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Morris DR, McWhorter TJ, Boardman WSJ, Simpson G, Wentzel J, Coetzee J, Moodley Y. Unravelling the maternal evolutionary history of the African leopard ( Panthera pardus pardus). PeerJ 2024; 12:e17018. [PMID: 38618571 PMCID: PMC11016244 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) has lost a significant proportion of its historical range, notably in north-western Africa and South Africa. Recent studies have explored the genetic diversity and population structure of African leopards across the continent. A notable genetic observation is the presence of two divergent mitochondrial lineages, PAR-I and PAR-II. Both lineages appeared to be distributed widely, with PAR-II frequently found in southern Africa. Until now, no study has attempted to date the emergence of either lineage, assess haplotype distribution, or explore their evolutionary histories in any detail. To investigate these underappreciated questions, we compiled the largest and most geographically representative leopard data set of the mitochondrial NADH-5 gene to date. We combined samples (n = 33) collected in an altitudinal transect across the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, where two populations of leopard are known to be in genetic contact, with previously published sequences of African leopard (n = 211). We estimate that the maternal PAR-I and PAR-II lineages diverged approximately 0.7051 (0.4477-0.9632) million years ago (Ma). Through spatial and demographic analyses, we show that while PAR-I underwent a mid-Pleistocene population expansion resulting in several closely related haplotypes with little geographic structure across much of its range, PAR-II remained at constant size and may even have declined slightly in the last 0.1 Ma. The higher genetic drift experienced within PAR-II drove a greater degree of structure with little haplotype sharing and unique haplotypes in central Africa, the Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the South African Highveld. The phylogeographic structure of PAR-II, with its increasing frequency southward and its exclusive occurrence in south-eastern South Africa, suggests that this lineage may have been isolated in South Africa during the mid-Pleistocene. This hypothesis is supported by historical changes in paleoclimate that promoted intense aridification around the Limpopo Basin between 1.0-0.6 Ma, potentially reducing gene flow and promoting genetic drift. Interestingly, we ascertained that the two nuclear DNA populations identified by a previous study as East and West Mpumalanga correspond to PAR-I and PAR-II, respectively, and that they have come into secondary contact in the Lowveld region of South Africa. Our results suggest a subdivision of African leopard mtDNA into two clades, with one occurring almost exclusively in South Africa, and we identify the potential environmental drivers of this observed structure. We caution that our results are based on a single mtDNA locus, but it nevertheless provides a hypothesis that can be further tested with a dense sample of nuclear DNA data, preferably whole genomes. If our interpretation holds true, it would provide the first genetic explanation for the smaller observed size of leopards at the southernmost end of their range in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan R. Morris
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Todd J. McWhorter
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Wayne S. J. Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gregory Simpson
- Department of Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary of Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Jeanette Wentzel
- Department of Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary of Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Hans Hoheisen Wildlife Research Station, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Jannie Coetzee
- Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa
| | - Yoshan Moodley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa
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Hinde K, Wilkinson A, Tokota S, Amin R, O’Riain MJ, Williams KS. Leopard density and the ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing density in a mixed-use landscape in the Western Cape, South Africa. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293445. [PMID: 37889916 PMCID: PMC10610481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Large carnivores face numerous threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, direct killing, and prey depletion, leading to significant global range and population declines. Despite such threats, leopards (Panthera pardus) persist outside protected areas throughout most of their range, occupying diverse habitat types and land uses, including peri-urban and rural areas. Understanding of leopard population dynamics in mixed-use landscapes is limited, especially in South Africa, where the majority of leopard research has focused on protected areas. We use spatially explicit capture-recapture models to estimate leopard density across a mixed-use landscape of protected areas, farmland, and urban areas in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Data from 86 paired camera stations provided 221 independent captures