Instruct: Identify the main category of Biorxiv papers based on the titles and abstracts
Query: Divergent epigenetic profiles from two differentially impacted wild populationsof estuarine cordgrass (Sporobolus alterniflorus) The effects of urbanization on watershed ecosystems present critical challenges to modern survival. Organisms in urbanized areas experience high rates of evolutionary change, but genetic adaptation alone cannot mitigate the rapid and severe effects of urbanization on biodiversity. Highly resilient, foundation species are key to maintaining an ecosystems integrity in the face of urban stressors. However, the rapid collapse and disappearance of watershed ecosystems calls into question the extent to which we can rely on such species for their services. Our research investigates the molecular mechanisms by which the foundation ecosystems provider, Sporobolus alterniflorus, adapts to life in an urbanized environment. To elucidate these mechanisms, we quantified changes in global DNA methylation (% 5-mC) as a result of acute heat stress. Specimens from two differentially impacted populations across an urban to suburban geographical transect formed the basis of this study. These two populations of Sporobolus alterniflora exhibit inverse global DNA methylation patterns when exposed to the same acute heat stress. Our findings suggest that epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, control rapid and transient adaptation, in the form of differential stress responses, to distinct environment challenges.

Highlights for manuscript submissionO_LI{blacksquare} estuarine grasses native to the Bronx River, NY face stresses associated with low dissolved oxygen and urbanization
C_LIO_LI{blacksquare} differentially impacted populations of estuarine grasses exhibit inverse global DNA methylation profiles in response to acute heat stress
C_LIO_LI{blacksquare} DNA methylation may represent a mechanism by which plants transiently respond to environmental stressors, and this may represent a form of rapid adaptive evolution
C_LIO_LI{blacksquare} stress priming by transgenerational epigenetic modification may enhance fitness in grasses native to the heavily impacted Bronx River estuary
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The categories of this paper are: genetics
19
The categories of this paper are: epidemiology
3
The categories of this paper are: evolutionary
9
The categories of this paper are: synthetic
1
The categories of this paper are: bioinformatics
28
The categories of this paper are: communication
30
The categories of this paper are: scientific
16
The categories of this paper are: microbiology
13
The categories of this paper are: animal
10
The categories of this paper are: and
5
The categories of this paper are: cell
17
The categories of this paper are: molecular
21
The categories of this paper are: toxicology
8
The categories of this paper are: genomics
32
The categories of this paper are: zoology
27
The categories of this paper are: pathology