1
|
Tschritter CM, van Coeverden de Groot P, Branigan M, Dyck M, Sun Z, Jenkins E, Buhler K, Lougheed SC. The geographic distribution, and the biotic and abiotic predictors of select zoonotic pathogen detections in Canadian polar bears. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12027. [PMID: 38797747 PMCID: PMC11128453 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62800-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing Arctic temperatures are facilitating the northward expansion of more southerly hosts, vectors, and pathogens, exposing naïve populations to pathogens not typical at northern latitudes. To understand such rapidly changing host-pathogen dynamics, we need sensitive and robust surveillance tools. Here, we use a novel multiplexed magnetic-capture and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) tool to assess a sentinel Arctic species, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus; n = 68), for the presence of five zoonotic pathogens (Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Francisella tularensis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp.), and observe associations between pathogen presence and biotic and abiotic predictors. We made two novel detections: the first detection of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex member in Arctic wildlife and the first of E. rhusiopathiae in a polar bear. We found a prevalence of 37% for E. rhusiopathiae, 16% for F. tularensis, 29% for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, 18% for T. gondii, and 75% for Trichinella spp. We also identify associations with bear age (Trichinella spp.), harvest season (F. tularensis and MTBC), and human settlements (E. rhusiopathiae, F. tularensis, MTBC, and Trichinella spp.). We demonstrate that monitoring a sentinel species, the polar bear, could be a powerful tool in disease surveillance and highlight the need to better characterize pathogen distributions and diversity in the Arctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marsha Branigan
- Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of the Northwest Territories, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
| | - Markus Dyck
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Igloolik, NT, Canada
| | - Zhengxin Sun
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Emily Jenkins
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Kayla Buhler
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dalton CS, Tomaselli M, Rothenburger JL, Mavrot F, Di Francesco J, Leclerc LM, Ytrehus B, Checkley S, Kutz S, Abdul-Careem MF, van der Meer F. Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Orf Virus and Muskox Rhadinovirus 1 from Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) in the Canadian Arctic. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:461-473. [PMID: 38334201 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00170] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Orf virus (genus Parapoxvirus) has been associated with gross skin lesions on muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) from Victoria Island, Nunavut, Canada, where muskox populations are experiencing population declines. Orf virus causes painful proliferative and necrotizing dermatitis upon viral replication and shedding, which may lead to animal morbidity or mortality through secondary infections and starvation. Herpesvirus, known to cause gross lesions on skin and mucosa during active viral replication, has also been documented in muskoxen but to date has not been associated with clinical disease. Our objective was to characterize the variation of orf virus and herpesvirus in wild muskoxen of the Canadian Arctic. Tissue samples including gross skin lesions from the nose, lips, and/or legs were opportunistically collected from muskoxen on Victoria Island, Nunavut and Northwest Territories, and mainland Nunavut, Canada, from 2015 to 2017. Sampled muskoxen varied in age, sex, location, hunt type, and body condition. Tissues from 60 muskoxen were tested for genetic evidence of orf virus and herpesvirus infection using PCR targeting key viral genes. Tissues from 38 muskoxen, including 15 with gross lesions, were also examined for histological evidence of orf virus and herpesvirus infection. Eleven muskoxen (10 from Victoria Island and one from mainland Nunavut) with gross lesions had microscopic lesions consistent with orf virus infection. Muskox rhadinovirus 1, a gammaherpesvirus endemic to muskoxen, was detected in 33 (55%) muskoxen including 17 with gross lesions. In all tissues examined, there was no histological evidence of herpesvirus-specific disease. Sequencing and characterization of amplified PCR products using phylogenetic analysis indicated that a strain of orf virus, which appears to be unique, is likely to be endemic in muskoxen from Victoria Island and mainland Nunavut. Many of the muskoxen are also subclinically infected with a known muskox-endemic strain of herpesvirus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chimoné Stefni Dalton
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Matilde Tomaselli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Polar Knowledge Canada, Canadian High Arctic Research Station, 1 Uvajuq Rd., P.O. Box 2150, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Fabien Mavrot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Juliette Di Francesco
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Lisa-Marie Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. 377, Kugluktuk, Nunavut X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7036, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sylvia Checkley
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Alberta Region), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Mohamed Faizal Abdul-Careem
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Frank van der Meer
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pečnerová P, Lord E, Garcia-Erill G, Hanghøj K, Rasmussen MS, Meisner J, Liu X, van der Valk T, Santander CG, Quinn L, Lin L, Liu S, Carøe C, Dalerum F, Götherström A, Måsviken J, Vartanyan S, Raundrup K, Al-Chaer A, Rasmussen L, Hvilsom C, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Sinding MHS, Aastrup P, Van Coeverden de Groot PJ, Schmidt NM, Albrechtsen A, Dalén L, Heller R, Moltke I, Siegismund HR. Population genomics of the muskox' resilience in the near absence of genetic variation. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17205. [PMID: 37971141 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Genomic studies of species threatened by extinction are providing crucial information about evolutionary mechanisms and genetic consequences of population declines and bottlenecks. However, to understand how species avoid the extinction vortex, insights can be drawn by studying species that thrive despite past declines. Here, we studied the population genomics of the muskox (Ovibos moschatus), an Ice Age relict that was at the brink of extinction for thousands of years at the end of the Pleistocene yet appears to be thriving today. We analysed 108 whole genomes, including present-day individuals representing the current native range of both muskox subspecies, the white-faced and the barren-ground muskox (O. moschatus wardi and O. moschatus moschatus) and a ~21,000-year-old ancient individual from Siberia. We found that the muskox' demographic history was profoundly shaped by past climate changes and post-glacial re-colonizations. In particular, the white-faced muskox has the lowest genome-wide heterozygosity recorded in an ungulate. Yet, there is no evidence of inbreeding depression in native muskox populations. We hypothesize that this can be explained by the effect of long-term gradual population declines that allowed for purging of strongly deleterious mutations. This study provides insights into how species with a history of population bottlenecks, small population sizes and low genetic diversity survive against all odds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Pečnerová
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Edana Lord
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Genís Garcia-Erill
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Hanghøj
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Malthe Sebro Rasmussen
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonas Meisner
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tom van der Valk
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cindy G Santander
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Liam Quinn
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
| | - Long Lin
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shanlin Liu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Carøe
- The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Fredrik Dalerum
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Biodiversity Research Institute (CSIC-UO-PA), Mieres, Spain
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Anders Götherström
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Archaeological Research Laboratory, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johannes Måsviken
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sergey Vartanyan
- North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute N.A.N.A. Shilo, Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia
| | | | - Amal Al-Chaer
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Linett Rasmussen
- Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel-Holger S Sinding
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Peter Aastrup
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Niels Martin Schmidt
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anders Albrechtsen
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Love Dalén
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Moltke
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans Redlef Siegismund
