1
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Barazandeh M, Kriti D, Fickel J, Nislow C. The Addis Ababa Lions: Whole-Genome Sequencing of a Rare and Precious Population. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae021. [PMID: 38302110 PMCID: PMC10871700 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Lions are widely known as charismatic predators that once roamed across the globe, but their populations have been greatly affected by environmental factors and human activities over the last 150 yr. Of particular interest is the Addis Ababa lion population, which has been maintained in captivity at around 20 individuals for over 75 yr, while many wild African lion populations have become extinct. In order to understand the molecular features of this unique population, we conducted a whole-genome sequencing study on 15 Addis Ababa lions and detected 4.5 million distinct genomic variants compared with the reference African lion genome. Using functional annotation, we identified several genes with mutations that potentially impact various traits such as mane color, body size, reproduction, gastrointestinal functions, cardiovascular processes, and sensory perception. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetics of this threatened lion population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Barazandeh
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Divya Kriti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jörns Fickel
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Research Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Berlin, Germany
| | - Corey Nislow
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sooriyabandara MGC, Bandaranayake AU, Hathurusinghe HABM, Jayasundara SM, Marasinghe MSRRP, Prasad GAT, Abeywardana VPMK, Pinidiya MA, Nilanthi RMR, Bandaranayake PCG. A unique single nucleotide polymorphism in Agouti Signalling Protein (ASIP) gene changes coat colour of Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) to dark black. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0269967. [PMID: 37440497 PMCID: PMC10343082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269967] [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: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is an endangered subspecies restricted to isolated and fragmented populations in Sri Lanka. Among them, melanistic leopards have been recorded on a few occasions. Literature suggests the evolution of melanism several times in the Felidae family, with three species having distinct mutations. Nevertheless, the mutations or other variations in the remaining species, including Sri Lankan melanistic leopard, are unknown. We used reference-based assembled nuclear genomes of Sri Lankan wild type and melanistic leopards and de novo assembled mitogenomes of the same to investigate the genetic basis, adaptive significance, and evolutionary history of the Sri Lankan melanistic leopard. Interestingly, we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism in exon-4 Sri Lankan melanistic leopard, which may completely ablate Agouti Signalling Protein (ASIP) function. The wild type leopards in Sri Lanka did not carry this mutation, suggesting the cause for the occurrence of melanistic leopords in the population. Comparative analysis of existing genomic data in the literature suggests it as a P. p. kotiya specific mutation and a novel mutation in the ASIP-gene of the Felidae family, contributing to naturally occurring colour polymorphism. Our data suggested the coalescence time of Sri Lankan leopards at ~0.5 million years, sisters to the Panthera pardus lineage. The genetic diversity was low in Sri Lankan leopards. Further, the P. p. kotiya melanistic leopard is a different morphotype of the P. p. kotiya wildtype leopard resulting from the mutation in the ASIP-gene. The ability of black leopards to camouflage, along with the likelihood of recurrence and transfer to future generations, suggests that this rare mutation could be environment-adaptable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - A. U. Bandaranayake
- Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - H. A. B. M. Hathurusinghe
- Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - S. M. Jayasundara
- Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | | | - G. A. T. Prasad
- Department of Wildlife Conservation, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
| | | | - M. A. Pinidiya
- Department of Wildlife Conservation, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
| | | | - P. C. G. Bandaranayake
- Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
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]
|
5
|
O'Toole B, Simmons NB, Hekkala E. Reconstructing the Genomic Diversity of a Widespread Sub-Saharan Bat (Pteropodidae: Eidolon helvum) Using Archival Museum Collections. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2020.22.2.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian O'Toole
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, USA
| | - Nancy B. Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, USA
| | - Evon Hekkala
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kumbhojkar S, Yosef R, Mehta A, Rakholia S. A Camera-Trap Home-Range Analysis of the Indian Leopard ( Panthera pardus fusca) in Jaipur, India. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091600. [PMID: 32911836 PMCID: PMC7552320 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The suitability of the camera trap-retrap method was explored for identifying territories and studying the spatial distribution of leopards (Panthera pardus fusca) in the Jhalana Reserve Forest, Jaipur, India. Data from two years (November 2017 to November 2019, N = 23,208 trap-hours) were used to provide estimates of minimum home-range size and overlap. We conducted home-range analysis and estimation, using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method with geographic information system (GIS) tools. We are aware of the limitations and advantages of camera trapping for long-term monitoring. However, the limitations of the research permit allowed only the use of camera traps to estimate the home ranges. A total of 25 leopards were identified (male = 8, female = 17). No territorial exclusivity was observed in either of the sexes. However, for seven females, we observed familial home-range overlaps wherein daughters established home ranges adjacent to or overlapping their natal areas. The median home range, as calculated from the MCP, was 305.9 ha for males and 170.3 ha for females. The median percentage overlap between males was 10.33%, while that between females was 3.97%. We concluded that camera trapping is an effective technique to map the territories of leopards, to document inter- and intraspecific behaviors, and to elucidate how familial relationships affect dispersal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Reuven Yosef
- Eilat Campus, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P. O. Box 272, Eilat 88106, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-53-767-1290
| | - Abhinav Mehta
- The Geographic Information System (TGIS) Laboratory, Sarkari Vasahat Road, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380052, India; (A.M.); (S.R.)
| | - Shrey Rakholia
- The Geographic Information System (TGIS) Laboratory, Sarkari Vasahat Road, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380052, India; (A.M.); (S.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
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.
