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Urbanization has dramatic impacts on natural habitats and such changes may potentially drive local adaptation of urban populations. Behavioral change has been specifically shown to facilitate the fast adaptation of birds to changing environments, but few studies have investigated the genetic mechanisms of this process. Such investigations could provide insights into questions about both evolutionary theory and management of urban populations. In this study, we investigated whether local adaptation has occurred in urban populations of a Neotropical bird species, Coereba flaveola , specifically addressing whether observed behavioral adaptations are correlated to genetic signatures of natural selection. To answer this question, we sampled 24 individuals in urban and rural environments, and searched for selected loci through a genome-scan approach based on RADseq genomic data, generated and assembled using a reference genome for the species. We recovered 46 loci as putative selection outliers, and 30 of them were identified as associated with biological processes possibly related to urban adaptation, such as the regulation of energetic metabolism, regulation of genetic expression, and changes in the immunological system. Moreover, genes involved in the development of the nervous system showed signatures of selection, suggesting a link between behavioral and genetic adaptations. Our findings, in conjunction with similar results in previous studies, support the idea that cities provide a similar selective pressure on urban populations and that behavioral plasticity may be enhanced through genetic changes in urban populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colletotrichum lupini, the causative agent of lupin anthracnose, affects lupin cultivation worldwide. Understanding its population structure and evolutionary potential is crucial to design successful disease management strategies. The objective of this study was to employ population genetics to investigate the diversity, evolutionary dynamics, and molecular basis of the interaction of this notorious lupin pathogen with its host. A collection of globally representative C. lupini isolates was genotyped through triple digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing, resulting in a data set of unparalleled resolution. Phylogenetic and structural analysis could distinguish four independent lineages (I–IV). The strong population structure and high overall standardized index of association (r̅d) indicates that C. lupini reproduces clonally. Different morphologies and virulence patterns on white lupin (Lupinus albus) and Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) were observed between and within clonal lineages. Isolates belonging to lineage II were shown to have a minichromosome that was also partly present in lineage III and IV, but not in lineage I isolates. Variation in the presence of this minichromosome could imply a role in host–pathogen interaction. All four lineages were present in the South American Andes region, which is suggested to be the centre of origin of this species. Only members of lineage II have been found outside South America since the 1990s, indicating it as the current pandemic population. As a seedborne pathogen, C. lupini has mainly spread through infected but symptomless seeds, stressing the importance of phytosanitary measures to prevent future outbreaks of strains that are yet confined to South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact that climate had in shaping cranial variation is critical for inferring the evolutionary mechanisms that played a role in human diversification. Here, we provide a comprehensive study aiming to analyze the association between climate and cranial variation of high latitude populations living in temperate to cold environments of Asia, North America, and South America. For this, we compiled a large morphometric dataset (N = 2633), which was combined with climatic and genomic data. We tested the influence of climate on the facial skeleton, nasal protrusion, and cranial vault and through multiple statistical tests at two geographical scales: intracontinental and intercontinental. We show that populations living in cold areas share a morphological pattern characterized by an increase in nasal height, facial and orbital heights and widths, a decrease in facial protrusion, and larger, longer, and lower cranial vaults. There are also distinctive features; populations from north Asia present the tallest noses, largest faces, and cranial vaults of the whole sample. Nasal breadth dimensions show small values in Asians, large values in South Americans, and non-significant changes in arctic North America. The morphological pattern in populations living at high latitude may be the result of parallel adaptation, as supported by physiological, morphometric, ecological, and genetic explanations, while the differences in magnitude and phenotypic expression could be due to the diverse population histories, severity of climate, and cultural strategies. Overall, our study shows that climate is a relevant factor shaping modern human morphology and it should be considered when studying modern human evolution and diversification., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.)

Biogeographic studies have generally relied on methods that use a few, large predefined areas, which may overlook fine-scale patterns. Here we test previous hypotheses about the biogeographic history of a diverse bat clade regarding its association with major Neotropical geological formations, particularly the Antilles, the South American Dry Diagonal, the Andes and the Panamanian land bridge, by applying a recently available method that uses actual distributions instead of predefined areas. We compiled and curated spatially explicit, georeferenced data of 173 bat species (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Noctilionoidea) from the online database Global Biodiversity Information Facility. By taking a previous comprehensive phylogeny as an evolutionary framework, we performed computationally intensive analyses using the Geographically-explicit Event Model. This method uses the observed species distributions to reconstruct the ancestral areas and biogeographic events at each phylogeny node. We found that sympatric speciation was the most frequently reconstructed event, and involved mainly the Panamanian Isthmus and northern South America (SA), but all sympatry reconstructions were different and specific to each node. Allopatric events were important in the Andes; vicariance caused both west/east and north/south disjunctions that went unnoticed previously. Founder events indicated bidirectional dispersal between the mainland and the Antilles since the Miocene, and across the incomplete Panamanian bridge and the SA Dry Diagonal since the early Pliocene. Overall, we found support for previous hypotheses on the influence of major Neotropical paleogeographic events in the diversification of the group, but additionally revealed multi-scale patterns that are embedded within the mainland and were previously overlooked. Our results highlight a trans-isthmian centre of diversification in the biogeographic history of Noctilionoidea including the Panamanian Isthmus and Northern SA., (© 2024 Willi Hennig Society.)

