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Németh A, Mizsei E, Laczkó L, Czabán D, Hegyeli Z, Lengyel S, Csorba G, Sramkó G. Evolutionary history and systematics of European blind mole rats (Rodentia: Spalacidae: Nannospalax): Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation in a puzzling group. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 190:107958. [PMID: 37914032 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107958] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Species delimitation is a powerful approach to assist taxonomic decisions in challenging taxa where species boundaries are hard to establish. European taxa of the blind mole rats (genus Nannospalax) display small morphological differences and complex chromosomal evolution at a shallow evolutionary divergence level. Previous analyses led to the recognition of 25 'forms' in their distribution area. We provide a comprehensive framework to improve knowledge on the evolutionary history and revise the taxonomy of European blind mole rats based on samples from all but three of the 25 forms. We sequenced two nuclear-encoded genetic regions and the whole mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for phylogenetic tree reconstructions using concatenation and coalescence-based species-tree estimations. The phylogenetic analyses confirmed that Aegean N. insularis belongs to N. superspecies xanthodon, and that it represents the second known species of this superspecies in Europe. Mainland taxa reached Europe from Asia Minor in two colonisation events corresponding to two superspecies-level taxa: N. superspecies monticola (taxon established herewith) reached Europe c. 2.1 million years ago (Mya) and was followed by N. superspecies leucodon (re-defined herewith) c. 1.5 Mya. Species delimitation allowed the clarification of the taxonomic contents of the above superspecies. N. superspecies monticola contains three species geographically confined to the western periphery of the distribution of blind mole rats, whereas N. superspecies leucodon is more speciose with six species and several additional subspecies. The observed geographic pattern hints at a robust peripatric speciation process and rapid chromosomal evolution. The present treatment is thus regarded as the minimum taxonomic content of each lineage, which can be further refined based on other sources of information such as karyological traits, crossbreeding experiments, etc. The species delimitation models also allowed the recognition of a hitherto unnamed blind mole rat taxon from Albania, described here as a new subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Németh
- Department of Nature Conservation, Zoology and Game Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi u. 138, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; BirdLife Hungary - Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society, Költő u. 21, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edvárd Mizsei
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; DRI Conservation Ecology Research Group, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Bem tér 18/C, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Levente Laczkó
- Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; HUN-REN-UD Conservation Biology Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Zsolt Hegyeli
- Milvus Group Bird and Nature Protection Association, Crinului St. 22, 540343 Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Szabolcs Lengyel
- DRI Conservation Ecology Research Group, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Bem tér 18/C, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gábor Csorba
- Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross u. 13, H-1088 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Sramkó
- Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; HUN-REN-UD Conservation Biology Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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The European Ground Squirrel’s Genetic Diversity in Its Ancestral Land: Landscape Insights and Conservation Implications. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15030365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The European ground squirrel is an endangered rodent whose populations are declining throughout its range. Only in Bulgaria, the genetic hotspot of the species, are some abundant populations still present. We employed 12 microsatellite loci in ten Bulgarian populations to look at population structure, gene flow and recent bottlenecks. We found that the populations are in good condition in terms of heterozygosity, where values ranged from 0.55 to 0.78. However, the inbreeding index (FIS) was significant for most populations. A recent bottleneck was detected in only one population. Based on Bayesian clustering methods, the populations in Bulgaria were attributed to two groups, northern and southern, with admixture in the northern one. The AMOVA test between these groups showed no differentiation in genetic diversity. The mean value of FST was 0.184, which shows strong diversification among all populations. Hence, gene flow is probably limited. All these results indicate that Bulgaria is the main area to focus the efforts for conservation of the species by ensuring that the complex and rich genetic structure of Bulgarian populations is preserved.
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European Ground Squirrels at the Edge: Current Distribution Status and Anticipated Impact of Climate on Europe’s Southernmost Population. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11020301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is an endangered semifossorial small mammal of grassland/agricultural ecosystems. In the last few decades, the species’ population has declined throughout its range in Europe. The Greek populations represent the southernmost limit of the species’ range and are notably small, scattered, and located mainly in human-modified areas. The goal of the present research is to understand the environmental and anthropogenic variables associated with its distribution in the Mediterranean habitats, assess possible drivers of observed local extinctions, and propose conservation and land-use management actions in light of near-future climate change scenarios. We used presence records since 2000 across all known populations (107 colonies) and maximum entropy conditional probability models (MaxEnt) to calculate both the habitat suitability (bioclimatic variables) and habitat availability (anthropogenic/land-use variables) within the European ground squirrel’s historical range in northern Greece. We report a projected 39% to 94.3% decrease in habitat suitability by 2040–2060 due to climate change. Based on our findings, we provide guidance by proposing nascent conservation actions to protect the few existing colonies in Greece via improved land management practices and identify in situ climate refugia that could be prioritized as sites for future reintroductions.
