Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution Research Centres And
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis Revealed Adaptation Mechanism Of
Yang et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology (2015) 15:101 DOI 10.1186/s12862-015-0371-8 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed adaptation mechanism of Phrynocephalus erythrurus, the highest altitude Lizard living in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Yongzhi Yang1†, Lizhong Wang1†, Jin Han1, Xiaolong Tang2, Ming Ma2, Kun Wang1, Xiao Zhang1, Qian Ren1, Qiang Chen2 and Qiang Qiu1* Abstract Background: Organisms living at high altitudes must overcome three major environmental challenges: hypoxia, cold, and intense UV radiation. The molecular mechanisms that enable these challenges to be overcome have mainly been studied in endothermic organisms; relatively little attention has been paid to poikilothermic species. Here, we present deep transcriptome sequencing in two closely related lizards, the high altitude-dwelling Phrynocephalus erythrurus and the lowland-dwelling P. putjatia, to identify candidate genes under positive selection and to explore the convergent evolutionary adaptation of poikilothermic animals to high altitude life. Results: More than 70 million sequence reads were generated for each species via Illumina sequencing. De novo assembly produced 56,845 and 63,140 transcripts for P. erythrurus and P. putjatia, respectively. P. erythrurus had higher Ka/ Ks ratios than P. putjatia, implying an accelerated evolutionary rate in the high altitude lizard lineage. 206 gene ontology (GO) categories with accelerated evolutionary rates and 43 candidate positively selected genes were detected along the P. erythrurus lineage. Some of these GO categories have functions associated with responses to hypoxia, energy metabolism and responses to UV damage. We also found that the high-altitude ranid frog R. kukunoris had higher Ka/Ks ratios than the closely related low-altitude frog R. -
Zootaxa, New Species of Phrynocephalus
Zootaxa 1988: 61–68 (2009) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2009 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) New species of Phrynocephalus (Squamata, Agamidae) from Qinghai, Northwest China XIANG JI1, 2 ,4, YUE-ZHAO WANG3 & ZHENG WANG1 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, Jiangsu, China 2Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Sciences and Technology, School of Life Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China 3Chengdu Institute of Biology, Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China 4Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: +86-25-85891597; Fax: +86-25-85891526 Abstract A new viviparous species of Phrynocephalus from Guinan, Qinghai, China, is described. Phrynocephalus guinanensis sp. nov., differs from all congeners in the following combination of characters: body large and relatively robust; dorsal ground color of head, neck, trunk, limbs and tail brown with weak light brown mottling; lateral ground color of head, neck, trunk and tail light black with weak white-gray mottling in adult males, and green with weak white-gray mottling in adult females; ventral ground color of tail white-gray to black in the distal part of the tail in adult males, and totally white-gray in adult females; ventral surfaces of hind-limbs white-gray; ventral surfaces of fore-limbs brick-red in adult males, and white-gray in adult females; ventral ground color of trunk and head black in the center but, in the periphery, brick-red in adult males and white-gray in adult females. -
2019 Abstrack Book
Table of Contents St. Vincent’s Hospital Map ................................................................................................ 2 Message from the Co-chairs.............................................................................................. 3 Biomed Link 2019 Organising Committee .......................................................................... 4 Biomed Link 2019 Sponsors .............................................................................................. 5 Biomed Link 2019 Session Times ..................................................................................... 10 Welcome Address ........................................................................................................... 12 Keynote Address ............................................................................................................ 13 Biomed Link 2019 3MT Session ....................................................................................... 15 Oral Presentation Abstracts ............................................................................................ 17 Poster Presentation Abstracts ........................................................................................ 33 Judges and Reviewers ................................................................................................... 108 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... 109 1 St. Vincent’s Hospital Map Points of Interests 1. Registration -
Sexual Size Dimorphism and Feeding Ecology of Eutropis Multifasciata (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) in the Central Highlands of Vietnam