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ribeiro DM, Raundrup K, Mourato MP, Almeida AM. The Effect of Species and Sex on the Element Content of Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) and Caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) Tissues. Biol Trace Elem Res 2023; 201:4718-4725. [PMID: 36646938 PMCID: PMC10415418 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-023-03562-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) and caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) are wild ruminants that inhabit the Greenland tundra. They are part of the diet of many Greenlanders, being important sources of protein and micronutrients such as iron. The objective of this study is to analyse the element profiles of three tissues from these species: skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue, and to determine if they are affected by species and sex (male vs. female). Samples were obtained from annual hunts in two different regions of West Greenland. Element profiles were analysed using inductively-coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The interaction between species and sex was only detected in Na (sodium) in the muscle and adipose tissue, where male and female caribou had the highest concentrations, respectively. The effect of sex was not statistically significant in the liver samples and only occasionally in the other tissues. Species was the most relevant factor in element profiles found in this study. Caribou had higher concentrations of K (potassium) and S (sulphur) in the muscle and liver. Fewer differences were detected between species in the adipose tissue, compared to the other tissues. These differences may reflect the feeding behaviour and the geographical location of both species. This study contributes to evaluate the element composition of the edible tissue of these wild ungulate species, as well as evaluating the factors of sex and species that could differentiate their composition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Miguel Ribeiro
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Katrine Raundrup
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, P.O. Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Miguel P Mourato
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André M Almeida
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Stensvold CR, Berg RPKD, Maloney JG, Molokin A, Santin M. Molecular characterization of Blastocystis and Entamoeba of muskoxen and sheep in Greenland. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:673-685. [PMID: 37355198 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Molecular characterisation of endobionts that are shared among human and non-human hosts can help shed light on the epidemiology and inform studies that aim to unravel the role of these organisms in health and disease. Two of the most common of shared endobionts include the single-celled intestinal protists Blastocystis and Entamoeba. Here, we present the first known data on genetic diversity and host specificity of these two genera in Greenland. Faecal DNA samples from 243 muskoxen and 44 sheep were submitted to metabarcoding of nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA. Entamoeba- and Blastocystis-specific sequences were clustered, and consensus sequences were subjected to taxonomic query. Using MinION-based sequencing, near-complete nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences were obtained from four faecal samples. Of the 243 muskox samples, 180 (74%) and 19 (8%) were positive for Blastocystis and Entamoeba, respectively. Forty (91%) and six (14%) of the 44 sheep samples were positive for Blastocystis and Entamoeba, respectively. Blastocystis subtypes (ST) 10, 14, 21, 24-26, and a novel subtype (ST40) were identified. Colonisation by more than one subtype was common. ST40 was common in muskoxen but limited to Northeast Greenland. Entamoeba bovis and the E. bovis-associated ribosomal lineages (RL) 1 and 8 were found, and three conditional lineages (CL) 3, 4, and 10 were confirmed; CL10 was promoted to RL12. Several novel lineages were identified, all of which were linked to the E. bovis complex. In conclusion, Blastocystis was far more common than Entamoeba and found in approximately three of every four animals; both can be considered common colonisers of large herbivorous mammals in Greenland. Multiple subtypes/lineages of both genera were commonly observed, some of which were novel, but most of which are seen in many other parts of the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christen Rune Stensvold
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.
| | - Rebecca P K D Berg
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Jenny G Maloney
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Aleksey Molokin
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Monica Santin
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dalton CS, Workentine ML, Leclerc LM, Kutz S, van der Meer F. Next-generation sequencing approach to investigate genome variability of Parapoxvirus in Canadian muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 109:105414. [PMID: 36775047 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
In 2016, the first orf virus, a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus of the genus parapoxvirus, from a muskox was isolated on Victoria Island, Nunavut (NU), Canada. We used deep sequencing on DNA extracted from orf virus-positive tissues from wild muskoxen from locations on Victoria Island and the adjacent mainland. Orf virus sequence reads derived from four samples were nearly identical. The consensus sequences generated from pooled reads of MxOV comprises of a large contiguous sequence (contig) of 131,759 bp and a smaller right terminal contig of 3552 bp, containing all coding sequences identified as Parapoxvirus. Individual gene comparisons reveal that MxOV shares genetic characteristics with reference strains from both sheep and goat origin. Recombination analysis using Bootscan, MAXCHI, GENECONV, CHIMAERA, SISCAN, and RDP algorithms within the RDP4 software predicted recombination events in two virulence factors, and a large 3000 bp segment of the MxOV genome. Partial B2L nucleotide sequences from strains around the world and other North American isolates were compared to MxOV using MUSCLE alignments and RAxML phylogenetic trees. MxOV was identical to our previously characterized isolate, and shared similarity with orf virus isolated from sheep and goats. The phylogenetic grouping of partial B2L nucleotide sequences did not follow the sample geographic distribution. More full genomes of orf virus, or at least full B2L gene squences, in wildlife are needed especially in North America to better understand the epidemiology of the disease in muskoxen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chimone S Dalton
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada.
| | - Matthew L Workentine
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Lisa-Marie Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. 377, Kugluktuk, NU X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Frank van der Meer
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Brodeur A, Leblond M, Brodeur V, Taillon J, Côté SD. Investigating potential for competition between migratory caribou and introduced muskoxen. J Wildl Manage 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Brodeur
- Caribou Ungava and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Département de Biologie Université Laval 1045 Avenue de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Mathieu Leblond
- Environment and Climate Change Canada 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa ON K1S 5B6 Canada
| | - Vincent Brodeur
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs Direction de la gestion de la faune du Nord‐du‐Québec 951 boulevard, Hamel Chibougamau QC G8P 2Z3 Canada
| | - Joëlle Taillon
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Direction de l'expertise sur la faune terrestre l'herpétofaune et l'avifaune 880 chemin Sainte‐Foy Québec QC G1S 4X4 Canada
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- Caribou Ungava and Centre d'Études Nordiques, Département de Biologie Université Laval 1045 Avenue de la Médecine Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Canteri E, Brown SC, Schmidt NM, Heller R, Nogués‐Bravo D, Fordham DA. Spatiotemporal influences of climate and humans on muskox range dynamics over multiple millennia. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:6602-6617. [PMID: 36031712 PMCID: PMC9804684 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Processes leading to range contractions and population declines of Arctic megafauna during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene are uncertain, with intense debate on the roles of human hunting, climatic change, and their synergy. Obstacles to a resolution have included an overreliance on correlative rather than process-explicit approaches for inferring drivers of distributional and demographic change. Here, we disentangle the ecological mechanisms and threats that were integral in the decline and extinction of the muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in Eurasia and in its expansion in North America using process-explicit macroecological models. The approach integrates modern and fossil occurrence records, ancient DNA, spatiotemporal reconstructions of past climatic change, species-specific population ecology, and the growth and spread of anatomically modern humans. We show that accurately reconstructing inferences of past demographic changes for muskox over the last 21,000 years require high dispersal abilities, large maximum densities, and a small Allee effect. Analyses of validated process-explicit projections indicate that climatic change was the primary driver of muskox distribution shifts and demographic changes across its previously extensive (circumpolar) range, with populations responding negatively to rapid warming events. Regional analyses show that the range collapse and extinction of the muskox in Europe (~13,000 years ago) was likely caused by humans operating in synergy with climatic warming. In Canada and Greenland, climatic change and human activities probably combined to drive recent population sizes. The impact of past climatic change on the range and extinction dynamics of muskox during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition signals a vulnerability of this species to future increased warming. By better establishing the ecological processes that shaped the distribution of the muskox through space and time, we show that process-explicit macroecological models have important applications for the future conservation and management of this iconic species in a warming Arctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Canteri
