Biology subjects

Algar, A. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Algar, A. C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Chromosome-scale genome assembly and linkage map for Silene uniflora reveal the recombination landscape in a rapidly evolving plant species

The genus Silene is an important model system for fields as diverse as sex chromosome evolution, speciation and disease ecology. However, genomic resources remain scarce in the genus. Here, we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly for S. uniflora, a hermaphroditic/gynodioecious species which is an important model for rapid adaptation to anthropogenic disturbance and the role of phenotypic plasticity in adaptive evolution. Using a combination of long-read and Hi-C sequencing technologies, we generated a 1,268 Mb genome assembly with a scaffold N50 of 40.72 Mb and 682 Mb assembled into 12 chromosomes. We annotated the genome using evidence from transcriptome and protein mapping in combination with ab initio gene prediction, resulting in 41,603 protein-coding genes and a BUSCO completeness score of 91%. We also present a linkage map which we used to validate the genome assembly and estimate local recombination rate across the genome. Comparison to the only two other Silene species with chromosome-scale genome assemblies reveals widespread genome rearrangements in the genus, suggesting Silene may be a promising study system for the role of genome rearrangement in evolution, particularly in the evolution of sex chromosomes and adaptation. Significance statementPlant species in the genus Silene (campions) are important study organisms in multiple areas of ecology and evolution. Sea campion (Silene uniflora) is an important model for investigations into rapid adaptation, phenotypic plasticity and parallel evolution. However, only two species have high-quality genome assemblies available, hampering studies of their genetics and evolution. We present a high-quality genome assembly, genetic map and gene annotation for sea campion. These will be important genomic resources for future studies of sea campion, other species in the genus Silene and the family Caryophyllaceae more generally.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Fauxcurrence: simulating multi-species occurrences for null models in species distribution modelling and biogeography

Defining appropriate null expectations for species distribution hypotheses is important because sampling bias and spatial autocorrelation can produce realistic, but ecologically meaningless, geographic patterns. Generating null species occurrences with similar spatial structure to observed data can help overcome these problems, but existing methods focus on single or pairs of species and do not incorporate between-species spatial structure that may occlude comparative biogeographic analyses. Here, we describe an algorithm for generating randomised species occurrence points that mimic the within- and between-species spatial structure of real datasets and implement it in a new R package - fauxcurrence. The algorithm can be implemented on any geographic domain for any number of species, limited only by computing power. To demonstrate its utility, we apply the algorithm to two common analysis-types: testing the fit of species distribution models (SDMs) and evaluating niche-overlap. The method works well on all tested datasets within reasonable timescales. We found that many SDMs, despite a good fit to the data, were not significantly better than null expectations and identified only two cases (out of a possible 32) of significantly higher niche divergence than expected by chance. The package is user-friendly, flexible and has many potential applications beyond those tested here, such as joint SDM evaluation and species co-occurrence analysis, spanning the areas of ecology, evolutionary biology and biogeography.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2019

Saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin bioavailability increases in future oceans

Increasing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide are largely absorbed by the worlds oceans, decreasing surface water pH1. In combination with increasing ocean temperatures, these changes have been identified as a major sustainability threat to future marine life2. Interactions between marine organisms are known to depend on biomolecules, but the influence of oceanic pH on their bioavailability and functionality remains unexplored. Here we show that global change significantly impacts two ecological keystone molecules3 in the ocean, the paralytic toxins saxitoxin (STX) and tetrodotoxin (TTX). Increasing temperatures and declining pH increase the abundance of the toxic forms of these two neurotoxins in the water. Our geospatial global model highlights where this increased toxicity could intensify the devastating impact of harmful algal blooms on ecosystems in the future, for example through an increased incidence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). We also use these results to calculate future saxitoxin toxicity levels in Alaskan clams, Saxidomus gigantea, showing critical exceedance of limits save for consumption. Our findings for TTX and STX exemplarily highlight potential consequences of changing pH and temperature on chemicals dissolved in the sea. This reveals major implications not only for ecotoxicology, but also for chemical signals mediating species interactions such as foraging, reproduction, or predation in the ocean with unexplored consequences for ecosystem stability and ecosystem services.

pharmacology and toxicology↗