Ecological genetics articles from across Nature Portfolio

Seawater contains a complex tapestry of metabolites, but for most, the microorganisms and pathways that process them remain unknown. A metabolomics analysis links a particular marine metabolite, homarine, to its bacterial degraders, genes and metabolic products, providing a roadmap for linking metabolites to microbial function.

Long-term monitoring of an Atlantic salmon population reveals no effect of domestication-admixture on marine survival, suggesting natural selection may mitigate the long-term fitness costs of introgression in the marine phase.

Vibrio cholerae can be found in the marine environment in close association with marine arthropods. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model arthropod, authors report that the host chitin-binding protein Peritrophin-15a increases V. cholerae colonization of the arthropod gut.

Research on China’s fengshui forest oak Q. gilva reveals a higher genetic load in its Chinese lineage, recommends conserving four populations, and identifies Jianou’s ancient trees as vulnerable.

Seawater contains a complex tapestry of metabolites, but for most, the microorganisms and pathways that process them remain unknown. A metabolomics analysis links a particular marine metabolite, homarine, to its bacterial degraders, genes and metabolic products, providing a roadmap for linking metabolites to microbial function.

Genebanks hold the key to crop resilience and adaptation, yet their potential remains underutilized. Now, a study demonstrates how merging genomic and environmental data can unveil the best-suited germplasm for future climates.

Climate change threatens the role of forests as long-term carbon sinks. Tree planting programmes that incorporate assisted migration of tree species and seed sources can help to mitigate this impact.