1
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Bergevin MD, Ng V, Sadeghieh T, Menzies P, Ludwig A, Mubareka S, Clow KM. A Scoping Review on the Epidemiology of Orthobunyaviruses in Canada, in the Context of Human, Wildlife, and Domestic Animal Host Species. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:249-264. [PMID: 38206763 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Mosquito-borne orthobunyaviruses in Canada are a growing public health concern. Orthobunyaviral diseases are commonly underdiagnosed and in Canada, likely underreported as surveillance is passive. No vaccines or specific treatments exist for these disease agents. Further, climate change is facilitating habitat expansion for relevant reservoirs and vectors, and it is likely that the majority of the Canadian population is susceptible to these viruses. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to describe the current state of knowledge on orthobunyavirus epidemiology in Canada. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guideline was used. Literature searches were conducted in six databases and in gray literature. The epidemiology of orthobunyaviruses was characterized for studies focusing on host species, including spatiotemporal patterns, risk factors, and climate change impact. Results: A total of 172 relevant studies were identified from 1734 citations from which 95 addressed host species, including humans, wildlife, and domestic animals including livestock. The orthobunyaviruses-Cache Valley virus (CVV), Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), Snowshoe Hare virus (SHV), and La Crosse virus (LACV)-were identified, and prevalence was widespread across vertebrate species. CVV, JCV, and SHV were detected across Canada and the United States. LACV was reported only in the United States, predominantly the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions. Disease varied by orthobunyavirus and was associated with age, environment, preexisting compromised immune systems, or livestock breeding schedule. Conclusion: Knowledge gaps included seroprevalence data in Canada, risk factor analyses, particularly for livestock, and disease projections in the context of climate change. Additional surveillance and mitigation strategies, especially accounting for climate change, are needed to guide future public health efforts to prevent orthobunyavirus exposure and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele D Bergevin
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria Ng
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tara Sadeghieh
- Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paula Menzies
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Antoinette Ludwig
- National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Samira Mubareka
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katie M Clow
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Shi L, Yang X, Cha M, Lyu T, Wang L, Zhou S, Dong Y, Dou H, Zhang H. Genetic diversity and structure of mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) populations in fragmented habitats. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:507. [PMID: 37648967 PMCID: PMC10469424 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09574-0] [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: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) population has shown a considerable range of contractions and local extinctions over the last century, owing to habitat fragmentation and poaching. A thorough understanding of the genetic diversity and structure of Mongolian gazelle populations in fragmented habitats is critical for planning effective conservation strategies. RESULT In this study, we used eight microsatellite loci and mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) to compare the levels of genetic diversity and genetic structure of Mongolian gazelle populations in the Hulun Lake National Nature Reserve (HLH) with those in the China-Mongolia border area (BJ). The results showed that the nucleotide diversity and observed heterozygosity of the HLH population were lower than those of the BJ population. Moreover, the HLH and BJ populations showed genetic differentiation. We concluded that the HLH population had lower genetic diversity and a distinct genetic structure compared with the BJ population. CONCLUSION The genetic diversity of fragmented Mongolian gazelle populations, can be improved by protecting these populations while reinforcing their gene exchange with other populations. For example, attempts can be made to introduce new individuals with higher genetic diversity from other populations to reduce inbreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lupeng Shi
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiufeng Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong Province, China
| | - Muha Cha
- Hulunbuir Academy of Inland Lakes in Northern Cold & Arid Areas, Hulunbuir, China
| | - Tianshu Lyu
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lidong Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shengyang Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yuehuan Dong
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong Province, China
| | - Huashan Dou
- Hulunbuir Academy of Inland Lakes in Northern Cold & Arid Areas, Hulunbuir, China
| | - Honghai Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong Province, China.
