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  1. Article: Tests of evolutionary and genetic rescue using flour beetles,

    Lewis, Rebecca / Pointer, Michael D / Friend, Lucy / Gage, Matthew J G / Spurgin, Lewis G

    Ecology and evolution

    2024  Volume 14, Issue 5, Page(s) e11313

    Abstract: Small, isolated populations are often characterised by low levels of genetic diversity. This can result in inbreeding depression and reduced capacity to adapt to changes in the environment, and therefore higher risk of extinction. However, sometimes ... ...

    Abstract Small, isolated populations are often characterised by low levels of genetic diversity. This can result in inbreeding depression and reduced capacity to adapt to changes in the environment, and therefore higher risk of extinction. However, sometimes these populations can be rescued if allowed to increase in size or if migrants enter, bringing in new allelic variation and thus increasing genetic diversity. This study uses experimental manipulation of population size and migration to quantify their effects on fitness in a challenging environment to better understand genetic rescue. Using small, replicated populations of
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-04-29
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2635675-2
    ISSN 2045-7758
    ISSN 2045-7758
    DOI 10.1002/ece3.11313
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  2. Article ; Online: Life history correlations and trade-offs resulting from selection for dispersal in Tribolium castaneum.

    Pointer, Michael D / Spurgin, Lewis G / McMullan, Mark / Butler, Simon / Richardson, David S

    Journal of evolutionary biology

    2024  

    Abstract: Dispersal is an important facet of the life history of many organisms and is therefore subject to selective pressure, but does not evolve in isolation. Across nature there are examples of dispersal syndromes, life history strategies in which suites of ... ...

    Abstract Dispersal is an important facet of the life history of many organisms and is therefore subject to selective pressure, but does not evolve in isolation. Across nature there are examples of dispersal syndromes, life history strategies in which suites of traits coevolve and covary with dispersal in combinations that serve to maximise fitness in a given ecological context. The red rust flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is a model organism and globally significant post-harvest pest which relies on dispersal to reach new patches of ephemeral habitat. Dispersal behaviour in Tribolium has a strong genetic basis. However, a robust understanding of the relationship between dispersal and other life history components, which could elucidate evolutionary processes and allow pest managers to control their spread and reduce the impact of infestation, is currently lacking. Here we use highly replicated lines of T. castaneum previously artificially selected for divergent small-scale dispersal propensity, to robustly test several important life history components: reproductive strategy, development time and longevity. As predicted, we find that a suite of important change as result of our selection on dispersal; high dispersal propensity is associated with a lower number of longer mating attempts by males, lower investment in early-life reproduction by females, slower development of later-laid offspring and longer female lifespan. These findings indicate that correlated intraspecific variation in dispersal and related traits may represent alternative life history strategies in T. castaneum. We therefore suggest that pest management efforts to mitigate the species' agro-economic impact should consider the eco-evolutionary dynamics within multiple life-histories. The benefits of doing so could be felt both through improved targetting of efforts to reduce spread, and also in forecasting of how the selection pressures applied through pest management are likely to affect pest evolution.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-04-24
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 1465318-7
    ISSN 1420-9101 ; 1010-061X
    ISSN (online) 1420-9101
    ISSN 1010-061X
    DOI 10.1093/jeb/voae041
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  3. Article ; Online: Social network centrality predicts dietary decisions in a wild bird population.

    McMahon, Keith / Marples, Nicola M / Spurgin, Lewis G / Rowland, Hannah M / Sheldon, Ben C / Firth, Josh A

    iScience

    2024  Volume 27, Issue 5, Page(s) 109581

    Abstract: How individuals balance costs and benefits of group living remains central to understanding sociality. In relation to diet, social foraging provides many advantages but also increases competition. Nevertheless, social individuals may offset increased ... ...

    Abstract How individuals balance costs and benefits of group living remains central to understanding sociality. In relation to diet, social foraging provides many advantages but also increases competition. Nevertheless, social individuals may offset increased competition by broadening their diet and consuming novel foods. Despite the expected relationships between social behavior and dietary decisions, how sociality shapes individuals' novel food consumption remains largely untested in natural populations. Here, we use wild great tits to experimentally test how sociality predicts dietary decisions. We show that individuals with more social connections have higher propensity to use novel foods compared to socially peripheral individuals, and this is unrelated to neophobia, observations, and demographic factors. These findings indicate sociable individuals may offset potential costs of competition by foraging more broadly. We discuss how social environments may drive behavioral change in natural populations, and the implications for the causes and consequences of social strategies and dietary decisions.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-03-26
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 2589-0042
    ISSN (online) 2589-0042
    DOI 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109581
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  4. Article ; Online: Genetic architecture of dispersal behaviour in the post-harvest pest and model organism Tribolium castaneum.

