Synopsis The rapid expansion of genome sequence data is increasing the discovery of protein-coding genes across all domains of life. Annotating these genes with reliable functional information is ...necessary to understand evolution, to define the full biochemical space accessed by nature, and to identify target genes for biotechnology improvements. The majority of proteins are annotated based on sequence conservation with no specific biological, biochemical, genetic, or cellular function identified. Recent technical advances throughout the biological sciences enable experimental research on these understudied protein-coding genes in a broader collection of species. However, scientists have incentives and biases to continue focusing on well documented genes within their preferred model organism. This perspective suggests a research model that seeks to break historic silos of research bias by enabling interdisciplinary teams to accelerate biological functional annotation. We propose an initiative to develop coordinated projects of collaborating evolutionary biologists, cell biologists, geneticists, and biochemists that will focus on subsets of target genes in multiple model organisms. Concurrent analysis in multiple organisms takes advantage of evolutionary divergence and selection, which causes individual species to be better suited as experimental models for specific genes. Most importantly, multisystem approaches would encourage transdisciplinary critical thinking and hypothesis testing that is inherently slow in current biological research.
Abstract When colonizing new regions, invading species might compete strongly with phylogenetically related species native to the regions they are colonizing, eventually leading to coexistence or ...displacement. In the southeast of the United States, recently established coyotes (Canis latrans) compete with red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), although it remains unclear if competition is leading to resource partitioning or displacement by species. Using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes, we tested the hypothesis that coyotes compete with foxes for food resources, with canids partitioning those resources to mitigate competition. We compared diets of canids in the southeast to those in the Plains region of the United States, a region where all three species historically have coexisted. We analyzed 217 hair samples from both regions pre-1960, prior to coyote colonization of the southeast, and post-2000, after coyotes were ubiquitous there, to assess differences in diet among species for both regions (southeast versus Plains and time periods, pre- versus postcolonization by coyotes). Modeling revealed significant dietary overlap among historical and contemporary populations in the southeast. Historically, all species partitioned resources in the Plains. Contemporarily, red fox and coyotes co-occurring in the Plains overlapped in diet; however, gray fox diet did not overlap with those of red fox and coyotes. Absence of partitioning in diet among co-occurring canids in the southeast indicates that interspecific competition could be strong in the region. Competition among canid populations in the southeast could lead to further resource partitioning among species that promotes coexistence or competitive exclusion of smaller fox species where coyote populations are abundant.
ABSTRACT The earliest fossil member of Bothrideridae, Alveoderes yamamotoi Li & Cai gen. et sp. nov., is reported from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. Alveoderes gen. nov. appears to be ...most similar to extant Deretaphrus in the 3-segmented antennal club and pronotal morphology, but is also distinctive among the whole Bothrideridae in having a large cavity (possible glandular opening) at each anterior pronotal angle. Our discovery of a definitive bothriderid beetle from the late Mesozoic highlights the antiquity of the family. A key to the extant and extinct genera of Deretaphrini is added.
Los escarabajos joya (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) es una de las familias de escarabajos más diversas, sin embargo, en Colombia su diversidad no ha sido previamente estudiada. Este trabajo representa el ...primer análisis de la diversidad de la familia basada en una revisión bibliográfica para el país. Se registran cuatro subfamilias, catorce tribus, 30 géneros y 147 especies. De las 147 especies registradas, 100 no cuentan con datos específicos de localidad y 67 son especies endémicas. La región Caribe y la región Andina representan el mayor número de registros, siendo el departamento de Cundinamarca, el que cuenta con el mayor número de especies. En Colombia, el conocimiento de la familia es escaso comparado con países vecinos, en los cuales la familia ha sido muy estudiada durante los últimos años. A partir de esta primera revisión, Colombia se ubica como uno de los países con mayor diversidad de Buprestidae en la región.
Jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) represent one of the most diverse families of beetles. However, the diversity of the family has not been addressed in Colombia. This work represents the first analysis of the diversity of the family based on a bibliographic review of the country. As a result, a total of four subfamilies, fourteen tribes, 30 genera, and 147 species were recorded. Out of the 147 registered species, 100 do not have specific locality data, and 67 are endemic species. The Caribbean and Andean regions represent the highest number of records, with the department of Cundinamarca being the one with the highest number of species. In Colombia, knowledge of the family is scarce compared to neighboring countries, where the family has been widely studied in recent years. However, based on this first review, Colombia ranks as one of the most diverse countries in the region regarding Buprestidae.
This work presents the state of knowledge of the aquatic beetles from Colombia, with emphasis on species lists for 17 families recorded for the country, provided by Grupo Coleoptera de Colombia, and ...published by SiB-Colombia. Updated information on richness, diagnosis, habitat, and geographic distribution is provided for all families of aquatic beetles present in Colombia. Two hundred and forty-one species were recorded in 112 genera, which are considered true aquatic, false, or riparian beetles, according to their association with water bodies.
Este trabajo presenta el estado del conocimiento de los coleópteros acuáticos de Colombia, con énfasis en los listados de especies de 17 familias registradas en el territorio colombiano, los cuales han sido provistos por el Grupo Coleoptera de Colombia y publicados por el SiB-Colombia. Se aporta información actualizada de riqueza, diagnosis, hábitat y distribución geográfica de todas las familias de coleópteros acuáticos presentes en Colombia. Se registraron 241 especies en 112 géneros, los cuales son considerados como coleópteros acuáticos verdaderos, falsos o riparios según su asociación con los cuerpos de agua.
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