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Vernasco BJ, Long KM, Braun MJ, Brawn JD. Genetic and telomeric variability: Insights from a tropical avian hybrid zone. Mol Ecol 2024:e17491. [PMID: 39192633 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Telomere lengths and telomere dynamics can correlate with lifespan, behaviour and individual quality. Such relationships have spurred interest in understanding variation in telomere lengths and their dynamics within and between populations. Many studies have identified how environmental processes can influence telomere dynamics, but the role of genetic variation is much less well characterized. To provide a novel perspective on how telomeric variation relates to genetic variability, we longitudinally sampled individuals across a narrow hybrid zone (n = 127 samples), wherein two Manacus species characterized by contrasting genome-wide heterozygosity interbreed. We measured individual (n = 66) and population (n = 3) differences in genome-wide heterozygosity and, among hybrids, amount of genetic admixture using RADseq-generated SNPs. We tested for population differences in telomere lengths and telomere dynamics. We then examined how telomere lengths and telomere dynamics covaried with genome-wide heterozygosity within populations. Hybrid individuals exhibited longer telomeres, on average, than individuals sampled in the adjacent parental populations. No population differences in telomere dynamics were observed. Within the parental population characterized by relatively low heterozygosity, higher genome-wide heterozygosity was associated with shorter telomeres and higher rates of telomere shortening-a pattern that was less apparent in the other populations. All of these relationships were independent of sex, despite the contrasting life histories of male and female manakins. Our study highlights how population comparisons can reveal interrelationships between genetic variation and telomeres, and how naturally occurring hybridization and genome-wide heterozygosity can relate to telomere lengths and telomere dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Vernasco
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Kira M Long
- Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael J Braun
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biology and Biology Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Brawn
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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2
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Liu SQ, Xu YJ, Chen ZT, Li H, Zhang Z, Wang QS, Pan YC. Genome-wide detection of runs of homozygosity and heterozygosity in Tunchang pigs. Animal 2024; 18:101236. [PMID: 39096602 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tunchang pigs, mainly distributed throughout Hainan Province of China, are well-known for their superior meat quality, crude feed tolerance, and adaptability to high temperatures and humidity. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) can provide valuable information about the inbreeding coefficient in individuals and selection signals that may reveal candidate genes associated with key functional traits. Runs of heterozygosity (ROHet) are commonly associated with balance selection, which can help us understand the adaptive evolutionary history of domestic animals. In this study, we investigated ROHs and ROHets in 88 Tunchang pigs. We also compared the estimates of inbreeding coefficients in individuals calculated based on four methods. In summary, we detected a total of 16 ROH islands in our study, and 100 genes were found within ROH regions. These genes were correlated with economically important traits such as reproduction (e.g., SERPIND1, HIRA), meat quality (e.g., PI4KA, TBX1), immunity (e.g., ESS2, RANBP1), adaption to heat stress (TXNRD2 and DGCR8), and crude food tolerance (TRPM6). Moreover, we discovered 18 ROHet islands harbouring genes associated with reproduction (e.g., ARHGEF12, BMPR2), immune system (e.g., BRD4, DNMT3B). These findings may help us design effective breeding and conservation strategies for this unique breed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Q Liu
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Yongyou Industry Park, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya 572000, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East 310058, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Yongyou Industrial Park, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Y J Xu
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Yongyou Industry Park, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya 572000, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East 310058, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Yongyou Industrial Park, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Z T Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East 310058, China
| | - H Li
- Hainan Longjian Animal Husbandry Development Co. Ltd, Lantian Road, Haikou 570203, China
| | - Z Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East 310058, China
| | - Q S Wang
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Yongyou Industry Park, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya 572000, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East 310058, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Yongyou Industrial Park, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Y C Pan
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Yongyou Industry Park, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya 572000, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East 310058, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Yongyou Industrial Park, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya 572025, China.