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3
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Yin Q, Ren Z, Wen X, Liu B, Song D, Zhang K, Dou H. Assessment of population genetic diversity and genetic structure of the North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) in fragmented habitats of the Loess Plateau, China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
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4
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Montana L, King WJ, Coulson G, Garant D, Festa-Bianchet M. Large eastern grey kangaroo males are dominant but do not monopolize matings. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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5
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Tissier ML, Bergeron P, Garant D, Zahn S, Criscuolo F, Réale D. Telomere length positively correlates with pace-of-life in a sex- and cohort-specific way and elongates with age in a wild mammal. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3812-3826. [PMID: 35575903 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Understanding ageing and the diversity of life histories is a cornerstone in biology. Telomeres, the protecting caps of chromosomes, are thought to be involved in ageing, cancer risks and life-history strategies. They shorten with cell division and age in somatic tissues of most species, possibly limiting lifespan. The resource allocation trade-off hypothesis predicts that short telomeres have thus co-evolved with early reproduction, proactive behaviour and reduced lifespan, i.e. a fast Pace-of-Life Syndrome (POLS). Conversely, since short telomeres may also reduce the risks of cancer, the anti-cancer hypothesis advances that they should be associated with slow POLS. Conclusion on which hypothesis best supports the role of telomeres as mediators of life-history strategies is hampered by a lack of study on wild short-lived vertebrates, apart from birds. Using seven years of data on wild Eastern chipmunks Tamias striatus, we highlighted that telomeres elongate with age (n = 204 and n = 20) and do not limit lifespan in this species (n = 51). Furthermore, short telomeres correlated with a slow POLS in a sex-specific way (n = 37). Females with short telomeres had a delayed age at first breeding and a lower fecundity rate than females with long telomeres, while we found no differences in males. Our findings support most predictions adapted from the anti-cancer hypothesis, but none of those from the resource allocation trade-off hypothesis. Results are in line with an increasing body of evidence suggesting that other evolutionary forces than resource allocation trade-offs shape the diversity of telomere length in adult somatic cells and the relationships between telomere length and life-histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde L Tissier
- Biological Sciences, Bishop's University, 2600 Rue College, Québec, Canada.,Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Biological Sciences, Bishop's University, 2600 Rue College, Québec, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Denis Réale
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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6
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Nathoo R, Garant D, Réale D, Bergeron P. The feast and the famine: spring body mass variations and life-history traits in a pulse resource ecosystem. Am Nat 2022; 200:598-606. [DOI: 10.1086/720729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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7
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Santostefano F, Allegue H, Garant D, Bergeron P, Réale D. Indirect genetic and environmental effects on behaviors, morphology, and life-history traits in a wild Eastern chipmunk population. Evolution 2021; 75:1492-1512. [PMID: 33855713 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Additive genetic variance in a trait reflects its potential to respond to selection, which is key for adaptive evolution in the wild. Social interactions contribute to this genetic variation through indirect genetic effects-the effect of an individual's genotype on the expression of a trait in a conspecific. However, our understanding of the evolutionary importance of indirect genetic effects in the wild and of their strength relative to direct genetic effects is limited. In this study, we assessed how indirect genetic effects contribute to genetic variation of behavioral, morphological, and life-history traits in a wild Eastern chipmunk population. We also compared the contribution of direct and indirect genetic effects to traits evolvabilities and related these effects to selection strength across traits. We implemented a novel approach integrating the spatial structure of social interactions in quantitative genetic analyses, and supported the reliability of our results with power analyses. We found indirect genetic effects for trappability and relative fecundity, little direct genetic effects in all traits and a large role for direct and indirect permanent environmental effects. Our study highlights the potential evolutionary role of social permanent environmental effects in shaping phenotypes of conspecifics through adaptive phenotypic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santostefano
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Hassen Allegue
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Denis Réale
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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8
