Katie LotterhosMar 15, 2023
Out today in PNAS: "The paradox of adaptive trait clines with nonclinal patterns in the underlying genes" https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2220313120 This study shows that under complex multivariate adaptation, trait clines can evolve despite nonmonotonic allele frequency patterns across environmental gradients. These patterns are not discovered by genotype–environment association methods, which are widely used to discover adaptation. #EvolutionPaper #EcoEvo #SLiM #Genetics #Genomics #EvolgenPaper #PopGen
Erol AkcayFeb 22, 2023

New #preprint with Marco Smolla (now at MPI Leipzig) now up at @biorxivpreprint: "Pathways to cultural adaptation: the coevolution of cumulative culture and social networks" https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.21.529416

We look at how cumulative culture coevolves with social network structure and discover that there are two distinct pathways this coevolution takes AND that there is a conflict between individual selection and group-level interests!

#CulturalEvolution #SocialNetworks #EvolutionPaper

Katie LotterhosFeb 14, 2023
Maybe you have heard of genotype (G) x environment (E) interactions on species traits? Did you know that this is not the only way that non-random associations between G and E can evolve? Spatial covariance can also evolve between G and E, which has been known as cogradient and countergradient evolution. In this paper we provide a way to measure it. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ele.14020 #Ecology #Evolution #EvolutionPaper
Show threadKatie LotterhosFeb 14, 2023
Recently we also evaluated how well a widely-used method called "gradient forests" performs for the estimation of "genomic vulnerability". In this paper we highlight some strengths and weaknesses of the approach. Notably, genetic drift can cause small populations to have large "offset" values, highlighting issues with current interpretations and estimations. #EvolutionPaper #Evolution #EvolGenPaper https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eva.13354
Show threadKatie LotterhosFeb 14, 2023
Recently we also reviewed how simulations can be used to test statistical methods in ecology, evolution and systematics. These fields lack standardized principles for evaluating methods, which has led to high variability in the rigor with which methods are tested. In this review, we illustrate the common pitfalls and best practices for method evaluations. #EvolutionPaper #Ecology #EcoEvo #PopulationGenetics https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102320-093722
Show threadKatie LotterhosFeb 14, 2023
In our recent "Inversion Invasions" paper we studied the conditions under which inversions invade genomes and become involved in adaptation. We found that inversions were more likely to be involved in adaptation when the genetic basis of the adaptive trait was highly polygenic. #EvolgenPaper #EvolutionPaper #PopulationGenetics @royalsociety https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2021.0200 We developed this plot to visualize how inversions capture and gain genetic variation through time.
Emily JosephsFeb 11, 2023
Big congrats to Maya Wilson Brown for her first first-authored publication investigating how ecological niches differ across the native and invasive range of Capsella bursa-pastoris 🎉🎉🎉 #EvolutionPaper https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajb2.16140
Graham CoopFeb 3, 2023
Congrats to moria robinson et al
Macroevolution of protective coloration across caterpillars reflects relationships with host plants #EvolutionPaper
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2022.2293
Lucas C. WheelerFeb 3, 2023
New #EvolutionPaper #preprint with @iochromaland on the evolution of the #flavonoid pathway in the Petunieae clade of #Solanaceae. We use multivariate phylogenetic comparative methods to analyze quantitative measures of #GeneExpression and floral flavonoid #pigment content in a phylogenetic context. We find that #evolutionary transitions in floral pigmentation appear to be largely underpinned by shifts in gene expression, and uncover tradeoffs between pathway branches. https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/4991/
Evolutionary walks through flower color space driven by gene expression in Petunia and allies (Petunieae)

Andrew MongueFeb 3, 2023

Now live: my #EvolutionPaper preprint assembling and analysing the genome of a non-model apicomplexan parasite. Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (you can just call it OE) infects the charismatic monarch butterfly. So check out the paper to see new insights into cryptic parasite diversity, ATPase evolution, or just marvel at how tiny it is: fewer than 3,000 coding genes in <9Mb!

https://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.02.01.526615v1