Biology subjects

Jordan, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Jordan, D..

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Closing the phenotyping gap: non-invasive electromagnetic induction enables high-throughput screening of crop root function in the field

Crop root systems play a critical role in water uptake and yield improvement under drought. However, a lack of methods to measure root system function at scale, particularly in the field, poses significant challenges to explore them in crop improvement programs. To address this bottleneck, we introduce a novel approach to directly screen water uptake and root activity in the field through integrating electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensing, inversion modelling and machine learning. This study was conducted as an on-farm field experiment comprising a factorial combination of 13 sorghum genotypes and three row spacings with three replications. Time-lapse EMI surveys were conducted from flowering to maturity using a customised DualEM-21S sensing system. Artificial neural network models were developed to predict 3D soil moisture ({theta}) using depth-specific true soil electrical conductivity estimated from EMI inversion algorithms, and the prediction accuracy was evaluated. Crop water use and functional root traits were derived from changes in {theta} profiles between successive EMI surveys using cubic splines fitted within a linear mixed model framework. Results indicate that dynamics of {theta} can be predicted with high accuracy (R2 = 0.83). There was a significant positive correlation between the EMI-derived crop water use and root length density at the depths without water stress. The functional root traits were significantly affected by growth stages, genotypes, row spacings, and their interactions. In general, narrower row spacing resulted in deeper rooting depth by flowering, which was associated with a larger canopy and higher grain number. In contrast, wider row spacing promoted greater post-flowering root growth, leading to increased post-flowering water use and, consequently, larger grain weight. Overall, our approach enables rapid characterisation of variation in crop water use, rooting depth and root growth in the field. It provides a valuable framework for understanding the dynamic interactions between root function and yield traits across variable field environments, with potential to accelerate genotype selection and optimise crop design in breeding and agronomy programs.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Testing Thirty Years of Hypotheses: Ancient Trout-Salmon Introgression and Limited Pre-Colonial Gene Flow Between Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout Shaped Pacific Salmonid Evolution

Introgression is the transfer of genetic material between species or populations through hybridization and backcrossing. While often deleterious or neutral in nature, introgression can also have beneficial consequences for the recipient lineage. Oncorhynchus is a genus of ray-finned fish (family Salmonidae) composed of nine species of Pacific trout and eight species of Pacific salmon, in which deep introgression has long been proposed to explain patterns of gene-tree-species-tree discordance, and in which hybridization is extensively observed between introduced and endemic species. In this study, we identified well-supported introgression between the ancestral lineage of Pacific trout and the ancestor of Chinook and coho salmon, a long-posited but previously untested hypothesis. While other salmon lineages (pink, chum, sockeye, and masu salmon) have been sympatric with trout for extended periods, providing an opportunity for hybridization to occur, we found no evidence of introgression between trout and these other salmon lineages. Our findings suggest mito-nuclear incompatibilities serve as a possible barrier to gene flow between the clade comprised of pink, chum, and sockeye salmon and all other lineages in Oncorhynchus. Within Pacific trout, we detected no historical introgression between cutthroat and rainbow trout lineages, suggesting that the extensive hybridization observed between them today reflects recent, primarily human-mediated contact rather than long-term gene flow. These findings show that ancestral introgression has shaped the evolutionary history of Oncorhynchus and should be accounted for in future comparative phylogenetic studies of the genus.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Genome-wide dissection of tillering responsiveness to neighbour proximity in sorghum

Tillering plasticity is a key adaptive trait in sorghum influencing resource use efficiency via a plants ability to adjust branching to neighbour density. Neighbour detection through red:far-red (R:FR) light sensing regulates this plasticity. While molecular pathways regulating tiller outgrowth are partly known, the genetic architecture underlying density-responsive tillering has not been resolved in any grass species. A sorghum diversity panel (n = 895) was evaluated over two growing seasons (2023 and 2024) with plant spacing ranging from 5 to 60 cm. A linear mixed model incorporating neighbour distance and tiller counts estimated genotype-specific response. GWAS was conducted on isolated plants (no neighbours within 60 cm) and on estimated responsiveness to neighbours. GWAS identified 52 baseline tillering QTLs and 50 for spacing responsiveness, with 10 overlapping, suggesting shared genetic control. Comparison with 41 R:FR pathway candidate genes revealed enrichment in responsiveness QTLs (5/50, 10%) versus baseline (0/52, 0%) (Fishers exact test, P = 0.025). Our model identified 40 unique density-responsive tillering QTL regions. Reducing genotype response to neighbour absence could be a selection target to develop water-efficient sorghum varieties where controlled architecture may be more valuable than natural plasticity.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