Tropical alpine floras are renowned for high endemism, spectacular giant rosette plants testifying to convergent adaptation to harsh climates with nightly frosts, and recruitment dominated by long-distance dispersal from remote areas. In contrast to the larger, more recent (late Miocene onward) and contiguous expanses of tropical alpine habitat in South America, the tropical alpine flora in Africa is extremely fragmented across small patches on distant mountains of variable age (Oligocene onward). How this has affected the colonization and diversification history of the highly endemic but species-poor afroalpine flora is not well known. Here we infer phylogenetic relationships of ~20% of its species using novel genome skimming data and published matrices and infer a timeframe for species origins in the afroalpine region using fossil-calibrated molecular clocks. Although some of the mountains are old, and although stem node ages may substantially predate colonization, most lineages appear to have colonized the afroalpine during the last 5 or 10 My. The accumulation of spe-cies increased exponentially toward the present. Taken together with recent reports of extremely low intrapopulation genetic diversity and recent intermountain population divergence, this points to a young, unsaturated, and dynamic island scenario. Habitat disturbance caused by the Pleistocene climate oscillations likely induced cycles of colonization, speciation, extinction, and recolonization. This study contributes to our understanding of differences in the histories of recruitment on different tropical sky islands and on oceanic islands, providing insight into the general processes shaping their remarkable floras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fasciola hepatica is a worldwide emerging and re-emerging parasite heavily affecting several regions in South America. Some lymnaeid snail species of American origin are among the major hosts of F. hepatica worldwide. Recent paleoparasitological findings detected its DNA in a 2300-year-old sample in Patagonia, countering the common hypothesis of the recent arrival of F. hepatica in the Americas during European colonization. Thus, the theory of an initial introduction in the 1500s can no longer be sustained. This article discusses how it was possible for F. hepatica to reach and spread in the Americas in relation to the availability and compatibility of hosts through natural and incidental introductions. Our study will serve to better understand the ongoing Neotropical scenario of fasciolosis. The possible ways in which Fasciola hepatica arrived in the Americas are discussed. F. hepatica interaction with American lymnaeid snails dates back long before the 1500s and is more ancient than European colonization. Adaptation during the spread of F. hepatica favored strong compatibility with amphibious lymnaeids. Ancient circulation of F. hepatica in the Americas is consistent with both hyperendemic human and extended cattle transmission today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the genetic basis of environmental adaptation in natural populations is a central goal in evolutionary biology. The conditions at high elevation, particularly the low oxygen available in the ambient air, impose a significant and chronic environmental challenge to metabolically active animals with lowland ancestry. To understand the process of adaptation to these novel conditions and to assess the repeatability of evolution over short timescales, we examined the signature of selection from complete exome sequences of house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) sampled across two elevational transects in the Andes of South America. Using phylogenetic analysis, we show that house mice colonized high elevations independently in Ecuador and Bolivia. Overall, we found distinct responses to selection in each transect and largely nonoverlapping sets of candidate genes, consistent with the complex nature of traits that underlie adaptation to low oxygen availability (hypoxia) in other species. Nonetheless, we also identified a small subset of the genome that appears to be under parallel selection at the gene and SNP levels. In particular, three genes (Col22a1, Fgf14, and srGAP1) bore strong signatures of selection in both transects. Finally, we observed several patterns that were common to both transects, including an excess of derived alleles at high elevation, and a number of hypoxia-associated genes exhibiting a threshold effect, with a large allele frequency change only at the highest elevations. This threshold effect suggests that selection pressures may increase disproportionately at high elevations in mammals, consistent with observations of some high-elevation diseases in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

AbstractPhenotypic macroevolutionary studies provide insight into how ecological processes shape biodiversity. However, the complexity of phenotype-ecology relationships underscores the importance of also validating phenotype-based ecological inference with direct evidence of resource use. Unfortunately, macroevolutionary-scale ecological studies are often hindered by the challenges of acquiring taxonomically and spatially representative ecological data for large and widely distributed clades. The South American cichlid fish tribe Geophagini represents a continentally distributed radiation whose early locomotor morphological divergence suggests habitat as one ecological correlate of diversification, but an association between locomotor traits and habitat preference has not been corroborated. Field notes accumulated over decades of collecting across South America provide firsthand environmental records that can be mined for habitat data in support of macroevolutionary ecological research. In this study, we applied a newly developed method to transform descriptive field note information into quantitative habitat data and used it to assess habitat preference and its relationship to locomotor morphology in Geophagini. Field note-derived data shed light on geophagine habitat use patterns and reinforced habitat as an ecological correlate of locomotor morphological diversity. Our work emphasizes the rich data potential of museum collections, including often-overlooked material such as field notes, for evolutionary and ecological research.

Obligatory ant-plant symbioses often appear to be single evolutionary shifts within particular ant lineages; however, convergence can be revealed once natural history observations are complemented with molecular phylogenetics. Here, we describe a remarkable example of convergent evolution in an ant-plant symbiotic system. Exclusively arboreal, Myrmelachista species can be generalized opportunists nesting in several plant species or obligately symbiotic, live-stem nesters of a narrow set of plant species. Instances of specialization within Myrmelachista are known from northern South America and throughout Middle America. In Middle America, a diverse radiation of specialists occupies understory treelets of lowland rainforests. The morphological and behavioural uniformity of specialists suggests that they form a monophyletic assemblage, diversifying after a single origin of specialization. Using ultraconserved element phylogenomics and ancestral state reconstructions, we show that shifts from opportunistic to obligately symbiotic evolved independently in South and Middle America. Furthermore, our analyses support a remarkable case of convergence within the Middle American radiation, with two independently evolved specialist clades, arising nearly simultaneously from putative opportunistic ancestors during the late Pliocene. This repeated evolution of a complex phenotype suggests similar mechanisms behind trait shifts from opportunists to specialists, generating further questions about the selective forces driving specialization.

The remarkably diverse plant communities of the Neotropics are the result of diversification driven by multiple biotic (for example, speciation, extinction and dispersal) and abiotic (for example, climatic and tectonic) processes. However, in the absence of a well-preserved, thoroughly sampled and critically assessed fossil record, the associated processes of dispersal and extinction are poorly understood. We report an exceptional case study documenting patterns of extinction in the grape family (Vitaceae Juss.) on the basis of fossil seeds discovered in four Neotropical palaeofloras dated between 60 and 19 Ma. These include a new species that provides the earliest evidence of Vitaceae in the Western Hemisphere. Eight additional species reveal the former presence of major clades of the family that are currently absent from the Neotropics and elucidate previously unknown dispersal events. Our results indicate that regional extinction and dispersal have substantially impacted the evolutionary history of Vitaceae in the Neotropics. They also suggest that while the Neotropics have been dynamic centres of diversification through the Cenozoic, extant Neotropical botanical diversity has also been shaped by extensive extinction over the past 66 million years., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