Collapse
|
8
|
Perktaş U, Groth JG, Barrowclough GF. Phylogeography, Species Limits, Phylogeny, and Classification of the Turacos (Aves: Musophagidae) Based on Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA Sequences. AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES 2020. [DOI: 10.1206/3949.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Utku Perktaş
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology (Ornithology), American Museum of Natural History
| | - Jeff G. Groth
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology (Ornithology), American Museum of Natural History
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Shotgun sequencing decades-old lichen specimens to resolve phylogenomic placement of type material. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.2478/pfs-2019-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AbstractNatural history collections, including name-bearing type specimens, are an important source of genetic information. These data can be critical for appropriate taxonomic revisions in cases where the phylogenetic position of name-bearing type specimens needs to be identified, including morphologically cryptic lichen-forming fungal species. Here, we use high-throughput metagenomic shotgun sequencing to generate genome-scale data from decades-old (i.e., more than 30 years old) isotype specimens representing three vagrant taxa in the lichen-forming fungal genusRhizoplaca, including one species and two subspecies. We also use data from high-throughput metagenomic shotgun sequencing to infer the phylogenetic position of an enigmatic collection, originally identified asR. haydenii, that failed to yield genetic data via Sanger sequencing. We were able to construct a 1.64 Mb alignment from over 1200 single-copy nuclear gene regions for theRhizoplacaspecimens. Phylogenomic reconstructions recovered an isotype representingRhizoplaca haydeniisubsp.arbusculawithin a clade comprising other specimens identified asRhizoplaca haydeniisubsp.arbuscula, while an isotype ofR. idahoensiswas recovered within a clade with substantial phylogenetic substructure comprisingRhizoplaca haydeniisubsp.haydeniiand other specimens. Based on these data and morphological differences,Rhizoplaca haydeniisubsp.arbusculais elevated to specific rank asRhizoplaca arbuscula. For the enigmatic collection, we were able to assemble the nearly complete nrDNA cistron and over 50 Mb of the mitochondrial genome. Using these data, we identified this specimen as a morphologically deviant form representingXanthoparmeliaaff.subcumberlandia. This study highlights the power of high-throughput metagenomic shotgun sequencing in generating larger and more comprehensive genetic data from taxonomically important herbarium specimens.
Collapse
|
10
|
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).
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gippoliti S, Robovský J. Lorenzo Camerano (1856–1917) and his contribution to large mammal phylogeny and taxonomy, with particular reference to the genera Capra, Rupicapra and Rangifer. RENDICONTI LINCEI. SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12210-018-0686-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
13
|
Barnett R, Sinding MHS, Vieira FG, Mendoza MLZ, Bonnet M, Araldi A, Kienast I, Zambarda A, Yamaguchi N, Henschel P, Gilbert MTP. No longer locally extinct? Tracing the origins of a lion ( Panthera leo) living in Gabon. CONSERV GENET 2018; 19:611-618. [PMID: 31007636 PMCID: PMC6448349 DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-1039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Lions (Panthera leo) are of particular conservation concern due to evidence of recent, widespread population declines in what has hitherto been seen as a common species, robust to anthropogenic disturbance. Here we use non-invasive methods to recover complete mitochondrial genomes from single hair samples collected in the field in order to explore the identity of the Gabonese Plateaux Batéké lion. Comparison of the mitogenomes against a comprehensive dataset of African lion sequences that includes relevant geographically proximate lion populations from both contemporary and ancient sources, enabled us to identify the Plateaux Batéké lion as a close maternal relative to now extirpated populations found in Gabon and nearby Congo during the twentieth century, and to extant populations of Southern Africa. Our study demonstrates the relevance of ancient DNA methods to field conservation work, and the ability of trace field samples to provide copious genetic information about free-ranging animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ross Barnett
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel-Holder S. Sinding
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1172, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Filipe G. Vieira
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Matthieu Bonnet
- The Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Hythe, Kent CT21 4PD UK
| | - Alessandro Araldi
- The Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Hythe, Kent CT21 4PD UK
| | - Ivonne Kienast
- Congo Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Brazzaville, Congo
| | - Alice Zambarda
- The Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Hythe, Kent CT21 4PD UK
| | - Nobuyuki Yamaguchi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Philipp Henschel
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018 USA
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale, CENAREST, BP 842 Libreville, Gabon
| | - M. Thomas P. Gilbert
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
- NTNU University Museum, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|