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Robin VV. Population genetics of animals in the wild to aid conservation: Uma Ramakrishnan-Recipient of the 2023 Molecular Ecology Prize. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17290. [PMID: 38339857 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- V V Robin
- IISER Tirupati, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
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Sosa CC, Arenas C, García-Merchán VH. Human Population Density Influences Genetic Diversity of Two Rattus Species Worldwide: A Macrogenetic Approach. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1442. [PMID: 37510346 PMCID: PMC10379283 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071442] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
On a planet experiencing constant human population growth, it is necessary to explore the anthropogenic effects on the genetic diversity of species, and specifically invasive species. Using an analysis that integrates comparative phylogeography, urban landscape genetics, macrogenetics and a systematic review, we explore the worldwide genetic diversity of the human commensal and anthropogenic species Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus. Based on metadata obtained considering 35 selected studies related to observed heterozygosity, measured by nuclear molecular markers (microsatellites, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs-, restrictition site-associated DNA sequencing -RAD-Seq-), socioeconomic and mobility anthropogenic factors were used as predictors of genetic diversity of R. rattus and R. norvegicus, using the Gini index, principal component analysis and Random Forest Regression as analysis methodology. Population density was on average the best predictor of genetic diversity in the Rattus species analyzed, indicating that the species respond in a particular way to the characteristics present in urban environments because of a combination of life history characteristics and human-mediated migration and colonization processes. To create better management and control strategies for these rodents and their associated diseases, it is necessary to fill the existing information gap in urban landscape genetics studies with more metadata repositories, with emphasis on tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrystian C Sosa
- Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Research Group-EECO, Biology Program, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Technologies, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia 630004, Colombia
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali 7 #40-62, Bogotá 110311, Colombia
| | - Catalina Arenas
- Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Research Group-EECO, Biology Program, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Technologies, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia 630004, Colombia
| | - Víctor Hugo García-Merchán
- Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Research Group-EECO, Biology Program, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Technologies, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia 630004, Colombia
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Yarita S, Morgan-Richards M, Trewick SA. Genotypic detection of barriers to rat dispersal: Rattus rattus behind a peninsula predator-proof fence. Biol Invasions 2023; 25:1723-1738. [PMID: 36777104 PMCID: PMC9900205 DOI: 10.1007/s10530-023-03004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Clear delimitation of management units is essential for effective management of invasive species. Analysis of population genetic structure of target species can improve identification and interpretation of natural and artificial barriers to dispersal. In Aotearoa New Zealand where the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) is a major threat to native biodiversity, effective suppression of pest numbers requires removal and limitation of reinvasion from outside the managed population. We contrasted population genetic structure in rat populations over a wide scale without known barriers, with structure over a fine scale with potential barriers to dispersal. MtDNA D-loop sequences and microsatellite genotypes resolved little genetic structure in southern North Island population samples of ship rat 100 km apart. In contrast, samples from major islands differed significantly for both mtDNA and nuclear markers. We also compared ship rats collected within a small peninsula reserve bounded by sea, suburbs and, more recently, a predator fence with rats in the surrounding forest. Here, mtDNA did not differ but genotypes from 14 nuclear loci were sufficient to distinguish the fenced population. This suggests that natural (sea) and artificial barriers (town, fence) are effectively limiting gene flow among ship rat populations over the short distance (~ 500 m) between the peninsula reserve and surrounding forest. The effectiveness of the fence alone is not clear given it is a recent feature and no historical samples exist; resampling population genetic diversity over time will improve understanding. Nonetheless, the current genetic isolation of the fenced rat population suggests that rat eradication is a sensible management option given that reinvasion appears to be limited and could probably be managed with a biosecurity programme. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-023-03004-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shogo Yarita
- grid.148374.d0000 0001 0696 9806Wildlife and Ecology, School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Mary Morgan-Richards
- grid.148374.d0000 0001 0696 9806Wildlife and Ecology, School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Steven A. Trewick
- grid.148374.d0000 0001 0696 9806Wildlife and Ecology, School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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4
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The genetic structure and connectivity in two sympatric rodent species with different life histories are similarly affected by land use disturbances. CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01485-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe negative impact of habitat fragmentation due to human activities may be different in different species that co-exist in the same area, with consequences on the development of environmental protection plans. Here we aim at understanding the effects produced by different natural and anthropic landscape features on gene flow patterns in two sympatric species with different specializations, one generalist and one specialist, sampled in the same locations. We collected and genotyped 194 wood mice (generalist species) and 199 bank voles (specialist species) from 15 woodlands in a fragmented landscape characterized by different potential barriers to dispersal. Genetic variation and structure were analyzed in the two species, respectively. Effective migration surfaces, isolation-by-resistance (IBR) analysis, and regression with randomization were used to investigate isolation-by-distance (IBD) and the relative importance of land cover elements on gene flow. We observed similar patterns of heterozygosity and IBD for both species, but the bank vole showed higher genetic differences among geographic areas. The IBR analysis suggests that (i) connectivity is reduced in both species by urban areas but more strongly in the specialist bank vole; (ii) cultivated areas act as dispersal corridors in both species; (iii) woodlands appear to be an important factor in increasing connectivity in the bank vole, and less so in the wood mouse. The difference in dispersal abilities between a generalist and specialist species was reflected in the difference in genetic structure, despite extensive habitat changes due to human activities. The negative effects of fragmentation due to the process of urbanization were, at least partially, mitigated by another human product, i.e., cultivated terrains subdivided by hedgerows, and this was true for both species.