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Distribution, Population Size, and Habitat Characteristics of the Endangered European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus, Rodentia, Mammalia) in Its Southernmost Range. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13158411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is an endangered species, endemic to Central and Southeastern Europe, inhabiting burrow colonies in grassland and agricultural ecosystems. In recent years, agricultural land-use changes and increased urbanization have largely contributed to a severe population decline across its range, particularly in its southernmost edge. Assessing the population and habitat status of this species is essential for prioritizing appropriate conservation actions. The present study aims to track population size changes and identify habitat characteristics of the species in Greece via a literature search, questionnaires, and fieldwork for assessing trends in population size as well as spatial K-means analysis for estimating its relation to specific habitat attributes. We found that both distribution size (grid number) and colony numbers of the species decreased in the last decades (by 62.4% and 74.6%, respectively). The remaining colonies are isolated and characterized by low density (mean = 7.4 ± 8.6 ind/ha) and low number of animals (mean = 13 ± 16 individuals). Most of the colonies are situated in lowlands and did not relate to specific habitat attributes. Habitat aspect and system productivity (NDVI) were the main factors contributing mostly to the clustering of the existing colonies. These results demonstrate that the species is confined to small, isolated anthropogenic habitats. Specific conservation actions such as population reinforcement, habitat improvement, and specific common agricultural policy measures could effectively improve agroecological zones that are suitable for the maintenance and protection of existing and potential habitats for populations of the species.
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Late Pleistocene Expansion of Small Murid Rodents across the Palearctic in Relation to the Past Environmental Changes. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050642. [PMID: 33925980 PMCID: PMC8145813 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the evolutionary history of the striped field mouse to identify factors that initiated its past demographic changes and to shed light on the causes of its current genetic structure and trans-Eurasian distribution. We sequenced mitochondrial cyt b from 184 individuals, obtained from 35 sites in central Europe and eastern Mongolia. We compared genetic analyses with previously published historical distribution models and data on environmental and climatic changes. The past demographic changes displayed similar population trends in the case of recently expanded clades C1 and C3, with the glacial (MIS 3–4) expansion and postglacial bottleneck preceding the recent expansion initiated in the late Holocene and were related to environmental changes during the upper Pleistocene and Holocene. The past demographic trends of the eastern Asian clade C3 were correlated with changes in sea level and the formation of new land bridges formed by the exposed sea shelf during the glaciations. These data were supported by reconstructed historical distribution models. The results of our genetic analyses, supported by the reconstruction of the historical spatial distributions of the distinct clades, confirm that over time the local populations mixed as a consequence of environmental and climatic changes resulting from cyclical glaciation and the interglacial period during the Pleistocene.