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3
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Onorato DP, Cunningham MW, Lotz M, Criffield M, Shindle D, Johnson A, Clemons BCF, Shea CP, Roelke-Parker ME, Johnson WE, McClintock BT, Pilgrim KL, Schwartz MK, Oli MK. Multi-generational benefits of genetic rescue. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17519. [PMID: 39080286 PMCID: PMC11289468 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67033-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic rescue-an increase in population fitness following the introduction of new alleles-has been proven to ameliorate inbreeding depression in small, isolated populations, yet is rarely applied as a conservation tool. A lingering question regarding genetic rescue in wildlife conservation is how long beneficial effects persist in admixed populations. Using data collected over 40 years from 1192 endangered Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) across nine generations, we show that the experimental genetic rescue implemented in 1995-via the release of eight female pumas from Texas-alleviated morphological, genetic, and demographic correlates of inbreeding depression, subsequently preventing extirpation of the population. We present unequivocal evidence, for the first time in any terrestrial vertebrate, that genetic and phenotypic benefits of genetic rescue remain in this population after five generations of admixture, which helped increase panther abundance (> fivefold) and genetic effective population size (> 20-fold). Additionally, even with extensive admixture, microsatellite allele frequencies in the population continue to support the distinctness of Florida panthers from other North American puma populations, including Texas. Although threats including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and infectious diseases are challenges to many imperiled populations, our results suggest genetic rescue can serve as an effective, multi-generational tool for conservation of small, isolated populations facing extinction from inbreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dave P Onorato
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 298 Sabal Palm Rd, Naples, FL, 34114, USA.
| | - Mark W Cunningham
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
| | - Mark Lotz
- Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Naples, FL, 34114, USA
| | - Marc Criffield
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 298 Sabal Palm Rd, Naples, FL, 34114, USA
| | - David Shindle
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Ecological Services Field Office, Immokalee, FL, 34142, USA
| | - Annette Johnson
- Big Cypress National Preserve, National Park Service, Ochopee, FL, 34141, USA
| | - Bambi C F Clemons
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
| | - Colin P Shea
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA
| | | | - Warren E Johnson
- Department of Biology, Loyola University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21210, USA
| | - Brett T McClintock
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA
| | - Kristine L Pilgrim
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
| | - Michael K Schwartz
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
| | - Madan K Oli
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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4
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Garrido-Bautista J, Comas M, Jowers MJ, Smith S, Penn DJ, Bakkali M, Moreno-Rueda G. Fine-scale genetic structure and phenotypic divergence of a passerine bird population inhabiting a continuous Mediterranean woodland. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240601. [PMID: 39253402 PMCID: PMC11382889 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Genetic differentiation between populations inhabiting ecologically different habitats might appear because of limited dispersal and gene flow, which may lead to patterns of phenotypic divergence and local adaptation. In this study, we use dispersal, genotypic (24 microsatellite loci) and phenotypic (body size and clutch size) data to analyse patterns of genetic structuring and phenotypic divergence in a blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) population inhabiting a continuous and heterogeneous woodland along a valley. The two slopes of the valley differ in their forest formations and environmental conditions. Findings showed that most blue tits reproduced within their natal slope. Accordingly, microsatellite analyses revealed that populations of blue tits established in the two slopes show subtle genetic differentiation. The two genetic populations diverged in clutch size, exceeding the level of differentiation expected based on genetic drift, hence suggesting divergent selection (or other processes promoting divergence) on this life-history trait. Our findings reveal that restricted dispersal and spatial heterogeneity may lead to genetic differentiation among bird populations at a surprisingly small scale. In this respect, it is worth highlighting that such differentiation occurs for an organism with high dispersal capacity and within a continuous woodland. Moreover, we show that small-scale ecological differences, together with limited gene flow, can result in selection favouring different phenotypes even within the same continuum population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mar Comas
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
| | - Michael J Jowers
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain
| | - Steve Smith
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna 1160, Austria
| | - Dustin J Penn
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna 1160, Austria
| | - Mohammed Bakkali
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain
| | - Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
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5
