Deep MOS Spectroscopy of NGC 1316 Globular Clusters

The giant elliptical galaxy NGC 1316 is the brightest galaxy in the Fornax cluster, and displays a number of morphological features that might be interpreted as an intermediate age merger remanent ($\sim$3 Gyr). Based on the idea that globular clusters systems (GCS) constitute genuine tracers of the formation and evolution of their host galaxies, we conducted a spectroscopic study of approximately 40 globular clusters (GCs) candidates associated with this interesting galaxy. We determined ages, metallicities, and $\alpha$-element abundances for each GC present in the sample, through the measurement of different Lick indices and their subsequent comparison with simple stellar populations models (SSPs).Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

F_ST values calculated for microsatellite DNA at seven loci, <i>P</i><0.0001 for all pairwise comparisons.

<p>Mainland is ME and NH combined as a single population.</p><p>F_ST values calculated for microsatellite DNA at seven loci, <i>P</i><0.0001 for all pairwise comparisons.</p

Summary of parameters used in <i>M</i>-ratio analyses used to detect significant reductions in population size.

<p>M_avg is average simulated <i>M</i>-ratio value for a given set of parameters and empirical microsatellite data; M_c is the critical value. M_avg and M_c were generated for Δ_g values of 2.8 and 3.5.</p><p>* indicates N_e values within the range calculated with long-term estimators.</p>a<p> = <b>Δ_g</b> value of 2.8;</p>b<p> = <b>Δ_g</b> value of 3.5.</p><p>Summary of parameters used in <i>M</i>-ratio analyses used to detect significant reductions in population size.</p

Genetics Reveal the Origin and Timing of a Cryptic Insular Introduction of Muskrats in North America

<div><p>The muskrat, <i>Ondatra zibethicus</i>, is a semiaquatic rodent native to North America that has become a highly successful invader across Europe, Asia, and South America. It can inflict ecological and economic damage on wetland systems outside of its native range. Anecdotal evidence suggests that, in the early 1900s, a population of muskrats was introduced to the Isles of Shoals archipelago, located within the Gulf of Maine, for the purposes of fur harvest. However, because muskrats are native to the northeastern coast of North America, their presence on the Isles of Shoals could be interpreted as part of the native range of the species, potentially obscuring management planning and biogeographic inferences. To investigate their introduced status and identify a historic source population, muskrats from Appledore Island of the Isles of Shoals, and from the adjacent mainland of Maine and New Hampshire, were compared for mitochondrial cytochrome <i>b</i> sequences and allele frequencies at eight microsatellite loci. Appledore Island muskrats consistently exhibited reduced genetic diversity compared with mainland populations, and displayed signatures of a historic bottleneck. The distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes is suggestive of a New Hampshire source population. The data presented here are consistent with a human-mediated introduction that took place in the early 1900s. This scenario is further supported by the zooarchaeological record and island biogeographic patterns. This is the first genetic study of an introduced muskrat population within US borders and of any island muskrat population, and provides an important contrast with other studies of introduced muskrat populations worldwide.</p></div

Mismatch distribution for A. the mainland population, ME and NH pooled, and B. AP only.

<p>Frequency is represented on the vertical axis. Solid gray lines indicate expected values and blue circles represent observed values. The expected frequency is based on a constant population size and demographic equilibrium. Raggedness statistics, <i>r</i> = 0.0592 and 0.6729 for <b>A</b>. and <b>B</b>., respectively.</p

Date model

Script for meta-analyses of West Indian extinct mammal dates .Files required in same folder #data: fossil.csv archeo.csv #jags models: model.txt model0.txt model2.txt model3.txt model4.tx

List of dated fossils

Compiled from literature and calibrated

Edited short list

List of species, after manual correction, needed to run clean_list_dryad.

Phylogeny used for figure 3

Dated phylogeny including extinct mammal