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Kondratenkov IA, Oparin ML, Sukhov SV, Oparina OS. Habitat Structure and Abundance Dynamics of Marmota bobak Müller, 1776 (Sciuridae, Mammalia) in the Saratov Region at the End of the 20th–Start of the 21st Centuries. BIOL BULL+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359020100313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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7
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The European ground squirrel increases diversity and structural complexity of grasslands in the Western Carpathians. MAMMAL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-017-0349-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Portanier E, Garel M, Devillard S, Marchand P, Andru J, Maillard D, Bourgoin G. Introduction history overrides social factors in explaining genetic structure of females in Mediterranean mouflon. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:9580-9591. [PMID: 29187991 PMCID: PMC5696436 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine‐scale spatial genetic structure of populations results from social and spatial behaviors of individuals such as sex‐biased dispersal and philopatry. However, the demographic history of a given population can override such socio‐spatial factors in shaping genetic variability when bottlenecks or founder events occurred in the population. Here, we investigated whether socio‐spatial organization determines the fine‐scale genetic structure for both sexes in a Mediterranean mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon × Ovis sp.) population in southern France 60 years after its introduction. Based on multilocus genotypes at 16 loci of microsatellite DNA (n = 230 individuals), we identified three genetic groups for females and two for males, and concurrently defined the same number of socio‐spatial units using both GPS‐collared individuals (n = 121) and visual resightings of marked individuals (n = 378). The socio‐spatial and genetic structures did not match, indicating that the former was not the main driver of the latter for both sexes. Beyond this structural mismatch, we found significant, yet low, genetic differentiation among female socio‐spatial groups, and no genetic differentiation in males, with this suggesting female philopatry and male‐biased gene flow, respectively. Despite spatial disconnection, females from the north of the study area were genetically closer to females from the south, as indicated by the spatial analysis of the genetic variability, and this pattern was in accordance with the common genetic origin of their founders. To conclude, more than 14 generations later, genetic signatures of first introduction are not only still detectable among females, but they also represent the main factor shaping their present‐time genetic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Portanier
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Université de Lyon Villeurbanne France.,Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France.,VetAgro Sup - Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon Université de Lyon Marcy l'Etoile France
| | - Mathieu Garel
- Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France
| | - Sébastien Devillard
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Université de Lyon Villeurbanne France
| | - Pascal Marchand
- Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France
| | - Julie Andru
- Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France.,VetAgro Sup - Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon Université de Lyon Marcy l'Etoile France
| | - Daniel Maillard
- Unité Faune de Montagne Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Juvignac France
| | - Gilles Bourgoin
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive CNRS Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Université de Lyon Villeurbanne France.,VetAgro Sup - Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon Université de Lyon Marcy l'Etoile France
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Černa Bolfíková B, Eliášová K, Loudová M, Kryštufek B, Lymberakis P, Sándor AD, Hulva P. Glacial allopatry vs. postglacial parapatry and peripatry: the case of hedgehogs. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3163. [PMID: 28462018 PMCID: PMC5407276 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although hedgehogs are well-known examples of postglacial recolonisation, the specific processes that shape their population structures have not been examined by detailed sampling and fast-evolving genetic markers in combination with model based clustering methods. This study aims to analyse the impacts of isolation within glacial refugia and of postglacial expansion on the population structure of the Northern White-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus). It also discusses the role of the processes at edges of species distribution in its evolutionary history. The maternally inherited mitochondrial control region and the bi-parentally inherited nuclear microsatellites were used to examine samples within the Central Europe, Balkan Peninsula and adjacent islands. Bayesian coalescent inference and neutrality tests proposed a recent increase in the population size. The most pronounced pattern of population structure involved differentiation of the insular populations in the Mediterranean Sea and the population within the contact zone with E. europaeus in Central Europe. An interspecies hybrid was detected for the first time in Central Europe. A low genetic diversity was observed in Crete, while the highest genetic distances among individuals were found in Romania. The recent population in the post-refugial area related to the Balkan Peninsula shows a complex pattern with pronounced subpopulations located mainly in the Pannonian Basin and at the Adriatic and Pontic coasts. Detailed analyses indicate that parapatry and peripatry may not be the only factors that limit range expansion, but also strong microevolutionary forces that may change the genetic structure of the species. Here we present evidence showing that population differentiation may occur not only during the glacial restriction of the range into the refugia, but also during the interglacial range expansion. Population differentiation at the Balkan Peninsula and adjacent regions could be ascribed to diversification in steppe/forest biomes and complicated geomorphology, including pronounced geographic barriers as Carpathians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Černa Bolfíková