    Pointer, Michael D / Spurgin, Lewis G / Gage, Matthew J G / McMullan, Mark / Richardson, David S

    Heredity

    2023  Volume 131, Issue 4, Page(s) 253–262

    Abstract: Dispersal behaviour is an important aspect of the life-history of animals. However, the genetic architecture of dispersal-related traits is often obscure or unknown, even in well studied species. Tribolium castaneum is a globally significant post-harvest ...

    Abstract Dispersal behaviour is an important aspect of the life-history of animals. However, the genetic architecture of dispersal-related traits is often obscure or unknown, even in well studied species. Tribolium castaneum is a globally significant post-harvest pest and established model organism, yet studies of its dispersal have shown ambiguous results and the genetic basis of this behaviour remains unresolved. We combine experimental evolution and agent-based modelling to investigate the number of loci underlying dispersal in T. castaneum, and whether the trait is sex-linked. Our findings demonstrate rapid evolution of dispersal behaviour under selection. We find no evidence of sex-biases in the dispersal behaviour of the offspring of crosses, supporting an autosomal genetic basis of the trait. Moreover, simulated data approximates experimental data under simulated scenarios where the dispersal trait is controlled by one or few loci, but not many loci. Levels of dispersal in experimentally inbred lines, compared with simulations, indicate that a single locus model is not well supported. Taken together, these lines of evidence support an oligogenic architecture underlying dispersal in Tribolium castaneum. These results have implications for applied pest management and for our understanding of the evolution of dispersal in the coleoptera, the world's most species-rich order.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-07-29
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2423-5
    ISSN 1365-2540 ; 0018-067X
    ISSN (online) 1365-2540
    ISSN 0018-067X
    DOI 10.1038/s41437-023-00641-6
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  5. Article ; Online: Tribolium beetles as a model system in evolution and ecology.

    Pointer, Michael D / Gage, Matthew J G / Spurgin, Lewis G

    Heredity

    2021  Volume 126, Issue 6, Page(s) 869–883

    Abstract: Flour beetles of the genus Tribolium have been utilised as informative study systems for over a century and contributed to major advances across many fields. This review serves to highlight the significant historical contribution that Tribolium study ... ...

    Abstract Flour beetles of the genus Tribolium have been utilised as informative study systems for over a century and contributed to major advances across many fields. This review serves to highlight the significant historical contribution that Tribolium study systems have made to the fields of ecology and evolution, and to promote their use as contemporary research models. We review the broad range of studies employing Tribolium to make significant advances in ecology and evolution. We show that research using Tribolium beetles has contributed a substantial amount to evolutionary and ecological understanding, especially in the fields of population dynamics, reproduction and sexual selection, population and quantitative genetics, and behaviour, physiology and life history. We propose a number of future research opportunities using Tribolium, with particular focus on how their amenability to forward and reverse genetic manipulation may provide a valuable complement to other insect models.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Coleoptera/genetics ; Insecta ; Models, Biological ; Reproduction/genetics ; Tribolium/genetics
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-03-25
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Review
    ZDB-ID 2423-5
    ISSN 1365-2540 ; 0018-067X
    ISSN (online) 1365-2540
    ISSN 0018-067X
    DOI 10.1038/s41437-021-00420-1
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  6. Article ; Online: Genotype-environment associations reveal genes potentially linked to avian malaria infection in populations of an endemic island bird.

    Sheppard, Eleanor C / Martin, Claudia A / Armstrong, Claire / González-Quevedo, Catalina / Illera, Juan Carlos / Suh, Alexander / Spurgin, Lewis G / Richardson, David S

    Molecular ecology

    2024  Volume 33, Issue 8, Page(s) e17329

    Abstract: ... that spatio-temporal variation in multiple different pathogens (e.g. malaria and pox in this case) may have ...

    Abstract Patterns of pathogen prevalence are, at least partially, the result of coevolutionary host-pathogen interactions. Thus, exploring the distribution of host genetic variation in relation to infection by a pathogen within and across populations can provide important insights into mechanisms of host defence and adaptation. Here, we use a landscape genomics approach (Bayenv) in conjunction with genome-wide data (ddRADseq) to test for associations between avian malaria (Plasmodium) prevalence and host genetic variation across 13 populations of the island endemic Berthelot's pipit (Anthus berthelotii). Considerable and consistent spatial heterogeneity in malaria prevalence was observed among populations over a period of 15 years. The prevalence of malaria infection was also strongly positively correlated with pox (Avipoxvirus) prevalence. Multiple host loci showed significant associations with malaria prevalence after controlling for genome-wide neutral genetic structure. These sites were located near to or within genes linked to metabolism, stress response, transcriptional regulation, complement activity and the inflammatory response, many previously implicated in vertebrate responses to malarial infection. Our findings identify diverse genes - not just limited to the immune system - that may be involved in host protection against malaria and suggest that spatially variable pathogen pressure may be an important evolutionary driver of genetic divergence among wild animal populations, such as Berthelot's pipit. Furthermore, our data indicate that spatio-temporal variation in multiple different pathogens (e.g. malaria and pox in this case) may have to be studied together to develop a more holistic understanding of host pathogen-mediated evolution.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Malaria, Avian/epidemiology ; Malaria, Avian/genetics ; Plasmodium/genetics ; Genetic Drift ; Passeriformes/genetics ; Genotype
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-03-27
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 1126687-9
    ISSN 1365-294X ; 0962-1083
    ISSN (online) 1365-294X
    ISSN 0962-1083
    DOI 10.1111/mec.17329
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  7. Article ; Online: Darwin's finches choose parent lookalikes as mates.