New World porcupines (Erethizontinae) originated in South America and dispersed into North America as part of the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) 3-4 million years ago. 1 Extant prehensile-tailed porcupines (Coendou) today live in tropical forests of Central and South America. 2 , 3 In contrast, North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are thought to be ecologically adapted to higher-latitude temperate forests, with a larger body, shorter tail, and diet that includes bark. 4 Here, we describe functionally important features of the skeleton of the extinct Erethizon poyeri, the oldest nearly complete porcupine skeleton documented from North America, found in the early Pleistocene of Florida. It differs from extant E. dorsatum in having a long, prehensile tail, grasping foot, and lacking dental specializations for bark gnawing, similar to tropical Coendou. Results from phylogenetic analysis suggest that the more arboreal characteristics found in E. poyeri are ancestral for erethizontines. Only after it expanded into temperate, Nearctic habitats did Erethizon acquire the characteristic features that it is known for today. When combined with molecular estimates of divergence times, results suggest that Erethizon was ecologically similar to a larger species of Coendou when it crossed the Isthmus of Panama by the early Pleistocene. It is likely that the range of this more tropically adapted form was limited to a continuous forested biome that extended from South America through the Gulf Coast., 5 , 6 , 7 Limited fossils 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 have hindered our understanding of the timing of this ecological differentiation relative to intercontinental dispersal during the GABI and expansion into temperate habitats. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 Here, we describe functionally important features of the skeleton of the extinct Erethizon poyeri, the oldest nearly complete porcupine skeleton documented from North America, found in the early Pleistocene of Florida. It differs from extant E. dorsatum in having a long, prehensile tail, grasping foot, and lacking dental specializations for bark gnawing, similar to tropical Coendou. Results from phylogenetic analysis suggest that the more arboreal characteristics found in E. poyeri are ancestral for erethizontines. Only after it expanded into temperate, Nearctic habitats did Erethizon acquire the characteristic features that it is known for today. When combined with molecular estimates of divergence times, results suggest that Erethizon was ecologically similar to a larger species of Coendou when it crossed the Isthmus of Panama by the early Pleistocene. It is likely that the range of this more tropically adapted form was limited to a continuous forested biome that extended from South America through the Gulf Coast., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The nasal cavity of living mammals is a unique structural complex among tetrapods, acquired along a series of major morphological transformations that occurred mainly during the Mesozoic Era, within the Synapsida clade. Particularly, non-mammaliaform cynodonts document several morphological changes in the skull, during the Triassic Period, that represent the first steps of the mammalian bauplan. We here explore the nasal cavity of five cynodont taxa, namely Thrinaxodon, Chiniquodon, Prozostrodon, Riograndia, and Brasilodon, in order to discuss the main changes within this skull region. We did not identify ossified turbinals in the nasal cavity of these taxa and if present, as non-ossified structures, they would not necessarily be associated with temperature control or the development of endothermy. We do, however, notice a complexification of the cartilage anchoring structures that divide the nasal cavity and separate it from the brain region in these forerunners of mammals., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Eustachys presents lower diversity in the Old World than in the Neotropics and it occurs disjunctly between main tropical regions. This qualifies Eustachys as a good model to test whether lineages expand their niches during the process of range expansion. We performed ancestral range reconstruction, compared environmental spaces of the different geographic areas and assessed bioclimatic trait evolution. Ancestral range reconstruction indicated that most speciation in Eustachys occurred in the South America. Ancestral climatic niches of the New World are different from those of African and Australasia lineages. Our results show that Eustachys experienced niche expansion when it reached the New World. Evolutionary history of Eustachys illustrates how the range expansion promoted climatic niche shifts, which could drive unbalanced species richness of the genus among different tropical regions.

Although the evolutionary history of anthropoid primates (monkeys, apes, and humans) appears relatively well-documented, there is limited data available regarding their origins and early evolution. We review and discuss here the earliest records of anthropoid primates from Asia, Africa, and South America. New fossils provide strong support for the Asian origin of anthropoid primates. However, the earliest recorded anthropoids from Africa and South America are still subject to debate, and the early evolution and dispersal of platyrhines to South America remain unclear. Because of the rarity and incomplete nature of many stem anthropoid taxa, establishing the phylogenetic relationships among the earliest anthropoids remains challenging. Nonetheless, by examining evidence from anthropoids and other mammalian groups, we demonstrate that several dispersal events occurred between South Asia and Afro-Arabia during the middle Eocene to the early Oligocene. It is possible that a microplate situated in the middle of the Neotethys Ocean significantly reduced the distance of overseas dispersal., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The diversity of habitats generated by the Andes uplift resulted a mosaic of heterogeneous environments in South America for species to evolve a variety of ecological and physiological specializations. Species in the lizard family Liolaemidae occupy a myriad of habitats in the Andes. Here, we analyze the tempo and mode of evolution in the thermal biology of liolaemids. We assessed whether there is evidence of local adaptation (lability) or conservatism (stasis) in thermal traits. We tested the hypothesis that abiotic factors (e.g., geography, climate) rather than intrinsic factors (egg‐laying [oviparous] or live‐bearing [viviparous], substrate affinity) explain variation in field active body temperature (Tb), preferred temperature (Tp), hours of restriction of activity, and potential hours of activity. Although most traits exhibited high phylogenetic signal, we found variation in thermal biology was shaped by geography, climate, and ecological diversity. Ancestral character reconstruction showed shifts in Tb tracked environmental change in the past ∼20,000 years. Thermal preference is 3°C higher than Tb, yet exhibited a lower rate of evolution than Tb and air temperature. Viviparous Liolaemus have lower Tbs than oviparous species, whereas Tp is high for both modes of reproduction, a key difference that results in a thermal buffer for viviparous species to cope with global warming. The rapid increase in environmental temperatures expected in the next 50–80 years in combination with anthropogenic loss of habitats are projected to cause extirpations and extinctions in oviparous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of habitats generated by the Andes uplift resulted a mosaic of heterogeneous environments in South America for species to evolve a variety of ecological and physiological specializations. Species in the lizard family Liolaemidae occupy a myriad of habitats in the Andes. Here, we analyze the tempo and mode of evolution in the thermal biology of liolaemids. We assessed whether there is evidence of local adaptation (lability) or conservatism (stasis) in thermal traits. We tested the hypothesis that abiotic factors (e.g., geography, climate) rather than intrinsic factors (egg‐laying [oviparous] or live‐bearing [viviparous], substrate affinity) explain variation in field active body temperature (Tb), preferred temperature (Tp), hours of restriction of activity, and potential hours of activity. Although most traits exhibited high phylogenetic signal, we found variation in thermal biology was shaped by geography, climate, and ecological diversity. Ancestral character reconstruction showed shifts in Tb tracked environmental change in the past ∼20,000 years. Thermal preference is 3°C higher than Tb, yet exhibited a lower rate of evolution than Tb and air temperature. Viviparous Liolaemus have lower Tbs than oviparous species, whereas Tp is high for both modes of reproduction, a key difference that results in a thermal buffer for viviparous species to cope with global warming. The rapid increase in environmental temperatures expected in the next 50–80 years in combination with anthropogenic loss of habitats are projected to cause extirpations and extinctions in oviparous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies of the