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Li Y, Huang K, Tang S, Feng L, Yang J, Li Z, Li B. Genetic Structure and Evolutionary History of Rhinopithecus roxellana in Qinling Mountains, Central China. Front Genet 2021; 11:611914. [PMID: 33552131 PMCID: PMC7855588 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.611914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Qinling mountainous region is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and provides refuges for many endangered endemic animals. The golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) are considered as a flagship species in this area. Here, we depicted the genetic structure and evolutionary history via microsatellite markers and combination with the ecological niche models (ENMs) to elucidate the intraspecific divergent and the impacts of the population demography on our focal species. Our results revealed three distinct subpopulations of R. roxellana and also uncovered asymmetric historical and symmetric contemporary gene flow that existed. Our evolutionary dynamics analyses based on diyabc suggested that the intraspecific divergence accompanied with effective population sizes changes. The ENM result implied that the distribution range of this species experienced expansion during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Our results highlighted that geological factors could contribute to the high genetic differentiation within the R. roxellana in the Qinling Mountains. We also provided a new insight into conservation management plans with endangered species in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuli Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kang Huang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shiyi Tang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Li Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jia Yang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhonghu Li
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Baoguo Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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9
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Huang K, Wang T, Dunn DW, Zhang P, Sun H, Li B. A generalized framework for AMOVA with multiple hierarchies and ploidies. Integr Zool 2020; 16:33-52. [PMID: 32648364 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) is a widely used statistical method in population genetics and molecular ecology. The classic framework of AMOVA only supports haploid and diploid data, in which the number of hierarchies ranges from two to four. In practice, natural populations can be classified into more hierarchies, and polyploidy is frequently observed in extant species. The ploidy level may even vary within the same species, and/or within the same individual. We generalized the framework of AMOVA such that it can be used for any number of hierarchies and any level of ploidy. Based on this framework, we present four methods to account for data that are multilocus genotypic and allelic phenotypic (with unknown allele dosage). We use simulated datasets and an empirical dataset to evaluate the performance of our framework. We make freely available our methods in a new software package, polygene, which is freely available at https://github.com/huangkang1987/polygene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Huang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Derek W Dunn
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Pei Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongjuan Sun
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Baoguo Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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10
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Garant D. Natural and human-induced environmental changes and their effects on adaptive potential of wild animal populations. Evol Appl 2020; 13:1117-1127. [PMID: 32684950 PMCID: PMC7359845 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge of evolutionary ecology over the next decades is to understand and predict the consequences of the current rapid and important environmental changes on wild populations. Extinction risk of species is linked to populations' evolutionary potential and to their ability to express adaptive phenotypic plasticity. There is thus a vital need to quantify how selective pressures, quantitative genetics parameters, and phenotypic plasticity, for multiple traits in wild animal populations, may vary with changes in the environment. Here I review our previous research that integrated ecological and evolutionary theories with molecular ecology, quantitative genetics, and long-term monitoring of individually marked wild animals. Our results showed that assessing evolutionary and plastic changes over time and space, using multi-trait approaches, under a realistic range of environmental conditions are crucial steps toward improving our understanding of the evolution and adaptation of natural populations. Our current and future work focusses on assessing the limits of adaptive potential by determining the factors constraining the evolvability of plasticity, those generating covariation among genetic variance and selection, as well as indirect genetic effects, which can affect population's capacity to adjust to environmental changes. In doing so, we aim to provide an improved assessment of the spatial and temporal scale of evolutionary processes in wild animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dany Garant
- Département de biologieFaculté des SciencesUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
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11
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Vandal K, Houle C, Archambault A, Réale D, Garant D. Development and characterization of 14 microsatellites for the eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:6393-6397. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05586-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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12