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 9(2):322−333. Submitted: 8 March 2014; Accepted: 2 May 2014; Published: 12 October 2014. SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM AND FEEDING ECOLOGY OF EUTROPIS MULTIFASCIATA (REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE) IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF VIETNAM 1, 5 2 3 4 CHUNG D. NGO , BINH V. NGO , PHONG B. TRUONG , AND LOI D. DUONG 1Faculty of Biology, College of Education, Hue University, Hue, Thua Thien Hue 47000, Vietnam, 2Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, e-mail: [email protected] 3Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Tay Nguyen University, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak 55000, Vietnam 4College of Education, Hue University, Hue, Thua Thien Hue 47000, Vietnam 5Corresponding author, e-mail:[email protected] Abstract.—Little is known about many aspects of the ecology of the Common Sun Skink, Eutropis multifasciata (Kuhl, 1820), a terrestrial viviparous lizard found in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. We measured males and females to determine whether this species exhibits sexual size dimorphism and whether there was a correlation between feeding ecology and body size. We also examined spatiotemporal and sexual variations in dietary composition and prey diversity index. We used these data to examine whether the foraging pattern of these skinks corresponded to the pattern of a sit-and-wait predator or a widely foraging predator. The average snout-vent length (SVL) was significantly larger in adult males than in adult females. When SVL was taken into account as a covariate, head length and width and mouth width were larger in adult males than in adult females. -
Conferring of Awards 10, 11, 12 & 13 December 2019
CONFERRING OF AWARDS 10, 11, 12 & 13 DECEMBER 2019 Australian National Anthem Advance Australia Fair Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free; We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in nature’s gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history’s page let every stage Advance Australia Fair. In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair. CONFERRING OF AWARDS Summer 2019 Llewellyn Hall The Australian National University Tuesday 10 December Wednesday 11 December Thursday 12 December Friday 13 December Chancellor: Professor the Honourable Gareth Evans AC QC BA LLB (Hons) Melb, MA Oxon, HonLLD Melb, Carleton, Syd FASSA Pro-Chancellor: Ms Naomi Flutter MPP Harvard, LLB (Hons), Bec (Hons), GDLP ANU Vice-Chancellor: Professor Brian P. Schmidt AC FAA FRS 2011 Nobel Laureate Physics BSc (Physics) Arizona, BSc (Astronomy) Arizona, MA (Astronomy) Harvard, PhD Harvard Esquire Bedel: Dr Ian Walker BA DipEd Syd, MA Macq, PhD UNSW University Marshal and Esquire Bedel: Ms Lorena Kanellopoulos DipHRM, GradCertMgt, MMgt ANU Mr Jake Francis Published by The Australian National University Conferring of Awards December 2019 1 CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE TO GRADUANDS Today’s ceremony marks the culmination of years of research and study. ANU owes much to the intellectual and cultural contribution of our student body. In return, we work to build on our high standards in research and education. The ANU was created as part of a great nation building exercise in its day. That mandate continues and you share a vital part in it. -
(2015) the Genetic Sex-Determination System Predicts
LETTER doi:10.1038/nature15380 The genetic sex-determination system predicts adult sex ratios in tetrapods Ivett Pipoly1, Veronika Bo´kony1,2, Mark Kirkpatrick3, Paul F. Donald4,5, Tama´s Sze´kely6* & Andra´s Liker1* The adult sex ratio (ASR) has critical effects on behaviour, ecology transitions between sex-determination systems have occurred many and population dynamics1,2, but the causes of variation in ASRs are times within these clades17. We compiled published data on adult sex unclear3,4. Here we assess whether the type of genetic sex deter- ratios in wild populations and their sex-determination systems mination influences the ASR using data from 344 species in 117 (Supplementary Data). To control for phylogenetic effects, we used families of tetrapods. We show that taxa with female heterogamety phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS)18 models to test for have a significantly more male-biased ASR (proportion of males: differences in ASRs between XY and ZW taxa, and Pagel’s discrete 0.55 6 0.01 (mean 6 s.e.m.)) than taxa with male heterogamety method (PDM)19 to test whether XY and ZW systems are evolutiona- (0.43 6 0.01). The genetic sex-determination system explains rily associated with female-biased and male-biased sex ratios, respect- 24% of interspecific variation in ASRs in amphibians and 36% in ively. Phylogenies were taken from recent molecular studies reptiles. We consider several genetic factors that could contribute (see Methods for details). to this pattern, including meiotic drive and sex-linked deleterious Both the ASR and the sex-determination system are highly variable mutations, but further work is needed to quantify their effects. -
Herpetological Journal FULL PAPER