malaria parasites infecting various non-human primates (NHPs) have increased our understanding of the origin, biology and pathogenesis of human Plasmodium parasites.This review considers the major discoveries concerning NHP malaria parasites, highlights their relationships with human malaria and considers the impact that this may have on attempts to eradicate the disease.Results: The first description of NHP malaria parasites dates back to the early 20th century. Subsequently, experimental and fortuitous findings indicating that some NHP malaria parasites can be transmitted to humans have raised concerns about the possible impact of a zoonotic malaria reservoir on efforts to control human malaria.Advances in molecular techniques over the last 15 years have contributed greatly to our knowledge of the existence and geographical distribution of numerous Plasmodium species infecting NHPs, and extended our understanding of their close phylogenetic relationships with human malaria parasites. The clinical application of such techniques has also made it possible to document ongoing spillovers of NHP malaria parasites (Plasmodium knowlesi, P. cynomolgi, P. simium, P. brasilianum) in humans living in or near the forests of Asia and South America, thus confirming that zoonotic malaria can undermine efforts to eradicate human malaria.Conclusions: Increasing molecular research supports the prophetic intuition of the pioneers of modern malariology who saw zoonotic malaria as a potential obstacle to the full success of malaria eradication programmes. It is, therefore, important to continue surveillance and research based on one-health approaches in order to improve our understanding of the complex interactions between NHPs, mosquito vectors and humans during a period of ongoing changes in the climate and the use of land, monitor the evolution of zoonotic malaria, identify the populations most at risk and implement appropriate preventive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interest in the evolution of climatic niches, particularly in understanding the potential adaptive responses of species under climate change, has increased both theoretically and within macroecological studies. These studies have provided valuable insights into how climatic traits of species influence their niche evolution. In this study, we aim to investigate whether niche conservatism plays a role in the species diversification of Nymphaea, a group of aquatic plants with a cosmopolitan distribution that is facing severe habitat loss. We will use climatic models and phylogenetic data for 23 species to reconstruct Nymphaea's niche evolution, measure niche overlap, and assess disparity through time while testing for evolutionary models., Results: There was a lot of overlap in niches both within and between groups, especially for species that can be found in many places. The breadth and peaks of the niche profile varied depending on the bioclimatic variables, which suggested that the species evolved differently to cope with changes in climate. The analysis also showed that evolutionary changes happened across the phylogeny, with weak to moderate signals. The morphological disparity index (MDI) values indicated that there were disparities within subclades over time but not between or among them. Niche reconstruction and evolution analysis revealed both convergent and divergent evolution among various variables. For example, N. immutabilis, N. atrans, N. violancea, and N. nouchali evolved towards intermediate temperatures for bio2 and bio3 (isothermity) while moving towards extreme temperatures for bio8 and bio9 (wettest and driest average quarterly temperatures)., Conclusion: Our study will improve our understanding of how changes in climatic niches are potentially driving the evolution of Nymphaea. It has significant scientific implications for the limits, assemblages, evolution, and diversification of species. This information is crucial for the ongoing efforts of conservation and management, particularly considering the inevitable effects of climate change., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Terror birds (Aves, Phorusrhacidae) were large flightless apex predators in South America during the Cenozoic. Here, we estimate a new phylogeny for phorusrhacids using Bayesian inference. We demonstrate phylogenetic evidence for a monophyletic Patagornithinae and find significant support for a distinct crown group associated with the quintessential 'terror bird' characteristics. We use this phylogeny to analyse the evolution of body size and cursoriality. Our results reveal that size overlap was rare between co-occurring subfamilies, supporting the hypothesis that these traits were important for niche partitioning. We observe that gigantism evolved in a single clade, containing Phorusrhacinae and Physornithinae. The members of this lineage were consistently larger than all other phorusrhacids. Phorusrhacinae emerged following the extinction of Physornithinae, suggesting the ecological succession of the apex predator niche. The first known phorusrhacine, Phorusrhacos longissimus , was gigantic but significantly smaller and more cursorial than any physornithine. These traits likely evolved in response to the expansion of open environments. Following the Santacrucian SALMA, phorusrhacines increased in size, further converging on the morphology of Physornithinae. These findings suggest that the evolution and displacement of body size drove terror bird niche partitioning and competitive exclusion controlled phorusrhacid diversity.

Exploring the phylogenetic signal of morphological traits using geometric morphometry represents a powerful approach to assess the relative weights of convergence and shared evolutionary history in shaping species' forms. We evaluated the phylogenetic signal in shape and size of ventral and dorsal haptoral anchors of 10 species of monogenoids ( Hamatopeduncularia , Chauhanellus and Susanlimocotyle ) occurring in marine catfish (Siluriformes: Ariidae) from the Atlantic coast of South America. The phylogenetic relationships among these species were mapped onto the morphospaces of shape and size of dorsal and ventral anchors. Two different tests (squared change-parsimony and K mult ) were applied to establish whether the spatial positions in the phylomorphospace were influenced by phylogenetic relationships. A significant phylogenetic signal was found between anchor form and parasite phylogeny. Allometric effects on anchor shape were non-significant. Phylogenetically distant species on the same host differed markedly in anchor morphology, suggesting little influence of host species on anchor form. A significantly higher level of shape variation among ventral anchors was also found, suggesting that the evolutionary forces shaping ventral anchor morphology may operate with differing intensities or exhibit distinct mechanisms compared to their dorsal counterparts. Our results suggest that phylogenetic relationships were a key driver of changes in shape (but not size) of anchors of monogenoids of South American ariids. However, it seems that the emergence of the digitiform haptor in Hamatopenducularia and in some species of Chauhanellus played an important role in the reduction in anchor size and may cause secondary losses of anchors in other groups of monogenoids.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been initiating pandemics since the beginning of the century. In December 2019, the world was hit again by a devastating SARS episode that has so far infected almost four million individuals worldwide, with over 200,000 fatalities having already occurred by mid-April 2020, and the infection rate continues to grow exponentially. SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a single stranded RNA pathogen which is characterised by a high mutation rate. It is vital to explore the mutagenic capability of the viral genome that enables SARS-CoV-2 to rapidly jump from one host immunity to another and adapt to the genetic pool of local populations.Methods: For this study, we analysed 2301 complete viral sequences reported from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. SARS-CoV-2 host genomes were collected from The Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database containing 9 genomes from pangolin-CoV origin and 3 genomes from bat-CoV origin, Wuhan SARS-CoV2 reference genome was collected from GeneBank database. The Multiple sequence alignment tool, Clustal Omega was used for genomic sequence alignment. The viral replicating enzyme, 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro) that plays a key role in its pathogenicity was used to assess its affinity with pharmacological inhibitors and repurposed drugs such as anti-viral flavones, biflavanoids, anti-malarial drugs and vitamin supplements.Results: Our results demonstrate that bat-CoV shares > 96% similar identity, while pangolin-CoV shares 85.98% identity with Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 genome. This in-depth analysis has identified 12 novel recurrent mutations in South American and African viral genomes out of which 3 were unique in South America, 4 unique in Africa and 5 were present in-patient isolates from both populations. Using