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Montana L, Rousseu F, Garant D, Festa-Bianchet M. Siring success in kangaroos: size matters for those in the right place at the right time. Behav Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In polygynous species, male reproductive success is predicted to be monopolized by a few dominant males. This prediction is often not supported, suggesting that ecological and alternative mating tactics influence siring success. The spatiotemporal distribution of individuals and the number of males competing for each receptive female are often overlooked because they are difficult to monitor in wild animals. We examined how spatial overlap of female–male pairs, the time spent by a male on the breeding site, number of competitors, and morphological traits influence siring probability in eastern gray kangaroos (Macropus giganteus). We compared home range overlap for 12 208 dam–male pairs and 295 known dam–sire pairs to define local competitive groups and to estimate every male’s opportunity to sire the young of each female. We compared models considering morphological traits relative to the entire population or to local competitive groups. Including local competition improved model performance because it estimated the intensity of competition and compared each male’s morphological traits to those of its competitive group. Regardless of size, males can increase their probability to sire a young by increasing their mating opportunity relative to the mother. We underline the importance of considering spatial structure to assess the intensity of competition in species where males cannot equally access all females in a population. The estimation of mating opportunity and intensity of local competition improves our understanding of how morphological traits affect siring success when each mating event involves a different set of competing males, a characteristic of most wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Montana
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - François Rousseu
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
- Centre d’étude de la forêt, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Marco Festa-Bianchet
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
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13
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Differing, multiscale landscape effects on genetic diversity and differentiation in eastern chipmunks. Heredity (Edinb) 2020; 124:457-468. [PMID: 31919481 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-0293-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how habitat loss and fragmentation impact genetic variation is a major goal in landscape genetics, but to date, most studies have focused solely on the correlation between intervening matrix and genetic differentiation at a single spatial scale. Several caveats exist in these study designs, among them is the inability to include measures of genetic diversity in addition to differentiation. Both genetic metrics help predict population persistence, but are expected to function at differing spatial scales, which requires a multiscale investigation. In this study, we sampled two distinct spatial scales in 31 independent landscapes along a gradient of landscape context (i.e., forest amount, configuration, and types of intervening matrix) to investigate how landscape heterogeneity influences genetic diversity and differentiation in the forest-associated eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). Overall, quality of intervening matrix was correlated with genetic differentiation at multiple spatial scales, whereas only configuration was associated with regional scale genetic diversity. Habitat amount, in contrast, did not influence genetic differentiation or diversity at either spatial scale. Based on our findings, landscape effects on genetic variation appears to differ based on spatial scale, the type of genetic response variable, and random variation among landscapes, making extrapolation of results from single scale, unreplicated studies difficult. We encourage landscape geneticists to utilize multiscale, replicated landscapes with both genetic diversity, and differentiation to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how habitat loss and fragmentation influence genetic variation.
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14
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Leung C, Angers B, Bergeron P. Epigenetic anticipation for food and reproduction. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2020; 6:dvz026. [PMID: 32015901 PMCID: PMC6991620 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvz026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Physiological changes in anticipation of cyclic environmental events are common for the persistence of populations in fluctuating environments (e.g. seasons). However, dealing with sporadic resources such as the intermittent production of seed masting trees may be challenging unless reliable cues also make them predictable. To be adaptive, the anticipation of such episodic events would have to trigger the corresponding physiological response. Epigenetic modifications could result in such physiological anticipatory responses to future changes. The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is known to adjust its reproductive activity to match juvenile weaning with peak seed availability of masting trees, which are essential for their survival. We therefore expected that epigenetic changes would be linked to spring reproductive initiation in anticipation for beech seed availability in fall. We correlated the variation of DNA methylation profiles of 114 adult chipmunks captured in May with beech seeds abundance in September, over 4 years, for three distinct populations, as well as individuals sampled twice during reproductive and non-reproductive years. The significant correlation between spring epigenetic variation and the amount of food in the fall confirmed the phenotypic flexibility of individuals according to environmental fluctuations. Altogether, these results underlined the key role of epigenetic processes in anticipatory responses enabling organisms to persist in fluctuating environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Leung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC, J1M 1Z7, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Bernard Angers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC, J1M 1Z7, Canada
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15
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Santostefano F, Garant D, Bergeron P, Montiglio P, Réale D. Social selection acts on behavior and body mass but does not contribute to the total selection differential in eastern chipmunks. Evolution 2019; 74:89-102. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Santostefano
- Département des Sciences BiologiquesUniversité du Québec à Montréal Montréal Canada
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des SciencesUniversité de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Québec Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des SciencesUniversité de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Québec Canada
