Biology subjects

Lisovski, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Lisovski, S..

10 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Dispersal, adaptation and persistence of H5N1 in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctica

High pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 reached the sub-Antarctic and Antarctica in 2023, subsequently spreading to remote locations within this region where it had devastating impacts on seal, penguin and albatross populations. The threat to marine wildlife over this broad area exemplifies the need to understand H5N1 long-distance dispersal and evolution. We obtained 104 novel viral genomic sequences from samples that we collected at South Georgia, Kerguelen, Crozet, Prince Edward, Falklands/Malvinas Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula in a region spanning 8,000 kilometers. Using recent phylogeographic modeling advances we show that H5N1 spread encompassed numerous transmission events between distant locations, accumulating mammalian-adaptive mutations in the process. Seals are the most affected species, but we reveal that the long-distance eastward virus dispersal better aligns with the long-distance movements of large petrels and albatrosses. The risk of H5N1 endemisation, dispersal to other locations and ongoing evolution are highly concerning.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Mass mortality at penguin mega-colonies due to avian cholera confounds H5N1 HPAIV surveillance in Antarctica

In the austral summer 2023/2024, H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was reported for the first time in Antarctica. Concerns of HPAIV causing high mortality of seabirds and mammals prompted immediate efforts to track its spread and impact on endemic wildlife. In March 2024, we visited the Danger Islands archipelago, that hosts two mega-colonies of Adelie penguins, and observed an unusual mortality estimated in thousands of Adelie penguins and other species. Swabs and tissues were collected for molecular detection of infectious agents from 49 carcasses, and additional tissues for histology from a selection of 9 carcasses. We unexpectedly detected Pasteurella multocida DNA in 46 of 49 individuals, and diagnosed avian cholera, and not HPAI, as the cause of death of most of these animals. By metagenomics, we retrieved the genomic sequences of the Pasteurella multocida strain which caused the epizootic, and the phylogenetic analysis showed a close relation with strains previously reported in the Southern Ocean area. This study confirms avian cholera as a relevant cause of mortality in the Antarctic region, and overall highlights the importance of considering avian cholera in the differential diagnoses during mortality events in Antarctica, even with the concurrent circulation of HPAIV.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Different dispersal rates and declining climate suitability shape future vegetation compositions across the Arctic: implications for the boreal forest - tundra boundary

AimWe investigate how species-specific dispersal abilities might influence future Arctic plant distributions and large-scale dynamics at the boreal forest - tundra boundary until 2100 Locationcircumpolar terrestrial Arctic (boreal forest, taiga and tundra) Taxon1,550 plant species MethodsWe developed climate-driven species distribution models (SDM) to predict species-specific emerging climate niches under different climate scenarios. The model was parameterized using occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database (GBIF) and temperature and bioclimatic variables from the CHELSA data set. Dispersal rates were assigned to each species using a trait-based approach and were used to predict future habitat with a distance-based probability over time. ResultsPlant species are predicted to occupy on average only 12.3% (1.5 - 53.9 95% CI) of their emerging climate niches, with half of the species unable to colonize new habitat by 2100 due to limited dispersal distances. In dispersal limited predictions migration to higher altitudes played a greater role than northward shifts. Decolonization by species (extirpation) due to decreasing climate suitability had a larger effect on species composition change compared to dispersal limitations. Boreal tree species were predicted to expand into the tundra shrinking the treeless areas. Main conclusionsFuture plant species distributions and resulting large-scale compositions are affected by species-specific dispersal rates. Even though new suitable niches emerge prominently towards the north, higher altitudes might be more relevant given their accessibility by dispersal over the next century. Although climate niche dynamics could support higher plant species richness across the Arctic, overall richness is expected to decline with climate warming due to dispersal limitations. The colonization of new habitats via dispersal in combination with the decolonization of former habitats due to declining climatic suitability on species level are predicted to cause large-scale changes in species composition, especially at the boundary between the boreal forest and the tundra biome.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

DNA virus-host patterns in lake and marine environments over the last glacial cycle