of 25 leopards at 50 camera trap stations with a population density estimate of 0.64 leopards per 100 km2 (95% CI: 0.55-0.73). Elevation, terrain ruggedness, and vegetation productivity were important drivers of leopard density in the landscape, being highest on elevated remnants of natural land outside of protected areas. These results are similar to previous research findings in other parts of the Western Cape, where high-lying natural vegetation was shown to serve as both a refuge and a corridor for leopard movement in otherwise transformed landscapes. Given the low leopard density and the prevalence of transformed land intermixed with patches of more suitable leopard habitat, prioritising and preserving connectivity for leopards is vital in this shared landscape. Ecological corridors should be developed in partnership with private landowners through an inclusive and multifaceted conservation strategy which also incorporates monitoring of and rapid mitigation of emerging threats to leopards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Hinde
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Rajan Amin
- The Cape Leopard Trust, Cape Town, South Africa
- Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - M. Justin O’Riain
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kathryn S. Williams
- The Cape Leopard Trust, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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Hong Y, He Y, Lin Z, Du Y, Chen S, Han L, Zhang Q, Gu S, Tu W, Hu S, Yuan Z, Liu X. Complex origins indicate a potential bridgehead introduction of an emerging amphibian invader (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) in China. NEOBIOTA 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.77.83205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Identifying the origins of established alien species is important to prevent new introductions in the future. The greenhouse frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris), native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, has been widely introduced to the Caribbean, North and Central America, Oceania and Asia. This invasive alien amphibian was recently reported in Shenzhen, China, but the potential introduction sources remain poorly understood. Based on phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial 16S, COI and CYTB sequences, we detected a complex introduction origin of this species, which may be from Hong Kong, China, the Philippines, Panama and Florida, USA, all pointing to a bridgehead introduction. In addition, the nursery trade between the four countries or regions and mainland China from 2011 to 2020 was also significantly higher than other areas with less likelihood of introductions, which supported the molecular results. Our study provides the first genetic evidence of the potential sources of this emerging amphibian invader in mainland China, which may help develop alien species control strategies in the face of growing trade through globalization.
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Smyth LK, Balme GA, Tyzack-Pitman R, Bishop JM, Justin O’Riain M. Like mother like daughter: quantifying the relationship between relatedness and phenotypic similarity in leopard pelage patterns. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00308-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Tensen L, Power J, Camacho G, Godinho R, Jansen van Vuuren B, Fischer K. Molecular tracking and prevalence of the red colour morph restricted to a harvested leopard population in South Africa. Evol Appl 2022; 15:1028-1041. [PMID: 35782007 PMCID: PMC9234631 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The red leopard (Panthera pardus) colour morph is a colour variant that occurs only in South Africa, where it is confined to the Central Bushveld bioregion. Red leopards have been spreading over the past 40 years, which raises the speculation that the prevalence of this phenotype is related to low dispersal of young individuals owing to high off‐take in the region. Intensive selective hunting tends to remove large resident male leopards from the breeding population, which gives young male leopards the chance to mate with resident female leopards that are more likely to be their relatives, eventually increasing the frequency of rare genetic variants. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying the red coat colour morph in leopards, and whether its prevalence in South Africa relates to an increase in genetic relatedness in the population, we sequenced exons of six coat colour‐associated genes and 20 microsatellite loci in twenty Wild‐type and four red leopards. The results were combined with demographic data available from our study sites. We found that red leopards own a haplotype in homozygosity identified by two SNPs and a 1 bp deletion that causes a frameshift in the tyrosinase‐related protein 1 (TYRP1), a gene known to be involved in the biosynthesis of melanin. Microsatellite analyses indicate clear signs of a population bottleneck and a relatedness of 0.11 among all pairwise relationships, eventually supporting our hypothesis that a rare colour morph in the wild has increased its local frequency due to low natal dispersal, while subject to high human‐induced mortality rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tensen
- Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences University of Koblenz‐ Landau Germany
- Department of Zoology University of Johannesburg South Africa
| | - John Power
- Directorate of Biodiversity Management, Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism North West Provincial Government South Africa
| | | | - Raquel Godinho
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
- Department of Zoology University of Johannesburg South Africa
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão Vairão Portugal
| | | | - Klaus Fischer
- Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences University of Koblenz‐ Landau Germany
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Population density estimate of leopards (Panthera pardus) in north-western Mpumalanga, South Africa, determined using spatially explicit capture–recapture methods. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00179-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Farhadinia MS, Ashrafzadeh MR, Senn H, Ashrafi S, Farahmand H, Ghazali M, Hunter LTB, Macdonald DW. Is there low maternal genetic variation in West Asian populations of leopard? MAMMAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-020-00510-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractPersian leopards Panthera pardus saxicolor have been extirpated from over 84% of their historic range and are now limited to rugged landscapes of West Asia and the Caucasus. Understanding and maintaining genetic diversity and population connectivity is important for preventing inbreeding and genetic drift, both of which can threaten population viability. All previous analyses of intraspecific genetic variation of West Asian leopards based on the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene have reported low mitogenomic diversity. In the current study, we sequenced 959 bp of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene to describe the spatial genetic structure of 22 wild Persian leopards across Iran, which hosts most of the subspecies extant range. The findings based on phylogenetic trees and median-joining network indicated that leopards from Iran formed a distinct subclade, i.e., P. p. saxicolor. The AMOVA analysis showed significant differentiation (88.55%) between the subclades of Persian leopards and other Asian leopards. The lowest levels of haplotype (0.247) and nucleotide (0.00078) diversity were estimated in Persian leopards from Iran. Mitochondrial genome sequencing revealed only two closely related haplotypes. There was no evidence for recent sudden demographic expansion scenario in Persian leopards. The low diversity in cytochrome b gene could potentially be brought about by selective pressure on mitochondria to adapt to oxidative stress and higher metabolic rates in cold environments.
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Naude VN, Balme GA, O'Riain J, Hunter LT, Fattebert J, Dickerson T, Bishop JM. Unsustainable anthropogenic mortality disrupts natal dispersal and promotes inbreeding in leopards. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:3605-3619. [PMID: 32313621 PMCID: PMC7160178 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic mortality of wildlife is typically inferred from measures of the absolute decline in population numbers. However, increasing evidence suggests that indirect demographic effects including changes to the age, sex, and social structure of populations, as well as the behavior of survivors, can profoundly impact population health and viability. Specifically, anthropogenic mortality of wildlife (especially when unsustainable) and fragmentation of the spatial distribution of individuals (home-ranges) could disrupt natal dispersal mechanisms, with long-term consequences to genetic structure, by compromising outbreeding behavior and gene flow. We investigate this threat in African leopards (Panthera pardus pardus), a polygynous felid with male-biased natal dispersal. Using a combination of spatial (home-range) and genetic (21 polymorphic microsatellites) data from 142 adult leopards, we contrast the structure of two South African populations with markedly different histories of anthropogenically linked mortality. Home-range overlap, parentage assignment, and spatio-genetic autocorrelation together show that historical exploitation of leopards in a recovering protected area has disrupted and reduced subadult male dispersal, thereby facilitating opportunistic male natal philopatry, with sons establishing territories closer to their mothers and sisters. The resultant kin-clustering in males of this historically exploited population is comparable to that of females in a well-protected reserve and has ultimately led to localized inbreeding. Our findings demonstrate novel evidence directly linking unsustainable anthropogenic mortality to inbreeding through disrupted dispersal in a large, solitary felid and expose the genetic consequences underlying this behavioral change. We therefore emphasize the importance of managing and mitigating the effects of unsustainable exploitation on local populations and increasing habitat fragmentation between contiguous protected areas by promoting in situ recovery and providing corridors of suitable habitat that maintain genetic connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent N. Naude