The frequency of resistant Escherichia coli isolation from seagulls is positively related to human population density

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health threat. Wild birds, including seagulls, are increasingly recognised as potential reservoirs and disseminators of resistant bacteria linked to human activity. The objective of the study was to assess the association between human population density and the occurrence of Escherichia coli resistant to critically important antimicrobials in Australian seagulls. Faecal samples were collected from seagull populations in coastal regions across Australia representing differing human population densities. Resistant E. coli isolates were identified and characterised using multilocus sequence typing and plasmid incompatibility group analysis to determine relatedness to human associated lineages. The frequency of resistant E. coli isolation increased with human population density. The predominant sequence types ST10, ST131 and ST354 comprised 24.5% of isolates and belong to globally distributed human associated lineages linked to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. Many isolates carried IncF and IncI plasmids, which are key vectors of blaCTX-M extended spectrum beta lactamase genes and plasmid mediated quinolone resistance determinants commonly reported in human clinical strains. IMPORTANCEThese findings support the contention that seagulls primarily acquire resistant bacteria through contact with anthropogenic activities. Once acquired, these bacteria may be disseminated to other seagulls, birds and animals, including being transmitted to humans.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

The blueprint of human functional architecture shifts from cognition to anatomy during perturbations of consciousness

Consciousness and cognition arise from the ongoing interactions between brain regions. Synchronous fluctuations of fMRI signals may indicate that two brain regions perform similar cognitive functions, but neural interactions are also constrained by anatomical connectivity and regions molecular, cytoarchitectonic, and metabolic profiles. Here we disentangle the respective contributions of ongoing cognition and multimodal neurobiological constraints in shaping functional connectivity. We jointly contextualise haemodynamic FC against eight distinct multimodal representations of the human connectome: (i) structural connectivity from diffusion tractography; (ii) spatial embedding; (iii) similarity of transcriptional profiles from gene expression; (iv) similarity of receptor profiles from Positron Emission Tomography; (v) laminar profile similarity from histology; (vi) correlated electrophysiological activity from magnetoencephalography; (vii) correlated metabolic activity from PET glucose uptake; (viii) coordinated activation across 123 cognitive operations from the NeuroSynth meta-analytic engine. We demonstrate that cognitive co-activation is the dominant predictor of inter-regional fMRI synchrony in the awake human brain, even when quantified using intracranial electrical stimulation. Crucially, this predominance of cognitive co-activation for shaping functional connectivity is systematically obliterated across five datasets of pharmacological and pathological perturbations of consciousness (chronic disorders of consciousness; anaesthesia with sevoflurane, propofol, or ketamine) when cognition is disconnected from the environment or altogether abolished. Altogether, we show that multimodal predictors of functional architecture shift away from cognitive co-activation and toward anatomicalmolecular constraints during pharmacological and pathological perturbations of consciousness.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Identification of key Y4R residues enables the discovery of selective non-peptide small-molecule agonists

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are central regulators of human physiology and disease, classifying them as relevant targets for therapeutic interventions. As transmembrane proteins, they convert extracellular signals into intracellular responses through agonist-induced conformational changes. Understanding how agonists stabilize active receptor conformations is decisive for rational drug design. In this study, we used the endogenous ligand pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and the cyclic hexapeptides UR-AK95c and UR-AK86c as molecular tools to determine key interactions critical for Y4R activation, which plays a crucial role in metabolic diseases. Guided by molecular docking, we systematically replaced Y4R residues and assessed activation. The in vitro and in silico studies delineated a key Y4R activation interface centered around the conserved C-terminal RXRY-NH2 motif of the peptides and, separately, identified receptor residues with distinct peptide-specific functional effects. Next, we performed an ultra-large library screening (ULLS) and experimentally validated three predicted hits as selective Y4R agonists that engage in a substantial subset of the identified critical receptor contacts. This study demonstrates how GPCR activation interface knowledge can be translated into the discovery of novel small-molecule agonists and outlines a general strategy for advanced GPCR drug discovery.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2026