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Ansil BR, Mendenhall IH, Ramakrishnan U. High prevalence and diversity of Bartonella in small mammals from the biodiverse Western Ghats. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009178. [PMID: 33705398 PMCID: PMC7951854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonella species are recognized globally as emerging zoonotic pathogens. Small mammals such as rodents and shrews are implicated as major natural reservoirs for these microbial agents. Nevertheless, in several tropical countries, like India, the diversity of Bartonella in small mammals remain unexplored and limited information exists on the natural transmission cycles (reservoirs and vectors) of these bacteria. Using a multi-locus sequencing approach, we investigated the prevalence, haplotype diversity, and phylogenetic affinities of Bartonella in small mammals and their associated mites in a mixed-use landscape in the biodiverse Western Ghats in southern India. We sampled 141 individual small mammals belonging to eight species. Bartonella was detected in five of the eight species, including three previously unknown hosts. We observed high interspecies variability of Bartonella prevalence in the host community. However, the overall prevalence (52.5%) and haplotype diversity (0.9) was high for the individuals tested. Of the seven lineages of Bartonella identified in our samples, five lineages were phylogenetically related to putative zoonotic species–B. tribocorum, B. queenslandensis, and B. elizabethae. Haplotypes identified from mites were identical to those identified from their host species. This indicates that these Bartonella species may be zoonotic, but further work is necessary to confirm whether these are pathogenic and pose a threat to humans. Taken together, these results emphasize the presence of hitherto unexplored diversity of Bartonella in wild and synanthropic small mammals in mixed-use landscapes. The study also highlights the necessity to assess the risk of spillover to humans and other incidental hosts. Zoonotic bacterial infections cause both economic and health burdens to humans, especially in developing countries. Bartonella is a diverse group with several species that are infectious to humans. There is limited knowledge of Bartonella diversity and subsequent risk for spillover in several tropical countries, including India. This study, set in a biodiversity hotspot with high human density, reveals a high prevalence and diversity of Bartonella in the most common, and synanthropic small mammals. Several lineages identified are phylogenetically related to zoonotic species known to cause infections in humans. We suggest that there is unexplored diversity of Bartonella in small mammals that reside in human-modified landscapes in India, demonstrating an urgent need for further investigation. By identifying the natural reservoirs of pathogens, their ecology, and their relationship and proximity to humans, we will be able to proactively survey for these under-detected bacterial infections and minimize the burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. R. Ansil
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
- * E-mail: (BRA); (UR)
| | - Ian H. Mendenhall
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Singapore
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- * E-mail: (BRA); (UR)
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Zhao L, Zhang JX, Zhang YH. Genetic boundary and gene flow between 2 parapatric subspecies of brown rats. Curr Zool 2020; 66:677-688. [PMID: 33391367 PMCID: PMC7769575 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Two parapatric Rattus norvegicus subspecies, R. n. humiliatus (RNH) and R. n. caraco (RNC), are classified according to morphological divergence and are mainly distributed in North and Northeast China. Here, we aimed to explore the population genetic structure, genetic boundary, and gene flow in these rats using 16 microsatellite loci. Structure analysis and principal component analysis revealed 3 ancestral clusters. We found that the intermediate cluster exhibited higher genetic diversity and a lower inbreeding coefficient than the other 2 clusters. The genetic differentiation between the 3 clusters was significant but weak, with a higher FST value being observed between the clusters on both sides. The subspecies boundary inferred from microsatellite markers may indicate the existence of an admixture or hybridization area covering Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, and Jilin Provinces, rather than corresponding to the administrative provincial boundaries between Liaoning and Jilin. The RNH and RNC subspecies presented moderate gene exchange and an asymmetric bidirectional gene flow pattern, with higher gene flow from the RNH subspecies to the RNC subspecies, constraining speciation. Such genetic characteristics might be explained by biological processes such as dispersal ability, mate choice, and dynamic lineage boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian-Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yao-Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road 1-5, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
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Sirén APK, Morelli TL. Interactive range-limit theory (iRLT): An extension for predicting range shifts. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:940-954. [PMID: 31758805 PMCID: PMC7187220 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A central theme of range-limit theory (RLT) posits that abiotic factors form high-latitude/altitude limits, whereas biotic interactions create lower limits. This hypothesis, often credited to Charles Darwin, is a pattern widely assumed to occur in nature. However, abiotic factors can impose constraints on both limits and there is scant evidence to support the latter prediction. Deviations from these predictions may arise from correlations between abiotic factors and biotic interactions, as a lack of data to evaluate the hypothesis, or be an artifact of scale. Combining two tenets of ecology-niche theory and predator-prey theory-provides an opportunity to understand how biotic interactions influence range limits and how this varies by trophic level. We propose an expansion of RLT, interactive RLT (iRLT), to understand the causes of range limits and predict