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and ClimateGlobe Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Stuart C. Brown
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Section for Molecular Ecology and EvolutionGlobe Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Niels Martin Schmidt
- Department of Ecoscience and Arctic Research CentreAarhus UniversityRoskildeDenmark
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Department of Biology, Section of Computational and RNA BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - David Nogués‐Bravo
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and ClimateGlobe Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Damien A. Fordham
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and ClimateGlobe Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Center for Global Mountain BiodiversityGlobe Institute, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Koltz AM, Gough L, McLaren JR. Herbivores in Arctic ecosystems: Effects of climate change and implications for carbon and nutrient cycling. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1516:28-47. [PMID: 35881516 PMCID: PMC9796801 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14863] [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] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Arctic terrestrial herbivores influence tundra carbon and nutrient dynamics through their consumption of resources, waste production, and habitat-modifying behaviors. The strength of these effects is likely to change spatially and temporally as climate change drives shifts in herbivore abundance, distribution, and activity timing. Here, we review how herbivores influence tundra carbon and nutrient dynamics through their consumptive and nonconsumptive effects. We also present evidence for herbivore responses to climate change and discuss how these responses may alter the spatial and temporal distribution of herbivore impacts. Several current knowledge gaps limit our understanding of the changing functional roles of herbivores; these include limited characterization of the spatial and temporal variability in herbivore impacts and of how herbivore activities influence the cycling of elements beyond carbon. We conclude by highlighting approaches that will promote better understanding of herbivore effects on tundra ecosystems, including their integration into existing biogeochemical models, new applications of remote sensing techniques, and the continued use of distributed experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. Koltz
- Department of BiologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA,The Arctic InstituteCenter for Circumpolar Security StudiesWashingtonDCUSA,Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | - Laura Gough
- Department of Biological SciencesTowson UniversityTowsonMarylandUSA
| | - Jennie R. McLaren
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Texas El PasoEl PasoTexasUSA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wolverines (Gulo gulo) in the Arctic: Revisiting distribution and identifying research and conservation priorities amid rapid environmental change. Polar Biol 2022; 45:1465-1482. [PMID: 36090964 PMCID: PMC9440465 DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03079-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Wolverines (Gulo gulo) occupy most of the globe’s Arctic tundra. Given the rapidly warming climate and expanding human activity in this biome, understanding wolverine ecology, and therefore the species’ vulnerability to such changes, is increasingly important for developing research priorities and effective management strategies. Here, we review and synthesize knowledge of wolverines in the Arctic using both Western science sources and available Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to improve our understanding of wolverine ecology in the Arctic and better predict the species’ susceptibility to change. To accomplish this, we update the pan-Arctic distribution map of wolverines to account for recent observations and then discuss resulting inference and uncertainties. We use these patterns to contextualize and discuss potential underlying drivers of distribution and population dynamics, drawing upon knowledge of food habits, habitat associations, and harvest, as well as studies of wolverine ecology elsewhere. We then identify four broad areas to prioritize conservation and research efforts: (1) Monitoring trends in population abundance, demographics, and distribution and the drivers thereof, (2) Evaluating and predicting wolverines’ responses to ongoing climate change, particularly the consequences of reduced snow and sea ice, and shifts in prey availability, (3) Understanding wolverines’ response to human development, including the possible impact of wintertime over-snow travel and seismic testing to reproductive denning, as well as vulnerability to hunting and trapping associated with increased human access, and (4) Ensuring that current and future harvest are sustainable.
Collapse
|
11
|
Groves P, Mann DH, Kunz ML. Prehistoric perspectives can help interpret the present: 14,000 years of moose (Alces alces L) in the Western Arctic. CAN J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2022-0079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Rapidly changing climate at high latitudes has triggered a search for bellwethers of ecological change there. If the initial signs of change can be identified, perhaps we can predict where these changes will lead. Large-bodied, terrestrial, herbivores are potential candidates for bellwether taxa because of the key roles they play in some ecological communities. Here we assemble historical, archaeological and paleontological records of moose (<i>Alces alces</i> Linnaeus, 1758.) from the western Arctic and Subarctic. Results show that rather than having recently invaded tundra regions in response to post-Little Ice Age warming, moose have inhabited river corridors several hundred kilometers north of the closed, boreal forest since they first colonized North America across the Bering Land Bridge ca. 14,000 years ago. The combination of high mobility, fluctuation-prone metapopulations, and reliance on early successional vegetation makes changes in the northern range limits of moose undependable bellwethers for other biotic responses to changing climate. The history of moose at high latitudes illustrates how understanding what happened in prehistory is useful for correctly assigning significance and cause to present-day ecological changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Groves
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
| | - Daniel H Mann
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
| | - Mike L Kunz
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Museum of the North, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
John C, Post E. Projected bioclimatic distributions in Nearctic Bovidae signal the potential for reduced overlap with protected areas. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9189. [PMID: 35979518 PMCID: PMC9366586 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Assumptions about factors such as climate in shaping species' realized and potential distributions underlie much of conservation planning and wildlife management. Climate and climatic change lead to shifts in species distributions through both direct and indirect ecological pressures. Distributional shifts may be particularly important if range overlap is altered between interacting species, or between species and protected areas. The cattle family (Bovidae) represents a culturally, economically, and ecologically important taxon that occupies many of the world's rangelands. In contemporary North America, five wild bovid species inhabit deserts, prairies, mountains, and tundra from Mexico to Greenland. Here, we aim to understand how future climate change will modify environmental characteristics associated with North American bovid species relative to the distribution of extant protected areas. We fit species distribution models for each species to climate, topography, and land cover data using observations from a citizen science dataset. We then projected modeled distributions to the end of the 21st century for each bovid species under two scenarios of anticipated climate change. Modeling results suggest that suitable habitat will shift inconsistently across species and that such shifts will lead to species-specific variation in overlap between potential habitat and existing protected areas. Furthermore, projected overlap with protected areas was sensitive to the warming scenario under consideration, with diminished realized protected area under greater warming. Conservation priorities and designation of new protected areas should account for ecological consequences of climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian John
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology University of California Davis California USA
| | - Eric Post
