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Bonassin L, Pârvulescu L, Boštjančić LL, Francesconi C, Paetsch J, Rutz C, Lecompte O, Theissinger K. Genomic insights into the conservation status of the Idle Crayfish Austropotamobius bihariensis Pârvulescu, 2019: low genetic diversity in the endemic crayfish species of the Apuseni Mountains. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:78. [PMID: 38862896 PMCID: PMC11165767 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02268-5] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems is declining due to an increased anthropogenic footprint. Freshwater crayfish are keystone species in freshwater ecosystems and play a crucial role in shaping the structure and function of their habitats. The Idle Crayfish Austropotamobius bihariensis is a native European species with a narrow distribution range, endemic to the Apuseni Mountains (Romania). Although its area is small, the populations are anthropogenically fragmented. In this context, the assessment of its conservation status is timely. RESULTS Using a reduced representation sequencing approach, we identified 4875 genomic SNPs from individuals belonging to 13 populations across the species distribution range. Subsequent population genomic analyses highlighted low heterozygosity levels, low number of private alleles and small effective population size. Our structuring analyses revealed that the genomic similarity of the populations is conserved within the river basins. CONCLUSION Genomic SNPs represented excellent tools to gain insights into intraspecific genomic diversity and population structure of the Idle Crayfish. Our study highlighted that the analysed populations are at risk due to their limited genetic diversity, which makes them extremely vulnerable to environmental alterations. Thus, our results emphasize the need for conservation measures and can be used as a baseline to establish species management programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Bonassin
- Department of Computer Science, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Rue Eugène Boeckel 1, 67000, ICube, Strasbourg, France
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Molecular Ecology, Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Lucian Pârvulescu
- Department of Biology-Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, West University of Timisoara, Str. Pestalozzi 16A, 300115, Timisoara, Romania.
- Crayfish Research Centre, Institute for Advanced Environmental Research, West University of Timisoara, Oituz 4, 300086, Timisoara, Romania.
| | - Ljudevit Luka Boštjančić
- Department of Computer Science, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Rue Eugène Boeckel 1, 67000, ICube, Strasbourg, France
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Molecular Ecology, Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Caterina Francesconi
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Molecular Ecology, Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829, Landau, Germany
| | - Judith Paetsch
- Department of Biogeography, University of Trier, Behringstraße 21, D-54296, Geozentrum, Trier, Germany
| | - Christelle Rutz
- Department of Computer Science, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Rue Eugène Boeckel 1, 67000, ICube, Strasbourg, France
| | - Odile Lecompte
- Department of Computer Science, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Rue Eugène Boeckel 1, 67000, ICube, Strasbourg, France
| | - Kathrin Theissinger
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, D-35392, Giessen, Germany
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Çilingir FG, A'Bear L, Hansen D, Davis LR, Bunbury N, Ozgul A, Croll D, Grossen C. Chromosome-level genome assembly for the Aldabra giant tortoise enables insights into the genetic health of a threatened population. Gigascience 2022; 11:6756429. [PMID: 36251273 PMCID: PMC9553416 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is one of only two giant tortoise species left in the world. The species is endemic to Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles and is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (v2.3) due to its limited distribution and threats posed by climate change. Genomic resources for A. gigantea are lacking, hampering conservation efforts for both wild and ex situpopulations. A high-quality genome would also open avenues to investigate the genetic basis of the species’ exceptionally long life span. Findings We produced the first chromosome-level de novo genome assembly of A. gigantea using PacBio High-Fidelity sequencing and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture. We produced a 2.37-Gbp assembly with a scaffold N50 of 148.6 Mbp and a resolution into 26 chromosomes. RNA sequencing–assisted gene model prediction identified 23,953 protein-coding genes and 1.1 Gbp of repetitive sequences. Synteny analyses among turtle genomes revealed high levels of chromosomal collinearity even among distantly related taxa. To assess the utility of the high-quality assembly for species conservation, we performed a low-coverage resequencing of 30 individuals from wild populations and two zoo individuals. Our genome-wide population structure analyses detected genetic population structure in the wild and identified the most likely origin of the zoo-housed individuals. We further identified putatively deleterious mutations to be monitored. Conclusions We establish a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for A. gigantea and one of the most complete turtle genomes available. We show that low-coverage whole-genome resequencing, for which alignment to the reference genome is a necessity, is a powerful tool to assess the population structure of the wild population and reveal the geographic origins of ex situ individuals relevant for genetic diversity management and rewilding efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Gözde Çilingir
- Correspondence address. F. Gözde Çilingir, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland. E-mail:
| | - Luke A'Bear
- Seychelles Islands Foundation, Victoria, Republic of Seychelles
| | - Dennis Hansen
- Zoological Museum, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland,Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance, Ile Cerf, Victoria, Republic of Seychelles
| | | | - Nancy Bunbury
- Seychelles Islands Foundation, Victoria, Republic of Seychelles,Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Croll
- Correspondence address. Christine Grossen, Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland. E-mail:
| | - Christine Grossen
- Correspondence address. Daniel Croll, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel 2000, Switzerland. E-mail:
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