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Convergent spectral shifts to blue-green vision in mammals extends the known sensitivity of vertebrate M/LWS pigments.
(PNAS, 2020-04-14)
Daylight vision in most mammals is mediated predominantly by a middle/long wavelength-sensitive (M/LWS) pigment. Although spectral sensitivity and associated shifts in M/LWS are mainly determined by five critical sites, ...
Positive selection and inactivation in the vision and hearing genes of cetaceans.
(Oxford University Press, 2020-03-14)
The transition to an aquatic lifestyle in cetaceans (whales and dolphins) resulted in a radical transformation in their sensory systems. Toothed whales acquired specialized high-frequency hearing tied to the evolution of ...
Leech blood-meal iDNA reveals differences in Bornean mammal diversity across habitats.
(Wiley, 2020-11-10)
The application of metabarcoding to environmental and invertebrate-derived DNA (eDNA and iDNA) is a new and increasingly applied method for monitoring biodiversity across a diverse range of habitats. This approach is ...
Dietary Diversification and Specialisation in New World Bats Facilitated by Early Molecular Evolution.
(Oxford University Press, 2021-02-15)
Dietary adaptation is a major feature of phenotypic and ecological diversification, yet the genetic basis of dietary shifts is poorly understood. Among mammals, Neotropical leaf-nosed bats (family Phyllostomidae) show ...
Nectar-feeding bats and birds show parallel molecular adaptations in sugar metabolism enzymes.
(Elsevier, 2021-08-27)
In most vertebrates, the demand for glucose as the primary substrate for cellular respiration is met by the breakdown of complex carbohydrates, or energy is obtained by protein and lipid catabolism. In contrast, a few bat ...
Altered structure of bat-prey interaction networks in logged tropical forests revealed by metabarcoding.
(Wiley, 2021-08-26)
Habitat degradation is pervasive across the tropics and is particularly acute in Southeast Asia, with major implications for biodiversity. Much research has addressed the impact of degradation on species diversity; however, ...
Vulture genomes reveal molecular adaptations underlying obligate scavenging and low levels of genetic diversity.
(Oxford University Press, 2021-05-03)
Obligate scavenging on dead and decaying animal matter is a rare dietary specialization that in extant vertebrates is restricted to vultures. These birds perform essential ecological services, yet many vulture species have ...
Parallel independent losses of g-type lysozyme genes in hairless aquatic mammals.
(Oxford University Press, 2021-08-27)
Lysozyme enzymes provide classic examples of molecular adaptation and parallel evolution, however, nearly all insights to date come from c-type lysozymes. G-type lysozymes occur in diverse vertebrates, with multiple ...
Dietary Diversification and Specialization in Neotropical Bats Facilitated by Early Molecular Evolution.
(Oxford University Press, 2021-08-23)
Dietary adaptation is a major feature of phenotypic and ecological diversification, yet the genetic basis of dietary shifts is poorly understood. Among mammals, Neotropical leaf-nosed bats (family Phyllostomidae) show ...
Convergent phenotypic evolution of rhodopsin for dim-light sensing across deep-diving vertebrates.
(Oxford University Press, 2021-08-31)
Rhodopsin comprises an opsin attached to a retinal chromophore, and is the only visual pigment conferring dim-light vision in vertebrates. On activation by photons, the retinal group becomes detached from the opsin, which ...