state of the art in silico approaches, this study further investigates the interaction of repurposed drugs with the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro enzyme, which regulates viral replication machinery.Conclusions: Overall, this study provides insights into the evolving mutations, with implications to understand viral pathogenicity and possible new strategies for repurposing compounds to combat the nCovid-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista del CESLA is the property of University of Warsaw and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Eocene-Oligocene boundary (EOB) marks a period of remodeling in the metatherian faunas of South America. Paucituberculata was one of the groups that successfully diversified as the climate and environment conditions changed, and they became, during the first part of the Neogene, an important component of micromammal assemblages. Among paucituberculatans, the non-pichipilid palaeothentoids (NPP) has been recognized as the clade that diversified most widely in post-EOB times. Here we explore the evolutionary response of the NPP to the climatic-environmental changes around the EOB, by analysing the temporal patterns of disparity, taxonomic diversity and body mass in a phylogenetic context. To asses the magnitude of the NPP radiation comparisons based on these macroevolutionary parameters were done with its sister-group Pichipilidae, and its next closest relative, the Caenolestidae. In all considered parameters, NPP reached values significantly higher than the remaining paucituberculatans clades. From its initial diversification in the middle Eocene, taxonomic diversity increased through time, but it was decoupled from disparity across the EOB, and from the late Oligocene to early Miocene. The Oligocene emerges as the key period in NPP evolution, which is evidenced by a significant and concordant expansion of disparity and taxonomic diversity, suggesting evolution into empty ecospace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of URVIO - Revista Latinoamericana de Seguridad Ciudadana is the property of FLACSO - Ecuador (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Evolutionary convergence of color pattern in mimetic species is tightly linked with the evolution of chemical defenses. Yet, the evolutionary forces involved in natural variations of chemical defenses in aposematic species are still understudied. Herein, we focus on the evolution of chemical defenses in the butterfly tribe Heliconiini. These neotropical butterflies contain large concentrations of cyanogenic glucosides, cyanide‐releasing compounds acting as predator deterrent. These compounds are either de novo synthesized or sequestered from their Passiflora host plant, so that their concentrations may depend on host plant specialization and host plant availability. We sampled 375 wild Heliconiini butterflies across Central and South America, covering 43% species of this clade, and quantify individual variations in the different CGs using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. We detected new compounds and important variations in chemical defenses both within and among species. Based on the most recent and well‐studied phylogeny of Heliconiini, we show that ecological factors such as mimetic interactions and host plant specialization have a significant association with chemical profiles, but these effects are largely explained by phylogenetic relationships. Our results therefore suggest that shared ancestries largely contribute to chemical defense variation, pointing out at the interaction between historical and ecological factors in the evolution of Müllerian mimicry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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It is not a new concept that marsupials and placentals are distant and distinct clades among mammals. In South America, these animals coexist, occupy similar niches and, in some cases, are similar in appearance. This is especially true with respect to the locomotor categories of smaller rodents belonging to the family Cricetidae or, more specifically, the subfamily Sigmodontinae, compared with the marsupials of the Didelphidae family. In this study, we have investigated both the similarities and the differences between the two clades by examining locomotion-dependent adaptation, a crucial survival mechanism that has affected the morphology of both clades. We applied geometric morphometrics to quantify the shape of the scapula, which is a very adaptable structure. We found similar morphological adaptations between the clades, especially with respect to adaptation to life in trees. Moreover, Didelphidae are influenced by phylogenetic history to a greater extent than Sigmodontinae with regard to variation of scapula shape and allometry. These differences can be explained by the greater degree of body size variation that exists within the Didelphidae. Didelphidae have an ancient evolutionary history in South America compared with the Sigmodontinae, which have undergone a very successful and rapid diversification more recently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Theria represent an extant clade that comprises placental and marsupial mammals. Here we report on the discovery of a new Late Cretaceous mammal from southern Patagonia, Patagomaia chainko gen. et sp. nov., represented by hindlimb and pelvic elements with unambiguous therian features. We estimate Patagomaia chainko attained a body mass of 14 kg, which is considerably greater than the 5 kg maximum body mass of coeval Laurasian therians. This new discovery demonstrates that Gondwanan therian mammals acquired large body size by the Late Cretaceous, preceding their Laurasian relatives, which remained small-bodied until the beginning of the Cenozoic. Patagomaia supports the view that the Southern Hemisphere was a cradle for the evolution of modern mammalian clades, alongside non-therian extinct groups such as meridiolestidans, gondwanatherians and monotremes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

• A novel multilocus and highly supported phylogeny clarify several previously uncertain relationships in Myrcia. • Our results provide a solid backbone for further evolutionary and taxonomic work. • Previously unplaced Myrcia species formed a new circumscribed clade. • The first phylogenetic relationships for Myrcia sect. Gomidesia are shown with a morphological trait evolution and geographic range distribution approaches. • The inclusion of previously available molecular data with novel sequences of Myrcia and relatives significantly improved our phylogenetic estimates. Myrcia is the largest exclusively Neotropical genus of the plant family Myrtaceae with c. 770 species. Although several studies have elucidated the relationships within particular sections of the genus, to date no phylogeny has been produced that includes a broad taxonomic and geographic representation. Here we present a phylogenetic hypothesis of Myrcia and close relatives comprising 253 species and based on two nuclear and seven plastid markers. We combine previously available sequence data with 234 new sequences of the genus Myrcia for this study. We use this phylogeny to investigate the evolution of selected morphological traits and to infer the biogeographic history of the genus. Our results yield a highly supported phylogenetic tree where the Myrceugenia group is sister to the Myrcia and Plinia groups. Five Myrcia species previously considered unplaced emerge in a newly circumscribed clade. The monophyly of two Myrcia sections previously considered uncertain, Aulomyrcia and Gomidesia, are confirmed with strong support. Flowers with free calyx lobes, 2-locular ovaries, and anthers with symmetrical thecae are ancestral features of Myrcia. The Myrcia sect. Gomidesia is highly supported and recovered as monophyletic, with asymmetric anthers that retain their curvature after dehiscence as a morphological synapomorphy. The Atlantic Forest is the most likely ancestral area of the genus and most of its internal clades, from where multiple lineages colonized different regions of South and Central America, in particular the Brazilian Cerrado through multiple unidirectional range expansions. The southern Atlantic Forest is the ancestral area for Myrcia sect. Gomidesia , with lineages reaching the northern Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Yungas, and other savanna vegetation of South America. Our results provide a solid backbone for further evolutionary and taxonomic work and clarify several previously uncertain relationships in this mega-diverse plant group, and shed light on its geographical range evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pipimorpha is a clade of tongueless anurans with a wide fossil record. Furthermore, the oldest South American fossils come from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Patagonia, Argentina. The aim of the present contribution is to describe a new genus and species of Pipimorpha from the Crato Formation (Aptian, Early Cretaceous), Araripe Basin, Brazil. The new specimen consists of a nearly complete skeleton that shows several anatomical similarities with other fossils from South