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology University of California Davis California USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Aggerbeck MR, Nielsen TK, Mosbacher JB, Schmidt NM, Hansen LH. Muskoxen homogenise soil microbial communities and affect the abundance of methanogens and methanotrophs. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:153877. [PMID: 35218841 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Grazing herbivores may affect soil microbial communities indirectly by impacting soil structure and vegetation composition. In high arctic environments, this impact is poorly elucidated, while having potentially wide-reaching effects on the ecosystem. This study examines how a key arctic herbivore, the muskox Ovibos moschatus, affects the soil microbial community in a high arctic fen. Environmental DNA was extracted from soil samples taken from grazed control plots and from muskox exclosures established 5 years prior. We sequenced amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene to provide insight into the microbial communities. We found that in the grazed control plots, microbial communities exhibited high evenness and displayed highly similar overall diversity. In plots where muskoxen had been excluded, microbial diversity was significantly reduced, and had more uneven intra-sample populations and overall lower ecological richness and evenness. We observed that the composition of microbial communities in grazed soils were significantly affected by the presence of muskoxen, as seen by elevated relative abundances of Bacteroides and Firmicutes, two major phyla found in muskox faeces. Furthermore, an increase in relative abundance of bacteria involved in degradation of recalcitrant carbohydrates and cycling of nitrogen was observed in grazed soil. Ungrazed soils displayed increased abundances of bacteria potentially involved in anaerobic oxidation of methane, whereas some methanogens were more abundant in grazed soils. This corroborates a previous finding that methane emissions are higher in arctic fens under muskox grazing. Our results show that the presence of large herbivores stimulates soil microbial diversity and has a homogenizing influence on the inter-species dynamics in soil microbial communities. The findings of this study, thus, improve our understanding of the effect of herbivore grazing on arctic ecosystems and the derived methane cycling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tue Kjærgaard Nielsen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper Bruun Mosbacher
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Niels Martin Schmidt
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Hestbjerg Hansen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cheon JY, Cho H, Kim M, Park HJ, Park TYS, Lee WY. Fecal microbiota and diets of muskox female adults and calves. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8879. [PMID: 35516419 PMCID: PMC9064827 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8879] [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: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the gut microbiome is vertically transmitted during maternal lactation at birth. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiome and diets of muskox, a large herbivore inhabiting in the high Arctic. We compared the microbiota composition using bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and diets using stable isotope analysis of muskox feces of six female adults and four calves on Ella Island, East Greenland. Firmicutes were the most abundant bacterial phylum in both the adults and calves, comprising 94.36% and 94.03%, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the relative abundance of the two Firmicutes families. The adults were primarily dominated by Ruminococcaceae (73.90%), and the calves were dominated by both Ruminococcaceae (56.25%) and Lachnospiraceae (24.00%). Stable isotope analysis of the feces in the study area revealed that both adults and calves had similar ranges of 13C and 15N, likely derived from the dominant diet plants. Despite their similar diets, the different gut microbiome compositions in muskox adults and calves indicate that the gut microbiome of the calves may not be fully colonized to the extent of that of the adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yeon Cheon
- Division of Life Sciences Korea Polar Research Institute Incheon Korea.,Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering Korea University Seoul Korea
| | - Hyunjun Cho
- Division of Life Sciences Korea Polar Research Institute Incheon Korea
| | - Mincheol Kim
- Division of Life Sciences Korea Polar Research Institute Incheon Korea
| | - Hyun Je Park
- Department of Marine Bioscience Gangneung-Wonju National University Gangneung Korea
| | - Tae-Yoon S Park
- Division of Earth Sciences Korea Polar Research Institute Incheon Korea.,Polar Science University of Science & Technology Daejeon Korea
| | - Won Young Lee
- Division of Life Sciences Korea Polar Research Institute Incheon Korea.,Polar Science University of Science & Technology Daejeon Korea
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Draft Genome Assembly of an Iconic Arctic Species: Muskox (Ovibos moschatus). Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050809. [PMID: 35627194 PMCID: PMC9140810 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) are Arctic species within the Caprinae subfamily that are economically and culturally significant to northern Indigenous communities. Low genetic diversity from repeated genetic bottlenecks, coupled with the effects of Arctic warming (e.g., heat stress, changing forage, pathogen range expansions), present conservation concerns for this species. Reference genome assemblies enhance our ecological and evolutionary understanding of species (which in turn aid conservation efforts). Herein, we provide a full draft reference genome of muskox using Illumina Hiseq data and cross-species scaffolding. The final reference assembly yielded a genome of 2,621,890,883 bp in length, a scaffold N50 of ~13.2 million, and an annotation identifying ~19.3 k genes. The muskox genome assembly and annotation were then used to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree which estimated muskoxen diverged from other ungulate species~12 Mya. To gain insight into the demographic history of muskoxen we also performed pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescent (PSMC) that identified two population bottlenecks coinciding with major glaciation events contributing to the notoriously low genetic variation observed in muskoxen. Overall, this genome assembly provides a foundation for future population genomic studies, such as latitudinal analyses, to explore the capacity of muskoxen to adapt to rapidly changing environments.
Collapse
|
16
|
Babiy UV, Salomashkina VV, Kulemeev PS, Kholodova MV, Gruzdev AR, Regehr EV. First evidence of a brown bear on Wrangel Island, Russia. URSUS 2022. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-20-00024.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Eric V. Regehr
- Polar Science Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chardon NI, Nabe‐Nielsen J, Assmann JJ, Dyrholm Jacobsen IB, Guéguen M, Normand S, Wipf S. High resolution species distribution and abundance models cannot predict separate shrub datasets in adjacent Arctic fjords. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Isabelle Chardon
- Biodiversity Research Centre University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research Davos Dorf Switzerland
- Department of Biology Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Maya Guéguen
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc CNRS, LECA Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine Grenoble France
| | - Signe Normand
- Department of Biology Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark
| | - Sonja Wipf
- Swiss National Park Chastè Planta‐Wildenberg Zernez Switzerland
- Climate Change, Extremes and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Centre CERC Davos Dorf Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Post E, Pedersen C, Watts DA. Large herbivores facilitate the persistence of rare taxa under tundra warming. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1292. [PMID: 35079094 PMCID: PMC8789846 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological rarity, characterized by low abundance or limited distribution, is typical of most species, yet our understanding of what factors contribute to the persistence of rare species remains limited. Consequently, little is also known about whether rare species might respond differently than common species to direct (e.g., abiotic) and indirect (e.g., biotic) effects of climate change. We investigated the effects of warming and exclusion of large herbivores on 14 tundra taxa, three of which were common and 11 of which were rare, at an inland, low-arctic study site near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Across all taxa, pooled commonness was reduced by experimental warming, and more strongly under herbivore exclusion than under herbivory. However, taxon-specific analyses revealed that although warming elicited variable effects on commonness, herbivore exclusion disproportionately reduced the commonness of rare taxa. Over the 15-year duration of the experiment, we also observed trends in commonness and rarity under all treatments through time. Sitewide commonness increased for two common taxa, the deciduous shrubs Betula nana and Salix glauca, and declined in six other taxa, all of which were rare. Rates of increase or decline in commonness (i.e., temporal trends over the duration of the experiment) were strongly related to baseline commonness of taxa early in the experiment under all treatments except warming with grazing. Hence, commonness itself may be a strong predictor of species' responses to climate change in the arctic tundra biome, but large herbivores may mediate such responses in rare taxa, perhaps facilitating their persistence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Post
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Christian Pedersen
- Department of Landscape Monitoring, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, 1431, Ås, Norway
| | - David A Watts
- Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Alaska State Public Health Virology Laboratory, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Di Francesco J, Kwong GPS, Deardon R, Checkley SL, Mastromonaco GF, Mavrot F, Leclerc LM, Kutz S. Qiviut cortisol is associated with metrics of health and other intrinsic and extrinsic factors in wild muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coab103. [PMID: 35492408 PMCID: PMC9040286 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid (GC) levels are increasingly and widely used as biomarkers of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity to study the effects of environmental changes and other perturbations on wildlife individuals and populations. However, identifying the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence GC levels is a key step in endocrinology studies to ensure accurate interpretation of GC responses. In muskoxen, qiviut (fine woolly undercoat hair) cortisol concentration is an integrative biomarker of HPA axis activity over the course of the hair's growth. We gathered data from 219 wild muskoxen harvested in the Canadian Arctic between October 2015 and May 2019. We examined the relationship between qiviut cortisol and various intrinsic (sex, age, body condition and incisor breakage) and extrinsic biotic factors (lungworm and gastrointestinal parasite infections and exposure to bacteria), as well as broader non-specific landscape and temporal features (geographical location, season and year). A Bayesian approach, which allows for the joint estimation of missing values in the data and model parameters estimates, was applied for the statistical analyses. The main findings include the following: (i) higher qiviut cortisol levels in males than in females; (ii) inter-annual variations; (iii) higher qiviut cortisol levels in a declining population compared to a stable population; (iv) a negative association between qiviut cortisol and marrow fat percentage; (v) a relationship between qiviut cortisol and the infection intensity of the lungworm Umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis, which varied depending on the geographical location; and (vi) no association between qiviut cortisol and other pathogen exposure/infection intensity metrics. This study confirmed and further identified important sources of variability in qiviut cortisol levels, while providing important insights on the relationship between GC levels and pathogen exposure/infection intensity. Results support the use of qiviut cortisol as a tool to monitor temporal changes in HPA axis activity at a population level and to inform management and conservation actions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Di Francesco
- Corresponding author: Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
| | - Grace P S Kwong
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Rob Deardon
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sylvia L Checkley
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Gabriela F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Physiology Unit, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario M1B 5K7, Canada
| | - Fabien Mavrot
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Lisa-Marie Leclerc
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, P.O. Box 377, Kugluktuk, Nunavut X0B 0E0, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Case JE, Pederzolli RLA, Clark EG, Fenton H, Kutz SJ, Grahn BH, Rothenburger JL. Congenital cataract and spherophakia leading to starvation in a free-ranging muskox neonate from the Northwest Territories, Canada. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021; 34:160-163. [PMID: 34763579 PMCID: PMC8688975 DOI: 10.1177/10406387211057470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A muskox neonate (Ovibos moschatus) that died of starvation was diagnosed with congenital lenticular anomalies that included spherophakia and hypermature cataract associated with probable lens-induced lymphocytic uveitis and neutrophilic keratitis. Impaired sight as a result of cataract and associated inflammation likely contributed to abandonment and starvation, although maternal death cannot be excluded definitively. Ocular lesions, such as congenital cataracts and spherophakia in neonates, may be important factors affecting survival in free-ranging animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Case
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rae-Leigh A Pederzolli
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Edward G Clark
- Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Heather Fenton
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.,Current address: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies
| | - Susan J Kutz
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Bruce H Grahn
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Prairie Ocular Pathology Service, Prairie Diagnostic Services, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Departments of Ecosystem and Public Health and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Alberta Region, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Lindén E, Gough L, Olofsson J. Large and small herbivores have strong effects on tundra vegetation in Scandinavia and Alaska. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12141-12152. [PMID: 34522366 PMCID: PMC8427618 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Large and small mammalian herbivores are present in most vegetated areas in the Arctic and often have large impacts on plant community composition and ecosystem functioning. The relative importance of different herbivores and especially how their specific impact on the vegetation varies across the Arctic is however poorly understood.Here, we investigate how large and small herbivores influence vegetation density and plant community composition in four arctic vegetation types in Scandinavia and Alaska. We used a unique set of exclosures, excluding only large (reindeer and muskoxen) or all mammalian herbivores (also voles and lemmings) for at least 20 years.We found that mammalian herbivores in general decreased leaf area index, NDVI, and abundance of vascular plants in all four locations, even though the strength of the effect and which herbivore type caused these effects differed across locations. In three locations, herbivore presence caused contrasting plant communities, but not in the location with lowest productivity. Large herbivores had a negative effect on plant height, whereas small mammalian herbivores increased species diversity by decreasing dominance of the initially dominating plant species. Above- or belowground disturbances caused by herbivores were found to play an important role in shaping the vegetation in all locations.Synthesis: Based on these results, we conclude that both small and large mammalian herbivores influence vegetation in Scandinavia and Alaska in a similar way, some of which can mitigate effects of climate change. We also see important differences across locations, but these depend rather on local herbivore and plant community composition than large biogeographical differences among continents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elin Lindén
- Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Laura Gough
- Department of Biological SciencesTowson UniversityTowsonMarylandUSA
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental ScienceUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Berg RPKD, Stensvold CR, Jokelainen P, Grønlund AK, Nielsen HV, Kutz S, Kapel CMO. Zoonotic pathogens in wild muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) from Greenland. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:2290-2302. [PMID: 34390537 PMCID: PMC8604140 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Erysipelothrix in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and sheep (Ovis aries) from Greenland. In 2017 and 2018, faecal samples were collected from wild muskoxen from three distinct populations (Zackenberg, Kangerlussuaq, and Ivittuut) and from domestic sheep from southwest Greenland. Blood samples were collected from muskoxen from Kangerlussuaq and Ivittuut and from sheep. Faecal samples were tested for specific DNA of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp., and blood samples were tested for antibodies against T. gondii and Erysipelothrix. The estimated prevalence of G. duodenalis was 0% (0/58), 17% (7/41) and 0% (0/55) in muskoxen from Zackenberg, Kangerlussuaq and Ivittuut, respectively, and 37% (16/43) in sheep. The estimated prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 0% (0/58), 2% (1/41), 7% (4/55) in muskoxen from Zackenberg, Kangerlussuaq, Ivittuut, respectively, and 2% (1/43) in sheep. Neither Giardia nor Cryptosporidium were detected in winter samples (0/78). Of the positive samples, Giardia from one muskox sample only was successfully typed as G. duodenalis assemblage A, and Cryptosporidium from two muskoxen was successfully typed as C. parvum, subtype IIdA20G1e. The estimated T. gondii seroprevalence was 2% (1/44) and 0% (0/8) in muskoxen from Kangerlussuaq and Ivittuut, respectively, and 1% (1/155) in sheep. The estimated Erysipelothrix seroprevalence was 2% (1/45) and 13% (1/8) in muskoxen from Kangerlussuaq and Ivittuut, respectively, and 7% (10/150) in sheep. The results of this study add to the scarce knowledge on zoonotic pathogens in the Arctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca P K D Berg
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Birds and Mammals, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - C Rune Stensvold
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna K Grønlund
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik V Nielsen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susan Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Christian M O Kapel
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Corynebacterium freneyi Bacterial Septicemia Secondary to Contagious Ecthyma in a Wild Muskox (Ovibos moschatus). J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:225-229. [PMID: 33635972 DOI: 10.7589/2019-10-254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A wild muskox (Ovibos moschatus) with dermatitis typical of contagious ecthyma had secondary bacterial septicemia with Corynebacterium freneyi that included laminitis, hepatitis, and suppurative encephalitis. This case supports the association between orf virus infection and fatal secondary infections, which may have contributed to population declines on Victoria Island, Canada.