Predicting Lodging Severity in Sorghum Breeding Trials Using UAV-Based Photogrammetrically Derived Height Data

Lodging in sorghum presents a significant challenge for plant breeders due to the trade-off between lodging resistance and grain yield. Manually measuring lodging across thousands of plots is time-consuming, expensive, and error-prone, making selection for lodging resistance challenging in breeding programs. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-derived metrics provide a potential high-throughput alternative; however, it remains unclear whether photogrammetric heights derived from UAV imagery can estimate plot-level lodging severity in large sorghum breeding trials. This study developed a framework for predicting plot-level lodging from UAV imagery across 2,675 sorghum breeding plots. Multi-temporal canopy height data were collected at two critical time points: maximum crop height and at manual lodging assessment. Height percentiles were extracted from UAV-derived point clouds generated using photogrammetric algorithms. These data were used to develop parametric, non-parametric, and ensemble prediction models, which were evaluated using three statistical metrics. The ensemble model, averaging predictions from all models, achieved the highest accuracy with Pearson correlations of r = 0.80-0.84 and lowest root mean square error (RMSE=16-18%), explaining 64-70% of variation in manual lodging counts. Model diagnostics and iterative refinement, including inspection of UAV imagery and dataset curation, had minimal impact on model performance, demonstrating the robustness of the approach. Model performance was consistent across sites, with minimal effects of stratified sampling on accuracy, confirming the ensemble approach as optimal for plot-level lodging assessment. This study demonstrates that integrated multi-temporal UAV imagery offers a practical alternative to labor-intensive manual evaluation methods by enabling high-throughput lodging assessment suitable for implementation in sorghum breeding programs.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

COLLEMBOT: AI-Based Counting of Collembola for OECD 232 Tests

Ecotoxicological tests with soil organisms, such as the collembolan Folsomia candida, are essential for assessing chemical risks in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the current Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 232 reproduction tests rely on manual counting of juvenile and adult Collembola, a process that is costly, labor-intensive, time-consuming and prone to operator bias. These limitations restrict data availability and hinder robust risk assessments. We therefore developed COLLEMBOT, an automated counting tool based on a YOLOv11 convolutional neural network, designed to integrate seamlessly into OECD workflows without protocol modifications. The model was trained on high-resolution images (n = 3207) from multiple laboratories and validated using 22 independent datasets (n = 1704 images) from Amsterdam (Netherlands), Basel (Switzerland), Bayreuth (Germany), Coimbra (Portugal) and Aarhus (Denmark). Datasets consisted of relevant standard soils (OECD artificial soils with 2.5%, 5% and 10% sphagnum peat; LUFA 2.2) and the springtail Folsomia candida. Automated counts showed strong agreement with manual counts (R{superscript 2} = 0.88-0.99). Dose-response curves derived from automated and manual counts strongly overlapped and effect concentrations (EC and EC) differed minimally (Median %{Delta} 6.2 {+/-} 23 and EC10 - EC90 R2 [≥] 0.977), remaining within acceptable limits for regulatory risk assessment and confirming reliability. Time efficiency improved significantly: a test with [~]300 images and up to 1,500 individuals per image was processed in less than 3 hours, compared to [~]137 hours needed for manual counting, a reduction of approximately 97%. By reducing labor and improving reproducibility, COLLEMBOT enables broader hazard data generation for collembolans, supporting science-based chemical risk assessment. The code and workflow are publicly available to facilitate adoption and community-driven development. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=187 SRC="FIGDIR/small/697653v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (131K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d3ddc5org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@84c90aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1aaf06aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@18ddfcd_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Differential receptor activation defines the fundamental limit of chemotactic sensing

1Cells are often assumed to require a [~]1% difference in ligand concentration across their length to bias chemotaxis, but this {Delta}C framework overlooks the non-linear relation between ligand concen-tration and receptor activation and, for linear gradients, is uninformative with respect to gradient steepness. Using mathematical modelling and experiments in linear gradients of the non-degradable cAMP analogue Sp-cAMPS, we show that ligand concentration alone does not describe chemotactic behaviour. By expressing signals as the differential proportion of activated receptors ({Delta}{Omega}), we find that cells can detect differences as small as 0.026% across their length. Importantly, the minimum differential required to induce bias increases with overall receptor activation, demonstrating that chemotactic sensitivity depends on the receptor occupancy regime rather than on {Delta}C. The true minimal chemotactic threshold therefore lies at concentrations that minimise receptor activation while still eliciting a bias, and is likely to be below 0.026%.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Scaling up orphan crop research: A global genetic perspective of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) diversity from 10,617 accessions

