|
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 17 December 2014Deforestation threatens species richness in streams ... 05 December 2014Unsichtbare Arten - Bedrohte Arten sind in Verbreitungsmodellen unterrepräsentiert... 02 December 2014Von der Forschung in die Praxis: „Algenmelder“ für Gewässer... 12 November 2014On a safari through the genome – genes offer new insights into the distribution of giraffes... 31 October 201423 October 2014Vortrag „Long term dynamics in the Serengeti Ecosystem: Lessons for Conservation and Society “ ... 25 September 2014Dengue fever and malaria in the Himalayas... 18 September 201415 September 2014The Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre opens its doors to the public... 11 September 2014Pesticides are more toxic for soil organisms in dry soil and at enhanced temperatures ... 01 September 2014Vortrag 4. September „The Climate Change Challenge and Opportunities“ ... 01 August 2014More People Means More Plant Growth, NASA Data Show ... 25 July 2014Erstmals Sandmücke in Hessen entdeckt... 09 July 2014Climate change: Tropical species are most vulnerable to rising temperatures... 25 June 2014Vogelschutz lohnt sich! – Vogelbestände in Osteuropa profitieren von neuer Gesetzgebung... 18 June 2014Spanish slug – busting an invasion myth... 17 June 2014The hidden history of rain: plant waxes reveal rainfall changes during the last 24,000 years... 11 June 2014It’s complicated - new insights into the evolutionary history of bears ... 12 May 2014A tale of survival – scientists reveals how fish were able to colonise poisonous springs... 08 May 201429 April 2014Gehen oder bleiben? – Neue Emmy Noether-Gruppe erforscht die Klima-Anpassung von Vögeln ... 08 April 2014Mapping ecosystem services: New method shows seed dispersal pathways of hornbills... 26 March 2014Study yields 'Genghis Khan' of brown bears, and brown and polar bear evolution... 18 March 2014Ants plant tomorrow's rainforest... 04 March 2014Allergikern blüht etwas: Erhöhte Fitness der Beifußambrosie in Europa nachgewiesen ... 12 February 201405 February 2014Aquatic Insects – a tremendous potential for research on diversification... 05 February 2014Coffee: More biodiversity, better harvest ... 20 January 2014Erfolgreiche Renaturierung von Gewässern: Das biologische Umfeld ist entscheidend... |
Press ReleasesIt’s complicated - new insights into the evolutionary history of bearsFrankfurt am Main, Germany, June 11th, 2014. According to researchers of the LOEWE Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Goethe University Frankfurt and the U.S. Wildlife Service, several bear species that today only occur in America or in Asia have hybridized during their evolutionary history. The Beringia land bridge, which connected the habitats of these species in former times, might have enabled their encounter. The large-scale study is based on the comparison and analysis of genetic material from all extant bear species. The results have been published recently in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. Whether in documentaries or in the zoo - everyone has seen and knows about brown bears, polar bears and giant pandas. However, there are several other bear species in Asia and South America that are less well-known, such as the sloth bear, the Asian black bear or the spectacled bear. There are eight bear species that still exist worldwide. Despite many years of research, the exact relationships between them remain unresolved. Who with whom? Polar bear and brown bear have hybridized
... as well as brown bears and black bears
Beringia land bridge serving as an intercontinental meeting point
Darwin’s species tree is insufficient to map complicated relationships
With new molecular methods more genes might be discovered in the genomes of mammal species that could originate from other species. Apparently separate genetic lineages turn out to have merged – sometimes repeatedly – during the evolutionary history and exchanged genetic material with each other. "The traditional pedigree introduced by Darwin is not always suitable to map evolutionary history in full detail. So-called phylogenetic networks a more useful to depict the genetic mix-up that we have found ", comments evolutionary biologist Prof. Dr. Axel Janke, BiK-F, leader of the research team. The study demonstrates that evolution often is not a linear process; thanks to modern molecular methods its complex processes can finally be revealed. Publication: Press images:
Phylogenetic network showing the relationship of all extant bear species. Copyright: BiK-F [Download in 300 dpi] http://tinyurl.com/oevupnv Terms of use: Images may be used for editorial purposes only. Please state the copyright information as given in the image caption. Use of images for commercial purposes prohibited.. For further information please contact: Prof. Dr. Axel Janke or Verena Kutschera or Sabine Wendler |