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Fabbri MC, Tiezzi F, Crovetti A, Maltecca C, Bozzi R. Investigation of cosmopolitan and local Italian beef cattle breeds uncover common patterns of heterozygosity. Animal 2024; 18:101142. [PMID: 38636149 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The analysis of livestock heterozygosity is less common compared to the study of homozygous patterns. Heterozygous-Rich Regions (HRRs) may harbor significant loci for functional traits such as immune response, survival rate, and fertility. For this reason, this study was conducted to investigate and characterize the heterozygosity patterns of four beef cattle breeds, which included two cosmopolitan breeds (Limousine and Charolaise) and two local breeds (Sarda and Sardo Bruna). Our analysis identified regions with a high degree of heterozygosity using a consecutive runs approach, the Tajima D test, nucleotide diversity estimation, and Hardy Weinberg equilibrium test. These regions exhibited recurrent heterozygosity peaks and were consistently found on specific chromosomes across all breeds, specifically autosomes 15, 16, 20, and 23. The cosmopolitan and Sardo Bruna breeds also displayed peaks on autosomes 2 and 21, respectively. Thirty-five top runs shared by more than 25% of the populations were identified. These genomic fragments encompassed 18 genes, two of which are directly linked to male fertility, while four are associated with lactation. Two other genes play roles in survival and immune response. Our study also detected a region related to growth and carcass traits in Limousine breed. Our analysis of heterozygosity-rich regions revealed particular segments of the cattle genome linked to various functional traits. It appears that balancing selection is occurring in specific regions within the four examined breeds, and unexpectedly, they are common across cosmopolitan and local breeds. The genes identified hold potential for applications in breeding programs and conservation studies to investigate the phenotypes associated with these heterozygous genotypes. In addition, Tajima D test, Nucleotide diversity, and Hardy Weinberg equilibrium test confirmed the presence of heterozygous fragments found with Heterozygous-Rich Regions analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Fabbri
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
| | - F Tiezzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - A Crovetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - C Maltecca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy; Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States
| | - R Bozzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
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6
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Vandergast AG, Kus BE, Smith JG, Mitelberg A. Recent declines in genetic diversity with limited dispersal among coastal cactus wren populations in San Diego County, California. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amy G. Vandergast
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey San Diego California USA
| | - Barbara E. Kus
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey San Diego California USA
| | - Julia G. Smith
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey San Diego California USA
| | - Anna Mitelberg
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey San Diego California USA
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8
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Velasco AC, Ferrer ES, Sanz JJ. Conspecific aggression strategies are conditioned by environmental, social and intrinsic variables in breeding blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus. BEHAVIOUR 2021. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-bja10111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Territorial behaviour arises as a strategy of ensuring individuals’ access to a variety of potentially limiting resources. While aggressiveness is a well-studied widespread trait across taxa, the mechanisms that allow for a range of aggressive phenotypes to coexist in the wild remains unclear. In this study, we analyse environmental, social and intrinsic variables that can modulate the expression of different strategies of male–male aggressiveness. Furthermore, through network analysis we explore the role of this trait in the establishment of territories during the breeding season as the intensity of different aggressiveness strategies may limit or grant access to resources. Simulating territorial intrusions during the early incubation period, we assessed the aggressiveness of breeding male blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). We defined three types of conspecific aggressiveness (nonconfrontational intimidating, nonconfrontational cautious and confrontational) and analysed the effect of habitat structure, territory quality, presence of other breeding species and male condition on the type and intensity of the aggressive display. The results obtained suggest that yearling males rely on intimidating behaviour more than older males, that perform more cautious displays. Furthermore, smaller and heavier males opted for confrontational strategies. The density and nature of neighbours, as well as the territory quality and the habitat structure, also conditioned the intensity and type of display. Surprisingly, the network analysis revealed that the intensity of male–male aggressive displays did not condition the establishment of breeding territories. Our results suggest that aggressiveness is a context-specific trait shaped by a complex array of environmental and intrinsic parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adara C. Velasco
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC; Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva), Madrid, Spain
| | - Esperanza S. Ferrer
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC; Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan José Sanz
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC; Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva), Madrid, Spain
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Bizarria Dos Santos W, Pimenta Schettini G, Fonseca MG, Pereira GL, Loyola Chardulo LA, Rodrigues Machado Neto O, Baldassini WA, Nunes de Oliveira H, Abdallah Curi R. Fine-scale estimation of inbreeding rates, runs of homozygosity and genome-wide heterozygosity levels in the Mangalarga Marchador horse breed. J Anim Breed Genet 2021; 138:161-173. [PMID: 32949478 DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