Viruses are crucial to population control, biogeochemical cycling, and host evolution, making them essential for ecosystem function. Here, we explore long-term virus-host interactions in lake and marine environments across the late Pleistocene and Holocene. We analysed sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) from five Siberian lakes and four Subarctic/Antarctic marine cores to infer past DNA virus taxa from metagenomic sequences. Viruses accounted for 0.089% (357 161 reads) of mapped reads across 2084 taxa. Virus communities differ between lakes and marine sites, with lakes dominated by Caudoviricetes and marine environments featuring Caudoviricetes and Algavirales. Each time series shows compositional changes in virus communities from the Pleistocene to the Holocene, supporting the inference that sedaDNA can reconstruct time-resolved ancient viral assemblages. Among the most abundant viruses, we identified 83 virus-host pairs known from published literature to infect bacterial, archaeal, or eukaryotic hosts, and assessed their associations using co-variation patterns. Over millennia, virus-host co-variations are particularly stable in marine systems, especially for phytoplankton-infecting viruses. However, in the Bering Sea, we find a lack of virus-host correlation, likely because an Arctic Pelagibacter strain expanded rapidly after the Bering Strait opened, potentially due to absent viral infection. Antagonistic patterns also appear between bacteriophages and hosts, possibly linked to shifts between lytic and lysogenic cycles in response to environmental changes. This study shows that sedaDNA can reveal ancient viral community structures and long-term ecological patterns, highlighting the value of ancient viromes in understanding ecosystem- specific responses to environmental change.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Woody plant encroachment enhances negative interactions in Arctic plant communities over the last 24,000 years

Woody taxa encroachment in the Arctic has been widely observed. However, it remains uncertain how plant interactions are affected by such encroachment due to the lack of long-term observational data. Here, we reconstruct plant composition and functional trait turnover during post-glacial woody encroachment using sedimentary ancient DNA from nine lakes in the Siberia-Alaska region. Environmentally constrained null models are applied to partition plant interactions from the pure environment driven plant co-occurrence signal. Our results show that plant interactions shifted from predominantly positive interactions (e.g. nurse-plant facilitation) during the glacial period to negative interactions (e.g. competition) during the Holocene. This shift coincided with a community transition from herbaceous to woody taxa, leading to an increase in average plant height and root length, as evidenced by leveraging plant trait information. We suggest that climate (an external factor) and plant interactions (an internal process) jointly supported rapid and widespread woody taxa expansion at the end of the last glacial, which may provide an analogy with contemporary "arctic greening". In turn, woody encroachment is likely to constrain the geographical ranges of native species, increasing the risk of local native taxa loss, while enhancing beta diversity.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

The expanding avian influenza panzootic: skua die-off in Antarctica

High pathogenicity avian influenza virus of subtype H5 (H5 HPAIV), clade 2.3.4.4b, invaded Antarctica in 2023. Here we show that H5 HPAIV caused high mortality in a breeding colony of skuas at one of ten sites we visited in March 2024. By combined virological and pathological analyses, we found that H5 HPAIV caused multi-organ necrosis and rapid death in skuas. Taken together with recent data, skuas in Antarctica are at risk of continued mortality from H5 HPAIV infection, threatening their already small populations. Conversely, because of their wide distribution and ecological relevance, skuas may play a substantial role in spread of the virus across Antarctica. Transdisciplinary surveillance is needed in coming years to monitor the impact of this poultry-origin disease on Antarcticas unique wildlife.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

No evidence for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in the Antarctic region during the austral summer 2022/23

The current highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 panzootic has substantial impacts on wild birds and marine mammals. Although major outbreaks occurred in South America, incursion to Antarctica emerged late in the breeding season of 2023/2024 and was confined the wider region of the Antarctic Peninsula. To infer potential underlying processes, we compiled H5N1 surveillance from Antarctica and Sub-Antarctic Islands prior to the first confirmed cases.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Migration routes and wintering sites of the Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludicola breeding in Lithuania and North Belarus

