Genome analysis of the monoclonal marbled crayfish reveals genetic separation over a short evolutionary timescale
The marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) represents a very recently evolved parthenogenetic freshwater crayfish species that has invaded diverse habitats in Europe and in Madagascar. However, population genetic analyses have been hindered by the homogeneous genetic structure of the population and the lack of suitable tools for data analysis. We have used whole-genome sequencing to characterize reference specimens from various known wild populations. In parallel, we established a whole-genome sequencing data analysis pipeline for the population genetic analysis of nearly monoclonal genomes. Our results provide evidence for systematic genetic differences between geographically separated …
The era of reference genomes in conservation genomics
Progress in genome sequencing now enables the large-scale generation of reference genomes. Various international initiatives aim to generate reference genomes representing global biodiversity. These genomes provide unique insights into genomic diversity and architecture, thereby enabling comprehensive analyses of population and functional genomics, and are expected to revolutionize conservation genomics.
Flash-Floods Influence Macroinvertebrate Communities Distribution in Lotic Ecosystems
Abstract Stream dwelling invertebrate populations are facing an ample array of stressors including the habitat imbalance caused by important floods. In this research we used a novel way to estimate the impact of floods upon the substrate, by utilising a remote variable named “flash-flood potential” (FFP), which accounts for the site slope and the average slope of the upstream catchment. The results showed that certain groups are sensitive to the influence of the FFP whereas other are not. We propose this remote variable as a surrogate for assessing stress imposed by floods and sediment scouring for lotic macroinvertebrates.