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in AfricaUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- PantheraNew YorkNYUSA
| | | | - Justin O'Riain
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in AfricaUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Luke T.B. Hunter
- Wildlife Conservation SocietyBronxNYUSA
- Centre for Functional BiodiversitySchool of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Julien Fattebert
- PantheraNew YorkNYUSA
- Centre for Functional BiodiversitySchool of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitDepartment of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWYUSA
| | | | - Jacqueline M. Bishop
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in AfricaUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Bhatt S, Biswas S, Karanth K, Pandav B, Mondol S. Genetic analyses reveal population structure and recent decline in leopards ( Panthera pardus fusca) across the Indian subcontinent. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8482. [PMID: 32117616 PMCID: PMC7006512 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Large carnivores maintain the stability and functioning of ecosystems. Currently, many carnivore species face declining population sizes due to natural and anthropogenic pressures. The leopard, Panthera pardus, is probably the most widely distributed and highly adaptable large felid globally, still persisting in most of its historic range. However, we lack subspecies-level data on country or regional scale on population trends, as ecological monitoring approaches are difficult to apply on such wide-ranging species. We used genetic data from leopards sampled across the Indian subcontinent to investigate population structure and patterns of demographic decline. Methods We collected faecal samples from the Terai-Arc landscape of northern India and identified 56 unique individuals using a panel of 13 microsatellite markers. We merged this data with already available 143 leopard individuals and assessed genetic structure at country scale. Subsequently, we investigated the demographic history of each identified subpopulations and compared genetic decline analyses with countrywide local extinction probabilities. Results Our genetic analyses revealed four distinct subpopulations corresponding to Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau-Semi Arid, Shivalik and Terai region of the north Indian landscape, each with high genetic variation. Coalescent simulations with microsatellite loci revealed a possibly human-induced 75–90% population decline between ∼120–200 years ago across India. Population-specific estimates of genetic decline are in concordance with ecological estimates of local extinction probabilities in these subpopulations obtained from occupancy modeling of the historic and current distribution of leopards in India. Conclusions Our results confirm the population decline of a widely distributed, adaptable large carnivore. We re-iterate the relevance of indirect genetic methods for such species in conjunction with occupancy assessment and recommend that detailed, landscape-level ecological studies on leopard populations are critical to future conservation efforts. Our approaches and inference are relevant to other widely distributed, seemingly unaffected carnivores such as the leopard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Bhatt
- Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India
| | - Suvankar Biswas
- Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India
| | - Krithi Karanth
- Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bengaluru, India.,Nicholas School of Environment, Duke University, Durham, United States of America
| | - Bivash Pandav
- Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India
| | - Samrat Mondol
- Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India
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Asad M, Martoni F, Ross JG, Waseem M, Abbas FI, Paterson AM. Assessing subspecies status of leopards ( Panthera pardus) of northern Pakistan using mitochondrial DNA. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7243. [PMID: 31341733 PMCID: PMC6640621 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being classified as critically endangered, little work has been done on leopard protection in Pakistan. Once widely present throughout this region, leopards are now sparsely distributed, and possibly extinct from much of their previously recorded habitat. While leopards show morphological and genetic variation across their species range worldwide, resulting in the classification of nine different subspecies, the leopard genetic structure across Pakistan is unknown, with previous studies including only a very limited sampling. To clarify the genetic status of leopards in Pakistan we investigated the sequence variation in the subunit 5 of the mitochondrial gene NADH from 43 tissue samples and compared it with 238 sequences available from online databases. Phylogenetic analysis clearly separates the Pakistani leopards from the African and Arabian clades, confirming that leopards from Pakistan are members of the Asian clade. Furthermore, we identified two separate subspecies haplotypes within our dataset: P. p. fusca (N = 23) and P. p. saxicolor (N = 12).
