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Hert, Z. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Hert, Z. L..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Endemic and invasion dynamics of wild tomato species on the Gal&aacutepagos Islands, across two centuries of collection records

O_LIWe aggregated digitized herbarium and other collection records--spanning >225 years since 1795--to assess the biological, geographical, and historical factors shaping distributions of three wild tomato species on the Galapagos Islands, and to infer future threats to the two endemic species (Solanum cheesmaniae and S. galapagense) and risks posed by their invasive congener (S. pimpinellifolium). C_LIO_LICombining >400 unique geolocated Galapagos records with bioclimate data and species distribution modelling, we quantified the geo-spatial distribution of each species, bracketed the historical timing and location of introductions of the invasive species, characterized species bioclimate envelopes, and projected suitable habitat overlap. C_LIO_LIWe infer that dispersal limitation and alternative selective histories shape current species distributions, and that anthropogenic change has and will continue to have different impacts on the two endemic species--closely associated with their different geographic and environmental distributions. We also identify plausible avenues for, and limits to, future invasive expansion. C_LIO_LIThese data vastly extend the temporal and spatial reach of our direct historical inferences, provide a critical complement to genomic analyses of contemporary Galapagos populations, and demonstrate that scientific collections are especially valuable for interpreting factors shaping species distributions on high-endemism islands with recent rapid environmental change. C_LI

evolutionary biology↗

Lemur gut microeukaryotic community variation is not associated with host phylogeny, diet, or habitat

Gut prokaryotic (GP) community variation is often associated with host evolutionary and ecological variables; whether these factors drive variation in other gut taxa remains largely untested. We present a one-to-one comparison of GP (16S rRNA metabarcoding) and microeukaryotic (GME) (18S rRNA metabarcoding) community patterning among 12 species of lemurs. Lemurs were sampled from dry forests and rainforests of southeastern Madagascar and display a range of phylogenetic and ecological diversity. We found that while lemur GPs vary with host taxonomy, diet, and habitat, GMEs have no association with these factors. As a mechanism, we suggest purifying selection purges microbes with negative and commensal associations, while positive selection promotes the persistence of beneficial microbes. It is therefore likely that a greater proportion of GMEs comprise taxa with commensal, transient, and parasitic symbioses compared with GPs, many of which are mutualists. Our study reveals different microbial taxa are shaped by unique selective pressures.

evolutionary biology↗