Collapse
|
24
|
Contrasting dynamical responses of sympatric caribou and muskoxen to winter weather and earlier spring green-up in the Arctic. FOOD WEBS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2021.e00196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
25
|
Di Francesco J, Mastromonaco GF, Checkley SL, Blake J, Rowell JE, Kutz S. Qiviut cortisol reflects hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 306:113737. [PMID: 33610573 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) are increasingly exposed to a broad diversity of stressors in their rapidly changing Arctic environment. There is an urgent need to develop validated tools to monitor the impact of these stressors on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity of muskoxen to help inform conservation actions. Here, we evaluated whether muskox qiviut (dense wooly undercoat) cortisol accurately reflects changes in HPA axis activity. Two repeated pharmacological challenges, involving weekly administrations of saline (control group) or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) during five consecutive weeks, were done on captive muskoxen, in winter (no hair growth) and summer (maximum hair growth). Pre-challenge qiviut cortisol levels were significantly higher in the shoulder than in the neck, but neither differed from rump concentrations. Qiviut cortisol levels significantly increased (p < 0.001) in response to the administration of ACTH during the hair growth phase, but not in the absence of growth (p = 0.84). Cortisol levels in the qiviut segment grown during the summer challenge increased significantly over a six-month period in the ACTH-injected muskoxen with a similar trend occurring in the control animals. Finally, cortisol levels in shed qiviut were significantly higher and not correlated to those of fully grown qiviut shaved three months earlier. Our results show that cortisol is deposited in qiviut during its growth and that qiviut cortisol can thus be used as an integrated measure of HPA axis activity over the period of the hair's growth. Differences in qiviut cortisol across body regions, significant differences in qiviut segments over time, and differences between shed qiviut versus unshed qiviut, highlight the importance of consistent design and methodology for sample collection and analyses in order to account for sources of variation when using qiviut cortisol as a biomarker of HPA axis activity in muskoxen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Di Francesco
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada; French Armed Forces Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CESPA), Marseille, France.
| | - G F Mastromonaco
- Reproductive Sciences Unit, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario M1B 5K7, Canada
| | - S L Checkley
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - J Blake
- Animal Resources Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1033 Sheenjek Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6980, USA
| | - J E Rowell
- Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7500, USA
| | - S Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Di Francesco J, Mastromonaco GF, Rowell JE, Blake J, Checkley SL, Kutz S. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites reflect hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249281. [PMID: 33852609 PMCID: PMC8046187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), a taxonomically unique Arctic species, are increasingly exposed to climate and other anthropogenic changes. It is critical to develop and validate reliable tools to monitor their physiological stress response in order to assess the impacts of these changes. Here, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels in response to the administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the winter (1 IU/kg) and summer (2 IU/kg) using two enzyme immunoassays, one targeting primarily cortisol and the other targeting primarily corticosterone. Fecal cortisol levels varied substantially within and among individuals, and none of the animals in either challenge showed an increase in fecal cortisol following the injection of ACTH. By contrast, two of six (winter) and two of five (summer) muskoxen showed a clear response in fecal corticosterone levels (i.e., maximal percentage increase as compared to time 0 levels > 100%). Increases in fecal corticosterone post-ACTH injection occurred earlier and were of shorter duration in the summer than in the winter and fecal corticosterone levels were, in general, lower during the summer. These seasonal differences in FGM responses may be related to the use of different individuals (i.e., influence of sex, age, social status, etc.) and to seasonal variations in the metabolism and excretion of glucocorticoids, intestinal transit time, voluntary food intake, and fecal output and moisture content. Results from this study support using FGMs as a biomarker of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in muskoxen, advance our understanding of the physiological adaptations of mammals living in highly seasonal and extreme environments such as the Arctic, and emphasize the importance of considering seasonality in other species when interpreting FGM levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Di Francesco
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- French Armed Forces Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CESPA), Marseille, France
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Janice E. Rowell
- Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - John Blake
- Animal Resources Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Sylvia L. Checkley
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Tuomi M, Väisänen M, Ylänne H, Brearley FQ, Barrio IC, Anne Bråthen K, Eischeid I, Forbes BC, Jónsdóttir IS, Kolstad AL, Macek P, Petit Bon M, Speed JDM, Stark S, Svavarsdóttir K, Thórsson J, Bueno CG. Stomping in silence: Conceptualizing trampling effects on soils in polar tundra. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tuomi
- Section of Ecology Department of Biology University of Turku Turku Finland
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries, and Economics The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
| | - Maria Väisänen
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Arctic Centre University of Lapland Rovaniemi Finland
| | - Henni Ylänne
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Research Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Francis Q. Brearley
- Department of Natural Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
| | - Isabel C. Barrio
- Agricultural University of Iceland Reykjavík Iceland
- Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavík Iceland
| | - Kari Anne Bråthen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries, and Economics The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
| | - Isabell Eischeid
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries, and Economics The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
- Norwegian Polar InstituteFRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment Tromsø Norway
| | | | - Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir
- Agricultural University of Iceland Reykjavík Iceland
- University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) Longyearbyen Norway
| | - Anders L. Kolstad
- Department of Natural History NTNU University MuseumNorwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Petr Macek
- Centre for Polar Ecology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre ASCRInstitute of Soil Biology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Matteo Petit Bon
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries, and Economics The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
- University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) Longyearbyen Norway
| | - James D. M. Speed
- Department of Natural History NTNU University MuseumNorwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Sari Stark
- Arctic Centre University of Lapland Rovaniemi Finland
| | | | | | - C. Guillermo Bueno
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences Department of Botany University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Range expansion of muskox lungworms track rapid arctic warming: implications for geographic colonization under climate forcing. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17323. [PMID: 33057173 PMCID: PMC7560617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74358-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid climate warming in the Arctic results in multifaceted disruption of biodiversity, faunal structure, and ecosystem health. Hypotheses have linked range expansion and emergence of parasites and diseases to accelerating warming globally but empirical studies demonstrating causality are rare. Using historical data and recent surveys as baselines, we explored climatological drivers for Arctic warming as determinants of range expansion for two temperature-dependent lungworms, Umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis and Varestrongylus eleguneniensis, of muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and caribou (Rangifer tarandus), in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from 1980 through 2017. Our field data shows a substantial northward shift of the northern edge of the range for both parasites and increased abundance across the expanded ranges during the last decade. Mechanistic models parameterized with parasites’ thermal requirements demonstrated that geographical colonization tracked spatial expansion of permissive environments, with a temporal lag. Subtle differences in life histories, thermal requirements of closely related parasites, climate oscillations and shifting thermal balances across environments influence faunal assembly and biodiversity. Our findings support that persistence of host-parasite assemblages reflects capacities of parasites to utilize host and environmental resources in an ecological arena of fluctuating opportunity (alternating trends in exploration and exploitation) driving shifting boundaries for distribution across spatial and temporal scales.
