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Coetzer WG. A phylogeographic assessment of South African greater cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus): Preliminary insights. VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e94111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) is an African rodent with a wide Sub-Saharan distribution range. This species is viewed as an important protein source in many African countries. These rodents are also regularly viewed as a pest species who frequently raid croplands in agricultural settings. No phylogenetic work has to date been published on T. swinderianus from southern Africa. This paper therefore reports the first phylogenetic assessment on the species across the South African distribution range. Thirty samples were sourced from local museum collections, with one direct submission by a member of the public who found a rodent carcass identified as T. swinderianus west of its known distribution range in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Two mitochondrial loci previously used in West African studies of this species were used in the current study to asses T. swinderianus population genetic diversity and phylogenetic structure across the South African distribution. A comparison to sequence data from West Africa was also performed. A divergence time estimation was conducted to further investigate the evolutionary history of the South African sub-population. Similar genetic diversity estimates were observed for the South African sub-population when compared to the West African datasets. Specimens from the eastern parts of South Africa showed higher genetic diversity estimates, possibly indicative of an initial colonisation site from eastern Africa. Two distinct phylogenetic clades were identified by Bayesian inference, forming distinct West African and South African groups. The divergence estimates showed similar ages for the T. swinderianus most recent common ancestor (MRCA) as previously reported. The MRCA estimates for the South African group identified a possible middle to late Pleistocene migratory event from eastern African into southern Africa. Further fine scale sampling across the African distribution range is however needed to provide more accurate assessments for future conservation management planning for the different sub-populations, as needed.
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Babarinde IA, Adeola AC, Djagoun CAMS, Nneji LM, Okeyoyin AO, Niba G, Wanzie NK, Oladipo OC, Adebambo AO, Bello SF, Ng'ang'a SI, Olaniyi WA, Okoro VMO, Adedeji BE, Olatunde O, Ayoola AO, Matouke MM, Wang YY, Sanke OJ, Oseni SO, Nwani CD, Murphy RW. Population structure and evolutionary history of the greater cane rat ( Thryonomys swinderianus) from the Guinean Forests of West Africa. Front Genet 2023; 14:1041103. [PMID: 36923796 PMCID: PMC10010571 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1041103] [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: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) is a large-body old world rodent found in sub-Saharan Africa. The body size and the unique taste of the meat of this major crop pest have made it a target of intense hunting and a potential consideration as a micro-livestock. However, there is insufficient knowledge on the genetic diversity of its populations across African Guinean forests. Herein, we investigated the genetic diversity, population structures and evolutionary history of seven Nigerian wild grasscutter populations together with individuals from Cameroon, Republic of Benin, and Ghana, using five mitochondrial fragments, including D-loop and cytochrome b (CYTB). D-loop haplotype diversity ranged from 0.571 (± 0.149) in Republic of Benin to 0.921 (± 0.013) in Ghana. Within Nigeria, the haplotype diversity ranged from 0.659 (± 0.059) in Cross River to 0.837 (± 0.075) in Ondo subpopulation. The fixation index (FST), haplotype frequency distribution and analysis of molecular variance revealed varying levels of population structures across populations. No significant signature of population contraction was detected in the grasscutter populations. Evolutionary analyses of CYTB suggests that South African population might have diverged from other populations about 6.1 (2.6-10.18, 95% CI) MYA. Taken together, this study reveals the population status and evolutionary history of grasscutter populations in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac A Babarinde
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Adeniyi C Adeola
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Centre for Biotechnology Research, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Chabi A M S Djagoun
- Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Lotanna M Nneji
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Agboola O Okeyoyin
- National Park Service Headquarters, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - George Niba
- National Centre for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Training, Jakiri, North West Region, Cameroon
| | - Ndifor K Wanzie
- Department of Zoology, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
| | | | - Ayotunde O Adebambo
- Animal Genetics & Biotechnology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
| | - Semiu F Bello
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Said I Ng'ang'a
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Wasiu A Olaniyi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Victor M O Okoro
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
| | | | - Omotoso Olatunde
- Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Adeola O Ayoola
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Moise M Matouke
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Oscar J Sanke
- Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jalingo, Nigeria
| | - Saidu O Oseni
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Christopher D Nwani
- Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Robert W Murphy
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada
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