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Eliášová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Zoology, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslava Loudová
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Petros Lymberakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Pavel Hulva
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
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10
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Minias P, Whittingham LA, Dunn PO. Coloniality and migration are related to selection on MHC genes in birds. Evolution 2016; 71:432-441. [PMID: 27921293 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a key role in pathogen recognition as a part of the vertebrate adaptive immune system. The great diversity of MHC genes in natural populations is maintained by different forms of balancing selection and its strength should correlate with the diversity of pathogens to which a population is exposed and the rate of exposure. Despite this prediction, little is known about how life-history characteristics affect selection at the MHC. Here, we examined whether the strength of balancing selection on MHC class II genes in birds (as measured with nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions, dN) was related to their social or migratory behavior, two life-history characteristics correlated with pathogen exposure. Our comparative analysis indicated that the rate of nonsynonymous substitutions was higher in colonial and migratory species than solitary and resident species, suggesting that the strength of balancing selection increases with coloniality and migratory status. These patterns could be attributed to: (1) elevated transmission rates of pathogens in species that breed in dense aggregations, or (2) exposure to a more diverse fauna of pathogens and parasites in migratory species. Our study suggests that differences in social structure and basic ecological traits influence MHC diversity in natural vertebrate populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Łódź, Poland
| | - Linda A Whittingham
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Peter O Dunn
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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11
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Ballingall KT, McIntyre A, Lin Z, Timmerman N, Matthysen E, Lurz PW, Melville L, Wallace A, Meredith AL, Romeo C, Wauters LA, Sainsbury AW, McInnes CJ. Limited diversity associated with duplicated class II MHC-DRB genes in the red squirrel population in the United Kingdom compared with continental Europe. CONSERV GENET 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-016-0852-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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12
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Matrosova VA, Rusin MY, Volodina EV, Proyavka SV, Savinetskaya LE, Shekarova ON, Rashevska HV, Volodin IA. Genetic and alarm call diversity across scattered populations of speckled ground squirrels (Spermophilus suslicus). Mamm Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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13
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Cobble KR, Califf KJ, Stone NE, Shuey MM, Birdsell DN, Colman RE, Schupp JM, Aziz M, Van Andel R, Rocke TE, Wagner DM, Busch JD. Genetic variation at the MHC DRB1 locus is similar across Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) colonies regardless of plague history. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2624-51. [PMID: 27066243 PMCID: PMC4798151 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis was introduced to North America around 1900 and leads to nearly 100% mortality in prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) colonies during epizootic events, which suggests this pathogen may exert a strong selective force. We characterized genetic diversity at an MHC class II locus (DRB1) in Gunnison's prairie dog (C. gunnisoni) and quantified population genetic structure at the DRB1 versus 12 microsatellite loci in three large Arizona colonies. Two colonies, Seligman (SE) and Espee Ranch (ES), have experienced multiple plague‐related die‐offs in recent years, whereas plague has never been documented at Aubrey Valley (AV). We found fairly low allelic diversity at the DRB1 locus, with one allele (DRB1*01) at high frequency (0.67–0.87) in all colonies. Two other DRB1 alleles appear to be trans‐species polymorphisms shared with the black‐tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus), indicating that these alleles have been maintained across evolutionary time frames. Estimates of genetic differentiation were generally lower at the MHC locus (FST = 0.033) than at microsatellite markers (FST = 0.098). The reduced differentiation at DRB1 may indicate that selection has been important for shaping variation at MHC loci, regardless of the presence or absence of plague in recent decades. However, genetic drift has probably also influenced the DRB1 locus because its level of differentiation was not different from that of microsatellites in an FST outlier analysis. We then compared specific MHC alleles to plague survivorship in 60 C. gunnisoni that had been experimentally infected with Y. pestis. We found that survival was greater in individuals that carried at least one copy of the most common allele (DRB1*01) compared to those that did not (60% vs. 20%). Although the sample sizes of these two groups were unbalanced, this result suggests the possibility that this MHC class II locus, or a nearby linked gene, could play a role in plague survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacy R Cobble
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics Northern Arizona University PO Box 4073 Flagstaff Arizona 86011 USA
| | - Katy J Califf
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics Northern Arizona University PO Box 4073 Flagstaff Arizona 86011 USA
| | - Nathan E Stone
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics Northern Arizona University PO Box 4073 Flagstaff Arizona 86011 USA
| | - Megan M Shuey
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics Northern Arizona University PO Box 4073 Flagstaff Arizona 86011 USA
| | - Dawn N Birdsell
