A5005645632- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Marine animal studies overview
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Advanced Algebra and Logic
- Climate variability and models
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
2016-2025
The University of Adelaide
2023-2024
University of Copenhagen
2020-2022
University of Otago
2016-2021
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
2015-2019
Flinders University
2016
North Tyneside General Hospital
2016
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
2015
Curtin University
2015
Significance The mode and tempo of extinctions extirpations after the first contact phase human settlements is a widely debated topic. As last major landmass to be settled by humans, New Zealand offers unique lens through which study interactions people biota. By analyzing ancient DNA from more than 5,000 nondiagnostic fragmented bones 38 subfossil assemblages, we describe species patterns that have been missed morphological approaches. We report identification five whale an archaeological...
Abstract Background Penguins (Sphenisciformes) are a remarkable order of flightless wing-propelled diving seabirds distributed widely across the southern hemisphere. They share volant common ancestor with Procellariiformes close to Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (66 million years ago) and subsequently lost ability fly but enhanced their capabilities. With ∼20 species among 6 genera, penguins range from tropical Galápagos Islands oceanic temperate forests New Zealand, rocky coastlines...
Principal component analysis (PCA), homozygosity rate estimations, and linkage studies in humans are classically conducted through genome-wide single-nucleotide variant arrays (GWSA). We compared whole-exome sequencing (WES) GWSA for this purpose. analyzed 110 subjects originating from different regions of the world, including North Africa Middle East, which poorly covered by public databases have high consanguinity rates. tested applied a number quality control (QC) filters. Compared with...
Abstract Comprehending ecological dynamics requires not only knowledge of modern communities but also detailed reconstructions ecosystem history. Ancient DNA (aDNA) metabarcoding allows biodiversity responses to major climatic change be explored at different spatial and temporal scales. We extracted aDNA preserved in fossil rodent middens reconstruct late Quaternary vegetation the hyperarid Atacama Desert. By comparing our paleo‐informed millennial record with contemporary observations...
Abstract Penguins lost the ability to fly more than 60 million years ago, subsequently evolving a hyper-specialized marine body plan. Within framework of genome-scale, fossil-inclusive phylogeny, we identify key geological events that shaped penguin diversification and genomic signatures consistent with widespread refugia/recolonization during major climate oscillations. We further suite genes potentially underpinning adaptations related thermoregulation, oxygenation, diving, vision, diet,...
CR Climate Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsSpecials 66:75-89 (2015) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01332 Effects of sea temperature and stratification changes on seabird breeding success M. J. Carroll1,*, A. Butler2, E. Owen3, S. R. Ewing4, T. Cole4, Green5, L. Soanes5, P. Y. Arnould6, F. Newton7, Baer7,11, Daunt8, Wanless8, Newell8, G. Robertson9,12, Mavor10, Bolton1 1RSPB...
The emergence of islands has been linked to spectacular radiations diverse organisms. Although penguins spend much their lives at sea, they rely on land for nesting, and a high proportion extant species are endemic geologically young islands. Islands may thus have crucial the evolutionary diversification penguins. We test this hypothesis using fossil-calibrated phylogeny mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from all recently extinct penguin taxa. Our temporal analysis demonstrates that...
Climate shifts are key drivers of ecosystem change. Despite the critical importance Antarctica and Southern Ocean for global climate, extent climate-driven ecological change in this region remains controversial. In particular, biological effects changing sea ice conditions poorly understood. We hypothesize that rapid postglacial reductions drove across multiple widespread species. test demographic driven by climate events over recent millennia analyzing population genomic datasets spanning 3...
Abstract Microsatellite loci are ideal for testing hypotheses relating to genetic segregation at fine spatio‐temporal scales. They also conserved among closely related species, making them potentially useful clarifying interspecific relationships between recently diverged taxa. However, mutations primer binding sites may lead increased nonamplification, or disruptions that result in decreased polymorphism nontarget species. Furthermore, high mutation rates and constraints on allele size with...
