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An analysis of 25,000 human seasonal influenza virus sequences reveals no distinguishable mutational patterns across individuals with different immune histories, suggesting a limited role of individual immune positive selection in the evolution these viruses.
The cnidarian moon jellyfish Aurelia has a medusa life stage with a complex neural system. By comparing the Aurelia genome and transcriptomes from different life stages with those of other cnidarians, the authors show that life cycle complexity is not associated with increased number of genes.
Slower-growing yeast clones at the colony edge have their fitness disadvantage masked by the collective motion of neighbouring cells, reducing the rate at which costly mutations are selected against.
The genomes of two long-lived giant tortoises, including Lonesome George, reveal candidate genes and pathways associated with their development, gigantism and longevity.
Studying the asymmetry in the pattern of Neanderthal introgression in modern human genomes between individuals of East Asian and European ancestry, the authors show recurrent gene flow from Neanderthals into modern humans.
Large-scale phylogenetic analysis of coral reef fish species shows that functional traits evolve fastest in those at high and low trophic levels with narrow diet breadth.
Radiocarbon dates, stable isotope data and DNA sequencing indicate an Elasmotheriinae/Rhinocerotinae split by the Eocene period, and the extinction of Elasmotherium sibiricum no later than 39,000 years ago, to which its specialized diet was probably a contributing factor.
Analysis of embryonic bird skulls reveals dinosaur-like modular ossification patterns, which underpins the re-organization of skull architecture during bird evolution.
Although plant functional trait combinations reflect ecological trade-offs at the species level, little is known about how this translates to whole communities. Here, the authors show that global trait composition is captured by two main dimensions that are only weakly related to macro-environmental drivers.
Pseudomonas fluorescens is subjected to two stressors: the predatory thermophile Tetrahymena and sublethal antibiotic treatment. The interaction slows adaptation and destabilizes ecological dynamics.
Females are often dominant in spotted hyaena societies. Here, the authors show that this dominance emerges from male-biased dispersal and its effect on social bonds, which can result in increased social support for females.
Twenty years of catch data and habitat surveys in coral reef fisheries in the Seychelles reveal that total yields can be maintained after severe bleaching and associated regime shifts, but the stability of fisheries is reduced.
Combining two global datasets, the authors show that peak vegetation growth has been increasing linearly for the past 30 years, with similar proportions of NDVI variation attributable to expanding croplands, rising CO2 and intensifying nitrogen deposition.
Genomes of three Tuberaceae species and two related truffle species reveal genetic similarities across symbiotic truffle-forming fungi, including high expression of genes involved in volatile organic compound metabolism.
Data from more than 200 million observations of plants, animals and fungi provide support for the concept that terrestrial biodiversity patterns reflect distinct ecoregions.
Analysis of 4,578 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates reveals the evolutionary history of the four tuberculosis genotypes in China, from emergence 1,000 years ago to expansion, population peaks and, more recently, dominance of the indigenous sublineage L2.3.
A major effect locus is identified that contributes to overyielding when two different accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana are grown together, suggesting a simple genetic basis for the positive effects of biodiversity on community functioning.
Evidence synthesized from 252 large-herbivore exclusion studies suggests that herbivore-induced change in dominance, independent of site productivity or precipitation, best predicts herbivore effects on biodiversity in grassland and savannah sites.