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics Northern Arizona University PO Box 4073 Flagstaff Arizona 86011 USA
| | - Rebecca E Colman
- Translational Genomics Research Institute North 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd #106 Flagstaff Arizona 86001 USA
| | - James M Schupp
- Translational Genomics Research Institute North 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd #106 Flagstaff Arizona 86001 USA
| | - Maliha Aziz
- Translational Genomics Research Institute North 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd #106 Flagstaff Arizona 86001 USA
| | - Roger Van Andel
- University of California Berkeley MC 7150 Berkeley California 94720 USA
| | - Tonie E Rocke
- United States Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center 6006 Schroeder Road Madison Wisconsin 53711 USA
| | - David M Wagner
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics Northern Arizona University PO Box 4073 Flagstaff Arizona 86011 USA
| | - Joseph D Busch
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics Northern Arizona University PO Box 4073 Flagstaff Arizona 86011 USA
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Castellanos-Morales G, Ortega J, Castillo-Gámez RA, Sackett LC, Eguiarte LE. Genetic Variation and Structure in Contrasting Geographic Distributions: Widespread Versus Restricted Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (SubgenusCynomys). J Hered 2015; 106 Suppl 1:478-90. [DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esv021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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15
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Kohyama TI, Omote K, Nishida C, Takenaka T, Saito K, Fujimoto S, Masuda R. Spatial and temporal variation at major histocompatibility complex class IIB genes in the endangered Blakiston's fish owl. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2015; 1:13. [PMID: 26605058 PMCID: PMC4657285 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-015-0013-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Quantifying intraspecific genetic variation in functionally important genes, such as those of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), is important in the establishment of conservation plans for endangered species. The MHC genes play a crucial role in the vertebrate immune system and generally show high levels of diversity, which is likely due to pathogen-driven balancing selection. The endangered Blakiston's fish owl (Bubo blakistoni) has suffered marked population declines on Hokkaido Island, Japan, during the past several decades due to human-induced habitat loss and fragmentation. We investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of genetic diversity in MHC class IIβ genes in Blakiston's fish owl, using massively parallel pyrosequencing. RESULTS We found that the Blakiston's fish owl genome contains at least eight MHC class IIβ loci, indicating recent gene duplications. An analysis of sequence polymorphism provided evidence that balancing selection acted in the past. The level of MHC variation, however, was low in the current fish owl populations in Hokkaido: only 19 alleles were identified from 174 individuals. We detected considerable spatial differences in MHC diversity among the geographically isolated populations. We also detected a decline of MHC diversity in some local populations during the past decades. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that the current spatial patterns of MHC variation in Blakiston's fish owl populations have been shaped by loss of variation due to the decline and fragmentation of populations, and that the short-term effects of genetic drift have counteracted the long-term effects of balancing selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo I Kohyama
- />Department of Natural History Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan
| | - Keita Omote
- />Department of Natural History Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan
| | - Chizuko Nishida
- />Department of Natural History Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan
| | - Takeshi Takenaka
- />FILIN, Hachiken 2 Jo Nishi 2, Nishi-ku, Sapporo 063-0842 Japan
| | - Keisuke Saito
- />Institute for Raptor Biomedicine, Kushiro, 084-0922 Japan
| | | | - Ryuichi Masuda
- />Department of Natural History Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810 Japan
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Moreno-Cugnon L, Esparza-Baquer A, Larruskain A, García-Etxebarria K, Menne S, González-Aseguinolaza G, Jugo BM. Characterization and genotyping of the DRB1 gene of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in the Marmota monax, animal model of hepatitis B. Mol Immunol 2015; 63:505-12. [PMID: 25458311 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2014.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-containing genes are among the most polymorphic in vertebrates. MHC genes code for proteins that are critical in the immune system response. In this study, the polymorphism of the second exon of the MHC class II DRB gene was characterized in the Eastern woodchuck (Marmota monax). Woodchucks chronically infected with the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) represent the best available animal model for the study of chronic hepatitis B infection in humans. In the genotyped animals we found fifteen alleles, which were expressed in two independent loci and that were named DRB1A and DRB1B in this work. The 15 alleles investigated showed an elevated divergence. A significant excess of non-synonymous substitutions was detected, which could indicate that a historical positive selection is acting in the woodchuck DRB1 genes. This hypothesis was confirmed in our study by the high variability in or near the antigen binding sites (ABS) and by the results obtained in sequence variability analyses. This analysis identified the presence of a microsatellite sequence that is located at the start of the second intron, which could further allow the development of a fast and cheap semiautomatic sequencing method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leire Moreno-Cugnon
- Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
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Discovery of a New, Disjunct Population of a Narrowly Distributed Salamander (Taricha rivularis) in California Presents Conservation Challenges. J HERPETOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1670/13-066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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18
