied biology. Trait genetic variation can affect the outcome evolution of these interactions, but relative contributions plant insect how interact remain unclear rarely subject to assessment same experimental context. Here, we address this knowledge gap using a recent host-range expansion onto alfalfa by Melissa blue butterfly. Common garden rearing experiments genomic data show that caterpillar performance depends on variation,...
Abstract The origin and history of species are shaped by various evolutionary dynamics, including their persistence in the face potential gene flow from related taxa. In this study, we use broad geographical taxonomic sampling (2,219 individuals) to establish distribution species, hybrids cryptic genetic variation within conifer genus Picea (spruce) across western North America. We demonstrate that six spruce region distinguishable based on composition, more closely Engelmann ( P....
Preserving connectivity in the core of a species' range is crucial for long-term persistence. However, combination ecological characteristics, social behavior, and landscape features can reduce among wildlife populations lead to genetic structure. Pronghorn (
Abstract Hybrid zones have been viewed as an opportunity to see speciation in action. When hybrid are replicated, it is assumed that if the same genetic incompatibilities maintaining reproductive isolation across all instances of secondary contact, those should be identifiable by consistent patterns genome. In contrast, changes allele frequencies due drift idiosyncratic for each zone. To test this assumption, we simulated 20 replicates 12 zone scenarios with varied incompatibilities, rates...
ABSTRACT Hybrid zones, where genetically distinct groups of organisms meet and interbreed, offer valuable insights into the nature species speciation. Here, we present a new R package, bgchm , for population genomic analyses hybrid zones. This package extends updates existing bgc software combines Bayesian hierarchical clines with methods estimating indexes, interpopulation ancestry proportions, geographic clines. Compared to software, offers enhanced efficiency through Hamiltonian Monte...
Abstract Infections by maternally inherited bacterial endosymbionts, especially Wolbachia, are common in insects and other invertebrates but infection dynamics across species ranges largely under studied. Specifically, we lack a broad understanding of the origin Wolbachia infections novel hosts, historical geographical that critical for identifying factors governing their spread. We used Genotype-by-Sequencing data from previous population genomics studies range-wide surveys presence genetic...
Summary Ecological differentiation can drive speciation but it is unclear how the genetic architecture of habitat‐dependent fitness contributes to lineage divergence. We investigated cumulative flowering, a component, in second‐generation hybrids between Silene dioica and latifolia transplanted into natural habitat each species. used reduced‐representation sequencing Bayesian sparse linear mixed models (BSLMMs) analyze control flowering habitat. Our results point polygenic flowering. Allelic...
New approaches to characterizing microbiomes via high-throughput sequencing provide impressive gains in efficiency and cost reduction compared that were standard just a few years ago. However, the speed of method development has been such staying abreast latest technological advances is challenging. Moreover, shifting laboratory protocols include new methods can be expensive time consuming. To facilitate adoption techniques, we guide review recent are relevant for single-locus sequence-based...