Genomics, Microbiomics and Stable Isotope Ecology of Modern and Extinct Ungulates

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2025 | Viewed by 627

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
Interests: ancient genomics; forensic DNA profiling; bison paleoecology and genomics; feral horse genetics; neanderthal and modern human evolution; human populations and medical genetics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ungulates, also known as mammals with hooves, include several hundred extinct and modern species. Many of these species are highly successful in their adaptation to diverse ecological niches and dominate in a variety of landscapes. Some species were domesticated by human societies and continue to play tremendous roles in our economy, culture and spiritual life. The anthropogenic interactions led to the complete decimation of some species and the development of conservation efforts to bring other species back from the brink of extinction, thus addressing global climate changes and the long-term viability of species.

Ungulates provide a good example of species that can benefit from cross-disciplinary studies in genomics, microbiomics and isotope ecology. These studies are especially important for species that have historically experienced extensive population bottlenecks and genomic modifications due to economic activities, habitat fragmentation and interbreeding with closely related species. This Special Issue offers an inspiring opportunity to publish studies on how evolutionary and anthropogenic processes have shaped genetic variation in different modern and extinct ungulate species. We encourage authors to submit manuscripts that examine various aspects of ungulate biology and ecology based on whole-genome polymorphisms, the genetic diversity of maternal and paternal lineages, gut and oral microbiomes, and the composition of stable isotopes in teeth and bones. Manuscripts that present morphometric analyses of ungulate species with regard to their adaptation to climate changes are also aligned with the scope of this Special Issue. Considering the vital role that ungulates have played in the history of human civilization and various nations, we welcome manuscripts that have developed from collaborations with Indigenous people and local communities.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Diversity.

Dr. Igor Ovchinnikov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bison
  • buffalo
  • bovine species
  • paleoecology of habitats
  • genetic diversity
  • ancient and modern genomes
  • evolution of bison and other bovine species
  • conservation
  • great Plains
  • dental calculus and microfossils
  • oral and gut microbiomes

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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