Conservation genomics articles within Nature Communications

Featured

• Article
  12 April 2024 | Open Access

  Introgression and disruption of migration routes have shaped the genetic integrity of wildebeest populations

  The evolutionary genetics of a keystone savannah species the blue wildebeest, and the related black wildebeest, remain largely unexplored. This study finds evidence for archaic introgression of black wildebeest to blue wildebeest and detrimental effects of human activities on migratory populations.

  • Xiaodong Liu
  • , Long Lin
  •  & Rasmus Heller

• Perspective
  17 November 2023 | Open Access

  Multi-omics for studying and understanding polar life

  Endangered polar ecosystems play critical roles in the Earth’s climate system and comprise many different habitats with unique organisms. Here, the authors propose a community road map to use multi-omics data from polar organisms for conservation, ecosystem services and societal gain.

  • M. S. Clark
  • , J. I. Hoffman
  •  & T. Mock

• Article
  12 September 2023 | Open Access

  The genomic footprint of whaling and isolation in fin whale populations

  Industrial whaling drove several species to near extinction. From an analysis of 50 whole-genomes from fin whale populations, this study shows that the fin whale population in the Eastern North Pacific was reduced 99% during whaling but has maintained genomic diversity, whereas the Gulf of California population remained small and isolated, resulting in increased genetic load.

  • Sergio F. Nigenda-Morales
  • , Meixi Lin
  •  & Robert K. Wayne

• Article
  06 October 2022 | Open Access

  Early stages of sympatric homoploid hybrid speciation in crater lake cichlid fishes

  Here, the authors present a rare example of sympatric homoploid hybrid speciation, without ploidy changes, in the Midas cichlid fishes from Nicaragua. Midas cichlid hybrids occupy a different ecological niche, likely facilitated by body shape adaptations.

  • Melisa Olave
  • , Alexander Nater
  •  & Axel Meyer

• Article
  18 June 2022 | Open Access

  Chromosome-level and haplotype-resolved genome provides insight into the tetraploid hybrid origin of patchouli

  The ploidy level of patchouli, an aromatic plant in the Lamiaceae family, remain unclear. Here, the authors assemble a chromosome-level and haplotype-resolved genome for patchouli and reveal that it is tetraploid hybrid as well as compensated aneuploidy.

  • Yanting Shen
  • , Wanying Li
  •  & Hong-bin Wang

• Article
  26 April 2021 | Open Access

  Genomic insights into the conservation status of the world’s last remaining Sumatran rhinoceros populations

  Highly endangered species like the Sumatran rhinoceros are at risk from inbreeding. Five historical and 16 modern genomes from across the species range show mutational load, but little evidence for local adaptation, suggesting that future inbreeding depression could be mitigated by assisted gene flow among populations.

  • Johanna von Seth
  • , Nicolas Dussex
  •  & Love Dalén

• Article
  05 December 2019 | Open Access

  Genomic and transcriptomic insights into molecular basis of sexually dimorphic nuptial spines in Leptobrachium leishanense

  The basis of sexual dimorphism in non-model species may be elusive, in part due to a lack of genomic and molecular resources. Here, Li et al. report a high-quality anuran genome and reveal candidate genes and pathways associated with shaping sexually dimorphic nuptial spines in a moustache toad.

  • Jun Li
  • , Haiyan Yu
  •  & Hua Wu

• Article
  18 October 2019 | Open Access

  Puma genomes from North and South America provide insights into the genomic consequences of inbreeding

  Pumas are experiencing increased isolation as human persecution and habitat loss fragment the populations of this once widespread species. Here, the authors estimate the genomic consequences of this isolation by analyzing the genomes of ten pumas from across North and South America.

  • Nedda F. Saremi
  • , Megan A. Supple
  •  & Beth Shapiro

• Article
  05 July 2019 | Open Access

  Genomic signatures and correlates of widespread population declines in salmon

  The Atlantic salmon has suffered widespread population declines over the last century. Here, Lehnert et al. reconstruct changes in effective population size of 172 populations based on genomic linkage information revealing mostly temperature-associated population declines with over 60% of populations in decline since 1975.

  • S. J. Lehnert
  • , T. Kess
  •  & I. R. Bradbury

• Article
  18 February 2015 | Open Access

  Intermediate DNA methylation is a conserved signature of genome regulation

  Many loci in the mammalian genome are intermediately methylated. Here, by comprehensively identifying these loci and quantifying their relationship with gene activity, the authors show that intermediate methylation is an evolutionarily conserved epigenomic signature of gene regulation.

  • GiNell Elliott
  • , Chibo Hong
  •  & Joseph F. Costello