We report 156 sediment metagenomes from Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colonies dating back 6000 years along the Ross Sea coast, Antarctica, and identify marine terrestrial eukaryotes, including locally occurring bird seal species. The data reveal spatiotemporal patterns of diet, spatial in consumption cnidarians, a historically overlooked component diets. Relative proportions mitochondrial lineages detected at each colony are comparable to those previously reported bones. Elevated...
Speciation through homoploid hybridization (HHS) is considered extremely rare in animals. This mainly because the establishment of reproductive isolation as a product uncommon. Additionally, many traits are underpinned by polygeny and/or incomplete dominance, where hybrid phenotype an additive blend parental characteristics. Phenotypically intermediate hybrids usually at fitness disadvantage compared with species and tend to vanish backcrossing population(s). It therefore unknown whether...
We sought to determine mercury (Hg) and other trace metal concentrations in Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) breast feathers from the Ross Sea, Antarctica, relate those trophic position habitats which each of these species forage. southern Sea colonies were higher Hg than sampled further north potentially due greater exposure local sources, such as volcanism. Female penguins had lower feather total males. This may reflect female penguin's capacity eliminate...
Abstract Mergansers are riverine and coastal piscivorous ducks that widespread throughout North America Eurasia but uncommon in the Southern Hemisphere. One species occurs South at least two extinct known from New Zealand. It has been proposed these Hemisphere merganser lineages were founded by independent dispersal events Northern However, some morphological behavioural evidence suggests mergansers may form a monophyletic clade descended only single event For example, share several...
In the 25 years since first DNA sequences were obtained from extinct moa, ancient analyses have significantly advanced our understanding of New Zealand's unique fauna. Here, we review how extracted faunal remains has provided new insights into evolutionary histories and phylogenetic relationships Zealand animals, impacts human activities upon their populations. Moreover, played a key role in improving ability to taxonomically identify fragmentary animal remains, determine biological function...
Inter-individual differences in demographic traits of iteroparous species can arise through learning and maturation, as well from permanent individual ‘quality’ sex-specific constraints. As the ability to acquire energy determines resources an allocate reproduction self-maintenance, foraging behavior is a key trait study better understand mechanisms underlying these differences. So far, most seabird studies have focused on effect maturation processes performance, while only few included...
Penguins (Sphenisciformes) are an iconic order of flightless, diving seabirds distributed across a large latitudinal range in the Southern Hemisphere. The extensive area over which penguins endemic is likely to have fostered variation pathogen pressure, turn will imposed differential selective pressures on penguin immune system. At front line detection and response, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) provide insight into host evolution face microbial challenge. TLRs respond conserved...
Abstract We describe a new species of Polynesian sandpiper from Henderson Island, Prosobonia sauli sp. nov., based on multiple Holocene fossil bones collected during the Sir Peter Scott Commemorative Expedition to Pitcairn Islands (1991–92). is only be described bone accumulations and extends record known extinct sandpipers four. It readily differentiated extant Tuamotu Sandpiper P. parvirostris in several features legs bill, implying ecological adaptations different environments. The...
Abstract Interspecific introgression can occur between species that evolve rapidly within an adaptive radiation. Pachyptila petrels differ in bill size and are characterised by incomplete reproductive isolation, leading to interspecific gene flow. Salvin’s prion ( salvini ), whose width is intermediate broad-billed P. vittata ) Antarctic desolata prions, evolved through homoploid hybrid speciation. MacGillivray’s macgillivrayi known from a single population on St Paul (Indian Ocean), has...
The penguin species Tasidyptes hunterivan Tets & O’Connor, 1983, the sole representative of an extinct genus, was described on basis four bones excavated from a prehistoric midden Tasmania’s Hunter Island. Several authors have since questioned validity T. hunteri, citing fragmentary nature remains and similarity some elements (coracoid tarsometatarsus) to those extant crested (Eudyptes) species. We designed overlapping primer pairs amplify 499 bp region mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1...