Collapse
|
29
|
van Beest FM, Beumer LT, Chimienti M, Desforges JP, Huffeldt NP, Pedersen SH, Schmidt NM. Environmental conditions alter behavioural organization and rhythmicity of a large Arctic ruminant across the annual cycle. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:201614. [PMID: 33204486 PMCID: PMC7657931 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The existence and persistence of rhythmicity in animal activity during phases of environmental change is of interest in ecology, evolution and chronobiology. A wide diversity of biological rhythms in response to exogenous conditions and internal stimuli have been uncovered, especially for polar vertebrates. However, empirical data supporting circadian organization in behaviour of large ruminating herbivores remains inconclusive. Using year-round tracking data of the largest Arctic ruminant, the muskox (Ovibos moschatus), we modelled rhythmicity as a function of behaviour and environmental conditions. Behavioural states were classified based on patterns in hourly movements, and incorporated within a periodicity analyses framework. Although circadian rhythmicity in muskox behaviour was detected throughout the year, ultradian rhythmicity was most prevalent, especially when muskoxen were foraging and resting in mid-winter (continuous darkness). However, when combining circadian and ultradian rhythmicity together, the probability of behavioural rhythmicity declined with increasing photoperiod until largely disrupted in mid-summer (continuous light). Individuals that remained behaviourally rhythmic during mid-summer foraged in areas with lower plant productivity (NDVI) than individuals with arrhythmic behaviour. Based on our study, we conclude that muskoxen may use an interval timer to schedule their behavioural cycles when forage resources are low, but that the importance and duration of this timer are reduced once environmental conditions allow energetic reserves to be replenished ad libitum. We argue that alimentary function and metabolic requirements are critical determinants of biological rhythmicity in muskoxen, which probably applies to ruminating herbivores in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Floris M. van Beest
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Larissa T. Beumer
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Marianna Chimienti
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QuebecCanada, H9X 3V9
| | - Nicholas Per Huffeldt
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Stine Højlund Pedersen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Niels Martin Schmidt
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Mavrot F, Orsel K, Hutchins W, Adams LG, Beckmen K, Blake JE, Checkley SL, Davison T, Di Francesco J, Elkin B, Leclerc LM, Schneider A, Tomaselli M, Kutz SJ. Novel insights into serodiagnosis and epidemiology of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a newly recognized pathogen in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231724. [PMID: 32315366 PMCID: PMC7173868 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Muskoxen are a key species of Arctic ecosystems and are important for food security and socio-economic well-being of many Indigenous communities in the Arctic and Subarctic. Between 2009 and 2014, the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated for the first time in this species in association with multiple mortality events in Canada and Alaska, raising questions regarding the spatiotemporal occurrence of the pathogen and its potential impact on muskox populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS We adapted a commercial porcine E. rhusiopathiae enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to test 958 blood samples that were collected from muskoxen from seven regions in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic between 1976 and 2017. The cut-off between negative and positive results was established using mixture-distribution analysis, a data-driven approach. Based on 818 samples for which a serological status could be determined and with complete information, we calculated trends in sample seroprevalences in population time-series and compared them with population trends in the investigated regions. RESULTS Overall, 219/818 (27.8%, 95% Confidence Interval: 24.7-31.0) samples were classified as positive for exposure to E. rhusiopathiae. There were large variations between years and regions. Seropositive animals were found among the earliest serum samples tested; 1976 in Alaska and 1991 in Canada. In Alaskan muskoxen, sample seroprevalence increased after 2000 and, in two regions, peak seroprevalences occurred simultaneously with population declines. In one of these regions, concurrent unusual mortalities were observed and E. rhusiopathiae was isolated from muskox carcasses. In Canada, there was an increase in sample seroprevalence in two muskox populations following known mortality events that had been attributed to E. rhusiopathiae. CONCLUSION Our results indicate widespread exposure of muskoxen to E. rhusiopathiae in western Canada and Alaska. Although not new to the Arctic, we documented an increased exposure to the pathogen in several regions concurrent with population declines. Understanding causes for the apparent increased occurrence of this pathogen and its association with large scale mortality events for muskoxen is critical to evaluate the implications for wildlife and wildlife-dependent human populations in the Arctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Mavrot
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Karin Orsel
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wendy Hutchins
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Layne G. Adams
- US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Sitca, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Kimberlee Beckmen
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, Alaska, United States of America
| | - John E. Blake
- University of Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - Sylvia L. Checkley
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tracy Davison
- Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
| | | | - Brett Elkin
- Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
| | | | - Angela Schneider
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matilde Tomaselli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Canadian High Arctic Research Station, Polar Knowledge Canada, Ottawa, Nunavut, Canada
| | - Susan J. Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Taylor JJ, Lawler JP, Aronsson M, Barry T, Bjorkman AD, Christensen T, Coulson SJ, Cuyler C, Ehrich D, Falk K, Franke A, Fuglei E, Gillespie MA, Heiðmarsson S, Høye T, Jenkins LK, Ravolainen V, Smith PA, Wasowicz P, Schmidt NM. Arctic terrestrial biodiversity status and trends: A synopsis of science supporting the CBMP State of Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Report. AMBIO 2020; 49:833-847. [PMID: 31955399 PMCID: PMC6989707 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01303-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
This review provides a synopsis of the main findings of individual papers in the special issue Terrestrial Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing Arctic. The special issue was developed to inform the State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Report developed by the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Arctic Council working group. Salient points about the status and trends of Arctic biodiversity and biodiversity monitoring are organized by taxonomic groups: (1) vegetation, (2) invertebrates, (3) mammals, and (4) birds. This is followed by a discussion about commonalities across the collection of papers, for example, that heterogeneity was a predominant pattern of change particularly when assessing global trends for Arctic terrestrial biodiversity. Finally, the need for a comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based monitoring program, coupled with targeted research projects deciphering causal patterns, is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason J. Taylor
- U.S. National Park Service, PO Box 517, Skagway, AK 99840 USA
| | - James P. Lawler
- U.S. National Park Service, 240 West 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501 USA
| | - Mora Aronsson
- Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7007, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tom Barry
- CAFF Secretariat Borgir, Nordurslod 600, Akureyri, Iceland
- Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Iceland, Sæmundargata 2, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Anne D. Bjorkman
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Tom Christensen
- Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Stephen J. Coulson
- Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7007, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christine Cuyler
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Dorothee Ehrich
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Alastair Franke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Biological Sciences Bldg., CW 405, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9 UK
- Arctic Raptor Project, P.O. Box 626, Rankin Inlet, NT X0C 0G0 Canada
| | - Eva Fuglei
