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Johnson NA, Henderson AR, Jones JW, Beaver CE, Ahlstedt SA, Dinkins GR, Eckert NL, Endries MJ, Garner JT, Harris JL, Hartfield PD, Hubbs DW, Lane TW, McGregor MA, Moles KR, Morrison CL, Wagner MD, Williams JD, Smith CH. Glacial vicariance and secondary contact shape demographic histories in a freshwater mussel species complex. J Hered 2024; 115:72-85. [PMID: 38015800 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the mechanisms influencing the distribution of genetic variation in aquatic species can be difficult due to the dynamic nature of hydrological landscapes. In North America's Central Highlands, a complex history of glacial dynamics, long-term isolation, and secondary contact have shaped genetic variation in aquatic species. Although the effects of glacial history have been demonstrated in many taxa, responses are often lineage- or species-specific and driven by organismal ecology. In this study, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of a freshwater mussel species complex using a suite of mitochondrial and nuclear loci to resolve taxonomic and demographic uncertainties. Our findings do not support Pleurobema rubrum as a valid species, which is proposed for listing as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. We synonymize P. rubrum under Pleurobema sintoxia-a common and widespread species found throughout the Mississippi River Basin. Further investigation of patterns of genetic variation in P. sintoxia identified a complex demographic history, including ancestral vicariance and secondary contact, within the Eastern Highlands. We hypothesize these patterns were shaped by ancestral vicariance driven by the formation of Lake Green and subsequent secondary contact after the last glacial maximum. Our inference aligns with demographic histories observed in other aquatic taxa in the region and mirrors patterns of genetic variation of a freshwater fish species (Erimystax dissimilis) confirmed to serve as a parasitic larval host for P. sintoxia. Our findings directly link species ecology to observed patterns of genetic variation and may have significant implications for future conservation and recovery actions of freshwater mussels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Johnson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Andrew R Henderson
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, Asheville, NC, United States
| | - Jess W Jones
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Caitlin E Beaver
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Steven A Ahlstedt
- McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Gerald R Dinkins
- McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Nathan L Eckert
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Neosho National Fish Hatchery, Neosho, MO, United States
| | - Mark J Endries
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, Asheville, NC, United States
| | - Jeffrey T Garner
- Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Florence, AL, United States
| | - John L Harris
- Arkansas State University Museum of Zoology, Jonesboro, AR, United States
| | - Paul D Hartfield
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Don W Hubbs
- DJH Environmental Services, Camden, TN, United States
| | - Timothy W Lane
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Marion, VA, United States
| | - Monte A McGregor
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Frankfort, KY, United States
| | - Kendall R Moles
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Benton, AR, United States
| | - Cheryl L Morrison
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, United States
| | - Matthew D Wagner
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - James D Williams
- Florida Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Chase H Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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Smith CH, Mejia-Trujillo R, Breton S, Pinto BJ, Kirkpatrick M, Havird JC. Mitonuclear Sex Determination? Empirical Evidence from Bivalves. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad240. [PMID: 37935058 PMCID: PMC10653589 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic elements encoded in nuclear DNA determine the sex of an individual in many animals. In certain bivalve lineages that possess doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been hypothesized to contribute to sex determination. In these cases, females transmit a female mtDNA to all offspring, while male mtDNA (M mtDNA) is transmitted only from fathers to sons. Because M mtDNA is inherited in the same way as Y chromosomes, it has been hypothesized that mtDNA may be responsible for sex determination. However, the role of mitochondrial and nuclear genes in sex determination has yet to be validated in DUI bivalves. In this study, we used DNA, RNA, and mitochondrial short noncoding RNA (sncRNA) sequencing to explore the role of mitochondrial and nuclear elements in the sexual development pathway of the freshwater mussel Potamilus streckersoni (Bivalvia: Unionida). We found that the M mtDNA sheds a sncRNA partially within a male-specific mitochondrial gene that targets a pathway hypothesized to be involved in female development and mitophagy. RNA-seq confirmed the gene target was significantly upregulated in females, supporting a direct role of mitochondrial sncRNAs in gene silencing. These findings support the hypothesis that M mtDNA inhibits female development. Genome-wide patterns of genetic differentiation and heterozygosity did not support a nuclear sex-determining region, although we cannot reject that nuclear factors are involved with sex determination. Our results provide further evidence that mitochondrial loci contribute to diverse, nonrespiratory functions and additional insights into an unorthodox sex-determining system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase H Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - Sophie Breton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Brendan J Pinto
