Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy

Cave-dwelling Planariidae in Croatia exhibit differing levels of cave trait evolution

This study examines cave-dwelling planariids in Croatia, revealing multiple genera, increased diversity, and independent cave colonization events, highlighting convergent evolution of cave traits.

Evolution of novel host-microbiota coupling underlies adaptation to nutrient-scarce environments.

The paper shows cavefish have evolved unique host-microbiota interactions that support growth in nutrient-scarce environments through specific microbial metabolites.

A naturally evolved mutation in cavefish mc3r reshapes energy homeostasis across development in a nutrient-limited environment.

This study identifies a naturally evolved mutation in mc3r that alters energy homeostasis across development in cavefish, contributing to adaptation to nutrient scarcity.

Recurrent Body Shape Patterns in Cave- and Surface-Dwelling Trichomycterid Cavefishes

This study examines body shape variation in cave- and surface-dwelling trichomycterid catfishes, finding habitat-associated morphological differences but partial overlap, suggesting ecological constraints drive recurrent body shape patterns.

High frequency of apomixis in subterranean islands challenges macro-climatic models of geographical parthenogenesis

This study investigates apomixis in subterranean caves and challenges the macro-climatic model of geographical parthenogenesis by showing pollination barriers, not climate stress, drive apomixis.

Microbial Communities in Cave Waters Across Karst Regions of Virginia

The paper characterizes microbial communities in Virginia's cave waters using 16S rRNA sequencing and identifies site-specific diversity across karst regions.

Cave adaptation drives coordinated transcriptional remodeling across diverse cell types in the brain of a teleost fish

The paper presents a spatial cell atlas comparing surface and cave-dwelling Mexican tetra fish brains, revealing transcriptional changes across cell types linked to cave adaptation.

A Thousand Meters Deep: Vertical Profiling of the Subterranean Microbes of Gourgouthakas Cave

This study explores the microbiology of Gourgouthakas Cave, identifying diverse microbes and their potential as biocontrol agents against agricultural pathogens.

Evolution of a central dopamine circuit underlies adaptation of light-evoked sensorimotor response in the blind cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus.

The paper investigates how a central dopamine circuit evolves in blind cavefish to adapt light-evoked sensorimotor responses, revealing its role in behavioral adaptation through functional and genetic analysis.

Volatilized ammonia supports extremophilic cave ecosystems with unusual nitrogen isotopic signatures

The paper shows that ammonia volatilization and trapping in sulfidic caves provides a key nitrogen source for microbial biofilms and their associated ecosystems, leading to extreme nitrogen isotope depletion.

A comparative brain atlas of Mexican cavefish identifies naturally-occurring changes in cellular composition and gene expression

This study creates a single-cell atlas of Mexican cavefish brains, revealing differences in cell types and gene expression linked to evolved disease resilience.

Sustained darkness reveals rapid phenotypic accommodation and loss of plasticity in cavefish evolution

This study shows that sustained darkness rapidly modifies phenotypic plasticity in cavefish, reducing maladaptive traits and stabilizing adaptive ones across generations.

Novel mechanisms of chemosensory adaptation to the cave environment

The paper shows cavefish have improved olfaction through physiological adaptations, not expanded chemosensory receptors, and demonstrates reduced flow rate in olfactory pits enhances foraging.

Enhanced multisensory integration in the olfactory bulb of the Mexican cavefish

The paper compares the structure and function of the olfactory bulb in surface and cavefish, finding enhanced multisensory integration in cavefish.

Cave evolution on repeat: reuse of the same genomic regions across lineages but not across traits in Astyanax mexicanus

The paper investigates genetic repeatability in cavefish traits using QTL mapping, finding shared genomic regions for eye loss but less repeatability for sleep and metabolic traits.

Environmental hypoxia controls the evolution of cavefish heart asymmetry

This study shows that hypoxia induces left-looping heart development in surface fish, mimicking cavefish traits, and reveals a mechanistic link between hypoxia and evolutionary changes in heart asymmetry.

Water parameters and hydrodynamics in rivers and caves hosting Astyanax mexicanus populations reveal macro-, meso- and micro-habitat characteristics

The paper measures water parameters and hydrodynamics in caves and surface habitats of Astyanax mexicanus to characterize macro-, meso-, and micro-habitats.

CRISPR screening reveals genetic regulators associated with the evolution of eye degeneration

The paper identifies genetic regulators of eye degeneration in cavefish using CRISPR screening and functional assays.

A pangenome framework uncovers the role of deletions in repeated evolution of cave-derived traits

The paper identifies recurrent deletions in cavefish genomes linked to adaptive traits, showing their role in repeated evolution through positive selection.

Microbial aerotrophy enables continuous primary production in diverse cave ecosystems

This study identifies aerotrophy as a primary energy source in caves, revealing microbial use of atmospheric trace gases for continuous primary production.

Elevated DNA Damage without signs of aging in the short-sleeping Mexican Cavefish

The paper investigates DNA damage and cellular stress in short-sleeping Mexican cavefish, finding elevated DNA damage markers and reduced DNA repair responses compared to surface fish.

Loss of conserved noncoding elements likely shaped the evolution of regressed phenotypes in cavefish

The paper identifies conserved noncoding elements lost in cavefish that contribute to regressed phenotypes by disrupting developmental pathways.

Widespread loss of sleep in independently evolved populations of wild-caught cavefish

This study examines sleep loss in cavefish populations and finds it is widespread and evolutionarily convergent across multiple lineages.

Analysis of multi-trait evolution across independently evolved cavefish populations reveals shared and independent evolution of suites of cave-associated traits

The paper examines multi-trait evolution in cavefish, finding shared and distinct genetic mechanisms and evidence for pleiotropy or linkage in trait evolution.

Adaptive Disruption of Carotenoid Metabolism in Cavefish via Loss of Beta-carotene oxygenase 2a (Bco2a)

This study shows that loss-of-function mutations in Bco2a in cavefish lead to increased carotenoid and vitamin A accumulation, providing a physiological advantage in low-oxygen environments.

The evolution of cavefish odor perception shifts fish response from avoidance to approach when exposed to alarm and death odors.

This study investigates how odor perception evolves in cavefish, showing a shift from avoidance to attraction of alarm and death odors, with genetic and neural mechanisms involved.

Automated behavioral profiling using neural networks reveals differences in stress-like behavior between cave and surface-dwelling Astyanax mexicanus

The paper uses neural networks to analyze stress-like behaviors in cave and surface-dwelling Astyanax mexicanus, finding differences in freezing, bottom-dwelling, and hyperactivity.

Genomics of eye number evolution in spiders

This study investigates the genomic basis of eye number variation in spiders, finding conserved genes in eye development and distinct patterns of selection for eye reduction and loss.

Caves as species pumps: key innovations, isolation, and periodic introgression drive the world's largest cavefish radiation in a dynamic karstic landscape

This study investigates the diversification of Sinocyclocheilus cavefish, showing that gene flow, introgression, and key adaptations drive speciation in response to geological and climatic changes.

A common mechanism and multiple advantages of pigment loss underlie the convergent evolution of albinism in cave animals

This study identifies a common mechanism for albinism in cave animals, showing that blocking melanin synthesis early in the pathway provides multiple adaptive advantages.