T. Schwander

Dynamics of X chromosome hyper-expression and inactivation in male tissues during stick insect development

This study examines dosage compensation and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation in stick insects, finding that X chromosome expression is dynamically regulated in male tissues during development.

Functional monocentricity with holocentric characteristics andchromosome-specific centromeres in a stick insect

The paper analyzes centromere structure and function in stick insects, revealing a functionally monocentric system with holocentric-like features and chromosome-specific centromeres.

Recent neo-X and Y sex chromosomes in an ant cricket

The paper identifies young neo-sex chromosomes in ant crickets and estimates their evolutionary origin and recombination suppression events.

LEVERAGING CITIZEN SCIENCE TO ASSESS RICHNESS, DIVERSITY, AND ABUNDANCE IN ANT COMMUNITIES

This paper integrates citizen science data with scientific sampling to model ant community richness, diversity, and abundance across elevation gradients.

Ecological specialization and local adaptation in sympatric sexual and asexual grass thrips species

This study investigates niche differentiation and adaptation in sympatric sexual and asexual grass thrips species, finding that asexuality correlates with geographic niche variation and local adaptation to host plants.

Evolution of alternative reproductive systems in Bacillus stick insects

The paper re-evaluates reproductive modes in Bacillus stick insects using genomic and field data, confirming hybrid lineage ancestry and genome elimination mechanisms.

Trophic eggs affect caste determination in the ant Pogonomyrmex rugosus

The paper shows that trophic eggs influence caste determination in Pogonomyrmex rugosus ants by affecting larval development into workers or queens.

Evidence for cryptic gene flow in parthenogenetic stick insects of the genus Timema

The paper investigates cryptic sex in parthenogenetic Timema stick insects, finding evidence of rare male-mediated sex in two species despite their otherwise asexual reproduction.

Facultative parthenogenesis: a transient state in transitions between sex and obligate asexuality in stick insects?

The paper identifies and characterizes facultative parthenogenetic populations in stick insects, showing they lose heterozygosity and may transition to obligate parthenogenesis through increased frequency.

X chromosomes show relaxed selection and complete somatic dosage compensation across Timema stick insect species

The paper analyzes X chromosome evolution in five Timema stick insect species, finding relaxed selection, slower evolution, and partial dosage compensation across species.

What ecological factors favor parthenogenesis over sexual reproduction? A study on the facultatively parthenogenetic mayfly Alainites muticus in natural populations.

The paper investigates ecological factors influencing parthenogenesis vs. sexual reproduction in mayflies, finding that mate limitation, not community diversity, drives female-biased sex ratios.

Dynamics of sex-biased gene expression over development in the stick insect Timema californicum

This study examines sex-biased gene expression dynamics during development in the hemimetabolous stick insect Timema californicum and compares it to the holometabolous fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Haplotype divergence supports ancient asexuality in the oribatid mite Oppiella nova

The paper uses genomic and transcriptomic data to show haplotype divergence patterns in asexual and sexual mite species, supporting ancient asexuality in Oppiella nova.

First annotated draft genomes of non-marine ostracods (Ostracoda, Crustacea) with different reproductive modes

The paper presents the first annotated draft genomes of three non-marine ostracod species, providing genomic resources for evolutionary and ecological studies.

Convergent consequences of parthenogenesis on stick insect genomes

This study compares parthenogenetic and sexual stick insect species to show reduced heterozygosity, less effective selection, and no TE accumulation in parthenogens.

A single QTL with large effect is associated with female functional virginity in an asexual parasitoid wasp

The paper identifies a single QTL with large effect associated with female functional virginity in an asexual parasitoid wasp through QTL mapping and candidate gene analysis.

Structural adaptation of oxygen tolerance in 4-hydroxybutyrl-CoA dehydratase, a key enzyme of archaeal carbon fixation

The paper investigates how 4HBD, a key enzyme in archaeal carbon fixation, adapted structurally to become oxygen-tolerant, revealing evolutionary changes that enabled aerobic metabolism.

Extremely widespread parthenogenesis and a trade-off between alternative forms of reproduction in mayflies (Ephemeroptera)

The paper catalogues mayfly species capable of parthenogenesis and finds a trade-off between sexual and parthenogenetic reproduction, with sex being more successful in hatching eggs.

Sex-biased gene expression is repeatedly masculinized in asexual females

The paper examines gene expression in asexual stick insect females and finds masculinized expression patterns, suggesting shifts in optimal gene expression after the suppression of sex.

Asexual reproduction drives the reduction of transposable element load

The paper shows that asexual reproduction in yeast reduces transposable element loads over time through increased TE excision rates.

Repeated evolution of asexuality involves convergent gene expression changes

The paper identifies convergent gene expression changes across multiple independent transitions to asexuality in stick insects, suggesting constrained molecular pathways for asexual reproduction.

Fundamental and realized feeding niche breadths of sexual and asexual stick-insects

This study compares the realized and fundamental niche breadths of asexual and sexual stick insects, finding asexuals have narrower realized niches due to stronger biotic constraints.

Evolutionary dynamics of specialization in herbivorous stick insects

The paper investigates how herbivorous stick insects adapt to different host plants, finding that shifts to novel hosts expand fundamental niches but not realized niches, and that specialization is driven by species interactions rather than plant chemistry.

Sex in the wild: how and why field-based studies contribute to solving the problem of sex

This paper reviews field-based studies on sex in natural populations, highlighting support for niche differentiation and gaps in understanding adaptive evolution and mutation accumulation.

Effective purifying selection in ancient asexual oribatid mites

The paper compares purifying selection effectiveness in asexual and sexual oribatid mite lineages, finding stronger selection in asexuals despite no sex.