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a dryland legume crop, providing essential food and nutritional security for millions of people across the semi-arid tropics, in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, as a typical "orphan crop", cowpea has long remained underrepresented in global genomic research to support crop improvement. Here, we conducted the largest genetic diversity analysis of cowpea to date, comprising 10,617 accessions sourced from seven international collections. Using genotyping-by-sequencing, we characterized the global patterns of genetic diversity, assessed redundancy within and across collections, and examined the geographic structure of the cowpea global allele pool. Our results revealed nine distinct genetic groups with clear geographic associations and fine-scale population differentiation, reflecting dispersal history, regional adaptation and the influence of modern breeding. Duplication across collections was detected, highlighting the need for improved curation and integration of germplasm resources. Landraces from sub-Saharan Africa do not fully capture the genetic diversity present in several other geographic regions, indicating the existence of abundant and untapped genetic resources worldwide. These findings not only provide insights into the genetic structure and evolutionary history of cowpea but also offer a valuable foundation for harnessing global germplasm diversity to enhance breeding potential and accelerate crop improvement.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Anillin-dependent actin assembly at PML NBs protects genome stability

Nuclear filamentous actin (F-actin) is emerging as a key regulator of genome stability1-6. During replication stress, transient bursts of nuclear actin assembly in S-phase promote fork remodelling and repair3,4, but how these bursts are initiated, regulated, and whether nuclear F-actin also act on DNA lesions inherited across cell cycles, remains unknown. Here, we show that replication stress induces nuclear actin assembly at liquid-liquid phase-separated (LLPS) promyelocytic leukaemia nuclear bodies (PML NBs), driven by the actin-binding protein Anillin. Although best known as a cytokinesis factor, Anillin localises to PML NBs in interphase, where it concentrates monomeric actin (G-actin) and establishes a favourable environment for spontaneous actin assembly. Filament growth within these condensates remodels PML NB morphology and composition, releasing sequestered AKT into the nucleoplasm. AKT is subsequently phosphorylated and activated, and this nuclear AKT activity is required to regulate 53BP1 nuclear bodies in G1. These protective LLPS compartments shield under-replicated DNA inherited from the stressed S-phase until the following S-phase. This prevents premature engagement by aberrant repair pathways that would otherwise generate toxic intermediates and culminate in mitotic failure. Together, these findings define a condensate-to-filament pathway in which nuclear F-actin dynamically reorganises phase-separated compartments to safeguard genome stability across cell cycles.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Compensatory tRNA Modification by DUS3L Confers Resistance to METTL1 Loss in Oesophageal Cancer

tRNA N-methylguanosine (mG46), installed by the METTL1/WDR4 methyltransferase, stabilizes the tRNA pool supporting high proliferative rates. Accordingly, many cancer cell lines are vulnerable to METTL1 loss, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target. We identify a subset of cell lines insensitive to METTL1 depletion and use oesophageal lines as a model to explore the mechanism. The METTL1-resistant adenocarcinoma line OE33 preserves tRNA balance upon mG46 deficiency by elevating dihydrouridylation at position 47 (D47). Depletion of DUS-L enzymes that catalyse D16/D17/D20/D47 on tRNAs sensitises OE33 to METTL1 loss. Concomitant loss of dihydrouridylation and mG46 destabilizes the canonical L-shaped tRNA structure, disrupts coaxial helix stacking and anticodon-loop presentation, and reduces cellular fitness. Notably, METTL1-sensitive cell lines lack this compensatory pathway due to the deleterious effects of increasing their intrinsically low DUS3L levels. These findings reveal a DUS-L-mediated buffering mechanism that supports tRNA homeostasis in METTL1-resistant cancers and highlight DUS3L abundance as a potential biomarker for predicting METTL1 sensitivity. Moreover, they suggest that combined targeting of DUS-L and METTL1 may provide a therapeutic strategy for overcoming resistance in cancers, exemplified in cell lines such as OE33. HighlightsO_LIThe oesophagus cancer line OE33 shows no proliferative defect upon METTL1/WDR4 loss, despite complete lack of m7G46 on its tRNA. C_LIO_LIOE33 coordinates codon usage and abundance of cognate tRNAs in the absence of METTL1/WDR4; the METTL1/WDR4 sensitive line, OE21, fails to do so. C_LIO_LIDepleting dihydrouridine synthases (DUS-L) renders OE33 sensitive to METTL1/WDR4 loss. C_LIO_LIOE33 responds to lack of METTL1/WDR4 activity by upregulating DUS3L and its activity (D47) on tRNA; the sensitive line OE21 fails to do so. C_LIO_LIMETTL1-sensitive lines have intrinsically low DUS3L and cannot sustain higher levels. C_LIO_LIDUS3L reveals as a potential biomarker for METTL1 sensitivity. C_LI