America. Phylogenetic analysis resulted in the nesting of the new taxon within a previously unrecognized endemic South American clade. Further, some traditional groupings within Pipimorpha were not recognized. The new phylogenetic analysis reinforces previous biogeographical hypotheses sustaining dispersal of pipimorph between Africa and South America through an island chain or continental bridge across the Atlantic Ocean. Image 1 • We describe a new species of Pipimorpha from the Crato Formation (Aptian, Early Cretaceous), Araripe Basin, Brazil. • Cratopipa novaolindensis nov. gen. et sp. is the oldest pipimorph fossil from South America. • Phylogenetic analysis resulted in the nesting of the new taxon within a unrecognized endemic South American clade. • The analysis sustains dispersal of pipimorphs through an island chain or continental bridge across the Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We summarize and analyze historical and current data regarding the reemergence of St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV; genus Flavivirus) in the Americas. Historically, SLEV caused encephalitis outbreaks in the United States; however, it was not considered a public health concern in the rest of the Americas. After the introduction of West Nile virus in 1999, activity of SLEV decreased considerably in the United States. During 2014-2015, SLEV caused a human outbreak in Arizona and caused isolated human cases in California in 2016 and 2017. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the emerging SLEV in the western United States is related to the epidemic strains isolated during a human encephalitis outbreak in Córdoba, Argentina, in 2005. Ecoepidemiologic studies suggest that the emergence of SLEV in Argentina was caused by the introduction of a more pathogenic strain and increasing populations of the eared dove (amplifying host). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uplift of Andes caused fundamental geomorphological and climatic changes in South America and had a strong impact on the continent's biodiversity, especially in arid regions west of the Cordillera such as the Atacama Desert. With the fading of the main uplift phase of the Central Andes, global climate change since then affected the region fundamentally. This complex geoclimatic history provides a suitable scenario to study how organisms diversify and to investigate the effects of major forcing factors such as climate or tectonics on biological evolution. We used desert beetles of the tribe Elenophorini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to obtain insights into driving forces that were responsible for diversification under such extreme and unstable conditions in arid environments. Elenophorini comprises only three genera: Leptoderis from southern Europe, together with Psammetichus and Megelenophorus from South America, suggesting an ancient origin of this tribe. The monotypic Megelenophorus , one of the largest tenebrionid beetles in South America, is restricted to a region east of the Andes in northwestern and central Argentina. The thirteen described species of Psammetichus are distributed west of the Andes in the deserts of Peru and Chile. We performed a phylogenetic analysis including all known species of Elenophorini and subsequently reconstructed the biogeographical history of the South American members. The results suggest that Elenophorini is not a monophyletic group. We therefore propose to raise the subtribe Megelenophorina established for Psammetichus and Megelenophorus to its own tribe: Megelenophorini. The diversification of Megelenophorini started around 4.9 Ma. This separation of the common ancestor of Psammetichus and Megelenophorus could be related to the global climate cooling in the early Pliocene, which first affected the high altitude habitats in the Andean mountains, already above 3000 m.a.s.l. in the study area at that time. The subsequent emergence of five species groups in Psammetichus can be related to hyperarid periods in the Atacama Desert between 4 and 2 Ma. Speciation within these groups was accelerated during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (<1 Ma), possibly due to high amplitude climate fluctuations. [Display omitted] • Megelenophorini (Psammetichus + Megelenophorus) are not related with Leptoderis. • We analyzed divergence times and biogeographical patterns in South America. • Evolution of the tribe is linked with global climate changes in the last 5 Ma. • Hyperaridity cycles caused high diversity only in Psammetichus west of the Andes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lakes and their topological distribution across Earth's surface impose ecological and evolutionary constraints on aquatic metacommunities. In this study, we group similar lake ecosystems as metacommunity units influencing diatom community structure. We assembled a database of 195 lakes from the tropical Andes and adjacent lowlands (8°N–30°S and 58–79°W) with associated environmental predictors to examine diatom metacommunity patterns at two different levels: taxon and functional (deconstructed species matrix by ecological guilds). We also derived spatial variables that inherently assessed the relative role of dispersal. Using complementary multivariate statistical techniques (principal component analysis, cluster analysis, nonmetric multidimensional scaling, Procrustes, variance partitioning), we examined diatom–environment relationships among different lake habitats (sediment surface, periphyton, and plankton) and partitioned community variation to evaluate the influence of niche‐ and dispersal‐based assembly processes in diatom metacommunity structure across lake clusters. The results showed a significant association between geographic clusters of lakes based on gradients of climate and landscape configuration and diatom assemblages. Six lake clusters distributed along a latitudinal gradient were identified as functional metacommunity units for diatom communities. Variance partitioning revealed that dispersal mechanisms were a major contributor to diatom metacommunity structure, but in a highly context‐dependent fashion across lake clusters. In the Andean Altiplano and adjacent lowlands of Bolivia, diatom metacommunities are niche assembled but constrained by either dispersal limitation or mass effects, resulting from area, environmental heterogeneity, and ecological guild relationships. Topographic heterogeneity played an important role in structuring planktic diatom metacommunities. We emphasize the value of a guild‐based metacommunity model linked to dispersal for elucidating mechanisms underlying latitudinal gradients in distribution. Our findings reveal the importance of shifts in ecological drivers across climatic and physiographically distinct lake clusters, providing a basis for comparison of broad‐scale community gradients in lake‐rich regions elsewhere. This may help guide future research to explore evolutionary constraints on the rich Neotropical benthic diatom species pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xenarthra is one of the most peculiar mammalian groups to have originated in South America, where most of its evolutionary history has taken place. Xenarthrans have experienced significant climatic changes and also geographical isolation for most of the Cenozoic. Thus, the cranial morphology of xenarthrans may reflect the different pressures that the group is currently undergoing. Our objective is to identify the drivers of phenotypic variation of the skull (both shape and size) in widespread representatives of the superorder Xenarthra throughout South America. We tested the influence of allometry and neutral and niche processes on three extant species, using a geometric morphometric approach: the three-toed sloth Bradypus variegatus , the lesser anteater Tamandua tetradactyla , and the armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus . Our results show that allometry is present, but has a weak effect on shape variation. Geography has a greater impact than allometry in explaining the size variation of T. tetradactyla and the shape of B. variegatus which is, interestingly, the only studied species that follows Bergmann’s rule. Most importantly, the environment drives most of the variation in the shape and size of the three species studied. The responses of B. variegatus and T. tetradactyla to geographical space are congruent with their low mobility and more limited dispersal. The environment mainly affected B. variegatus (e.g., following Bergmann’s rule), probably because of its particularly low metabolism, and D. novemcinctus , due to its high dispersal capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution and occurrence of fossil sea turtles at the Pacific margin of South America is poorly known and restricted to Neogene (Miocene/Pliocene) findings from the Pisco Formation, Peru. Here we report and describe the first record of Oligocene (late Oligocene, 24 Ma) Pan-Cheloniidae sea turtle remains of South America. The fossil material corresponds to a single, isolated and well-preserved costal bone found at the Montañita/Olón locality, Santa Elena Province, Ecuador. Comparisons with other Oligocene and extant representatives allow us to