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Matrosova VA, Savinetskaya LE, Shekarova ON, Pivanova SV, Rusin MY, Volodin IA, Volodina EV, Tchabovsky AV. Within- and between-population polymorphism of the mtDNA control region of the speckled ground squirrel (Spermophilus suslicus). DOKLADY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES : PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE USSR, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SECTIONS 2014; 455:143-8. [PMID: 24795193 DOI: 10.1134/s0012496614020197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V A Matrosova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia,
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19
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Gene flow and the restoration of genetic diversity in a fluctuating collared pika (Ochotona collaris) population. CONSERV GENET 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-013-0519-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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20
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Říčanová Š, Koshev Y, Říčan O, Ćosić N, Ćirović D, Sedláček F, Bryja J. Multilocus phylogeography of the European ground squirrel: cryptic interglacial refugia of continental climate in Europe. Mol Ecol 2013; 22:4256-4269. [PMID: 23879230 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Revised: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The theory of classical and cryptic Pleistocene refugia is based mainly on historical changes in temperature, and the refugia are usually defined within a latitudinal gradient. However, the gradient of oceanic-continental climate (i.e. longitudinal) was also significantly variable during glacial cycles with important biotic consequences. Range-wide phylogeography of the European ground squirrel (EGS) was used to interpret the evolutionary and palaeogeographical history of the species in Europe and to shed light on its glacial-interglacial dynamic. The EGS is a steppe-inhabiting species and the westernmost member of the genus in the Palaearctic region. We have analysed 915 specimens throughout the present natural range by employing mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome b gene) and 12 nuclear microsatellite markers. The reconstructed phylogeography divides the species into two main geographical groups, with deep substructuring within both groups. Bulgaria is the centre of the ancestral area, and it also has the highest genetic diversity within the species. The northernmost group of the EGS survived in the southern part of Pannonia throughout several glacial-interglacial cycles. Animals from this population probably repeatedly colonized areas further to the north and west during the glacial periods, while in the interglacial periods, the EGS distribution contracted back to this Pannonian refugium. The EGS thus represents a species with a glacial expansion/interglacial contraction palaeogeographical dynamics, and the Pannonian and southeastern Balkanian steppes are supported as cryptic refugia of continental climate during Pleistocene interglacials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Štěpánka Říčanová
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yordan Koshev
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1 Tzar Osvoboditel blvb, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Oldřich Říčan
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Nada Ćosić
- Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - František Sedláček
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
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Promerová M, Králová T, Bryjová A, Albrecht T, Bryja J. MHC class IIB exon 2 polymorphism in the Grey partridge (Perdix perdix) is shaped by selection, recombination and gene conversion. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69135. [PMID: 23935938 PMCID: PMC3720538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Among bird species, the most studied major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the chicken MHC. Although the number of studies on MHC in free-ranging species is increasing, the knowledge on MHC variation in species closely related to chicken is required to understand the peculiarities of bird MHC evolution. Here we describe the variation of MHC class IIB (MHCIIB) exon 2 in a population of the Grey partridge (Perdix perdix), a species of high conservation concern throughout Europe and an emerging galliform model in studies of sexual selection. We found 12 alleles in 108 individuals, but in comparison to other birds surprisingly many sites show signatures of historical positive selection. Individuals displayed between two to four alleles both on genomic and complementary DNA, suggesting the presence of two functional MHCIIB loci. Recombination and gene conversion appear to be involved in generating MHCIIB diversity in the Grey partridge; two recombination breakpoints and several gene conversion events were detected. In phylogenetic analysis of galliform MHCIIB, the Grey partridge alleles do not cluster together, but are scattered through the tree instead. Thus, our results indicate that the Grey partridge MHCIIB is comparable to most other galliforms in terms of copy number and population polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Promerová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tereza Králová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Bryjová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Šimková A, Civáňová K, Gettová L, Gilles A. Genomic Porosity between Invasive Chondrostoma nasus and Endangered Endemic Parachondrostoma toxostoma (Cyprinidae): The Evolution of MHC IIB Genes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65883. [PMID: 23824831 PMCID: PMC3688810 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Two cyprinid species, Parachondrostoma toxostoma, an endemic threatened species, and Chondrostoma nasus, an invasive species, live in sympatry in southern France and form two sympatric zones where the presence of intergeneric hybrids is reported. To estimate the potential threat to endemic species linked to the introduction of invasive species, we focused on the DAB genes (functional MHC IIB genes) because of their adaptive significance and role in