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Biological invasions represent ideal systems for the study of evolutionary processes associated with colonization events. It has been hypothesized that the genetic diversity is generally decreasing from the centre of the range to the margins due to multiple founder events. Invasive populations offer the opportunity to test this hypothesis at a fine spatial and temporal scale. We analysed the genetic structure of a large expanding non-native population of the Common Wall Lizard ( Podarcis muralis ) in Passau (Germany) using thirteen microsatellite loci. We analyzed the genetic structure and levels of admixture across a transect reflecting the expansion process and tested for a loss of genetic diversity and an increase of genetic differentiation from the centre to the invasion front. Our results demonstrate that significant genetic population structure can emerge rapidly at a small spatial scale. We found a trend for an increase in genetic differentiation and a decrease in genetic diversity from the invasion centre to the expanding range margin, suggesting that genetic drift is the major factor causing this pattern. The correlation between genetic diversity and average genetic differentiation was significant among sites. We hypothesize that the territoriality of P. muralis generates sufficient rates of noncontiguous and stratified dispersal from longer established sites to maintain significant genetic diversity at the invasion front. Simultaneously, territoriality might restrict the colonization success of migrants at established sites, so that in combination with founder events a strong differentiation arises.

Abstract The Mediterranean Basin has experienced extensive change in geology and climate over the past six million years. Yet, the relative importance of key geological events for the distribution and genetic structure of the Mediterranean fauna remains poorly understood. Here, we use population genomic and phylogenomic analyses to establish the evolutionary history and genetic structure of common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). This species is particularly informative because, in contrast to other Mediterranean lizards, it is widespread across the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan Peninsulas, and in extra-Mediterranean regions. We found strong support for six major lineages within P. muralis, which were largely discordant with the phylogenetic relationship of mitochondrial DNA. The most recent common ancestor of extant P. muralis was likely distributed in the Italian Peninsula, and experienced an “Out-of-Italy” expansion following the Messinian salinity crisis (∼5 Mya), resulting in the differentiation into the extant lineages on the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan Peninsulas. Introgression analysis revealed that both inter- and intraspecific gene flows have been pervasive throughout the evolutionary history of P. muralis. For example, the Southern Italy lineage has a hybrid origin, formed through admixture between the Central Italy lineage and an ancient lineage that was the sister to all other P. muralis. More recent genetic differentiation is associated with the onset of the Quaternary glaciations, which influenced population dynamics and genetic diversity of contemporary lineages. These results demonstrate the pervasive role of Mediterranean geology and climate for the evolutionary history and population genetic structure of extant species.

Aim: There is increasing evidence that the quality and breadth of ecological niches vary among individuals, populations, evolutionary lineages and therefore also across the range of a species. Sufficient knowledge about niche divergence among clades might thus be crucial for predicting the invasion potential of species. We tested for the first time whether evolutionary lineages of an invasive species vary in their climate niches and invasive potential. Furthermore, we tested whether lineagespecific models show a better performance than combined models. Location: Europe. Methods: We used species distribution models (SDMs) based on climatic information at native and invasive ranges to test for intra-specific niche divergence among mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) clades of the invasive wall lizard Podarcis muralis. Using DNA barcoding, we assigned 11 invasive populations in Central Europe to eight geographically distinct evolutionary lineages. Niche similarity among lineages was assessed and the predictive power of a combination of cladespecific SDMs was compared with a combined SDM using the pooled records of all lineages. Results: We recorded eight different invasive mtDNA clades in Central Europe. The analysed clades had rather similar realized niches in their native and invasive ranges, whereas inter-clade niche differentiation was comparatively strong. However, we found only a weak correlation between geographic origin (i. e. mtDNA clade) and invasive occurrences. Clades with narrow realized niches still became successful invaders far outside their native range, most probably due to broader fundamental niches. The combined model using data for all invasive lineages achieved a much better prediction of the invasive potential. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the observed niche differentiation among evolutionary lineages is mainly driven by niche realization and not by differences in the fundamental niches. Such cryptic niche conservatism might hamper the success of clade-specific niche modelling. Cryptic niche conservatism may in general explain the invasion success of species in areas with apparently unsuitable climate.