confirm that belongs to a sea turtle characterized by: lack of lateral ossification, allowing the dorsal exposure of the distal end of ribs; dorsal surface of bone sculptured, changing from dense vermiculation at the vertebral scute region to anastomosing pattern of grooves at the most lateral portion of the costal. This fossil finding shows the high potential that the Ecuadorian Oligocene outcrops have in order to explore the evolution and paleobiogeography distribution of sea turtles by the time that the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans were connected via the Panama basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of hearing structures and loss of advertisement calls in many terrestrial breeding frogs (Strabomantidae) living at high elevations in South America are common and intriguing phenomena. The Andean frog genus Phrynopus Peters, 1873 has undergone an evolutionary radiation in which most species lack the tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus, yet the phylogenetic relationships among species in this group remain largely unknown. Here, we present an expanded molecular phylogeny of Phrynopus that includes 24 nominal species. Our phylogeny includes Phrynopus peruanus, the type species of the genus, and 10 other species for which genetic data were previously unavailable. We found strong support for monophyly of Phrynopus, and that two nominal species Phrynopus curator and Phrynopus nicoleae--are junior synonyms of Phrynopus tribulosus. Using X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging, we demonstrate that the absence of external hearing structures is associated with complete loss of the auditory skeletal elements (columella) in at least one member of the genus. We mapped the tympanum condition on to a species tree to infer whether the loss of hearing structures took place once or multiple times. We also assessed whether tympanum condition, body size, and body shape are associated with the elevational distribution and habitat use. We identified a single evolutionary transition that involved the loss of both the tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus, which in turn is correlated with the absence of advertisement calls. We also identified several species pairs where one species inhabits the Andean grassland and the other montane forest. When accounting for phylogenetic relatedness among species, we detected a significant pattern of increasing body size with increasing elevation. Additionally, species at higher elevations tend to develop shorter limbs, shorter head, and shorter snout than species living at lower elevations. Our findings strongly suggest a link between ecological divergence and morphological diversity of terrestrial breeding frogs living in montane gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong founder effects resulting from human migration out of Africa have led to geographic variation in single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) and microsatellites ( MS) of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. This is particularly striking in South America where two major founder populations of P. falciparum have been identified that are presumed to have arisen from the transatlantic slave trade. Given the importance of the major variant surface antigen of the blood stages of P. falciparum as both a virulence factor and target of immunity, we decided to investigate the population genetics of the genes encoding ' Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1' ( Pf EMP1) among several countries in South America, in order to evaluate the transmission patterns of malaria in this continent. Deep sequencing of the DBLα domain of var genes from 128 P. falciparum isolates from five locations in South America was completed using a 454 high throughput sequencing protocol. Striking geographic variation in var DBLα sequences, similar to that seen for SNPs and MS markers, was observed. Colombia and French Guiana had distinct var DBLα sequences, whereas Peru and Venezuela showed an admixture. The importance of such geographic variation to herd immunity and malaria vaccination is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical herbivorous insects are astonishingly diverse, and many are highly host-specific. Much evidence suggests that herbivorous insect diversity is a function of host plant diversity; yet, the diversity of some lineages exceeds the diversity of plants. Although most species of herbivorous fruit flies in the Neotropical genus Blepharoneura are strongly host-specific (they deposit their eggs in a single host plant species and flower sex), some species are collected from multiple hosts or flowers and these may represent examples of lineages that are diversifying via changes in host use. Here, we investigate patterns of diversification within six geographically widespread Blepharoneura species that have been collected and reared from at least two host plant species or host plant parts. We use microsatellites to (1) test for evidence of local genetic differentiation associated with different sympatric hosts (different plant species or flower sexes) and (2) examine geographic patterns of genetic differentiation across multiple South American collection sites. In four of the six fly species, we find evidence of local genetic differences between flies collected from different hosts. All six species show evidence of geographic structure, with consistent differences between flies collected in the Guiana Shield and flies collected in Amazonia. Continent-wide analyses reveal - in all but one instance - that genetically differentiated flies collected in sympatry from different host species or different sex flowers are not one another's closest relatives, indicating that genetic differences often arise in allopatry before, or at least coincident with, the evolution of novel host use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explosive bouts of diversification are one of the most conspicuous features of the tree of life. When such bursts are repeated in similar environments, it suggests some degree of predictability in the evolutionary process. We assess parallel adaptive radiation of South American pike cichlids (Crenicichla) using phylogenomics and phylogenetic comparative methods. We find that species flocks in the Uruguay and Iguazú River basins rapidly diversified into the same set of ecomorphs that reflect feeding ecology. Both adaptive radiations involve expansion of functional morphology, resulting in unique jaw phenotypes. Yet, form and function were decoupled such that most ecomorphs share similar mechanical properties of the jaws (i.e., jaw motion during a feeding strike). Prey mobility explained 6- to 9-fold differences in the rate of morphological evolution but had no effect on the rate of mechanical evolution. We find no evidence of gene flow between species flocks or with surrounding coastal lineages that may explain their rapid diversification. When compared with cichlids of the East African Great Lakes and other prominent adaptive radiations, pike cichlids share many themes, including the rapid expansion of phenotypic diversity, specialization along the benthic-to-pelagic habitat and soft-to-hard prey axes, and the evolution of conspicuous functional innovations. Yet, decoupled evolution of form and function and the absence of hybridization as a catalyzing force are departures from patterns observed in other adaptive radiations. Many-to-one mapping of morphology to mechanical properties is a mechanism by which pike cichlids attain a diversity of feeding ecologies while avoiding exacerbating underlying mechanical trade-offs. [Adaptive radiation; ecological opportunity; feeding kinematics; functional trade-off; hybridization; introgression.]., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press, on behalf of the Society of Systematic Biologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The evolutionary history of the genusGalictisin South America probably begins after the Great American Biotic Interchange. Two species are recognised:Galictis vittataandGalictis cuja. The latter are more frequently found in open areas in southern South America and the first occurs in humid forests from northern South America to Central America. Apparently, they do not occur in sympatry. Both are differentiate by the presence of a metaconid in the first inferior molar ofG. vittataand for its bigger size when compared toG. cuja.The fossil record ofGalictisis scarce,G. cujais known by few specimens from Argentina, Chile and Brazil;G. vittatahave only one record from Southern Brazil. The specimens related to this record were collected by Peter Lund and are housed at the Statens Naturhistoriske Museum. However, the specimens published by Lund are not fossils. Thus, it is presented here other unpublished specimens collected by Lund and housed at the same museum that we recognise as the firstG. vittatafossils. Additionally, it is described here the first fossil record forG. cujafrom the late Pleistocene of Brazil – an almost complete mandible recovered from sedimentary deposits from Central Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