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Postbox 6606, Langnes, 9296 Tromsø Norway
| | - Mark A. Gillespie
- Department of Engineering and Natural Science, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal Campus, 6851 Sogndal, Norway
| | - Starri Heiðmarsson
- Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Borgir Nordurslod, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
| | - Toke Høye
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark
| | - Liza K. Jenkins
- Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI), Michigan Technological University, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 USA
| | - Virve Ravolainen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Postbox 6606, Langnes, 9296 Tromsø Norway
| | - Paul A. Smith
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Canada
| | - Pawel Wasowicz
- Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Borgir Nordurslod, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
| | - Niels Martin Schmidt
- Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Bird S, Prewer E, Kutz S, Leclerc L, Vilaça ST, Kyle CJ. Geography, seasonality, and host-associated population structure influence the fecal microbiome of a genetically depauparate Arctic mammal. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:13202-13217. [PMID: 31871639 PMCID: PMC6912892 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Canadian Arctic is an extreme environment with low floral and faunal diversity characterized by major seasonal shifts in temperature, moisture, and daylight. Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) are one of few large herbivores able to survive this harsh environment. Microbiome research of the gastrointestinal tract may hold clues as to how muskoxen exist in the Arctic, but also how this species may respond to rapid environmental changes. In this study, we investigated the effects of season (spring/summer/winter), year (2007-2016), and host genetic structure on population-level microbiome variation in muskoxen from the Canadian Arctic. We utilized 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the fecal microbial communities of 78 male muskoxen encompassing two population genetic clusters. These clusters are defined by Arctic Mainland and Island populations, including the following: (a) two mainland sampling locations of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and (b) four locations of Victoria Island. Between these geographic populations, we found that differences in the microbiome reflected host-associated genetic cluster with evidence of migration. Within populations, seasonality influenced bacterial diversity with no significant differences between years of sampling. We found evidence of pathogenic bacteria, with significantly higher presence in mainland samples. Our findings demonstrate the effects of seasonality and the role of host population-level structure in driving fecal microbiome differences in a large Arctic mammal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Bird
- Forensic Science ProgramTrent UniversityPeterboroughONCanada
| | - Erin Prewer
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate ProgramTrent UniversityPeterboroughONCanada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
- Canadian Wildlife Health CooperativeAlberta NodeFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABCanada
| | | | - Sibelle T. Vilaça
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate ProgramTrent UniversityPeterboroughONCanada
- Biology DepartmentTrent UniversityPeterboroughONCanada
| | - Christopher J. Kyle
- Forensic Science ProgramTrent UniversityPeterboroughONCanada
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate ProgramTrent UniversityPeterboroughONCanada
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Prewer E, Kutz S, Leclerc LM, Kyle CJ. Already at the bottom? Demographic declines are unlikely further to undermine genetic diversity of a large Arctic ungulate: muskox, Ovibos moschatus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Low genetic diversity is associated with low fitness and evolutionary potential, yet the demographic and life-history traits of some species contribute to low genetic diversity, without empirical evidence of negative impacts on fitness. Modelling past and future trajectories of genetic diversity under different demographic scenarios can provide insight into how genetic variation might impact population fitness. The muskox is an Arctic species that has undergone multiple population bottlenecks and, although populations have rebounded repeatedly, two large populations have recently declined by > 50%. It is unclear how these demographic patterns influence muskox genetic diversity and fitness. We compared the genetic diversity of Canadian muskox populations undergoing opposing population trends. Genotyping 84 mainland and 244 Victoria Island individuals at ten microsatellite loci revealed low genetic variation (Victoria Island, mean allelic richness 1.66, expected heterozygosity 0.16; mainland, mean allelic richness 2.58, expected heterozygosity 0.41), with no evidence of further reductions in diversity subsequent to recent demographic declines. Bayesian modelling showed that a 1900s bottleneck contributed to the lack of diversity in contemporary populations, and forward-in-time simulations suggested little effect on genetic diversity over the next 100 years. Muskoxen might have reached a genetic diversity minimum, and additional research will be needed to determine their capacity to adapt to rapid changes in selective pressures in a rapidly changing Arctic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Prewer
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lisa Marie Leclerc
- Government of Nunavut, Department of Environment, Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Canada
| | - Christopher J Kyle
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Centre, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Tomaselli M, Elkin B, Kutz S, Harms NJ, Nymo HI, Davison T, Leclerc LM, Branigan M, Dumond M, Tryland M, Checkley S. A Transdisciplinary Approach to Brucella in Muskoxen of the Western Canadian Arctic 1989-2016. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:488-501. [PMID: 31414318 PMCID: PMC6858907 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01433-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Brucella serostatus was evaluated in 3189 muskoxen sampled between 1989 and 2016 from various locations of the Canadian Arctic archipelago and mainland, near the communities of Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, and Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk, Nunavut. Brucella antibodies were found only in muskoxen sampled around Cambridge Bay, both on southern Victoria Island and on the adjacent mainland (Kent Peninsula). Consistent with participatory epidemiology data documented from local harvesters describing increased Brucella-like syndromes (swollen joints and lameness) and a decreased proportion of juveniles, the apparent Brucella seroprevalence in the sampled muskoxen of the Cambridge Bay area increased from 0.9% (95% CI 0.3-2.1) in the period of 1989-2001 to 5.6% (95% CI 3.3-8.9) in 2010-2016. The zoonotic bacteria Brucella suis biovar 4 was also cultured from tissues of muskoxen sampled on Victoria Island near Ulukhaktok in 1996 (n = 1) and Cambridge Bay in 1998, 2014, and 2016 (n = 3). Overall, our data demonstrate that B. suis biovar 4 is found in muskoxen that are harvested for food and by guided hunts on Victoria Island and Kent Peninsula, adding an important public health dimension to this study. Robust participatory epidemiology data on muskox health and diseases greatly enhanced the interpretation of our Cambridge Bay data and, combined with the serological and microbiological data, provide compelling evidence that the prevalence of B. suis biovar 4 has increased in this area since the late 1990s. This study enhances the available knowledge on Brucella exposure and infection in muskoxen and provides an example of how scientific knowledge and local knowledge can work together to better understand disease status in wildlife.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Tomaselli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Canadian High Arctic Research Station, Polar Knowledge Canada, Cambridge Bay, NU, Canada.
| | - Brett Elkin
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Inuvik, NT, Canada
| | - Susan Kutz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - N Jane Harms
- Department of Environment, Animal Health Unit, Yukon Government, Whitehorse, YT, Canada
| | - H Ingebjørg Nymo
- Research Food Safety and Animal Health, The Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Tracy Davison
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Inuvik, NT, Canada
| | | | - Marsha Branigan
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Inuvik, NT, Canada
| | - Mathieu Dumond
- Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Kugluktuk, NU, Canada
| | - Morten Tryland
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Research Group for Arctic Infection Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sylvia Checkley
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Calgary, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|