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Department of Biological SciencesBishop's University Sherbrooke Québec Canada
| | | | - Denis Réale
- Département des Sciences BiologiquesUniversité du Québec à Montréal Montréal Canada
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16
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Barros T, Carvalho J, Fonseca C, Cushman SA. Assessing the complex relationship between landscape, gene flow, and range expansion of a Mediterranean carnivore. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1274-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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17
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Brunke J, Radespiel U, Russo IR, Bruford MW, Goossens B. Messing about on the river: the role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape. CONSERV GENET 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01159-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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18
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Female-biased dispersal and non-random gene flow of MC1R variants do not result in a migration load in barn owls. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 122:305-314. [PMID: 30006569 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0115-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-random gene flow is a widely neglected force in evolution and ecology. This genotype-dependent dispersal is difficult to assess, yet can impact the genetic variation of natural populations and their fitness. In this work, we demonstrate a high immigration rate of barn owls (Tyto alba) inside a Swiss population surveyed during 15 years. Using ten microsatellite loci as an indirect method to characterize dispersal, two-third of the genetic tests failed to detect a female-biased dispersal, and Monte Carlo simulations confirmed a low statistical power to detect sex-biased dispersal in case of high dispersal rate of both sexes. The capture-recapture data revealed a female-biased dispersal associated with an excess of heterozygote for the melanocortin-1 receptor gene (MC1R), which is responsible for their ventral rufous coloration. Thus, female homozygotes for the MC1RWHITE allele might be negatively selected during dispersal. Despite the higher immigration of females that are heterozygote at MC1R, non-random gene flow should not lead to a migration load regarding this gene because we did not detect an effect of MC1R on survival and reproductive success in our local population. The present study highlights the usefulness of using multiple methods to correctly decrypt dispersal and gene flow. Moreover, despite theoretical expectations, we show that non-random dispersal of particular genotypes does not necessarily lead to migration load in recipient populations.
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Laggis A, Baxevanis AD, Charalampidou A, Maniatsi S, Triantafyllidis A, Abatzopoulos TJ. Microevolution of the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the Southern Balkan Peninsula. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:122. [PMID: 28558646 PMCID: PMC5450353 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0971-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) displays a complex historical and contemporary genetic status in Europe. The species divergence has been shaped by geological events (i.e. Pleistocene glaciations) and humanly induced impacts (i.e. translocations, pollution, etc.) on its populations due to species commercial value and its niche degradation. Until now, limited genetic information has been procured for the Balkan area and especially for the southernmost distribution of this species (i.e. Greece). It is well known that the rich habitat diversity of the Balkan Peninsula offers suitable conditions for genetically diversified populations. Thus, the present manuscript revisits the phylogenetic relationships of the noble crayfish in Europe and identifies the genetic make-up and the biogeographical patterns of the species in its southern range limit. Results Mitochondrial markers (i.e. COI and 16S) were used in order to elucidate the genetic structure and diversity of the noble crayfish in Europe. Two of the six European haplotypic lineages, were found exclusively in Greece. These two lineages exhibited greater haplotypic richness when compared with the rest four (of “Central European” origin) while they showed high genetic diversity. Divergence time analysis identified that the majority of this divergence was captured through Pleistocene, suggesting a southern glacial refugium (Greece, southern Balkans). Furthermore, six microsatellite markers were used in order to define the factors affecting the genetic structure and demographic history of the species in Greece. The population structure analysis revealed six to nine genetic clusters and eight putative genetic barriers. Evidence of bottleneck effects in the last ~5000 years (due to climatic and geological events and human activities) is also afforded. Findings from several other research fields (e.g. life sciences, geology or even archaeology) have been utilized to perceive the genetic make-up of the noble crayfish. Conclusions The southernmost part of Balkans has played a major role as a glacial refugium for A. astacus. Such refugia have served as centres of expansion to northern regions. Recent history of the noble crayfish in southern Balkans reveals the influence of environmental (climate, geology and/or topology) and anthropogenic factors. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0971-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Laggis
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Athanasios D Baxevanis
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Alexandra Charalampidou
- Scientific Computing Office, Information Technology (IT) Center, School of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Stefania Maniatsi
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Alexander Triantafyllidis
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Theodore J Abatzopoulos
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece.