range shifts. Incorporating the main predictions of Darwin's hypothesis, iRLT hypothesizes that abiotic and biotic factors can interact to impact both limits of a species' range. We summarize current thinking on range limits and perform an integrative review to evaluate support for iRLT and trophic differences along range margins, surveying the mammal community along the boreal-temperate and forest-tundra ecotones of North America. Our review suggests that range-limit dynamics are more nuanced and interactive than classically predicted by RLT. Many (57 of 70) studies indicate that biotic factors can ameliorate harsh climatic conditions along high-latitude/altitude limits. Conversely, abiotic factors can also mediate biotic interactions along low-latitude/altitude limits (44 of 68 studies). Both scenarios facilitate range expansion, contraction or stability depending on the strength and the direction of the abiotic or biotic factors. As predicted, biotic interactions most often occurred along lower limits, yet there were trophic differences. Carnivores were only limited by competitive interactions (n = 25), whereas herbivores were more influenced by predation and parasitism (77%; 55 of 71 studies). We highlight how these differences may create divergent range patterns along lower limits. We conclude by (a) summarizing iRLT; (b) contrasting how our model system and others fit this hypothesis and (c) suggesting future directions for evaluating iRLT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexej P. K. Sirén
- Department of Interior Northeast Climate Adaptation Science CenterU.S. Geological SurveyAmherstMAUSA
- Department of Environmental ConservationUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstMAUSA
| | - Toni Lyn Morelli
- Department of Interior Northeast Climate Adaptation Science CenterU.S. Geological SurveyAmherstMAUSA
- Department of Environmental ConservationUniversity of MassachusettsAmherstMAUSA
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8
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Russell JC, Robins JH, Fewster RM. Phylogeography of Invasive Rats in New Zealand. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Guo S, Li G, Liu J, Wang J, Lu L, Liu Q. Dispersal route of the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi) on mainland China: insights from microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA. BMC Genet 2019; 20:11. [PMID: 30669977 PMCID: PMC6341715 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-019-0714-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rattus tanezumi is a common commensal rat and an important host animal of bubonic plague in South China and Southeast Asia. The northward dispersal of this species in mainland China has been reported in recent decades, along with more recent intercontinental expansion. Population genetics of R. tanezumi in mainland China were studied to explain the relationship between dispersal history and the ancient and modern transportation networks of China. RESULTS In total, 502 individuals belonging to 18 populations were collected from 13 provincial areas. Nine microsatellite loci and two mtDNA sequences were analyzed. The results indicate that R. tanezumi populations from Yunnan have highest genetic diversity and populations from Tibet with lowest genetic diversity. 18 populations can be divided into four clusters, the first cluster including populations from southwest Yunnan, the second including two populations of Tibet, the third for populations from middle and east of mainland China, and the forth for two populations from north Yunnan. Both microsatellite and mtDNA data reveal that the populations from coastal areas are closely related to populations from Yunnan, whereas populations from Tibet are closely related with populations from Sichuan. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that early dispersal of R. tanezumi in mainland China depended on shipping transportation, with subsequent expansion from coastal areas into Central China occurring along the Yangzi River. Further, the linkages between populations in Tibet and Sichuan point to a modern era introduction via the Chuan-Zang highway, rather than along the Tea Horse Ancient Road.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.,Zhejiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Guichang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jinli Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Liang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Qiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
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10
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Phylogeography of the black rat Rattus rattus in India and the implications for its dispersal history in Eurasia. Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1830-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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11
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Varudkar A, Ramakrishnan U. Gut microflora may facilitate adaptation to anthropic habitat: A comparative study in Rattus. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:6463-6472. [PMID: 30038748 PMCID: PMC6053588 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropophilic species ("commensal" species) that are completely dependent upon anthropic habitats experience different selective pressures particularly in terms of food than their noncommensal counterparts. Using a next-generation sequencing approach, we characterized and compared the gut microflora community of 53 commensal Rattus rattus and 59 noncommensal Rattus satarae captured in 10 locations in the Western Ghats, India. We observed that, while species identity was important in characterizing the microflora communities of the two Rattus hosts, environmental factors also had a significant effect. While there was significant geographic variation in the microflora of the noncommensal R. satarae, there was no effect of geographic distance on gut microflora of the commensal R. rattus. Interestingly, host genetic distance did not significantly influence the community in either Rattus hosts. Collectively, these results indicate that a shift in habitat is likely to result in a change in the gut microflora community and imply that the gut microflora is a complex trait, influenced by various parameters in different habitats.