Volume 27 (October 2017), 307-317 FULL PAPER Herpetological Journal Published by the British Toxicity impact of butachlor on the development of green Herpetological Society toad Bufotes viridis Zahra Mossadeghi, Zeinab Parvaresh, Nazihe Seddighi, Fatemeh Roushenas, Samira Rahimi, Elmira Hasani, Zahra Derakhshan & Mohsen Nokhbatolfoghahai Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Butachlor is the most commonly used herbicide on rice paddy fields in Asian countries. Paddy fields are habitats commonly used for reproduction by many species of amphibians. We examined the effects of butachlor on Bufotes viridis development. Amplectant pairs of B. viridis were kept in the laboratory in an aquarium overnight, and their spawn collected the next morning. Eggs were exposed to butachlor at different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.8, 1, 2, 3.5, 7, 14µg/l), all lower than the concentration used in the area (rice paddy fields) by farmers. Eggs were allowed to develop to Gosner stage 24 and their developmental patterns compared with those reared in normal conditions (control). In order to examine whether jelly coats have a significant role in the protection of developing eggs from the toxin, another group of eggs were de-jellied and treated in the same procedure. The LC50 value of butachlor was calculated as 14μg/l and 7μg/l after 96h for jellied eggs and de-jellied eggs respectively. Butachlor lead to a range of external and internal body malformations. Butachlor concentrations of 2µg/l, 7µg/l and 14µg/l reduced embryonic growth and development. A high mortality rate and both internal and external abnormalities were observed at lower concentrations than used in fields, suggesting that butachlor can have significant negative effects on amphibians where this herbicide is used. -
APCC6 (The 6Th Asia-Pacific Chromosome Colloquium)
Chromosome Science 21: 1-44, 2018 APCC6 (the 6th Asia-Pacic Chromosome Colloquium) Held on July 4th to 5th, 2018 At University of Canberra Australia Local Organizing Committee Tariq Ezaz University of Canberra, Australia Janine Deakin University of Canberra, Australia Jenny Graves University of Canberra, Australia Craig Moritz Australian National University, Australia Mark Eldridge Australian Museum, Australia Sally Potter Australian National University, Australia Kornsorn Srikulnath Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand APCC6 University of Canberra, Australia 1 Chromosomes in the light of evolution Harris Lewin University of California Davis, USA Chromosome rearrangements are a hallmark of ge- nome evolution and essential for understanding the mechanisms of speciation and adaptation. Determining the types and chronology of chromosome rearrange- ments over evolutionary time scales has been a difficult problem due primarily to the lack of high quality, chro- mosome-scale genome assemblies that are necessary ORAL PRESENTATION for reliable reconstruction of ancestral genomes. In addi- tion, for genome-wide comparisons that require resolv- Plenary Lectures ing large numbers of rearrangements of varying scale, determining ancestral chromosomal states is challenging both methodologically and computationally. We recently developed a new computational tool for reconstructing ancestral chromosomes at high resolution, called DE- SCHRAMBLER, which uses syntenic fragments construct- ed from whole-genome comparisons of both high qual- ity chromosome-scale -
Environmental Causes of Between-Population Difference In
Lu et al. BMC Ecol (2018) 18:37 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-018-0194-8 BMC Ecology RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Environmental causes of between‑population diference in growth rate of a high‑altitude lizard Hong‑Liang Lu1, Chun‑Xia Xu2, Zhi‑Gao Zeng2 and Wei‑Guo Du2* Abstract Background: Ectothermic animals living in cold (high latitude or high elevation) regions are predicted to grow slower due to limited thermal opportunities for activity and food resources than those living in warm regions. How‑ ever, the Qinghai toad-headed lizards (Phrynocephalus vlangalii) grow faster and reach a larger adult size at a high- elevation site than at a low-elevation site. In this study, we aimed to identify the genetic and environmental causes of this between-population diference in growth rate by conducting mark-recapture and common garden experiments on juvenile growth rate, and investigating the thermal environment, lizard body temperature, potential prey availabil‑ ity at the two elevation sites. Results: Compared with low-elevation individuals, high-elevation juvenile lizards had higher growth rates in the feld, but grew at similar rates in the laboratory. High-elevation lizards had higher active body temperatures than low-elevation lizards despite similar air temperatures in the period of feld investigation. The high-elevation site had relatively more and larger preys than the low-elevation site. Conclusions: Inter-population diference in growth rate of P. vlangalii may primarily result from developmental plasticity in response to the diference in environmental resources, rather than genetic diferentiation. The higher growth rate of high-elevation lizards is likely associated with higher potential food availability and higher active body temperatures. -