Although future anthropogenic climate change is recognized as one of the major threats to European species, its implementation during reserve planning has only been started recently. We here describe climate change impacts on the Iberian endemic lizard Lacerta schreiberi expecting serious declines and range reductions due to a loss of suitable climate space in the next future. We apply species distribution models to assess possible future changes in the lizard's range, identify areas with high extinction risk meriting conservation efforts and analyze whether the Natura 2000 network in its current stage will offer a sufficient protection for the genetically most valuable lineages. Despite a very good coverage and connectivity of the most valuable populations of L. schreiberi with the existing protected sites network, our results predict a strong loss of genetic variability by 2080. Also, two main patterns become evident: While the genetically less diverse north-western populations may be less affected by climate change, the climate change effects on the southern isolates and the genetically most diverse populations within the Central System may be devastating. To improve a successful prospective conservation of L. schreiberi the management of protected sites needs to consider the processes that threaten this species. Furthermore, our study highlights the urgent need to consider climate change effects on evolutionary significant units within the Natura 2000 framework.

Aim: Thermophilic species persisted in southern refugia during the cold phases of the Pleistocene, and expanded northwards during warming. These processes caused genetic imprints, such as a differentiation of genetic lineages and a loss of genetic diversity in the wake of (re)colonization. We used molecular markers and species distribution models (SDMs) to study the impact of range dynamics on the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis, from southern refugia to the northern range margin. Location: Parts of the Western Palaearctic. Methods: We genotyped 10 polymorphic microsatellites in 282 individuals of P. muralis and sequenced the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene to study the genetic structure, divergence times and ancestral distributions. Furthermore, we generated SDMs for climate scenarios for 6 and 21 ka derived from two different global circulation models. Results: We detected two major mtDNA lineages — a western France clade (Pyrenees to Brittany), and an eastern France clade (southern France to Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg). This split was dated to c. 1.23 Ma. The latter clade was divided into two subclades, which diverged c. 0.38 Ma. Genetic diversity of microsatellites within each clade was nested and showed a significant loss of genetic diversity from south to north, a strong pattern of allele surfing across nearly all loci, and an increase in genetic differentiation towards the northern range margin. Results from SDMs suggest that southward range retraction during the late glacial period split the distribution into geographically distinct refugia. Main conclusions: The strong genetic differentiation mirrors the effects of long-term isolation of P. muralis in multiple refugia. Post-glacial recolonization of Northern Europe has taken place from two distinct refugia, most probably along river systems (Rhône, Rhine, Moselle) and along the Atlantic coastline, with subsequent nested elimination of genetic diversity and increasing genetic differentiation at the northern range margin.

Proteins specifically involved in the biogenesis of respiratory complex I in eukaryotes have been characterized. The complex I intermediate associated proteins CIA30 and CIA84 are tightly bound to an assembly intermediate of the membrane arm. Like chaperones, they are involved in multiple rounds of membrane arm assembly without being part of the mature structure. Two biosynthetic subunits of eukaryotic complex I have been characterized. The acyl carrier subunit is needed for proper assembly of the peripheral arm as well as the membrane arm of complex I. It may interact with enzymes of a mitochondrial fatty acid synthetase. The 39/40-kDa subunit appears to be an isomerase with a tightly bound NADPH. It is related to a protein family of reductases/isomerases. Both subunits have been discussed to be involved in the synthesis of a postulated, novel, high-potential redox group.