With the availability of high-density SNP panels and the establishment of approaches for characterizing homozygosity and heterozygosity sites, it is possible to access fine-scale information regarding genomes, providing more than just comparisons of different inbreeding coefficients. This is the first study that seeks to access such information for the Mangalarga Marchador (MM) horse breed on a genomic scale. To this end, we aimed to assess inbreeding levels using different coefficients, as well as to characterize homozygous and heterozygous runs in the population. Using Axiom ® Equine Genotyping Array-670k SNP (Thermo Fisher), 192 horses were genotyped. Our results showed different estimates: inbreeding from genomic coefficients (FROH ) = 0.16; pedigree-based (FPED ) = 0.008; and a method based on excess homozygosity (FHOM ) = 0.010. The correlations between the inbreeding coefficients were low to moderate, and some comparisons showed negative correlations, being practically null. In total, 85,295 runs of homozygosity (ROH) and 10,016 runs of heterozygosity (ROHet) were characterized for the 31 horse autosomal chromosomes. The class with the highest percentage of ROH was 0-2 Mbps, with 92.78% of the observations. In the ROHet results, only the 0-2 class presented observations, with chromosome 11 highlighted in a region with high genetic variability. Three regions from the ROHet analyses showed genes with known functions: tripartite motif-containing 37 (TRIM37), protein phosphatase, Mg2+ /Mn2+ dependent 1E (PPM1E) and carbonic anhydrase 10 (CA10). Therefore, our findings suggest moderate inbreeding, possibly attributed to breed formation, annulling possible recent inbreeding. Furthermore, regions with high variability in the MM genome were identified (ROHet), associated with the recent selection and important events in the development and performance of MM horses over generations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gustavo Pimenta Schettini
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV), São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | | | - Guilherme Luis Pereira
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Luis Artur Loyola Chardulo
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, Brazil
| | | | - Welder Angelo Baldassini
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Henrique Nunes de Oliveira
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV), São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Rogério Abdallah Curi
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, Brazil
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10
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Botero-Delgadillo E, Quirici V, Vásquez RA, Kempenaers B. Heterozygosity-Fitness Correlations in a Continental Island Population of Thorn-Tailed Rayadito. J Hered 2020; 111:628-639. [PMID: 33277658 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esaa056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs) have been used to monitor the effects of inbreeding in threatened populations. HFCs can also be useful to investigate the potential effects of inbreeding in isolated relict populations of long-term persistence and to better understand the role of inbreeding and outbreeding as drivers of changes in genetic diversity. We studied a continental island population of thorn-tailed rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) inhabiting the relict forest of Fray Jorge National Park, north-central Chile. This population has experienced a long-term, gradual process of isolation since the end of the Tertiary. Using 10 years of field data in combination with molecular techniques, we tested for HFCs to assess the importance of inbreeding depression. If inbreeding depression is important, we predict a positive relationship between individual heterozygosity and fitness-related traits. We genotyped 183 individuals at 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci and used 7 measures of reproductive success and estimates of apparent survival to calculate HFCs. We found weak to moderate statistical support (P-values between 0.05 and 0.01) for a linear effect of female multi-locus heterozygosity (MLH) on clutch size and nonlinear effects on laying date and fledging success. While more heterozygous females laid smaller clutches, nonlinear effects indicated that females with intermediate values of MLH started laying earlier and had higher fledging success. We found no evidence for effects of MLH on annual fecundity or on apparent survival. Our results along with the long-term demographic stability of the study population contradict the hypothesis that inbreeding depression occurs in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Botero-Delgadillo
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Verónica Quirici
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de investigación para la sustentabilidad, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A Vásquez
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bart Kempenaers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
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11
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Botero-Delgadillo E, Gilsenan C, Mueller JC, Kempenaers B. Negative effects of individual heterozygosity on reproductive success in a wild bird population. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3196-3216. [PMID: 32668071 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary consequences of individual genetic diversity are frequently studied by assessing heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs). The prevalence of positive and negative HFCs and the predominance of general versus local effects in wild populations are far from understood, partly because comprehensive studies testing for both inbreeding and outbreeding depression are lacking. We studied a genetically diverse population of blue tits in southern Germany using a genome-wide set of 87 microsatellites to investigate the relationship between proxies of reproductive success and measures of multilocus and single-locus individual heterozygosity (MLH and SLH). We used complimentary measures of MLH and partitioned markers into functional categories according to their position in the blue tit genome. HFCs based on MLH were consistently negative for functional loci, whereas correlations were rather inconsistent for loci found in nonfunctional areas of the genome. Clutch size was the only reproductive variable showing a general effect. We found evidence for local effects for three measures of reproductive success: arrival date at the breeding site, the probability of breeding at the study site and male reproductive success. For these, we observed consistent, and relatively strong, negative effects at one functional locus. Remarkably, this marker had a similar effect in another blue tit population from Austria (~400 km to the east). We suggest that a genetic local effect on timing of arrival might be responsible for most negative HFCs detected, with carry-over effects on other reproductive traits. This effect could reflect individual differences in the distance between overwintering areas and breeding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Botero-Delgadillo
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Carol Gilsenan
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Jakob C Mueller
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Bart Kempenaers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Plank Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
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12
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Arct A, Drobniak SM, Mellinger S, Gustafsson L, Cichoń M. Parental genetic similarity and offspring performance in blue tits in relation to brood size manipulation. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:10085-10091. [PMID: 31624539 PMCID: PMC6787802 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In birds, as in many other taxa, higher genetic similarity of mates has long been known to reduce offspring fitness. To date, the majority of avian studies have focused on examination whether the genetic similarity of social mates predicts hatching success. Yet, increased genetic similarity of mates may also reduce offspring fitness during later life stages, including the nestling period and beyond. Here, we investigated whether parental genetic similarity influences offspring performance using data from free-living blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) collected across three breeding seasons. Additionally, we tested whether brood size manipulation affects the magnitude and direction of the relationship between genetic similarity of mates and offspring performance. Sixteen microsatellite markers were used to measure genetic similarity between biological parents. We found that the genetic similarity of parents negatively affects offspring immune response and this effect was independent of the experimental brood size manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Arct
- Institute of Environmental SciencesJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
| | | | | | - Lars Gustafsson
- Department of Animal Ecology/Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology CentreUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Mariusz Cichoń
- Institute of Environmental SciencesJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
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Litzke V, Ottensmann M, Forcada J, Heitzmann L, Ivan Hoffman J. Heterozygosity at neutral and immune loci is not associated with neonatal mortality due to microbial infection in Antarctic fur seals. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:7985-7996. [PMID: 31380066 PMCID: PMC6662382 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have reported correlations between the heterozygosity of genetic markers and fitness. These heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs) play a central role in evolutionary and conservation biology, yet their mechanistic basis remains open to debate. For example, fitness associations have been widely reported at both neutral and functional loci, yet few studies have directly compared the two, making it difficult to gauge the relative contributions of genome-wide inbreeding and specific functional genes to fitness. Here, we compared the effects of neutral and immune gene heterozygosity on death from bacterial infection in Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) pups. We specifically developed a panel of 13 microsatellites from expressed immune genes and genotyped these together with 48 neutral loci in 234 individuals, comprising 39 pups that were classified at necropsy as having most likely died of bacterial infection together with a five times larger matched sample of healthy surviving pups. Identity disequilibrium quantified from the neutral markers was positive and significant, indicative of variance in inbreeding within the study population. However, multilocus heterozygosity did not differ significantly between healthy and infected pups at either class of marker, and little evidence was found for fitness associations at individual loci. These results support a previous study of Antarctic fur seals that found no effects of heterozygosity at nine neutral microsatellites on neonatal survival and thereby help to refine our understanding of how HFCs vary across the life cycle. Given that nonsignificant HFCs are underreported in the literature, we also hope that our study will contribute toward a more balanced understanding of the wider importance of this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivienne Litzke
- Department of Animal BehaviourBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | | | | | | | - Joseph Ivan Hoffman
- Department of Animal BehaviourBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
- British Antarctic Survey, High CrossCambridgeUK
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Bichet C, Vedder O, Sauer‐Gürth H, Becker PH, Wink M, Bouwhuis S. Contrasting heterozygosity‐fitness correlations across life in a long‐lived seabird. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:671-685. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Oscar Vedder
- Institute of Avian Research Wilhelmshaven Germany
