https://hdl.handle.net/2072/352787 https://museuciencies.cat/area-cientifica/departaments-cientifics/ecologia-evolutiva-i-de-la-conducta/ 2026-04-06T17:12:32Z https://hdl.handle.net/2072/489207 Comparative skin microbiome analyses reveal differences between wild populations and captive groups of the Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi) Tulloch, Sergi; Burriel-Carranza, Bernat; Carranza, Salvador The Montseny brook newt, Calotriton arnoldi, is a Critically Endangered amphibian species endemic to the Montseny Massif in Catalonia, Northeastern Spain. Due to population declines and threats to its natural habitat, an ex-situ breeding program was initiated in 2007. A key goal of the program is to ensure the survival of captive-bred individuals after reintroduction, which in amphibians heavily relies on the specimens’ microbiome being capable of protecting them from environmental microorganisms, especially considering the global Chytridiomycosis pandemic caused by the fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). This study aims to characterize the skin microbiome of wild and captive C. arnoldi specimens and identify differences in their composition, contributing to future research on the microbiome’s impact in captive-bred individuals upon reintroduction. Up to 5996 ASVs (Amplicon Sequence Variants) were identified from 138 samples from 21 and 61 wild and captive-bred individuals, respectively. Results indicate that wild populations from different subspecies have significantly different skin microbiome composition, as do wild and captive-bred groups from the same subspecies. Additionally, dissimilarities in skin microbiome variability were only found within each subspecies, between wild and captive-bred groups. In terms of composition, certain bacteria were identified as potential markers for both wild and captive environments. Enhancing skin microbiome variability might improve the survival prospects of reintroduced specimens. Thus, exposing captive specimens to a more natural environment while in captivity or a soft-release procedure could potentially mitigate the absence of exposure to other bacteria and potential pathogens from their native environment. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2072/489206 Saving the locals: a conservation genomics approach to the endangered Spanish Toothcarp, Aphanius iberus (Valenciennes, 1846) Estarellas, Maria; Burriel-Carranza, Bernat; Carranza, Salvador Understanding the genetic structure and evolutionary history of endangered species is crucial for effective conservation planning. The Spanish toothcarp, Aphanius iberus (Valenciennes, 1846), an endemic and euryhaline fish of the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, is currently threatened by habitat destruction, climate change, and anthropogenic translocations. Here, we employed both a single genetic marker (cytochrome b) and genome-wide SNP data from mediumcoverage whole genomes to investigate the population structure, genetic diversity, and demographic history of A. iberus, especially focussing on its northern distribution, which has remained poorly studied. Our analyses revealed a well-structured genetic pattern across the species’ range, with four main genetic lineages: Northern Catalonia, Southern Catalonia, Levantine, and Murcian. Genomic indicators, including heterozygosity, ROHs, and migration analyses, suggest higher inbreeding and genetic erosion in the northernmost populations, likely due to long-term isolation, whereas southern populations maintain higher genetic diversity. We also identified several admixed and potentially translocated populations. These findings underscore the importance of accurately determining the origin of populations before any translocation or reintroduction, as misguided management may compromise the genetic integrity of native lineages. This work provides essential genomic insights to guide conservation strategies and emphasizes the need for lineage-aware management of endemic species like A. iberus. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2072/489082 Lizards on a sky archipelago: genomic approaches to the evolution of the mountain genus Iberolacerta Talavera, Adrián; Burriel-Carranza, Bernat; Carranza, Salvador The mountain-dwelling lizards of the genus Iberolacerta inhabit several isolated massifs across central and southwestern Europe. Their restricted and fragmented ranges, coupled with high altitude specialization in most species, entail a significant threat in the context of climate change for this group of lizards that has attracted interest from different fields. On the one hand, the alpine confinement of these relict species precedes the Pleistocene glacial cycles, and a few hypotheses have been proposed to explain it: from competitive exclusion by the wall lizards of the genus Podarcis, to adaptations to either cold or hypoxia, that would prevent them from expanding into lowlands. On the other hand, extensive research on chromosome evolution has shown Iberolacerta karyotypes to fairly differ from other lacertid lizards, exhibiting reductions in chromosome numbers and multiple sex chromosome determination systems. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for Iberolacerta aurelioi, an endangered rock lizard endemic to the Pyrenees. This genome has shed light on a genome architecture shaped by chromosome fusions, whose adaptive potential we discuss, as well as on expression shifts towards a hemoglobin isoform of enhanced oxygen affinity, as an adaptation to altitudinal hypoxia. In addition, medium coverage whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from 12 representatives encompassing all species and subspecies within the genus allowed us to address phylogenomic relationships, unveiling introgression events, gathering evidence in support of the competitive exclusion hypothesis through past demographic inference, and providing insights into homozygosity burdens, which offer valuable information for conservation efforts. 2026-01-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2072/488515 Remembering Mike Conroy: a key figure in wildlife management Senar, Juan Carlos Obituario a Mike Conroy 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z