For the effective protection of the globally threatened Aquatic Warbler in its entire range, knowledge of the migration and wintering areas as well as their current conservation status is of great importance. The question on where the different breeding population overwinter where (connectivity) equally important. This is also essential when new breeding populations are re-established in restored breeding sites through translocation from other, distant areas, as recently performed in Lithuania. From previous geolocator studies in central Ukraine and south-western Belarus, as well as from ringing data, it was known that these populations overwinter in Mali (Inner Niger Delta IND) and southern Mauritania. In addition, at least some birds of the NE-Polish breeding population overwinter in the Senegal delta (ring recovery). In 2018 and 2019, the migratory routes, stopover and wintering sites of two breeding populations at the north-western distribution range border in N-Belarus (29 males) and Lithuania (31 males) were investigated using light-level geolocators. All 19 recovered data loggers recorded almost complete annual cycles from mid-July to at least early April. Migration and overwintering sites of both populations did not differ significantly. Most (16 out of 19) birds also spent the winter in the Inner Niger Delta and surrounding wetlands within and around Mali. Only one bird from Belarus hiberbated in the Senegal Delta. One of the Lithuanian birds overwintered in northern Burkina Faso, another northern Nigeria. In addition, important details about the course of migration routes, timing and resting areas could be obtained. For example, the outstanding importance of Morocco and northern Algeria as resting areas on spring migration became obvious. The investigations applying geolocators resulted in a very complex and differentiated picture of the migration and stopover pattern of adult male Aquatic Warblers.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2022

Strong phylogenetic and ecological effects on host competency for avian influenza in Australian wild birds

Host susceptibility to parasites is mediated by intrinsic and external factors such as genetics, age or season. While key features have been revealed for avian influenza A virus (AIV) in waterfowl of the Northern Hemisphere, the role of host phylogeny has received limited attention. Herein, we analysed 12339 oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs and 10826 serum samples collected over 11 years from wild birds in Australia. As well as describing species-level differences in prevalence and seroprevalence, we reveal that host phylogeny is a key driver in susceptibility. We confirm the role of age in AIV seroprevalence and viral prevalence. Seasonality effects appear less pronounced than in the Northern Hemisphere, while annual variations are potentially linked to El Nino- Southern Oscillation. Taken together, our study provides new insights into evolutionary ecology of AIV in its avian hosts, defining distinctive processes on the continent of Australia and expanding our understanding of AIV globally.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Australia as a global sink for the genetic diversity of avian influenza A virus

Most of our understanding of the ecology and evolution of avian influenza A virus (AIV) in wild birds is derived from studies conducted in the northern hemisphere on waterfowl, with a substantial bias towards dabbling ducks. However, relevant environmental conditions and patterns of avian migration and reproduction are substantially different in the southern hemisphere. Through the sequencing and analysis of 333 unique AIV genomes collected from wild birds collected over 15 years we show that Australia is a global sink for AIV diversity and not integrally linked with the Eurasian gene pool. Rather, AIV are infrequently introduced to Australia, followed by decades of isolated circulation and eventual extinction. The number of co-circulating viral lineages varies per subtype. AIV haemagglutinin (HA) subtypes that are rarely identified at duck-centric study sites (H8-12) had more detected introductions and contemporary co-circulating lineages in Australia. Combined with a lack of duck migration beyond the Australian-Papuan region, these findings suggest introductions by long-distance migratory shorebirds. In addition, we found no evidence of directional or consistent patterns in virus movement across the Australian continent. This feature corresponds to patterns of bird movement, whereby waterfowl have nomadic and erratic rainfall-dependant distributions rather than consistent intra-continental migratory routes. Finally, we detected high levels of virus gene segment reassortment, with a high diversity of AIV genome constellations across years and locations. These data, in addition to those from other studies in Africa and South America, clearly show that patterns of AIV dynamics in the Southern Hemisphere are distinct from those in the temperate north. Author SummaryA result of the ever-growing poultry industry is a dramatic global increase in the incidence of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus outbreaks. In contrast, wild birds are believed to be the main reservoir for low pathogenic avian influenza A virus. Due to intensive research and surveillance of AIV in waterfowl in the Northern Hemisphere, we have a better understanding of AIV ecology and evolution in that region compared to the Southern Hemisphere, which are characterised by different patterns of avian migration and ecological conditions. We analysed 333 unique AIV genomes collected from wild birds in Australia to understand how Australia fits into global AIV dynamics and how viruses are maintained and dispersed within the continent of Australia. We show that the Southern Hemisphere experiences differing evolutionary dynamics to those seen in Northern Hemisphere with Australia representing a global sink for AIV.

evolutionary biology↗