A survey of cacti richness in a biodiversity hotspot of Western Argentina

Esteven, Alejandro Saint; Benedictto, Mariana; Garolla, Franco A.; Padró, Julián; Soto, Ignacio M.

doi:10.25223/brad.n39.2021.a2

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Fresh pieces of O. sulphurea and T. terscheckii were collected in northwestern Argentina where native cacti are abundant and D. buzzatii and D. koepferae are sympatric. Plant material was identified [ 58 ] and stored frozen since collection (Supporting Information, A. 2 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptional responses are oriented towards different components of the rearing environment in two Drosophila sibling species

et al. 2022

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Background The chance to compare patterns of differential gene expression in related ecologically distinct species can be particularly fruitful to investigate the genetics of adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. In this regard, a powerful technique such as RNA-Seq applied to ecologically amenable taxa allows to address issues that are not possible in classic model species. Here, we study gene expression profiles and larval performance of the cactophilic siblings Drosophila buzzatii and D. koepferae reared in media that approximate natural conditions and evaluate both chemical and nutritional components of the diet. These closely related species are complementary in terms of host-plant use since the primary host of one is the secondary of the other. D. koepferae is mainly a columnar cactus dweller while D. buzzatii prefers Opuntia hosts. Results Our comparative study shows that D. buzzatii and D. koepferae have different transcriptional strategies to face the challenges posed by their natural resources. The former has greater transcriptional plasticity, and its response is mainly modulated by alkaloids of its secondary host, while the latter has a more canalized genetic response, and its transcriptional plasticity is associated with the cactus species. Conclusions Our study unveils a complex pleiotropic genetic landscape in both species, with functional links that relate detox responses and redox mechanisms with developmental and neurobiological processes. These results contribute to deepen our understanding of the role of host plant shifts and natural stress driving ecological specialization.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptional responses are oriented towards different components of the rearing environment in two Drosophila sibling species

et al. 2022

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“…To thoroughly characterize the alkaloid fraction of T. terscheckii, we collected fresh samples from five individuals at different times of the year to account for temporal variation in alkaloid concentration. The plant material was collected in the northwest of Argentina, in the Valle Fertil Natural Park (public land of the province of San Juan) and the identification of the cactus was performed by Alejandro Saint-Esteven et al 85 . We isolated alkaloids from plant tissues through the alkaline-CH 2 Cl 2 extraction method 16,40 .…”

Section: Alkaloids Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ortholog genes from cactophilic Drosophila provide insight into human adaptation to hallucinogenic cacti

Padró

Panis

Luisi

et al. 2022

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Cultural transformations of lifestyles and dietary practices have been key drivers of human evolution. However, while most of the evidence of genomic adaptations is related to the hunter-gatherer transition to agricultural societies, little is known on the influence of other major cultural manifestations. Shamanism is considered the oldest religion that predominated throughout most of human prehistory and still prevails in many indigenous populations. Several lines of evidence from ethno-archeological studies have demonstrated the continuity and importance of psychoactive plants in South American cultures. However, despite the well-known importance of secondary metabolites in human health, little is known about its role in the evolution of ethnic differences. Herein, we identified candidate genes of adaptation to hallucinogenic cactus in Native Andean populations with a long history of shamanic practices. We used genome-wide expression data from the cactophilic fly Drosophila buzzatii exposed to a hallucinogenic columnar cactus, also consumed by humans, to identify ortholog genes exhibiting adaptive footprints of alkaloid tolerance. Genomic analyses in human populations revealed a suite of ortholog genes evolving under recent positive selection in indigenous populations of the Central Andes. Our results provide evidence of selection in genetic variants related to alkaloids toxicity, xenobiotic metabolism, and neuronal plasticity in Aymara and Quechua populations, suggesting a possible process of gene-culture coevolution driven by religious practices.

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Response of erosion sensitivity to land use change in populated areas: a case study of the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River

Yi,

Zhang,

Wang

et al. 2024

Environ Dev Sustain

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A survey of cacti richness in a biodiversity hotspot of Western Argentina

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

Transcriptional responses are oriented towards different components of the rearing environment in two Drosophila sibling species

Transcriptional responses are oriented towards different components of the rearing environment in two Drosophila sibling species

Ortholog genes from cactophilic Drosophila provide insight into human adaptation to hallucinogenic cacti

Response of erosion sensitivity to land use change in populated areas: a case study of the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River

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