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Hedwig Sauer‐Gürth
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
| | | | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
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15
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Phillips KP, Jorgensen TH, Jolliffe KG, Richardson DS. Evidence of opposing fitness effects of parental heterozygosity and relatedness in a critically endangered marine turtle? J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1953-1965. [PMID: 28787533 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
How individual genetic variability relates to fitness is important in understanding evolution and the processes affecting populations of conservation concern. Heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs) have been widely used to study this link in wild populations, where key parameters that affect both variability and fitness, such as inbreeding, can be difficult to measure. We used estimates of parental heterozygosity and genetic similarity ('relatedness') derived from 32 microsatellite markers to explore the relationship between genetic variability and fitness in a population of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata. We found no effect of maternal MLH (multilocus heterozygosity) on clutch size or egg success rate, and no single-locus effects. However, we found effects of paternal MLH and parental relatedness on egg success rate that interacted in a way that may result in both positive and negative effects of genetic variability. Multicollinearity in these tests was within safe limits, and null simulations suggested that the effect was not an artefact of using paternal genotypes reconstructed from large samples of offspring. Our results could imply a tension between inbreeding and outbreeding depression in this system, which is biologically feasible in turtles: female-biased natal philopatry may elevate inbreeding risk and local adaptation, and both processes may be disrupted by male-biased dispersal. Although this conclusion should be treated with caution due to a lack of significant identity disequilibrium, our study shows the importance of considering both positive and negative effects when assessing how variation in genetic variability affects fitness in wild systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- K P Phillips
- School of Biological Sciences, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility (NBAF), Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Evolutionary Biology Group, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - T H Jorgensen
- School of Biological Sciences, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - K G Jolliffe
- Victoria, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles.,Drie Kuilen Private Nature Reserve, Breede River District, South Africa
| | - D S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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16
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Heterozygosity–fitness correlations in blue tit nestlings (Cyanistis caeruleus) under contrasting rearing conditions. Evol Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-017-9911-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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17
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Ferrer ES, García-Navas V, Sanz JJ, Ortego J. The strength of the association between heterozygosity and probability of interannual local recruitment increases with environmental harshness in blue tits. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8857-8869. [PMID: 28035274 PMCID: PMC5192745 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The extent of inbreeding depression and the magnitude of heterozygosity–fitness correlations (HFC) have been suggested to depend on the environmental context in which they are assayed, but little evidence is available for wild populations. We combine extensive molecular and capture–mark–recapture data from a blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) population to (1) analyze the relationship between heterozygosity and probability of interannual adult local recruitment and (2) test whether environmental stress imposed by physiologically suboptimal temperatures and rainfall influence the magnitude of HFC. To address these questions, we used two different arrays of microsatellite markers: 14 loci classified as neutral and 12 loci classified as putatively functional. We found significant relationships between heterozygosity and probability of interannual local recruitment that were most likely explained by variation in genomewide heterozygosity. The strength of the association between heterozygosity and probability of interannual local recruitment was positively associated with annual accumulated precipitation. Annual mean heterozygosity increased over time, which may have resulted from an overall positive selection on heterozygosity over the course of the study period. Finally, neutral and putatively functional loci showed similar trends, but the former had stronger effect sizes and seemed to better reflect genomewide heterozygosity. Overall, our results show that HFC can be context dependent, emphasizing the need to consider the role of environmental heterogeneity as a key factor when exploring the consequences of individual genetic diversity on fitness in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza S Ferrer
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM) Ciudad Real Spain; Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha Toledo Spain
| | - Vicente García-Navas
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM) Ciudad Real Spain; Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha Toledo Spain; Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland; Department of Integrative Ecology Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC) Seville Spain
| | - Juan José Sanz
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC) Madrid Spain
| | - Joaquín Ortego
- Department of Integrative Ecology Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC) Seville Spain
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