Neurospora crassa is a central organism in the history of twentieth-century genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology. Here, we report a high-quality draft sequence of the N. crassa genome. The approximately 40-megabase genome encodes about 10,000 protein-coding genes--more than twice as many as in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and only about 25% fewer than in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Analysis of the gene set yields insights into unexpected aspects of Neurospora biology including the identification of genes potentially associated with red light photobiology, genes implicated in secondary metabolism, and important differences in Ca2+ signalling as compared with plants and animals. Neurospora possesses the widest array of genome defence mechanisms known for any eukaryotic organism, including a process unique to fungi called repeat-induced point mutation (RIP). Genome analysis suggests that RIP has had a profound impact on genome evolution, greatly slowing the creation of new genes through genomic duplication and resulting in a genome with an unusually low proportion of closely related genes.

The authors examine the potential impact of a \"hard\" versus \"soft\" Brexit on a wide range of fundamental air service issues, including ownership and control of U.K. and EU carriers, U.K.-EU and U.K.-U.S. traffic rights, access for non-U.K. carriers to London's Heathrow airport, and the future of antitrust-immunized transatlantic airline alliances.A \"principal place of business\" test provision for designating U.K. carriers under the new agreement may be the \"safe harbor\" that the U.K. will seek in order to protect their carriers' rights to continue to serve the U.S. In negotiating Open Skies agreements with bilateral partners, however, the U.S. has resisted that type of ownership and control provision except in the case of the multilateral MALIAT Agreement, which was concluded at the end of the Clinton administration in 2000.14 The U.S.-Switzerland Open Skies Agreement, amended after Lufthansa's purchase of Swiss International, includes a hybrid provision that may also offer a basis for a U.S.-U.K. solution; it allows substantial ownership of a Swiss airline by any combination of Swiss and EU nationals.15 Antitrust Immunity (ATI) Both the AA/BA and Delta/Virgin alliances enjoy ATI granted by the DOT, including on the U.S.-U.K. routes; similar ATI has been granted to United/Lufthansa (LH)/ Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)/Austrian Airlines and Delta/ Air France-KLM on U.S.-Europe routes.16 Under DOT policy, an Open Skies Agreement between the U.S. and the homeland of the foreign carrier seeking ATI with its U.S. partner is a prerequisite to the grant of ATI.[...]the most optimistic fallback position may be the \"soft\" Brexit option of an EU-Canada-type aviation agreement whereby the U.K. would exchange third, fourth, and fifth freedom rights with the EU without any EU cabotage rights for U.K. carriers or reciprocal rights for EU carriers to serve U.K.-U.S. routes or for U.K. carriers to serve EU-U.S. routes.See Multilateral Agreement on the Liberalization of International Air Transportation, art. 3(2), May 1, 2001 [hereinafter MALIAT Agreement], https://www.state.gov/e/eb/ rls/othr/ata/s/sn/index.htm (On receipt of such a designation, . . . each Party shall grant appropriate authorizations and permissions with minimum procedural delay, provided that: [a] effective control of that airline is vested in the designating Party, its nationals, or both; [and] [b] the airline is incorporated in and has its principal place of business in the territory of the Party designating the airline.\")

We subjected the genes encoding the 19.3-, 21.3c-, and 51-kDa iron-sulfur subunits of respiratory chain complex I from Neurospora crassa to site-directed mutagenesis to mimic mutations in human complex I subunits associated with mitochondrial diseases. The V135M substitution was introduced into the 19.3-kDa cDNA, the P88L and R111H substitutions were separately introduced into the 21.3c-kDa cDNA, and the A353V and T435M alterations were separately introduced into the 51-kDa cDNA. The altered cDNAs were expressed in the corresponding null-mutants under the control of a heterologous promoter. With the exception of the A353V polypeptide, all mutated subunits were able to promote assembly of a functional complex I, rescuing the phenotypes of the respective null-mutants. Complex I from these strains displays spectroscopic and enzymatic properties similar to those observed in the wild-type strain. A decrease in total complex I amounts may be the major impact of the mutations, although expression levels of mutant genes from the heterologous promoter were sometimes lower and may also account for complex I levels. We discuss these findings in relation to the involvement of complex I deficiencies in mitochondrial disease.