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St-Hilaire É, Réale D, Garant D. Determinants, selection and heritability of docility in wild eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2320-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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21
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Huang K, Guo S, Cushman SA, Dunn DW, Qi X, Hou R, Zhang J, Li Q, Zhang Q, Shi Z, Zhang K, Li B. Population structure of the golden snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana in the Qinling Mountains, central China. Integr Zool 2017; 11:350-60. [PMID: 27059276 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12202] [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: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Environmental barriers and habitat fragmentation can restrict gene flow, leading to genetic divergence among animal populations. The golden snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus roxellana, is endemic to China, and ranges across 4 provinces. However, over the past 40 years its populations have become fragmented. We investigated the genetic diversity, demographic history and population structure of R. roxellana in 5 reserves in one of its strongholds, the Qinling Mountain forests of Shaanxi. We collected genetic material from 11 monkey bands (a group of individuals containing multiple 1-male units) with a total of 428 samples genotyped at 20 microsatellite loci. Allelic richness and heterozygosity suggested a relatively high level of intra-band genetic diversity. We found no evidence of any genetic bottleneck in these R. roxellana populations. AMOVA and Bayesian cluster analysis revealed that R. roxellana in the 5 reserves are highly structured and form at least 3 distinct subpopulations. These subpopulations concur with major topographical features in the study area, such as mountain ridges, suggesting that dispersal of R. roxellana may be restricted by geographical barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Huang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Songtao Guo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Samuel A Cushman
- US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Derek W Dunn
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaoguang Qi
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rong Hou
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qi Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhen Shi
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kan Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Baoguo Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
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Sun Z, Pan T, Wang H, Pang M, Zhang B. Yangtze River, an insignificant genetic boundary in tufted deer ( Elaphodus cephalophus): the evidence from a first population genetics study. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2654. [PMID: 27843712 PMCID: PMC5103815 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Great rivers were generally looked at as the geographical barrier to gene flow for many taxonomic groups. The Yangtze River is the third largest river in the world, and flows across South China and into the East China Sea. Up until now, few studies have been carried out to evaluate its effect as a geographical barrier. In this study, we attempted to determine the barrier effect of the Yangtze River on the tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) using the molecular ecology approach. Using mitochondrial DNA control region (CR) sequences and 13 nuclear microsatellite loci, we explored the genetic structure and gene flow in two adjacent tufted deer populations (Dabashan and Wulingshan populations), which are separated by the Yangtze River. Results indicated that there are high genetic diversity levels in the two populations, but no distinguishable haplotype group or potential genetic cluster was detected which corresponded to specific geographical population. At the same time, high gene flow was observed between Wulingshan and Dabashan populations. The tufted deer populations experienced population decrease from 0.3 to 0.09 Ma BP, then followed by a distinct population increase. A strong signal of recent population decline (T = 4,396 years) was detected in the Wulingshan population by a Markov-Switching Vector Autoregressions(MSVAR) process population demography analysis. The results indicated that the Yangtze River may not act as an effective barrier to gene flow in the tufted deer. Finally, we surmised that the population demography of the tufted deer was likely affected by Pleistocene climate fluctuations and ancient human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglou Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Tao Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Mujia Pang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Baowei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China.,School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Barros T, Ferreira E, Rocha RG, Gaubert P, Bandeira V, Souto L, Mira A, Fonseca C. Genetic signature of the northward expansion of the Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon(Herpestidae) in the Iberian Peninsula. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Barros
- Departamento de Biologia & Centros de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM); Universidade de Aveiro; 3810-193 Aveiro Portugal
| | - Eduardo Ferreira
- Departamento de Biologia & Centros de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM); Universidade de Aveiro; 3810-193 Aveiro Portugal
| | - Rita Gomes Rocha