RSB Director's Seminar Series
PUBLIC LECTURE RSB Director’s seminar series: Sex and speciation: did sex chromosome change trigger mammalian divergence? Friday 2 October 12.30–1.30pm with light lunch commencing 12pm Speaker Turnover of sex determining genes and Jenny Graves chromosomes may be a cataclysmic speciating event in many animals, in Professor, School of Life Science, contradiction of the accepted wisdom that La Trobe University speciation requires the accumulation of many small changes in isolated populations. There Location are many groups of invertebrates, fish and Slatyer Seminar Room reptiles in which closely related species have R.N. Robertson Building different sex determination mechanisms, and 46 Sullivans Creek Road interspecies hybridisation results in infertility. The Australian National University Here I propose that the evolution of the male- Contact determining SRY gene, defining a novel XY E [email protected] sex chromosome pair, was the event that T +61 2 6125 3841 interposed a reproductive barrier with the ancestral population of mammal-like reptiles, This lecture is free and open to the public and triggered the speciation event that was RSB event information: to lead to the evolution of therian mammals biology.anu.edu.au/news-events 190 million years ago. A sex chromosome-autosome fusion may, similarly, have separated eutherians (placental mammals) from marsupials 160 million years ago. A new burst of sex chromosome change and speciation seems to be be occurring in many mammal groups, precipitated by the degradation and disappearance of the mammalian Y chromosome. Although the primate Y seems to be unusually stable, sex chromosome turnover may ultimately promote hominid speciation. -
Bulletin and Proceedings 329 ABN 76 470 896 415 ISSN 1039-1843 September 2009
The Royal Society of New South Wales Bulletin and Proceedings 329 ABN 76 470 896 415 ISSN 1039-1843 September 2009 Future Events 2009 Lecture 7 October 2009, Darlington Centre at 7pm Lectures in Sydney are held in Lecture The SKAMP Project - a telescope reborn to look Room 1, Darlington Centre, University back in time of Sydney at 7 pm on the first Prof Anne Green, Head of School of Physics, University of Sydney Wednesday of the month with drinks available from 6 pm. or more than 40 years the University of Sydney has operated the Molonglo Wednesday 7 October 2009 7pm FObservatory. Recently, the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope completed The SKAMP Project - a a detailed imaging survey of the southern sky at a frequency of 843 MHz. What next? We are undertaking a complete renewal of the signal pathway as part of Australia’s telescope reborn to look contribution to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, a powerful new radio back in time telescope. Our project is the SKA Molonglo Prototype (SKAMP), which will be a new Prof Anne Green low frequency spectrometer with wide-field imaging and polarisation capability. This Head of School of Physics talk will describe the project and how it builds on the previous telescope and its University of Sydney scientific achievements. Two of the key science goals to be undertaken initially will be a survey of red-shifted neutral hydrogen gas and a study of the transient radio sky. Friday 30 October 2009 5.30pm With the subsequent polarisation capability, we will map the magnetic field structure Clarke Memorial Lecture of our Galaxy and explore cosmic magnetism. -
Phrynocephalus)
Exploring the Genetic Basis of Adaptation to High Elevations in Reptiles: A Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Two Toad-Headed Agamas (Genus Phrynocephalus) Weizhao Yang1,2, Yin Qi1, Jinzhong Fu1,3* 1 Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China, 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 3 Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada Abstract High elevation adaptation offers an excellent study system to understand the genetic basis of adaptive evolution. We acquired transcriptome sequences of two closely related lizards, Phrynocephalus przewalskii from low elevations and P. vlangalii from high elevations. Within a phylogenetic framework, we compared their genomic data along with green anole, chicken and Chinese softshell turtle, and identified candidate genes and functional categories that are potentially linked to adaptation to high elevation environments. More than 100 million sequence reads were generated for each species via Illumina sequencing. A de novo assembly produced 70,919 and 62,118 transcripts for P. przewalskii and P. vlangalii, respectively. Based on a well-established reptile phylogeny, we detected 143 positively selected genes (PSGs) along the P. vlangalii lineage from the 7,012 putative orthologs using a branch-site model. Furthermore, ten GO categories and one KEGG pathway that are over-represented by PSGs were recognized. In addition, 58 GO categories were revealed to have elevated evolutionary rates along the P. vlangalii lineage relative to P. przewalskii. These functional analyses further filter out PSGs that are most likely involved in the adaptation process to high elevations. Among them, ADAM17, MD, and HSP90B1 likely contributed to response to hypoxia, and POLK likely contributed to DNA repair.