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Complete telomere-to-telomere genomes of cowpea reveal insights into centromere evolution in Phaseoleae

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a versatile legume crop providing a critical source of grain, vegetable and forage globally. Cultivated cowpea is classified into two main subspecies, subsp. sesquipedalis for fresh-pod vegetable and subsp. unguiculata for grain production. Here, we present two complete telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assemblies for the grain-type inbred lines HJD and vegetable-type FC6 through integrating PacBio HiFi reads, Oxford Nanopore ultra-long reads, and Hi-C data. The T2T genomes demonstrated improved contiguity, completeness, and accuracy compared to existing genomes, revealing clear telomeric and centromeric features. Comparative analysis of the T2T genomes highlighted inversions underlying subspecies divergence in cowpea. Evolutionary analysis uncovered contraction of gene families related to symbiosis in HJD, consist with its reduced root nodules compared to FC6. Distribution and composition of tandem repeat arrays and transposable elements in centromeric regions were largely conserved in cowpea, but displayed pronounced variation among Phaseoleae. Furthermore, frequent shifts of centromeric locations coincided with inversions found in Phaseoleae. Overall, this study provides a set of fundamental resources for cowpea improvement and enhances our understanding of cowpea subspecies divergence and genome evolution in Phaseoleae.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

A balance between nucleating and elongating actin filaments controls deformation of protein condensates

Protein condensates use multivalent binding and surface tension to assemble actin filaments into diverse architectures, reminiscent of filopodia and stress fibers. During this process, nucleation of new filaments and elongation of existing filaments inherently compete for a shared pool of actin monomers. Here we show that a balance between these competing processes is required to deform condensates of VASP, an actin binding protein, into structures with high aspect ratios. Addition of magnesium, which promotes filament nucleation, helped actin to deform condensates into high aspect ratio structures. In contrast, addition of profilin, which inhibits filament nucleation, allowing existing filaments to elongate, caused actin to assemble into ring-like bundles that failed to substantially increase condensate aspect ratio. Computational modeling helped to explain these results by predicting that a group of short linear filaments, which can apply asymmetric pressure to the condensate boundary, is needed to increase condensate aspect ratio. In contrast, a small number of long filaments with the same total actin content should fail to overcome the droplet surface tension, forming a ring-like bundle. To test these predictions, we introduced gelsolin, which severed log filaments within rings, creating new barbed ends. The resulting set of shorter filaments regained the ability to deform condensates into high aspect ratio structures. Collectively, these results suggest that a balance of actin filament nucleation and elongation is required to deform protein condensates. More broadly, these findings illustrate how protein condensates can balance multiple kinetic processes to direct the assembly of diverse cytoskeletal architectures.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Mechanochemical feedback between confinement and actin crosslinking drives the shape dynamics of liquid-like droplets