    Spurgin, Lewis G / Chapman, Tracey

    Nature

    2018  Volume 564, Issue 7735, Page(s) 196–197

    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Finches ; Reproduction ; Sexual Behavior
    Language English
    Publishing date 2018-12-11
    Publishing country England
    Document type News ; Comment
    ZDB-ID 120714-3
    ISSN 1476-4687 ; 0028-0836
    ISSN (online) 1476-4687
    ISSN 0028-0836
    DOI 10.1038/d41586-018-07494-8
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  8. Article ; Online: Using high-resolution contact networks to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 transmission and control in large-scale multi-day events.

    Pung, Rachael / Firth, Josh A / Spurgin, Lewis G / Lee, Vernon J / Kucharski, Adam J

    Nature communications

    2022  Volume 13, Issue 1, Page(s) 1956

    Abstract: The emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants has created a need to reassess the risk posed by increasing social contacts as countries resume pre-pandemic activities, particularly in the context of resuming large-scale events over multiple ... ...

    Abstract The emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants has created a need to reassess the risk posed by increasing social contacts as countries resume pre-pandemic activities, particularly in the context of resuming large-scale events over multiple days. To examine how social contacts formed in different activity settings influences interventions required to control Delta variant outbreaks, we collected high-resolution data on contacts among passengers and crew on cruise ships and combined the data with network transmission models. We found passengers had a median of 20 (IQR 10-36) unique close contacts per day, and over 60% of their contact episodes were made in dining or sports areas where mask wearing is typically limited. In simulated outbreaks, we found that vaccination coverage and rapid antigen tests had a larger effect than mask mandates alone, indicating the importance of combined interventions against Delta to reduce event risk in the vaccine era.
    MeSH term(s) COVID-19/epidemiology ; COVID-19/prevention & control ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Ships
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-04-12
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    ZDB-ID 2553671-0
    ISSN 2041-1723 ; 2041-1723
    ISSN (online) 2041-1723
    ISSN 2041-1723
    DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-29522-y
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  9. Article ; Online: Comment on Gohli et al. (2013): "Does promiscuity explain differences in levels of genetic diversity across passerine birds?".

    Spurgin, Lewis G

    Evolution; international journal of organic evolution

    2013  Volume 67, Issue 10, Page(s) 3071–3072

    Abstract: Gohli et al. (2013) report a positive relationship between genetic diversity and promiscuity across passerine birds, and suggest that female promiscuity acts as a form of balancing selection, maintaining differences in genetic variation across species. ... ...

    Abstract Gohli et al. (2013) report a positive relationship between genetic diversity and promiscuity across passerine birds, and suggest that female promiscuity acts as a form of balancing selection, maintaining differences in genetic variation across species. This is an interesting hypothesis, but the enormous variation in genetic diversity present within species is not taken into account in their analyses. This, combined with a small sample size at several levels, makes the relationship between genetic diversity and promiscuity very difficult to interpret. Demonstrating that species-level differences in genetic diversity (if they occur at all) are affected by promiscuity would require a far more comprehensive study than is presently possible.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Male ; Mating Preference, Animal ; Selection, Genetic ; Sparrows/genetics
    Language English
    Publishing date 2013-10
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Comment ; Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    ZDB-ID 2036375-8
    ISSN 1558-5646 ; 0014-3820
    ISSN (online) 1558-5646
    ISSN 0014-3820
    DOI 10.1111/evo.12212
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  10. Article ; Online: Conservation: The Costs of Inbreeding and of Being Inbred.

    Spurgin, Lewis G / Gage, Matthew J G

    Current biology : CB

    2019  Volume 29, Issue 16, Page(s) R796–R798

    Abstract: Endangered species face a huge array of challenges, including the negative consequences of individuals having to breed with close genetic relatives. But just how costly is inbreeding in small populations? New research from an endangered bird species ... ...

    Abstract Endangered species face a huge array of challenges, including the negative consequences of individuals having to breed with close genetic relatives. But just how costly is inbreeding in small populations? New research from an endangered bird species suggests that considering inbreeding could be crucial for conservation programmes.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Birds ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Endangered Species ; Inbreeding
    Language English
    Publishing date 2019-08-20
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article ; Comment
    ZDB-ID 1071731-6
    ISSN 1879-0445 ; 0960-9822
    ISSN (online) 1879-0445
    ISSN 0960-9822
    DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.023
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