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asad
- Department of Pest-management and Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Francesco Martoni
- AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Agriculture Victoria Research, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - James G Ross
- Department of Pest-management and Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Adrian M Paterson
- Department of Pest-management and Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Lincoln University, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
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Zecchin B, De Nardi M, Nouvellet P, Vernesi C, Babbucci M, Crestanello B, Bagó Z, Bedeković T, Hostnik P, Milani A, Donnelly CA, Bargelloni L, Lorenzetto M, Citterio C, Obber F, De Benedictis P, Cattoli G. Genetic and spatial characterization of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population in the area stretching between the Eastern and Dinaric Alps and its relationship with rabies and canine distemper dynamics. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213515. [PMID: 30861028 PMCID: PMC6413928 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Information on the population dynamics of a reservoir species have been increasingly adopted to understand and eventually predict the dispersal patterns of infectious diseases throughout an area. Although potentially relevant, to date there are no studies which have investigated the genetic structure of the red fox population in relation to infectious disease dynamics. Therefore, we genetically and spatially characterised the red fox population in the area stretching between the Eastern and Dinaric Alps, which has been affected by both distemper and rabies at different time intervals. Red foxes collected from north-eastern Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia between 2006–2012, were studied using a set of 21 microsatellite markers. We confirmed a weak genetic differentiation within the fox population using Bayesian clustering analyses, and we were able to differentiate the fox population into geographically segregated groups. Our finding might be due to the presence of geographical barriers that have likely influenced the distribution of the fox population, limiting in turn gene flow and spread of infectious diseases. Focusing on the Italian red fox population, we observed interesting variations in the prevalence of both diseases among distinct fox clusters, with the previously identified Italy 1 and Italy 2 rabies as well as distemper viruses preferentially affecting different sub-groups identified in the study. Knowledge of the regional-scale population structure can improve understanding of the epidemiology and spread of diseases. Our study paves the way for an integrated approach for disease control coupling pathogen, host and environmental data to inform targeted control programs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zecchin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Marco De Nardi
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
| | - Pierre Nouvellet
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cristiano Vernesi
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Babbucci
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Barbara Crestanello
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Zoltán Bagó
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Mödling, Austria
| | | | - Peter Hostnik
- Virology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Adelaide Milani
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
| | - Christl Ann Donnelly
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Modelling Methodology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Bargelloni
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Monica Lorenzetto
- Department of Veterinary Epidemiology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
| | - Carlo Citterio
- SCT2 Belluno, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Belluno, Italy
| | - Federica Obber
- SCT2 Belluno, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Belluno, Italy
| | - Paola De Benedictis
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cattoli
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
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Paijmans JLA, Barlow A, Förster DW, Henneberger K, Meyer M, Nickel B, Nagel D, Worsøe Havmøller R, Baryshnikov GF, Joger U, Rosendahl W, Hofreiter M. Historical biogeography of the leopard (Panthera pardus) and its extinct Eurasian populations. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:156. [PMID: 30348080 PMCID: PMC6198532 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1268-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Resolving the historical biogeography of the leopard (Panthera pardus) is a complex issue, because patterns inferred from fossils and from molecular data lack congruence. Fossil evidence supports an African origin, and suggests that leopards were already present in Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene. Analysis of DNA sequences however, suggests a more recent, Middle Pleistocene shared ancestry of Asian and African leopards. These contrasting patterns led researchers to propose a two-stage hypothesis of leopard dispersal out of Africa: an initial Early Pleistocene colonisation of Asia and a subsequent replacement by a second colonisation wave during the Middle Pleistocene. The status of Late Pleistocene European leopards within this scenario is unclear: were these populations remnants of the first dispersal, or do the last surviving European leopards share more recent ancestry with their African counterparts? Results In this study, we generate and analyse mitogenome sequences from historical samples that span the entire modern leopard distribution, as well as from Late Pleistocene remains. We find a deep bifurcation between African and Eurasian mitochondrial lineages (~ 710 Ka), with the European ancient samples as sister to all Asian lineages (~ 483 Ka). The modern and historical mainland Asian lineages share a relatively recent common ancestor (~ 122 Ka), and we find one Javan sample nested within these. Conclusions The phylogenetic placement of the ancient European leopard as sister group to Asian leopards suggests that these populations originate from the same out-of-Africa dispersal which founded the Asian lineages. The coalescence time found for the mitochondrial lineages aligns well with the earliest undisputed fossils in Eurasia, and thus encourages a re-evaluation of the identification of the much older putative leopard fossils from the region. The relatively recent ancestry of all mainland Asian leopard lineages suggests that these populations underwent a severe population bottleneck during the Pleistocene. Finally, although only based on a single sample, the unexpected phylogenetic placement of the Javan leopard could be interpreted as evidence for exchange of mitochondrial lineages between Java and mainland Asia, calling for further investigation into the evolutionary history of this subspecies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-018-1268-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna L A Paijmans