parasite resistance. More specifically, we investigated (1) the variability of MHC IIB genes, (2) the selection pattern shaping MHC polymorphism, and (3) the extent to which trans-species evolution and intergeneric hybridization affect MHC polymorphism. In sympatric areas, the native species has more diversified MHC IIB genes when compared to the invasive species, probably resulting from the different origins and dispersal of both species. A similar level of MHC polymorphism was found at population level in both species, suggesting similar mechanisms generating MHC diversity. In contrast, a higher number of DAB-like alleles per specimen were found in invasive species. Invasive species tended to express the alleles of two DAB lineages, whilst native species tended to express the alleles of only the DAB3 lineage. Hybrids have a pattern of MHC expression intermediate between both species. Whilst positive selection acting on peptide binding sites (PBS) was demonstrated in both species, a slightly higher number of positively selected sites were identified in C. nasus, which could result from parasite-mediated selection. Bayesian clustering analysis revealed a similar pattern of structuring for the genetic variation when using microsatellites or the MHC approach. We confirmed the importance of trans-species evolution for MHC polymorphism. In addition, we demonstrated bidirectional gene flow for MHC IIB genes in sympatric areas. The positive significant correlation between MHC and microsatellites suggests that demographic factors may contribute to MHC variation on a short time scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Šimková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristína Civáňová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Gettová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - André Gilles
- Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale, UMR Centre national de la recherche scientifique 7263, Evolution Génome Environnement, Marseille, France
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Ćosić N, Říčanová Š, Bryja J, Penezić A, Ćirović D. Do rivers and human-induced habitat fragmentation affect genetic diversity and population structure of the European ground squirrel at the edge of its Pannonian range? CONSERV GENET 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-013-0466-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Kuduk K, Johanet A, Allainé D, Cohas A, Radwan J. Contrasting patterns of selection acting on MHC class I and class II DRB genes in the Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota). J Evol Biol 2012; 25:1686-93. [PMID: 22594882 DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02537.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes code for proteins that play a critical role in the immune system response. The MHC genes are among the most polymorphic genes in vertebrates, presumably due to balancing selection. The two MHC classes appear to differ in the rate of evolution, but the reasons for this variation are not well understood. Here, we investigate the level of polymorphism and the evolution of sequences that code for the peptide-binding regions of MHC class I and class II DRB genes in the Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota). We found evidence for four expressed MHC class I loci and two expressed MHC class II loci. MHC genes in marmots were characterized by low polymorphism, as one to eight alleles per putative locus were detected in 38 individuals from three French Alps populations. The generally limited degree of polymorphism, which was more pronounced in class I genes, is likely due to bottleneck the populations undergone. Additionally, gene duplication within each class might have compensated for the loss of polymorphism at particular loci. The two gene classes showed different patterns of evolution. The most polymorphic of the putative loci, Mama-DRB1, showed clear evidence of historical positive selection for amino acid replacements. However, no signal of positive selection was evident in the MHC class I genes. These contrasting patterns of sequence evolution may reflect differences in selection pressures acting on class I and class II genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kuduk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, Kraków, Poland
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The status of a rare phylogeographic lineage of the Vulnerable European souslik Spermophilus citellus, endemic to central Macedonia. ORYX 2012. [DOI: 10.1017/s003060531200004x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe conversion of grasslands for agriculture has triggered a serious decline of the European ground squirrel or souslik Spermophilus citellus, categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996. The Jakupica phylogeographic lineage of central Macedonia is the smallest of the three major evolutionary lines of the European souslik. This lineage is an important reservoir of within-species diversity and should be regarded as an independent unit for conservation management purposes. It is endemic to Mount Jakupica, where it lives in mountain pastures at 1,500–2,250 m altitude. The total area occupied by sousliks (884 ha) is fragmented and 94% of individuals occur in four colonies. Densities (0.8–5.5 adults ha−1) are lower than those reported elsewhere for the species, with the total population probably <2,000 adults. One large colony, reportedly of c. 1,000 sousliks, was decimated in 2007 by a catastrophic fire and had still not recovered by 2010. A steady decline in livestock grazing, together with the predicted advance of the tree line as a consequence of climate change, will probably reduce the optimal habitat for the souslik and negatively affect population fitness. Monitoring needs to be implemented, at least for the largest colonies, to provide early warning of any declines.
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Linking habitat characteristics with genetic diversity of the European pine marten (Martes martes) in France. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-012-0634-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Ben Slimen H, Gedeon CI, Hoffmann IE, Suchentrunk F. Dwindling genetic diversity in European ground squirrels? Mamm Biol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2011.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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