- Departamento de Biologia & Centros de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM); Universidade de Aveiro; 3810-193 Aveiro Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas; Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais; Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Av. Fernando Ferrari 514, Goiabeiras 29075-910 Vitória ES Brazil
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), UM-CNRS-IRD-CIRAD-EPHE; Université de Montpellier; Place Eugène Bataillon - CC 64; 34095 Montpellier, Cedex 05 France
| | - Victor Bandeira
- Departamento de Biologia & Centros de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM); Universidade de Aveiro; 3810-193 Aveiro Portugal
| | - Luis Souto
- Departamento de Biologia & Centros de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM); Universidade de Aveiro; 3810-193 Aveiro Portugal
| | - António Mira
- Unidade de Biologia da Conservação; Universidade de Évora; 7002-554 Évora Portugal
| | - Carlos Fonseca
- Departamento de Biologia & Centros de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM); Universidade de Aveiro; 3810-193 Aveiro Portugal
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Talbot B, Garant D, Rioux Paquette S, Mainguy J, Pelletier F. Genetic structure and diversity among rabid and nonrabid raccoons. ECOSCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.2980/20-4-3633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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King WJ, Garant D, Festa-Bianchet M. Mother-offspring distances reflect sex differences in fine-scale genetic structure of eastern grey kangaroos. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:2084-94. [PMID: 26045958 PMCID: PMC4449761 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Natal dispersal affects life history and population biology and causes gene flow. In mammals, dispersal is usually male-biased so that females tend to be philopatric and surrounded by matrilineal kin, which may lead to preferential associations among female kin. Here we combine genetic analyses and behavioral observations to investigate spatial genetic structure and sex-biased dispersal patterns in a high-density population of mammals showing fission–fusion group dynamics. We studied eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) over 2 years at Wilsons Promontory National Park, Australia, and found weak fine-scale genetic structure among adult females in both years but no structure among adult males. Immature male kangaroos moved away from their mothers at 18–25 months of age, while immature females remained near their mothers until older. A higher proportion of male (34%) than female (6%) subadults and young adults were observed to disperse, although median distances of detected dispersals were similar for both sexes. Adult females had overlapping ranges that were far wider than the maximum extent of spatial genetic structure found. Female kangaroos, although weakly philopatric, mostly encounter nonrelatives in fission–fusion groups at high density, and therefore kinship is unlikely to strongly affect sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy J King
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia ; Biology Department, Bishop's University 2600 College St., Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M 1Z7, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Marco Festa-Bianchet
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1K 2R1, Canada ; School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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26
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Intra-individual variability in fecal cortisol metabolites varies with lifetime exploration and reproductive life history in eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-014-1812-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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27
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Rioux Paquette S, Talbot B, Garant D, Mainguy J, Pelletier F. Modelling the dispersal of the two main hosts of the raccoon rabies variant in heterogeneous environments with landscape genetics. Evol Appl 2014; 7:734-49. [PMID: 25469156 PMCID: PMC4227855 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Predicting the geographic spread of wildlife epidemics requires knowledge about the movement patterns of disease hosts or vectors. The field of landscape genetics provides valuable approaches to study dispersal indirectly, which in turn may be used to understand patterns of disease spread. Here, we applied landscape genetic analyses and spatially explicit models to identify the potential path of raccoon rabies spread in a mesocarnivore community. We used relatedness estimates derived from microsatellite genotypes of raccoons and striped skunks to investigate their dispersal patterns in a heterogeneous landscape composed predominantly of agricultural, forested and residential areas. Samples were collected in an area covering 22 000 km2 in southern Québec, where the raccoon rabies variant (RRV) was first detected in 2006. Multiple regressions on distance matrices revealed that genetic distance among male raccoons was strictly a function of geographic distance, while dispersal in female raccoons was significantly reduced by the presence of agricultural fields. In skunks, our results suggested that dispersal is increased in edge habitats between fields and forest fragments in both males and females. Resistance modelling allowed us to identify likely dispersal corridors used by these two rabies hosts, which may prove especially helpful for surveillance and control (e.g. oral vaccination) activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benoit Talbot
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada ; Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Julien Mainguy
- Direction générale de l'expertise sur la faune et ses habitats, Direction de la biodiversité et des maladies de la faune, