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The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi is one of the most successful marine bioinvaders on record. Native to the Atlantic coast of the Americas, M. leidyi invaded the Black Sea, Caspian and Mediterranean Seas beginning the in late 1980s, followed by the North and Baltic Seas starting in 2006, with major concomitant alterations in pelagic ecology, including fishery collapses in some cases. Using extensive native range sampling (21 sites), along with 11 invasive sites in the Black, Caspian, Mediterranean, North and Baltic Seas, we examined M. leidyi worldwide phylogeographic patterns using data from mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) and six nuclear microsatellite loci. Cytb and microsatellite data sets showed different levels of genetic differentiation in the native range. Analyses of cytb data revealed considerable genetic differentiation, recovering three major clusters (northwestern Atlantic, Caribbean, and South America) and further divided northwestern Atlantic sampling sites into three groups, separated approximately at Cape Hatteras on the US Atlantic coast and at the Floridian peninsula, separating the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts. In contrast, microsatellite data only distinguished samples north and south of Cape Hatteras, and suggested considerable gene flow among native samples with clear evidence of isolation by distance. Both cytb and microsatellite data sets indicated that the northern invaders (North/Baltic Seas) originated from north of Cape Hatteras, with cytb data pointing to Delaware and north. Microsatellite data indicated a source for the southern invaders (Black, Caspian and Mediterranean Seas) to be south of Cape Hatteras, while cytb data narrowed the source location to the Gulf of Mexico region. Both cytb and microsatellite data sets suggested that the southern invasion was associated with genetic bottlenecks while evidence was equivocal for the northern invasion. By increasing the native range spatial sampling, our dataset was able to sufficiently characterize patterns and levels of genetic differentiation in the native range of M. leidyi and identify likely biogeographic boundaries, allowing for the most complete characterization of M. leidyi’s invasion histories and most realistic estimates of its source region(s) to date.

Although Galápagos giant tortoises are an icon for both human-mediated biodiversity losses and conservation management successes, populations of two species on southern Isabela Island (Chelonoidis guntheri, and C. vicina) remain threatened by hunting and persistence of feral animals. Conservation management of these tortoises has been hampered by lack of clarity regarding their taxonomy, ecological and morphological diversity, and the spatial distribution of evolutionarily significant units that may exist. Analyses of 16 microsatellite loci did not group samples according to current taxonomy. Instead, three (rather than two) genetic clusters were revealed. We show that the three regions of southern Isabela associated with these genetic clusters are significantly different in their ecological niches, which could suggest that ecological divergence may have shaped patterns of genetic differentiation in these tortoises. Furthermore, results suggest limited recent gene flow among sampled localities and between each of the three regions associated with genetic clusters. We discuss the need for further research on the ecological factors shaping the genetic and morphological diversity of southern Isabela tortoises. We suggest that current strategies whereby populations are managed separately are warranted pending further study, but due to mixed ancestry we recommend that Cerro Paloma tortoises be excluded from management programs.

Identifying explicit hypotheses regarding the factors determining genetic structuring within species can be difficult, especially in species distributed in historically dynamic regions. To contend with these challenges, we use a framework that combines species distribution models, environmental data and multi-locus genetic data to generate and explore phylogeographic hypotheses for reptile species occupying the coastal sand-dune and sand-plain habitats of the south-western Australian biodiversity hotspot, a community which has both a high diversity of endemics and has varied dramatically in spatial extent over time. We use hierarchical amova, summary statistic and distance-based analyses to explicitly test specific phylogeographic hypotheses. Namely, we test if biogeographic vicariance across barriers, habitat stability, population isolation along a linear habitat or fragmentation across different environments can explain genetic divergence within five co-distributed squamate reptile species. Our results show that patterns of genetic variation reflect complex and species-specific interactions related to the spatial distribution of habitats present currently and during repeated glacial minima, as opposed to being associated with historical factors such as habitat stability between glacial and inter-glacial periods or vicariant barriers. We suggest that the large impact of habitat characteristics over time (i.e. relative levels of habitat connectivity, climatic gradients and spatial heterogeneity of soil types) reflects the ecological restrictions of the sand-dune and sand-plain reptile communities and may explain the lack of concordance across taxa. The study demonstrates the general utility of the approach for assemblage-level, as well as single species, phylogeographic study, including its usefulness for exploring biologically informed hypotheses about what factors have influenced patterns of genetic variation.

Body size affects life history, the ecological niche of an organism and its interactions with other organisms. Resultantly, marked differences in body size between related organisms are often an indication of a species boundary. This is particularly evident in the Gehyra variegata species complex of geckos, which displays differential body sizes between genetically divergent species, but high levels of intraspecific morphological conservatism. We report on a Gehyra population that displays extraordinary body size differentiation in comparison with other G. variegata species. We used morphological and environmental data to show this population is phenotypically and ecologically distinct from its parapatric congener Gehyra lazelli and that morphology and ecology are significantly correlated. Contrastingly, mtDNA analysis indicates paraphyly between the two groups, and allele frequencies at six microsatellite loci show no population structure concordant with morpho-/ecotype. These results suggest either ecological speciation or environmentally induced phenotypic polymorphism, in an otherwise morphologically conservative group.

Morphological and molecular information is invaluable in the description of cryptic diversity and the evolutionary processes driving diversification within closely related species that exhibit morphological homoplasy. We present a distribution-wide data set consisting of both molecular and morphological information, providing a taxonomic revision of the Diporiphora nobbi species group, and develop preliminary hypotheses regarding the evolutionary history of D. nobbi. We show deep molecular divergence between D. nobbi and a newly described sister lineage associated with divergence in meristic characters. Our molecular data also show large divergences among subclades within nominate D. nobbi associated with different habitats rather than specific biogeographc barriers. We further discuss potential diversification mechanisms within the D. nobbi species group. Copyright 2011 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.

Outlining the distribution of genetic variation, patterns of gene flow and clarifying the biogeographic processes underlying population history are critical components of a comprehensive conservation strategy for endangered or vulnerable species. We provide this information for the vulnerable sunset frog (Spicospina flammocaerulea) using a comprehensive genetic dataset (ND2) with samples from 17 of 22 geographic localities where this species has been found. From genetic, biogeographic and coalescent-based analyses, we document the existing genetic variation, likely movement patterns and explore the biogeographic history of S. flammocaerulea. While catchment-based genetic variation is well documented in other high-rainfall taxa in south-western Australia, a much more complex scenario including dispersal across ridge lines between catchments better explains the distribution of genetic variation and observed patterns of gene flow in S. flammocaerulea. The population history of S. flammocaerulea is strongly indicative of recent population contraction and expansion, which may be related to late Pleistocene climate fluctuations. This suggests that this species can adapt or move in response to fluctuating climates provided suitable habitats or expansion areas are available. However, like many other endemic taxa with limited geographic ranges in south-western Australia, the potential to shift distributions is hampered by being land-locked within an agricultural landscape, limiting management options in the face of climate change. © 2011 CSIRO.

Aim: To test the congruence of phylogeographic patterns and processes between a woodland agamid lizard (Diporiphora australis) and well-studied Australian wet tropics fauna. Specifically, to determine whether the biogeographic history of D. australis is more consistent with a history of vicariance, which is common in wet tropics fauna, or with a history of dispersal with expansion, which would be expected for species occupying woodland habitats that expanded with the increasingly drier conditions in eastern Australia during the Miocene-Pleistocene. Location: North-eastern Australia. Methods: Field-collected and museum tissue samples from across the entire distribution of D. australis were used to compile a comprehensive phylo-geographic dataset based on c. 1400 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), incorporating the ND2 protein-coding gene. We used phylogenetic methods to assess biogeographic patterns within D. australis and relaxed molecular clock analyses were conducted to estimate divergence times. Hierarchical Shimodaira-Hasegawa tests were used to test alternative topologies representing vicariant, dispersal and mixed dispersal/vicariant biogeographic hypotheses. Phylogenetic analyses were combined with phylogeographic analyses to gain an insight into the evolutionary processes operating within D. australis. Results: Phylogenetic analyses identified six major mtDNA clades within D. australis, with phylogeographic patterns closely matching those seen in many wet tropics taxa. Congruent phylogeographic breaks were observed across the Black Mountain Corridor, Burdekin and St Lawrence Gaps. Divergence amongst clades was found to decrease in a north-south direction, with a trend of increasing population expansion in the south. Main conclusions: While phylogeographic patterns in D australis reflect those seen in many rain forest fauna of the wet tropics, the evolutionary processes underlying these patterns appear to be very different. Our results support a history of sequential colonization of D. australis from north to south across major biogeographic barriers from the late Miocene-Pleistocene. These patterns are most likely in response to expanding woodland habitats. Our results strengthen the data available for this iconic region in Australia by exploring the understudied woodland habitats. In addition, our study shows the importance of thorough investigations of not only the biogeographic patterns displayed by species but also the evolutionary processes underlying such patterns. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The sandhill frog, Arenophyrne rotunda, belongs to a monotypicgenus that occurs on the central coast of Western Australia. It has a highlymodified body shape with a small head and large front limbs. Members ofthis species burrows forwards through sand substrates. Here we describe anew species of Arenophyrne from the Geraldton sandplain that occurs to thesouth of the populations of the type species A. rotunda at Shark Bay. Relativeto A. rotunda, the new taxon has a more pointed snout, smaller face and eyes,larger hands, rougher dorsal surface and darker colouration that matches thebackground colour of the sands on which it occurs. Molecular evidenceindicates divergence of the two taxa in the late Miocene to early Pliocene,approximately 5ñ6 mya. The western coast of Australia has a complexbiogeographic history owing to geological activity and changes in sea levelinteracting with extensive sandy areas. Speciation within Arenophyrne on thecoastal dunes of Western Australia indicates that levels of diversity insubterranean groups there may be underestimated owing to conservativefusiform morphology of burrowing animals.

The present study optimised artificial fertilisation and oocyte storage conditions in Limnodynastes tasmaniensis (Myobatrachidae). Data on general reproductive biology, the effect of sperm motility and concentration, medium osmolality and oocyte storage on artificial fertilisation success are presented. Egg number was most strongly correlated with bodyweight (r = 0.819). Sperm yield was correlated with testes weight (r = 0.827), which was strongly correlated with snout-vent length (r = 0.772). Optimal artificial fertilisation occurred in 0-7 mOsm kg(-1) amphibian Ringer, similar to ranid, bufonid and hylid species. High fertilisation rates were achieved using spermatozoa with little forwards progressive motility at comparatively low concentrations (3 x10(4) sperm cells mL(-1)) and with no relationship between percentage sperm motility and fertilisation success (correlation of fertilisation rate with sperm motility after activation: r = -0.145). Oocytes stored in 5 mOsm kg(-1) solutions showed no significant decline in fertilisability after 2 h, showing that swelling of the jelly surrounding the eggs does not prevent sperm from fusing with the oocyte in this species. Fertilisability of oocytes was extended to > 4 h in medium to high osmolality solutions (124-271 mOsm kg(-1)). These data allow for the future use of L. tasmaniensis in developing assisted reproductive technology protocols for foam-nesting myobatrachid species, many of which are now threatened with extinction in the wild.

Using a quasi-experimental design, this study examined longitudinal outcomes for families previously enrolled in a study of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a treatment program for young children with disruptive behavior disorders. Comparisons were made between 23 families who completed treatment and 23 families who dropped out of the study before completing treatment, using a structured diagnostic interview, and several parent-report measures. Length of follow-up for both groups ranged from 10 to 30 months after the initial assessment, with the average length of follow-up just under 20 months. Results indicated consistently better long-term outcomes for those who completed treatment than for study dropouts. These results highlight the need to identify salient predictors of treatment engagement and retention to maximize outcomes for young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Limited information is known about the burden of Long COVID by occupation and industry. This study compares the occurrence of self-reported new long-term symptoms lasting 4 weeks or longer among blood donors with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection by occupation and industry., Methods: The American Red Cross invited blood donors 18 years and older who donated during May 4-December 31, 2021 to participate in online surveys. New long-term symptoms lasting 4 weeks or longer were assessed by self-reported occurrence of any of 35 symptoms since March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 infection status was determined by serological testing and self-report. We describe the prevalence of new long-term symptoms by SARS-CoV-2 infection status. We calculate the difference in reported new long-term symptoms by SARS-CoV-2 infection status within occupation and industry categories., Results: Data were collected from 27,907 employed adults - 9763 were previously infected and 18,234 were never infected with SARS-CoV-2. New long-term symptoms were more prevalent among those previously infected compared to the never-infected respondents (45% vs 24%, p < 0.05). Among all respondents, new long-term symptoms by occupation ranged from 26% (installation, maintenance, and repair) to 41% (healthcare support) and by industry ranged from 26% (mining) to 55% (accommodation and food services). New long-term neurological and other symptoms were commonly reported by those previously infected with SARS-CoV-2., Discussion: New long-term symptoms are more prevalent among certain occupation and industry groups, which likely reflects differential exposure to SARS-CoV-2. These findings highlight potential need for workplace accommodations in a variety of occupational settings to address new long-term symptoms., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To describe volunteer firefighters' perspectives on how firefighter- and fire department-level factors influence their physical activity and fitness., Methods: Firefighters (n = 28) were interviewed, stratified by their years of firefighting, using an interview guide. Thematic analysis and systematic coding were employed to analyze the interview transcripts., Results: Five themes were identified: (1) health and firefighting performance; (2) firefighter time and availability; (3) responsibility of the fire department to support volunteer members' physical fitness; (4) fire training drills as a form of functional physical activity, and (5) fitness initiatives at the department. Interviewing by years of experience showed varied perspectives which converged towards similar conclusions., Conclusions: Incorporating fitness discussions into department meetings and trainings, and identifying fitness advocates within the department, may contribute to overcoming barriers to physical fitness among volunteer firefighters., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

Pathogenic species within the Rickettsia genus are transmitted to humans through arthropod vectors and cause a spectrum of diseases ranging from mild to life-threatening. Despite rickettsiae posing an emerging global health risk, the genetic requirements of their infectious life cycles remain poorly understood. A major hurdle toward building this understanding has been the lack of efficient tools for genetic manipulation, owing to the technical difficulties associated with their obligate intracellular nature. To this end, we implemented the Tet-On system to enable conditional gene expression in Rickettsia parkeri . Using Tet-On, we show inducible expression of antibiotic resistance and a fluorescent reporter. We further used this inducible promoter to screen the ability of R. parkeri to express four variants of the catalytically dead Cas9 (dCas9). We demonstrate that all four dCas9 variants can be expressed in R. parkeri and used for CRISPR interference (CRISPRi)-mediated targeted gene knockdown. We show targeted knockdown of an antibiotic resistance gene as well as the endogenous virulence factor sca2 . Altogether, we have developed systems for inducible gene expression and CRISPRi-mediated gene knockdown for the first time in rickettsiae, laying the groundwork for more scalable, targeted mechanistic investigations into their infectious life cycles.IMPORTANCEThe spotted fever group of Rickettsia contains vector-borne pathogenic bacteria that are neglected and emerging threats to public health. Due to the obligate intracellular nature of rickettsiae, the development of tools for genetic manipulation has been stunted, and the molecular and genetic underpinnings of their infectious lifecycle remain poorly understood. Here, we expand the genetic toolkit by introducing systems for conditional gene expression and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi)-mediated gene knockdown. These systems allow for relatively easy manipulation of rickettsial gene expression. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these tools by disrupting the intracellular life cycle using CRISPRi to deplete the sca2 virulence factor. These tools will be crucial for building a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of rickettsial biology and pathogenesis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Although firefighters have increased risk for colon and prostate cancer, limited information exists on screening practices for these cancers in volunteer firefighters who compose two-thirds of the US fire service. We estimated the prevalence of colon and prostate cancer screening among volunteer firefighters using eligibility criteria from 4 evidence-based screening recommendations and evaluated factors influencing screening., Methods: We evaluated colon (n = 569) and prostate (n = 498) cancer screening prevalence in a sample of US volunteer firefighters using eligibility criteria from the US Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF), National Fire Protection Association, American Cancer Society, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network. We assessed associations with fire service experience, demographics, and cancer risk perception based on USPSTF guidelines., Results: For those eligible based on USPSTF guidelines, colon and prostate cancer screening prevalence was 51.7% (95% CI: 45.7, 57.8) and 48.8% (95% CI: 40.0, 57.6), respectively. Higher odds of colon and prostate cancer screening were observed with older age and with some college education compared to those with less education. Fire service experience and cancer risk perception were not associated with screening practices., Conclusion: This is the first large study to assess colon and prostate cancer screening among US volunteer firefighters based on different screening guidelines. Our findings suggest gaps in cancer prevention efforts in the US volunteer fire service. Promoting cancer screening education and opportunities for volunteer firefighters by their fire departments, healthcare professionals, and public health practitioners, may help to address the gaps., (© 2024 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Orthoflavivirus japonicum (JEV) is the dominant cause of viral encephalitis in the Asian region with 100,000 cases and 25,000 deaths reported annually. The genome is comprised of a single polyprotein that encodes three structural and seven non-structural proteins. We collated a dataset of 349 complete genomes from a number of public databases, and analysed the data for recombination, evolutionary selection and phylogenetic structure. There are low rates of recombination in JEV, subsequently recombination is not a major evolutionary force shaping JEV. We found a strong overall signal of purifying selection in the genome, which is the main force affecting the evolutionary dynamics in JEV. There are also a small number of genomic sites under episodic diversifying selection, especially in the envelope protein and non-structural proteins 3 and 5. Overall, these results support previous analyses of JEV evolutionary genomics and provide additional insight into the evolutionary processes shaping the distribution and adaptation of this important pathogenic arbovirus., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Sistrom et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Firefighters have a higher risk of melanoma incidence and mortality compared to the general population. In the United States (US), the National Fire Protection Association recommends all firefighters receive annual skin cancer screening through visual skin examination by a clinician. However, there is limited information on skin cancer screening practices among volunteer firefighters who comprise two-thirds of the US fire service., Methods: This cross-sectional study of 552 US volunteer firefighters estimated the prevalence of skin cancer screening and evaluated associations with their fire service experience, demographics, sun protection practices, and cancer risk perception., Results: The prevalence of receiving skin cancer screening among volunteer firefighters was 26.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.4, 29.8). The odds of being screened for skin cancer, compared to not being screened, were twice as high for firefighters who used sunscreen (odds ratio [OR]: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.73) and who perceived their skin likely to burn with prolonged sun exposure (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.00). Older age, some college education, and family history of skin cancer were also positively associated with skin cancer screening. A positive exposure-response relationship was observed between more monthly firefighting calls and receiving screening. Cancer risk perception was not associated with screening., Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first large study to assess skin cancer screening among US volunteer firefighters. Our findings suggest gaps in skin cancer prevention efforts in the volunteer fire service. Additional assessment of skin cancer prevention practices within volunteer fire departments could help address these gaps., (© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Studies of gender development typically use binary, discrete measures of identity. However, growing literature indicates that some children might not identify with a binary gender. We tested a continuous measure of felt gender identity with gender-nonconforming children, socially-transitioned transgender children, cisgender siblings, and unrelated cisgender children. In two studies, we found that transgender and cisgender children did not differ in their degree of identifying as their current gender, that they showed more binary identities compared to gender-nonconforming children, and that the continuum was a valid predictor of other measures of gender development. We also found that children's use of the continuous measure was stable over time. Our results demonstrate the test-retest reliability and validity of a new single-item continuous measure of gender., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest/Competing interests. Kristina Olson has an (unpaid) position on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America LGBTQ National Advisory Council and receives compensation from the MacArthur Foundation. Though we do not perceive these as conflicts of interest, we declare them in the spirit of full transparency.

Evolutionary correlations between phenotypic and environmental traits characterize adaptive radiations. However, the lizard genus Liolaemus , one of the most ecologically diverse terrestrial vertebrate radiations on earth, has so far shown limited or mixed evidence of adaptive diversification in phenotype. Restricted use of comprehensive environmental data, incomplete taxonomic representation and not considering phylogenetic uncertainty may have led to contradictory evidence. We compiled a 26-taxon dataset for the Liolaemus gracilis species group, representing much of the ecological diversity represented within Liolaemus and used environmental data to characterize how environments occupied by species' relate to phenotypic evolution. Our analyses, explicitly accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty, suggest diversification in phenotypic traits toward the present, with body shape evolution rapidly evolving in this group. Body shape evolution correlates with the occupation of different structural habitats indicated by vegetation axes suggesting species have adapted for maximal locomotory performance in these habitats. Our results also imply that the effects of phylogenetic uncertainty and model misspecification may be more extensive on univariate, relative to multivariate analyses of evolutionary correlations, which is an important consideration in analyzing data from rapidly radiating adaptive radiations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The Galapagos Archipelago is recognized as a natural laboratory for studying evolutionary processes. San Cristóbal was one of the first islands colonized by tortoises, which radiated from there across the archipelago to inhabit 10 islands. Here, we sequenced the mitochondrial control region from six historical giant tortoises from San Cristóbal (five long deceased individuals found in a cave and one found alive during an expedition in 1906) and discovered that the five from the cave are from a clade that is distinct among known Galapagos giant tortoises but closely related to the species from Española and Pinta Islands. The haplotype of the individual collected alive in 1906 is in the same clade as the haplotype in the contemporary population. To search for traces of a second lineage in the contemporary population on San Cristóbal, we closely examined the population by sequencing the mitochondrial control region for 129 individuals and genotyping 70 of these for both 21 microsatellite loci and >12,000 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]. Only a single mitochondrial haplotype was found, with no evidence to suggest substructure based on the nuclear markers. Given the geographic and temporal proximity of the two deeply divergent mitochondrial lineages in the historical samples, they were likely sympatric, raising the possibility that the lineages coexisted. Without the museum samples, this important discovery of an additional lineage of Galapagos giant tortoise would not have been possible, underscoring the value of such collections and providing insights into the early evolution of this iconic radiation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Color polymorphism-two or more heritable color phenotypes maintained within a single breeding population-is an extreme type of intraspecific diversity widespread across the tree of life. Color polymorphism is hypothesized to be an engine for speciation, where morph loss or divergence between distinct color morphs within a species results in the rapid evolution of new lineages, and thus, color polymorphic lineages are expected to display elevated diversification rates. Multiple species in the lizard family Lacertidae are color polymorphic, making them an ideal group to investigate the evolutionary history of this trait and its influence on macroevolution. Here, we produce a comprehensive species-level phylogeny of the lizard family Lacertidae to reconstruct the evolutionary history of color polymorphism and test if color polymorphism has been a driver of diversification. Accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty with multiple phylogenies and simulation studies, we estimate an ancient origin of color polymorphism (111 Ma) within the Lacertini tribe (subfamily Lacertinae). Color polymorphism most likely evolved few times in the Lacertidae and has been lost at a much faster rate than gained. Evolutionary transitions to color polymorphism are associated with shifts in increased net diversification rate in this family of lizards. Taken together, our empirical results support long-standing theoretical expectations that color polymorphism is a driver of diversification.[Color polymorphism; Lacertidae; state-dependent speciation extinction models; trait-dependent diversification.]., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Systematic Biologists.)

Understanding the relative importance of sexual and natural selection in shaping morphological traits is a long-standing goal of evolutionary ecology. Male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is typically associated with male-male competition. Similarly, male polymorphisms are considered a consequence of competitive social interactions. This classic paradigm overlooks the fact that environmental factors mediate social interactions and can lead to ecological adaptations. Common side-blotched lizards, Uta stansburiana, are a model system for this paradigm due to well-known rock-paper-scissors social dynamics between male morphs. SSD in this species has been considered primarily a consequence of social interactions, with male size resulting from the number of morphs in each population and female size being constrained through fecundity benefits. We test if the environment explains intraspecific variation in SSD and number of male morphs in U. stansburiana. By compiling data from 49 populations, we show that environmental variables are stronger predictors of SSD than the number of male morphs. Similarly, we show that the environment mediates SSD and potentially contributes to morph loss in colder environments. We propose that the environment favours smaller males in areas of high seasonality. Our results demonstrate the importance of the environment as a mediator of SSD., (© 2021 European Society for Evolutionary Biology.)

Global biodiversity loss is a profound consequence of human activity. Disturbingly, biodiversity loss is greater than realized because of the unknown number of undocumented species. Conservation fundamentally relies on taxonomic recognition of species, but only a fraction of biodiversity is described. Here, we provide a new quantitative approach for prioritizing rigorous taxonomic research for conservation. We implement this approach in a highly diverse vertebrate group-Australian lizards and snakes. Of 870 species assessed, we identified 282 (32.4%) with taxonomic uncertainty, of which 17.6% likely comprise undescribed species of conservation concern. We identify 24 species in need of immediate taxonomic attention to facilitate conservation. Using a broadly applicable return-on-investment framework, we demonstrate the importance of prioritizing the fundamental work of identifying species before they are lost., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Color polymorphism defies evolutionary expectations as striking phenotypic variation is maintained within a single species. Color and other traits mediate social interactions, and stable polymorphism within a population is hypothesized to be related to correlational selection of other phenotypic traits among color morphs. Here, we report on a previously unknown throat color polymorphism in the Aegean Wall Lizard ( Podarcis erhardii ) and examine morph-correlated differences in traits important to social behavior and communication: maximum bite force capacity and chemical signal profile. We find that both sexes of P. erhardii have three color morphs: orange, yellow, and white. Moreover, orange males are significantly larger and tend to bite harder than yellow and white males. Although the established color polymorphism only partially matches the observed intraspecific variation in chemical signal signatures, the chemical profile of the secretions of orange males is significantly divergent from that of white males. Our findings suggest that morph colors are related to differences in traits that are crucial for social interactions and competitive ability, illustrating the need to look beyond color when studying polymorphism evolution., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2020 Brock et al.)

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between emotional exhaustion and suicide risk in emergency responders. Participants included 643 actively employed emergency responders who responded to an online research based survey. Participants were administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; Maslach & Jackson, 1981) and the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire (SBQ-R; Osman, Bagge, Gutierrez, Konick, Kooper, & Barrios, 2001). Using a categorical measure of emotional exhaustion, responders reported a statistically significant increased suicide risk [F(2, 640) = 45.01, p < .001] between levels of emotional exhaustion. Post hoc analysis confirmed significant differences between each level of emotional exhaustion with a significant increase of risk at each category (Low [M = 4.60, SD= 2.38], Moderate [M = 5.56, SD= 2.50], High [M = 6.95, SD= 3.26]). Emergency responders with high levels of emotional exhaustion had an average suicide risk score approaching the significant risk cut-off of 7., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. African Americans and people of low socioeconomic status suffer disproportionately from heart disease-related morbidity and mortality. In Detroit, Michigan, a primarily African American and low-income urban area, heart disease mortality is at twice the national rate. Despite evidence for the effectiveness of self-management support interventions in reducing chronic disease burden for older adults, few are adapted for communities most in need. This article describes the process of adapting Take PRIDE, an evidence-based heart disease self-management intervention, for older adults in Detroit via the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) framework. Working within a community-academic partnership, we found REP useful in facilitating the identification of diverse stakeholders, core versus adaptable elements of the intervention and barriers to implementation. We also made several modifications to the REP framework in order to better fit our project needs. Overall, we found REP to be an effective, flexible tool that allowed us to successfully adapt a disease-management intervention for this setting. Processes, lessons learned, and recommendations offered in this article may help researchers and practitioners working to expand access to self-management support for populations most affected by chronic disease.

Giant tortoises are among the longest-lived vertebrate animals and, as such, provide an excellent model to study traits like longevity and age-related diseases. However, genomic and molecular evolutionary information on giant tortoises is scarce. Here, we describe a global analysis of the genomes of Lonesome George-the iconic last member of Chelonoidis abingdonii-and the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea). Comparison of these genomes with those of related species, using both unsupervised and supervised analyses, led us to detect lineage-specific variants affecting DNA repair genes, inflammatory mediators and genes related to cancer development. Our study also hints at specific evolutionary strategies linked to increased lifespan, and expands our understanding of the genomic determinants of ageing. These new genome sequences also provide important resources to help the efforts for restoration of giant tortoise populations.

Empirical population genetic studies generally rely on sampling subsets of the population(s) of interest and of the nuclear or organellar genome targeted, assuming each is representative of the whole. Violations of these assumptions may impact population-level parameter estimation and lead to spurious inferences. Here, we used targeted capture to sequence the full mitochondrial genome from 123 individuals of the Galapagos giant tortoise endemic to Pinzón Island (Chelonoidis duncanensis) sampled at 2 time points pre- and postbottleneck (circa 1906 and 2014) to explicitly assess differences in diversity estimates and demographic reconstructions based on subsets of the mitochondrial genome versus the full sequences and to evaluate potential biases associated with diversity estimates and demographic reconstructions from postbottlenecked samples alone. Haplotypic diversities were equal between the temporal samples based on the full mitochondrial genome, but single gene estimates suggested either decreases or increases in diversity depending upon the region. Demographic reconstructions based on the full sequence were more similar between the temporal samples than those based on the control region alone, or a subset of 3 regions, where the trends in population size changes shifted in magnitude and direction between the temporal samples. In all cases, the estimated coalescent point was more distant for the historical than contemporary sample. In summary, our results empirically demonstrate the influence of sampling bias when interpreting population genetic patterns and punctuate the need for careful consideration of potentially conflicting evolutionary signal across the mitochondrial genome.

Genome-wide assessments allow for fuller characterization of genetic diversity, finer-scale population delineation, and better detection of demographically significant units to guide conservation compared with those based on "traditional" markers. Galapagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) have long provided a case study for how evolutionary genetics may be applied to advance species conservation. Ongoing efforts to bolster tortoise populations, which have declined by 90%, have been informed by analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequence and microsatellite genotypic data, but could benefit from genome-wide markers. Taking this next step, we used double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing to collect genotypic data at >26000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for 117 individuals representing all recognized extant Galapagos giant tortoise species. We then quantified genetic diversity, population structure, and compared results to estimates from mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite loci. Our analyses detected 12 genetic lineages concordant with the 11 named species as well as previously described structure within one species, C. becki. Furthermore, the SNPs provided increased resolution, detecting admixture in 4 individuals. SNP-based estimates of diversity and differentiation were significantly correlated with those derived from nuclear microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA sequences. The SNP toolkit presented here will serve as a resource for advancing efforts to understand tortoise evolution, species radiations, and aid conservation of the Galapagos tortoise species complex.

Population genetic theory related to the consequences of rapid population decline is well-developed, but there are very few empirical studies where sampling was conducted before and after a known bottleneck event. Such knowledge is of particular importance for species restoration, given links between genetic diversity and the probability of long-term persistence. To directly evaluate the relationship between current genetic diversity and past demographic events, we collected genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data from prebottleneck historical (c.1906) and postbottleneck contemporary (c.2014) samples of Pinzón giant tortoises ( Chelonoidis duncanensis ; n  =   25 and 149 individuals, respectively) endemic to a single island in the Galapagos. Pinzón giant tortoises had a historically large population size that was reduced to just 150-200 individuals in the mid 20th century. Since then, Pinzón's tortoise population has recovered through an ex situ head-start programme in which eggs or pre-emergent individuals were collected from natural nests on the island, reared ex situ in captivity until they were 4-5 years old and subsequently repatriated. We found that the extent and distribution of genetic variation in the historical and contemporary samples were very similar, with the latter group not exhibiting the characteristic genetic patterns of recent population decline. No population structure was detected either spatially or temporally. We estimated an effective population size ( N e ) of 58 (95% CI = 50-69) for the postbottleneck population; no prebottleneck N e point estimate was attainable (95% CI = 39-infinity) likely due to the sample size being lower than the true N e . Overall, the historical sample provided a valuable benchmark for evaluating the head-start captive breeding programme, revealing high retention of genetic variation and no skew in representation despite the documented bottleneck event. Moreover, this work demonstrates the effectiveness of head-starting in rescuing the Pinzón giant tortoise from almost certain extinction.

High-throughput DNA sequencing allows efficient discovery of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in nonmodel species. Population genetic theory predicts that this large number of independent markers should provide detailed insights into population structure, even when only a few individuals are sampled. Still, sampling design can have a strong impact on such inferences. Here, we use simulations and empirical SNP data to investigate the impacts of sampling design on estimating genetic differentiation among populations that represent three species of Galápagos giant tortoises ( Chelonoidis spp.). Though microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses have supported the distinctiveness of these species, a recent study called into question how well these markers matched with data from genomic SNPs, thereby questioning decades of studies in nonmodel organisms. Using >20,000 genomewide SNPs from 30 individuals from three Galápagos giant tortoise species, we find distinct structure that matches the relationships described by the traditional genetic markers. Furthermore, we confirm that accurate estimates of genetic differentiation in highly structured natural populations can be obtained using thousands of SNPs and 2-5 individuals, or hundreds of SNPs and 10 individuals, but only if the units of analysis are delineated in a way that is consistent with evolutionary history. We show that the lack of structure in the recent SNP-based study was likely due to unnatural grouping of individuals and erroneous genotype filtering. Our study demonstrates that genomic data enable patterns of genetic differentiation among populations to be elucidated even with few samples per population, and underscores the importance of sampling design. These results have specific implications for studies of population structure in endangered species and subsequent management decisions.

Species are being lost at an unprecedented rate due to human-driven environmental changes. The cases in which species declared extinct can be revived are rare. However, here we report that a remote volcano in the Galápagos Islands hosts many giant tortoises with high ancestry from a species previously declared as extinct: Chelonoidis elephantopus or the Floreana tortoise. Of 150 individuals with distinctive morphology sampled from the volcano, genetic analyses revealed that 65 had C. elephantopus ancestry and thirty-two were translocated from the volcano's slopes to a captive breeding center. A genetically informed captive breeding program now being initiated will, over the next decades, return C. elephantopus tortoises to Floreana Island to serve as engineers of the island's ecosystems. Ironically, it was the haphazard translocations by mariners killing tortoises for food centuries ago that created the unique opportunity to revive this "lost" species today.

Southwest Australia (SWA) is a global biodiversity hotspot and a centre of diversity and endemism for the Australo-Papuan myobatrachid frogs. Myobatrachus gouldii (the turtle frog) has a highly derived morphology associated with its forward burrowing behaviour, largely subterranean habit, and unusual mode of reproduction. Its sister genera Metacrinia and Arenophryne have restricted distributions in Western Australia with significant phylogeographic structure, leading to the recent description of a new species in the latter. In contrast, Myobatrachus is distributed widely throughout SWA over multiple climatic zones, but little is known of its population structure, geographic variation in morphology, or reproduction. We generated molecular and morphological data to test for genetic and morphological variation, and to assess whether substrate specialisation in this species may have led to phylogeographic structuring similar to that of other plant and animal taxa in SWA. We assembled sequence data for one mitochondrial and four nuclear DNA loci (3628 base pairs) for 42 turtle frogs sampled throughout their range. Likelihood phylogenetic analyses revealed shallow phylogeographic structure in the mtDNA locus (up to 3.3% genetic distance) and little variation in three of the four nDNA loci. The mtDNA haplotype network suggests five geographically allopatric groups, with no shared haplotypes between regions. These geographic patterns are congruent with several other SWA species, with genetic groups restricted to major hydrological divisions, the Swan Coastal Plain, and the Darling Scarp. The geographically structured genetic groups showed no evidence of significant morphological differentiation (242 individuals), and there was little sexual size dimorphism, but subtle differences in reproductive traits suggest more opportunistic breeding in lower rainfall zones. Call data were compared to sister genera Metacrinia and Arenophryne and found to be highly conservative across the three genera. Like many taxa in SWA, topographic variation and Plio-Pleistocene arid fluctuations likely were historic drivers of diversification in M. gouldii.

Species diversification often results from divergent evolution of ecological or social signaling traits. Theoretically, a combination of the two may promote speciation, however, empirical examples studying how social signal and ecological divergence might be involved in diversification are rare in general and typically do not consider range overlap as a contributing factor. We show that ecologically distinct lineages within the Australian sand dragon species complex (including Ctenophorus maculatus, Ctenophorus fordi, and Ctenophorus femoralis) have diversified recently, diverging in ecologically relevant and social signaling phenotypic traits as arid habitats expanded and differentiated. Diversification has resulted in repeated and independent invasion of distinct habitat types, driving convergent evolution of similar phenotypes. Our results suggest that parapatry facilitates diversification in visual signals through reinforcement as a hybridization-avoidance mechanism. We show that particularly striking variation in visual social signaling traits is better explained by the extent of lineage parapatry relative to ecological or phylogenetic divergence, suggesting that these traits reinforce divergence among lineages initiated by ecologically adaptive evolution. This study provides a rare empirical example of a repeated, intricate relationship between ecological and social signal evolution during diversification driven by ecological divergence and the evolution of new habitats, thereby supporting emergent theories regarding the importance of both ecological and social trait evolution throughout speciation.

The taxonomy of giant Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) is currently based primarily on morphological characters and island of origin. Over the last decade, compelling genetic evidence has accumulated for multiple independent evolutionary lineages, spurring the need for taxonomic revision. On the island of Santa Cruz there is currently a single named species, C. porteri. Recent genetic and morphological studies have shown that, within this taxon, there are two evolutionarily and spatially distinct lineages on the western and eastern sectors of the island, known as the Reserva and Cerro Fatal populations, respectively. Analyses of DNA from natural populations and museum specimens, including the type specimen for C. porteri, confirm the genetic distinctiveness of these two lineages and support elevation of the Cerro Fatal tortoises to the rank of species. In this paper, we identify DNA characters that define this new species, and infer evolutionary relationships relative to other species of Galapagos tortoises.

The south-western land division of Western Australia (SWWA), bordering the temperate Southern and Indian Oceans, is the only global biodiversity hotspot recognised in Australia. Renowned for its extraordinary diversity of endemic plants, and for some of the largest and most botanically significant temperate heathlands and woodlands on Earth, SWWA has long fascinated biogeographers. Its flat, highly weathered topography and the apparent absence of major geographic factors usually implicated in biotic diversification have challenged attempts to explain patterns of biogeography and mechanisms of speciation in the region. Botanical studies have always been central to understanding the biodiversity values of SWWA, although surprisingly few quantitative botanical analyses have allowed for an understanding of historical biogeographic processes in both space and time. Faunistic studies, by contrast, have played little or no role in defining hotspot concepts, despite several decades of accumulating quantitative research on the phylogeny and phylogeography of multiple lineages. In this review we critically analyse datasets with explicit supporting phylogenetic data and estimates of the time since divergence for all available elements of the terrestrial fauna, and compare these datasets to those available for plants. In situ speciation has played more of a role in shaping the south-western Australian fauna than has long been supposed, and has occurred in numerous endemic lineages of freshwater fish, frogs, reptiles, snails and less-vagile arthropods. By contrast, relatively low levels of endemism are found in birds, mammals and highly dispersive insects, and in situ speciation has played a negligible role in generating local endemism in birds and mammals. Quantitative studies provide evidence for at least four mechanisms driving patterns of endemism in south-western Australian animals, including: (i) relictualism of ancient Gondwanan or Pangaean taxa in the High Rainfall Province; (ii) vicariant isolation of lineages west of the Nullarbor divide; (iii) in situ speciation; and (iv) recent population subdivision. From dated quantitative studies we derive four testable models of historical biogeography for animal taxa in SWWA, each explicit in providing a spatial, temporal and topological perspective on patterns of speciation or divergence. For each model we also propose candidate lineages that may be worthy of further study, given what we know of their taxonomy, distributions or relationships. These models formalise four of the strongest patterns seen in many animal taxa from SWWA, although other models are clearly required to explain particular, idiosyncratic patterns. Generating numerous new datasets for suites of co-occurring lineages in SWWA will help refine our understanding of the historical biogeography of the region, highlight gaps in our knowledge, and allow us to derive general postulates from quantitative (rather than qualitative) results. For animals, this process has now begun in earnest, as has the process of taxonomically documenting many of the more diverse invertebrate lineages. The latter remains central to any attempt to appreciate holistically biogeographic patterns and processes in SWWA, and molecular phylogenetic studies should - where possible - also lead to tangible taxonomic outcomes., (© 2014 The Authors. Biological Reviews © 2014 Cambridge Philosophical Society.)

Unlabelled: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the performance of clinical risk assessment instruments for screening for DXA-determined osteoporosis or low bone density. Commonly evaluated risk instruments showed high sensitivity approaching or exceeding 90% at particular thresholds within various populations but low specificity at thresholds required for high sensitivity. Simpler instruments, such as OST, generally performed as well as or better than more complex instruments., Introduction: The purpose of the study is to systematically review the performance of clinical risk assessment instruments for screening for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-determined osteoporosis or low bone density., Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. Multiple literature sources were searched, and data extracted and analyzed from included references., Results: One hundred eight references met inclusion criteria. Studies assessed many instruments in 34 countries, most commonly the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST), the Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE) instrument, the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA), the Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument (ORAI), and body weight criteria. Meta-analyses of studies evaluating OST using a cutoff threshold of <1 to identify US postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at the femoral neck provided summary sensitivity and specificity estimates of 89% (95%CI 82-96%) and 41% (95%CI 23-59%), respectively. Meta-analyses of studies evaluating OST using a cutoff threshold of 3 to identify US men with osteoporosis at the femoral neck, total hip, or lumbar spine provided summary sensitivity and specificity estimates of 88% (95%CI 79-97%) and 55% (95%CI 42-68%), respectively. Frequently evaluated instruments each had thresholds and populations for which sensitivity for osteoporosis or low bone mass detection approached or exceeded 90% but always with a trade-off of relatively low specificity., Conclusions: Commonly evaluated clinical risk assessment instruments each showed high sensitivity approaching or exceeding 90% for identifying individuals with DXA-determined osteoporosis or low BMD at certain thresholds in different populations but low specificity at thresholds required for high sensitivity. Simpler instruments, such as OST, generally performed as well as or better than more complex instruments.