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Mark Kirkpatrick
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Justin C Havird
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Smith CH, Mejia-Trujillo R, Breton S, Pinto BJ, Kirkpatrick M, Havird JC. Mitonuclear sex determination? Empirical evidence from bivalves. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.05.547839. [PMID: 37461691 PMCID: PMC10349986 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.05.547839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Genetic elements encoded in nuclear DNA determine the sex of an individual in many animals. In bivalves, however, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been hypothesized to contribute to sex determination in lineages that possess doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI). In these cases, females transmit a female mtDNA (F mtDNA) to all offspring, while male mtDNA (M mtDNA) is transmitted only from fathers to sons. Because M mtDNA is inherited in the same way as Y chromosomes, it has been hypothesized that mtDNA may be responsible for sex determination. However, the role of mitochondrial and nuclear genes in sex determination has yet to be validated in DUI bivalves. In this study, we used DNA, RNA, and mitochondrial short non-coding RNA (sncRNA) sequencing to explore the role of mitochondrial and nuclear elements in the sexual development pathway of the freshwater mussel Potamilus streckersoni (Bivalvia: Unionida). We found that the M mtDNA shed a sncRNA partially within a male-specific mitochondrial gene that targeted pathways hypothesized to be involved in female development and mitophagy. RNA-seq confirmed the gene target was significantly upregulated in females, supporting a direct role of mitochondrial sncRNAs in gene silencing. These findings support the hypothesis that M mtDNA inhibits female development. Genome-wide patterns of genetic differentiation and heterozygosity did not support a nuclear sex determining region, although we cannot reject that nuclear factors are involved with sex determination. Our results provide further evidence that mitochondrial loci contribute to diverse, non-respiratory functions and provide a first glimpse into an unorthodox sex determining system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase H. Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - Sophie Breton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Brendan J. Pinto
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA
- Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI USA
| | - Mark Kirkpatrick
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Justin C. Havird
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Ferrante JA, Smith CH, Thompson LM, Hunter ME. Genome-wide SNP analysis of three moose subspecies at the southern range limit in the contiguous United States. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01402-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractGenome-wide evaluations of genetic diversity and population structure are important for informing management and conservation of trailing-edge populations. North American moose (Alces alces) are declining along portions of the southern edge of their range due to disease, species interactions, and marginal habitat, all of which may be exacerbated by climate change. We employed a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach in an effort to collect baseline information on the genetic variation of moose inhabiting the species’ southern range periphery in the contiguous United States. We identified 1920 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 155 moose representing three subspecies from five states: A. a. americana (New Hampshire), A. a. andersoni (Minnesota), and A. a. shirasi (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming). Molecular analyses supported three geographically isolated clusters, congruent with currently recognized subspecies. Additionally, while moderately low genetic diversity was observed, there was little evidence of inbreeding. Results also indicated > 20% shared ancestry proportions between A. a. shirasi samples from northern Montana and A. a. andersoni samples from Minnesota, indicating a putative hybrid zone warranting further investigation. GBS has proven to be a simple and effective method for genome-wide SNP discovery in moose and provides robust data for informing herd management and conservation priorities. With increasing disease, predation, and climate related pressure on range edge moose populations in the United States, the use of SNP data to identify gene flow between subspecies may prove a powerful tool for moose management and recovery, particularly if hybrid moose are more able to adapt.
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