During the past 20 years, a general picture of the genetic diversity and population structure of Coccidioides, the causal agent of coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever), has emerged. The genus consists of 2 genetically diverse species, C. immitis and C. posadasii, each of which contains 1 or more distinct populations with limited gene flow. Genotypic data indicate that C. immitis is divided into 2 subpopulations (central and southern California populations) and C. posadasii is divided into 3 subpopulations (Arizona, Mexico, and Texas/South America populations). However, admixture within and among these populations and the current paucity of environmental isolates limit our understanding of the population genetics of Coccidioides. We assessed population structure of Coccidioides in Arizona by analyzing 495 clinical and environmental isolates. Our findings confirm the population structure as previously described and indicate a finer scale population structure in Arizona. Environmental isolates appear to have higher genetic diversity than isolates from human patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nolis lizards are one of the most diverse vertebrate genera and are the classic example of adaptive radiation and convergent evolution. Anoles exhibit great morphological diversity produced by the ecological opportunity to exploit several arboreal niches. Anole radiation in the Caribbean islands is well studied, but the mainland radiation is less understood. We used a large morphological data set and a molecular phylogeny to describe the morphological diversification of anoles from northwestern South America, a region with the highest anole diversity on a mainland. We describe morphological diversity as summarized by ten morphotypes, defined mainly by body size, limb proportions, and subdigital lamellae. We show that some morphotypes are limited to forested lowlands and others to Andean highlands; by contrast, A nolis assemblages from tropical rainforests are comprised of the same four morphotypes. We demonstrate that morphological diversification followed a pattern of adaptive radiation across a landscape of adaptive peaks. Our results are consistent with the most recent hypothesis of convergence stated for Caribbean radiation, and demonstrate convergence between mainland morphotypes and Caribbean ecomorphs, which suggests that common processes are driving both radiations. © 2016 The Linnean Society of London [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their high specificity, monogenoids from fish provide an interesting model to study historical associations of hosts and parasites. High agreement between host and parasite phylogeny is often interpreted as evidence of cospeciation. However, cophylogenetic signal may also arise from other, either adaptive or non-adaptive, processes. We applied the recently developed Cophylospace Framework to better understand the evolutionary relationship between monogenoids and marine catfish from the Atlantic coast of South America. The associations between 12 marine catfish and 10 monogenoid species were assessed. Molecular data of host and parasite species were used for phylogenetic reconstruction. We used anchor morphology based on Procrustes coordinates to evaluate whether closely related hosts are associated with morphologically similar parasites. To assess the association between parasite phylogeny and host morphology, we produced a distance matrix based on morphological characters of catfishes. Agreement between phylogenies and between phylogeny and morphology was measured using Procrustes R computed with PACo. The parasite phylogeny obtained in this study represents the first complete phylogenetic hypothesis of monogenoids parasitizing ariids from South America. The Cophylospace analysis suggested that phylogenetic and morphological distance of monogenoids contributes similarly to explain the pattern of host–parasite associations, whereas parasite phylogeny is more strongly associated with the morphological traits of the hosts than with host phylogeny. This evidence suggests that cospeciation is not a major force accounting for diversification in the monogenoids studied. Rather host morphological traits seem to be a more important driver, which conforms with evidence from other host‒monogenoid systems.2 computed with PACo. The parasite phylogeny obtained in this study represents the first complete phylogenetic hypothesis of monogenoids parasitizing ariids from South America. The Cophylospace analysis suggested that phylogenetic and morphological distance of monogenoids contributes similarly to explain the pattern of host–parasite associations, whereas parasite phylogeny is more strongly associated with the morphological traits of the hosts than with host phylogeny. This evidence suggests that cospeciation is not a major force accounting for diversification in the monogenoids studied. Rather host morphological traits seem to be a more important driver, which conforms with evidence from other host‒monogenoid systems.

In the present study, we describe and illustrate a remarkable new species of Syngonanthus from South America (Bolivia, Brazil and Peru). This new species is quickly distinguished from all species in the genus by trimerous and bisexual flowers, a unique set of characteristics in Syngonanthus. Complementary to this study, sequences of 33 species were downloaded from GenBank and four species had sequences newly generated for this study. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and the plastid regions psbA-trnH and trnL-F were performed to determine its systematic position. The results have shown S. androgynus closely related to a well-supported clade that has been treated as Syngonanthus sect. Carphocephalus. Floral traits associated with this new plant also were surveyed. Character reconstruction suggests that the bisexual flowers originated independently more than once in the genus. However, trimerous flowers appear to be an ancestral condition of the whole genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of meningitis and septicaemia. The hyperinvasive ST-11 clonal complex (cc11) caused serogroup C (MenC) outbreaks in the US military in the 1960s and UK universities in the 1990s, a global Hajj-associated serogroup W (MenW) outbreak in 2000-2001, and subsequent MenW epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. More recently, endemic MenW disease has expanded in South Africa, South America and the UK, and MenC cases have been reported among European and North American men who have sex with men (MSM). Routine typing schemes poorly resolve cc11 so we established the population structure at genomic resolution.Methods: Representatives of these episodes and other geo-temporally diverse cc11 meningococci (n = 750) were compared across 1546 core genes and visualised on phylogenetic networks.Results: MenW isolates were confined to a distal portion of one of two main lineages with MenB and MenC isolates interspersed elsewhere. An expanding South American/UK MenW strain was distinct from the 'Hajj outbreak' strain and a closely related endemic South African strain. Recent MenC isolates from MSM in France and the UK were closely related but distinct.Conclusions: High resolution 'genomic' multilocus sequence typing is necessary to resolve and monitor the spread of diverse cc11 lineages globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant disjunctions have provided some of the most intriguing distribution patterns historically addressed by biogeographers. We evaluated the three hypotheses that have been postulated to explain these patterns [vicariance, stepping-stone dispersal and long-distance dispersal ( LDD)] using Munroa, an American genus of grasses with six species and a disjunct distribution between the desert regions of North and South America. The ages of clades, cytology, ancestral characters and areas of distribution were investigated in order to establish relationships among species, to determine the time of divergence of the genus and its main lineages, and to understand further the biogeographical and evolutionary history of this genus. Bayesian inference recovered the North American M. pulchella as sister species to the rest. Molecular dating and ancestral area analyses suggest that Munroa originated in North America in the late Miocene- Pliocene (7.2 Mya; 8.2-6.5 Mya). Based on these results, we postulate that two dispersal events modelled the current distribution patterns of Munroa: the first from North to South America (7.2 Mya; 8.2-6.5 Mya) and the second (1.8 Mya; 2-0.8 Mya) from South to North America. Arid conditions of the late Miocene- Pliocene in the Neogene and Quaternary climatic oscillations in North America and South America were probably advantageous for the establishment of populations of Munroa. We did not find any relationship between ploidy and dispersal events, and our ancestral character analyses suggest that shifts associated with dispersal and seedling establishment, such as habit, reproductive system, disarticulation of rachilla, and shape and texture of the glume, have been important in these species reaching new areas. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179, 110-125. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]