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Methylation of cytosines is a prototypic epigenetic modification of the DNA. It has been implicated in various regulatory mechanisms across the animal kingdom and particularly in vertebrates. We mapped DNA methylation in 580 animal species (535 vertebrates, 45 invertebrates), resulting in 2443 genome-scale DNA methylation profiles of multiple organs. Bioinformatic analysis of this large dataset quantified the association of DNA methylation with the underlying genomic DNA sequence throughout vertebrate evolution. We observed a broadly conserved link with two major transitions—once in the first vertebrates and again with the emergence of reptiles. Cross-species comparisons focusing on individual organs supported a deeply conserved association of DNA methylation with tissue type, and cross-mapping analysis of DNA methylation at gene promoters revealed evolutionary changes for orthologous genes. In summary, this study establishes a large resource of vertebrate and invertebrate DNA methylomes, it showcases the power of reference-free epigenome analysis in species for which no reference genomes are available, and it contributes an epigenetic perspective to the study of vertebrate evolution.

Over the last two decades, the use of DNA barcodes has transformed our ability to identify and assess life on our planet. Both strengths and weaknesses of the method have been exemplified through thousands of peer-reviewed scientific articles. Given the novel sequencing approaches, currently capable of generating millions of reads at low cost, we reflect on the questions: What will the future bring for DNA barcoding? Will identification of species using short, standardized fragments of DNA stand the test of time? We present reflected opinions of early career biodiversity researchers in the form of a SWOT analysis and discuss answers to these questions.

Climate change has dramatic impacts on ecological systems, affecting a range of ecological factors including phenology, species abundance, diversity, and distribution. The breadth of climate change impacts on ecological systems leads to the occurrence of fingerprints of climate change. However, climate fingerprints are usually identified across broad geographical scales and are potentially influenced by publication biases. In this study, we used natural history collections spanning over 250 years, to quantify a range of ecological responses to climate change, including phenology, abundance, diversity, and distributions, across a range of taxa, including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fungi, within a single region, Central Norway. We tested the hypotheses that ecological responses to climate change are apparent and coherent at a regional scale, that longer time series show stronger trends over time and in relation to temperature, and that ecological responses change in trajectory at the same time as shifts in temperature. We identified a clear regional coherence in climate signal, with decreasing abundances of limnic zooplankton (on average by 7691 individuals m−3 °C−1) and boreal forest breeding birds (on average by 1.94 territories km−2 °C−1), and earlier plant flowering phenology (on average 2 days °C−1) for every degree of temperature increase. In contrast, regional‐scale species distributions and species diversity were largely stable. Surprisingly, the effect size of ecological response did not increase with study duration, and shifts in responses did not occur at the same time as shifts in temperature. This may be as the long‐term studies include both periods of warming and temperature stability, and that ecological responses lag behind warming. Our findings demonstrate a regional climate fingerprint across a long timescale. We contend that natural history collections provide a unique window on a broad spectrum of ecological responses at timescales beyond most ecological monitoring programs. Natural history collections are thus an essential source for long‐term ecological research. In this study we used natural history collections spanning over 250 years, to quantify a range of ecological responses to climate change, including phenology, abundance, diversity, and distributions, across a range of taxa, including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants and fungi, within a single region; Central Norway. Our findings demonstrate a regional climate fingerprint across a long timescale, demonstrating the value of natural history collections to ecological research.

Knowledge of genetic diversity among wild populations is becoming increasingly important as more species are recognized for their bioeconomic value. Industrialization of natural resources, such as kelp in the marine shallow sublittoral zone through cultivation and wild-harvesting, may lead to extensive translocation and local population decimation. Without adequate resilience in the form of genetic diversity within and across populations and given the potential introduction of deleterious alleles from translocations, such anthropogenically pressured populations may not be able to sufficiently respond to future climate and other stressors. Here we provide an assessment of the genetic heterogeneity of two bioeconomically important kelp species, Laminaria hyperborea and Saccharina latissima, across the Norwegian coastal region from South (57°N) to North (78°N), by applying microsatellite genotyping. Isolation by distance was found for both kelp species when comparing genetic distance to geographic distance. L. hyperborea clustered into four distinct genetic groups corresponding to distinct geographical ecoregions, whereas S. latissima did not show equally strong geographical structuring but separated into three geographical clusters along the Norwegian coast. No genetic differentiation was found within the Norwegian Skagerrak region, corroborating previous findings. The identified genetic clustering of both kelp species supports the retention of established management regions along the Norwegian coast and argues for the continuation of a regional focused management plan for kelp resources. Further, the results demonstrate that care should be taken to prevent translocation of kelp between ecoregions in the ongoing industrialization of kelp cultivation, to maintain a healthy coastal ecosystem and sound natural population genetic diversity.

Premise of research. Evolutionary radiations can be driven by physiological tolerances. Protea is a species-rich genus in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and provides the opportunity to examine whether drought response traits may have contributed to differentiation in this stress-tolerant genus. Commonly utilized drought responses might be indicative of traits important to species diversification in stressful environments. Methodology. We studied how greenhouse-grown plants of six white Protea species physiologically responded to drought stress. We measured leaf-level physiological traits such as stomatal conductance, temperature, pubescence, chlorophyll, and abscisic acid (ABA) content. Pivotal results. Most traits showed similar drought responses across all six species and 29 populations we examined. Only for foliar ABA content, leaf hair density, and foliar chlorophyll content did species respond to drought in different ways, indicating that some differences in plasticity might be important to this evolutionary radiation. Conclusions. Our data support stomatal conductance as a trait important to stress tolerance across a range of environmental conditions. Moreover, population variation in the plasticity of physiological traits might be important to evolutionary trajectories in this system.

Over the last two decades, the use of DNA barcodes has transformed our ability to identify and assess life on our planet. Both strengths and weaknesses of the method have been exemplified through thousands of peer-reviewed scientific articles. Given the novel sequencing approaches, currently capable of generating millions of reads at low cost, we reflect on the questions: What will the future bring for DNA barcoding? Will identification of species using short, standardized fragments of DNA stand the test of time? We present reflected opinions of early career biodiversity researchers in the form of a SWOT analysis and discuss answers to these questions.

Over the last two decades, the use of DNA barcodes has transformed our ability to identify and assess life on our planet. Both strengths and weaknesses of the method have been exemplified through thousands of peer-reviewed scientific articles. Given the novel sequencing approaches, currently capable of generating millions of reads at low cost, we reflect on the questions: What will the future bring for DNA barcoding? Will identification of species using short, standardized fragments of DNA stand the test of time? We present reflected opinions of early career biodiversity researchers in the form of a SWOT analysis and discuss answers to these questions

Premise of research. Evolutionary radiations can be driven by physiological tolerances.Proteais a species-rich genus in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and provides the opportunity to examine whether drought response traits may have contributed to differentiation in this stress-tolerant genus. Commonly utilized drought responses might be indicative of traits important to species diversification in stressful environments. Methodology. We studied how greenhouse-grown plants of six whiteProteaspecies physiologically responded to drought stress. We measured leaf-level physiological traits such as stomatal conductance, temperature, pubescence, chlorophyll, and abscisic acid (ABA) content. Pivotal results. Most traits showed similar drought responses across all six species and 29 populations we examined. Only for foliar ABA content, leaf hair density, and foliar chlorophyll content did species respond to drought in different ways, indicating that some differences in plasticity might be important to this evolutionary radiation. Conclusions. Our data support stomatal conductance as a trait important to stress tolerance across a range of environmental conditions. Moreover, population variation in the plasticity of physiological traits might be important to evolutionary trajectories in this system.

Within the last century, the floristic composition of riparian communities in the Southwest has drastically changed following introduction of the exotic tree Tamarix ramosissima. In an attempt to control Tamarix populations, the tamarisk leaf beetle (Diorhabda carinulata) has been utilized as a biological control agent. Three years of data collection at our study sites along Fountain Creek (Fountain, CO) allowed us to characterize the response of Tamarix to invasion by the biological control agent. In analyzing data collected before, during, and after the beetle invasion, we observed a significant effect of foliar herbivory on Tamarix physiology and life history strategy. Associations between flower number and functional traits changed before, during, and after the beetle invasion. Before the invasion, reproductively fit individuals exhibited high stomatal conductance and used relatively more water. During and after the invasion, fit plants had higher foliar chlorophyll content, but conductance was not significantly correlated with fecundity. Tamarix responded to defoliation by increasing water use, which may have been an attempt to sustain photosynthate allocation to reproductive structures. Therefore, the leaf beetle may increase the water use of Tamarix during the growing season.