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Axel Barlow
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Daniel W Förster
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo- and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kirstin Henneberger
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Matthias Meyer
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Birgit Nickel
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Doris Nagel
- Institute for Paleontology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
| | - Rasmus Worsøe Havmøller
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gennady F Baryshnikov
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Naberezhnaya 1, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ulrich Joger
- State Natural History Museum, Pockelsstr. 10, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Wilfried Rosendahl
- Reiss-Engelhorn Museen and Curt-Engelhorn-Centre for Archaeometry, C4 8, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Hofreiter
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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13
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Anco C, Kolokotronis SO, Henschel P, Cunningham SW, Amato G, Hekkala E. Historical mitochondrial diversity in African leopards (Panthera pardus) revealed by archival museum specimens. Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2017; 29:455-473. [PMID: 28423965 DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2017.1307973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Once found throughout Africa and Eurasia, the leopard (Panthera pardus) was recently uplisted from Near Threatened to Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Historically, more than 50% of the leopard's global range occurred in continental Africa, yet sampling from this part of the species' distribution is only sparsely represented in prior studies examining patterns of genetic variation at the continental or global level. Broad sampling to determine baseline patterns of genetic variation throughout the leopard's historical distribution is important, as these measures are currently used by the IUCN to direct conservation priorities and management plans. By including data from 182 historical museum specimens, faecal samples from ongoing field surveys, and published sequences representing sub-Saharan Africa, we identify previously unrecognized genetic diversity in African leopards. Our mtDNA data indicates high levels of divergence among regional populations and strongly differentiated lineages in West Africa on par with recent studies of other large vertebrates. We provide a reference benchmark of genetic diversity in African leopards against which future monitoring can be compared. These findings emphasize the utility of historical museum collections in understanding the processes that shape present biodiversity. Additionally, we suggest future research to clarify African leopard taxonomy and to differentiate between delineated units requiring monitoring or conservation action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey Anco
- a Department of Biological Sciences , Fordham University , Bronx , USA.,b Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History , New York , USA
| | - Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis
- b Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History , New York , USA.,c Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health , SUNY Downstate Medical Center , Brooklyn , USA
| | | | - Seth W Cunningham
- a Department of Biological Sciences , Fordham University , Bronx , USA
| | - George Amato
- b Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History , New York , USA
| | - Evon Hekkala
- a Department of Biological Sciences , Fordham University , Bronx , USA.,b Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History , New York , USA
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14
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Matthee CA, Ropiquet A. The importance of correctly identifying the process responsible for spatial genetic structure in Leopard: A response to McManus and Smuts (2016). C R Biol 2016; 339:439-441. [PMID: 27720729 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Microsatellite analyses suggest that spatial genetic structure among six leopard-sampling sites in southern Africa is the result of isolation by distance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conrad A Matthee
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Evolutionary Genomics Group, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland Natural Science Building, 7602 Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.
| | - Anne Ropiquet
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs-Hendon, NW4 4 BT London, United Kingdom
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15
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Low microsatellites used to investigate leopard genetic structure severely restricts the results by Ropiquet et al. (2015) to infer population structure for managers. C R Biol 2016; 339:378-9. [PMID: 27550729 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2016.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Low microsatellites used to investigate leopard genetic structure severely restricts the results by Ropiquet et al. (2015) to infer population structure for managers.
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