Biology subjects

Bures, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Bures, P..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Genome size is positively correlated with extinction risk in herbaceous angiosperms

O_LIAngiosperms with large genomes experience nuclear-, cellular- and organism-level constraints that may limit their phenotypic plasticity and ecological niche. These constraints have been documented to vary across lineages, life-history strategies, ecogeographic patterns and environmental conditions. Therefore, we test the hypotheses that extinction risk is higher in large-genomed compared to small-genomed species, and that the effect of genome size varies across three selected covariates: life form, endemism, and climatic zones. C_LIO_LIWe collated genome size and extinction risk information for a representative sample of angiosperms comprising 3,250 species, which we analyzed alongside life form, endemism and climate variables using a phylogenetic framework. C_LIO_LIAngiosperm genome size is positively correlated with extinction risk, a pattern driven by a signal in herbaceous but not woody species, regardless of climate and endemism. The influence of genome size is stronger in endemic herbaceous species, but is relatively homogenous across different climates. Beyond its indirect link via endemism and climate, genome size also influences extinction risk directly and significantly. C_LIO_LIGenome size may serve as a proxy for difficult-to-measure parameters associated with resilience and vulnerability in herbaceous angiosperms. Therefore, it merits further exploration as a useful biological attribute for understanding intrinsic extinction risk and augmenting plant conservation efforts. C_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

The global biogeography of angiosperm genome size is shaped by climate and range size

O_LIAngiosperms, which inhabit diverse environments across all continents, exhibit significant variation in genome sizes, making them an excellent model system for examining hypotheses about the global distribution of genome size. These include the previously proposed large-genome-constraint, mutational-hazard, polyploidy-mediated, and climate-mediated hypotheses. C_LIO_LIWe compiled the largest genome size dataset to date, encompassing >5% of known angiosperm species, and analyzed genome size distribution using a comprehensive geographic distribution dataset for all angiosperms. C_LIO_LIWe observed that angiosperms with large range sizes generally had small genomes, supporting the large-genome-constraint hypothesis. Climate was shown to exert a strong influence on genome size distribution along the global latitudinal gradient, while the frequency of polyploidy and the type of growth form had negligible effects. In contrast to the unimodal patterns along the global latitudinal gradient shown by plant size traits and polyploid proportions, the increase in angiosperm genome size from the equator to 40-50{degrees}N/S is probably mediated by different (mostly climatic) mechanisms than the decrease in genome sizes observed from 40-50{degrees}N northwards. C_LIO_LIOur analysis suggests that the global distribution of genome sizes in angiosperms is mainly shaped by climatically-mediated purifying selection, genetic drift, relaxed selection, and environmental filtering. C_LI

evolutionary biology↗