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By analysing the evolutionary relationships of angiosperm species in 63 alpine floras worldwide, the authors find that each of the alpine floras represents an assemblage of more closely related species compared with their respective regional floras.
Comparing pelvic sex differences across modern humans and chimpanzees reveals a similar pattern despite differences in magnitude of pelvis shape dimorphism, suggesting that this pattern did not evolve de novo in modern humans but was present in the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees.
A comprehensive search for super-archaic introgression in >400 modern human genomes, including >200 from Island Southeast Asia, corroborates widespread Denisovan ancestry in ISEA populations but fails to detect any substantial super-archaic admixture signals compatible with the endemic fossil record.
The number of species unknown to science is profound and limits effective conservation of diversity. Here the authors estimate which clades and locations are most ripe for taxonomic discovery.
When signalling to attract mates, animals in poor condition could signal less to conserve resources (ability-based signalling) or more to maximize short-term reproductive success (needs-based signalling). Meta-analysis of 147 animal species shows that signalling is predominantly an honest indication of ability, although there is a trend for needs-based signalling when comparing old with young unmated individuals.
Using a species generalization index calculated from a global dataset of reef fishes and their habitats, the authors show that generalist species respond more successfully to habitat disruption and are better able to move polewards in response to climate change.
This study develops metabolic fitness models that integrate drug action with evolutionary response to predict growth rates of resistance mutations and prevalent mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli.
CT scanning and an auditory bioengineering model are used to establish the sound power transmission and occupied bandwidth of the Neanderthal ear, suggesting similar auditory and speech capacities as those in Homo sapiens.
Horseshoe bats are thought to be natural hosts of SARS-CoV-2 but it is unclear whether other bat species are potential hosts. Virus–host receptor binding and infection assays, including receptors of 46 bat species, show dramatic variation in susceptibility to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infection among bat species.
Using plant community trait composition data and microclimate and soil chemistry data from four distinct tundra regions, the authors demonstrate strong, consistent trait–environment relationships across Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Using tree community data from 29 tropical and temperate sites that have experienced multi-decadal alterations in fire frequency, the authors show repeated burning generally reduces stem density and basal area, with most pronounced effects in savanna ecosystems and in sites with strong wet seasons or strong dry seasons.
The authors test for temperature dependency of ecosystem respiration rates across globally distributed eddy covariance sites, revealing consistent temperature thresholds where ecosystem metabolism changes.
A meta-analysis of 31 mammal, bird and reptile studies reveals that hunting or trapping for the wildlife trade is associated with decreased abundances, even where harvesting for trade occurs in protected areas.
Altruism towards distantly related recipients appears to reduce inclusive fitness and is difficult to understand. Here, the authors quantify cooperative payoffs in a Neotropical wasp with high levels of movement between colonies and use inclusive fitness theory to show that diminishing returns to cooperation explain this behaviour.
Ecological factors affect host–parasite coevolution. This study shows how biotic and abiotic forces influence the evolutionary trajectories of Daphnia and its obligate bacterial parasite in 16 replicate ponds.
A global analysis of deforestation rates in more than 18,000 terrestrial protected areas shows that, once protected area effectiveness is taken into account, only 6.5%—rather than 15.7%—of the world’s forests are protected, well below the Aichi Target of 17%.