Several actin-binding proteins can form liquid-liquid phase-separated condensates that promote actin filament assembly and bundling, which is crucial for local actin network organization. Previous studies have established that phase-separated condensates composed of actin-binding proteins, such as vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) and Lamellipodin (Lpd), restrict the organization of actin filaments to structures such as rings, shells, discs, and rods through kinetic trapping. However, the mechanism by which crosslinker multivalency, actin growth, and condensate properties tune actin organization and droplet shape is not well understood. Using a combination of agent-based simulations and experiments, we find that the deformability of the droplet interface allows for the emergence of not just tightly-bundled actin rings but also weakly-bundled actin discs. We find two major quantitative relationships between actin bundling and droplet deformation. The first relationship shows that the crosslinked bundle thickness and droplet diameter followed a power law, consistent with experiments. The second one is that the kinetics of droplet deformation follows a dynamic snapping behavior that depends on the droplet surface tension and the multivalent VASP-actin binding kinetics. We predicted that these two relationships were generalizable to dynamic multimers and to weak actin crosslinkers. Our predictions were experimentally tested using two additional condensate-forming proteins, lamellipodin and RGG. Taken together, we show that mechanochemical feedback between the droplet interface properties and crosslinker multivalency tune actin organization and control the dynamics of droplet deformation by actin networks.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Comprehensive profiling of anaesthetised brain dynamics across phylogeny

Intrinsic dynamics of neuronal circuits shape information processing. Combining neuroimaging with causal perturbation offers the opportunity to understand how local dynamics mediate the link between neurobiology and functional repertoire. We compile a unique dataset of multi-scale neural activity during wakefulness and anaesthetic-induced suppression of information processing encompassing human, macaque, marmoset, mouse, zebrafish and nematode. Applying massive feature extraction, we comprehensively characterise local neural dynamics across >6,000 time-series features. Using dynamics as a common space for cross-species comparison reveals a conserved dynamical profile of anaesthesia across species, characterised by shorter intrinsic timescales of neural activity and dampened interregional synchrony. This dynamical regime is experimentally reversed in vivo by deep-brain stimulation of the macaque centromedian thalamus, restoring behavioural responsiveness. Spatially, this conserved dynamical phenotype covaries with conserved transcriptional profiles of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission across human, macaque, marmoset and mouse cortex. Biophysical modelling provides a mechanistic link between the macroscale dynamical phenotype of anaesthesia, and microscale effects of key molecular targets on the timescales of synaptic excitation and inhibition. Altogether, comprehensive dynamical phenotyping reveals a shared neural endpoint of anaesthesia: across species and scales, anaesthetics induce spatio-temporal isolation of local neural activity.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

The Blueprint for Survival: The Blue Dasher Dragonfly as a Model for Urban Adaptation

Human alteration of natural environments and habitats is a major driver of species decline. However, a handful of species thrive in human altered environments. The biology, distribution, population structure, and molecular adaptations enabling certain species to thrive in human-altered habitats are not well understood. Here, we evaluate the population and functional genomics, ecological niche and distributions, and geometric morphometrics of the blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis), one of the most ubiquitously observed insects in human altered habitats. Using resequencing data we identify a number of genes involved with the success of the blue dasher in human altered habitats, including loci contributing to immune function and response to oxidative stress. Some genes related to these functions are found in regions of strong population structure, while others are not, potentially indicating both regional and widespread adaptations to urban environments within this species. Using one of the most robust locality datasets for any species to date, we also generate habitat suitability predictions which show that P. longipennis has spread with urbanization, suggesting humans have created suitable habitat for this species. These results complement morphological and genomic data showing P. longipennis (particularly East of the Rocky Mountains) has the capacity to rapidly disperse to newly suitable habitats. Given the shared barriers to colonizing an urban habitat, we expect that many of the adaptations we have identified in P. longipennis can be used for predicting what animals might succeed in urban habitats more generally.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Environmental DNA vs. Community Science: Strengths and Limitations for Urban Odonata Surveys

The study of insect decline remains a major frontier in insect biodiversity and conservation. Despite growing concern about accelerating rates of insect decline generally, relatively little data has been compiled about species of aquatic insects. Data is particularly lacking on the distribution of aquatic insects in urban ecosystems. Here, we compare environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and community science observation as means of monitoring Odonata within an urban system in Southwest Idaho. We show that the distribution of Odonata across this urban landscape is not uniform and that both monitoring methods have different strengths and weaknesses. We found that eDNA metabarcoding was very sensitive to the identification of genera from underrepresented families in the region, but was unable to distinguish between closely related genera, particularly from localities where eDNA could accumulate more damage. On the other hand, community science observations effectively identified the presence of genera from more speciose families but missed the presence of relatively rare species, and those that had a short flight season. These findings suggest that, in our study system, eDNA and community science are highly complementary of each other. In cases where only one method is employed for a monitoring or conservation project, care should be given to account for the biases of each approach.

ecology↗