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Chakravarty R, Chattopadhyay B, Ramakrishnan U, Sivasundar A. Comparative Population Structure in Species of Bats Differing in Ecology and Morphology in the Andaman Islands, India. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2018. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2018.20.1.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Chakravarty
- Post-Graduate Program in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society-India, Bangalore 560097, India and National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Balaji Chattopadhyay
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Arjun Sivasundar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India
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13
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Centeno-Cuadros A, Hulva P, Romportl D, Santoro S, Stříbná T, Shohami D, Evin A, Tsoar A, Benda P, Horáček I, Nathan R. Habitat use, but not gene flow, is influenced by human activities in two ecotypes of Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Mol Ecol 2017; 26:6224-6237. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Centeno-Cuadros
- Movement Ecology Laboratory; Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering; University Pablo de Olavide; Sevilla Spain
| | - P. Hulva
- Department of Zoology; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
- Department of Biology and Ecology; University of Ostrava; Ostrava Czech Republic
| | - D. Romportl
- Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology; Charles University in Prague; Prague Czech Republic
| | - S. Santoro
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering; University Pablo de Olavide; Sevilla Spain
- Department of Ethology and Biodiversity Conservation; Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC); Seville Spain
| | - T. Stříbná
- Department of Zoology; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - D. Shohami
- Movement Ecology Laboratory; Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
| | - A. Evin
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution; Université de Montpellier; Montpellier France
| | - A. Tsoar
- Movement Ecology Laboratory; Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
| | - P. Benda
- Department of Zoology; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology; National Museum (Natural History); Prague Czech Republic
| | - I. Horáček
- Department of Zoology; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - R. Nathan
- Movement Ecology Laboratory; Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences; Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem Israel
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14
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Hulme-Beaman A, Dobney K, Cucchi T, Searle JB. An Ecological and Evolutionary Framework for Commensalism in Anthropogenic Environments. Trends Ecol Evol 2016; 31:633-645. [PMID: 27297117 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Commensalism within anthropogenic environments has not been extensively discussed, despite its impact on humans, and there is no formal framework for assessing this ecological relationship in its varied forms. Here, we examine commensalism in anthropogenic environments in detail, considering both ecological and evolutionary drivers. The many assumptions about commensalism and the nature of anthropogenic environments are discussed and we highlight dependency as a key attribute of anthropogenic commensals (anthrodependent taxa). We primarily focus on mammalian species in the anthropogenic-commensal niche, but the traits described and selective pressures presented are likely fundamental to many species engaged in intense commensal relationships with humans. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this largely understudied interaction represents an important opportunity to investigate evolutionary processes in rapidly changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardern Hulme-Beaman
- Department of Archaeology, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, St Mary's Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UF, UK; Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, 12-14 Abercromby Square, Liverpool, L69 7WZ, UK.
| | - Keith Dobney
- Department of Archaeology, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, St Mary's Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UF, UK; Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, 12-14 Abercromby Square, Liverpool, L69 7WZ, UK
| | - Thomas Cucchi
- Department of Archaeology, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, St Mary's Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UF, UK; Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS UMR7209, Paris, France
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Corson Hall, Ithaca, NY14853-2701, USA
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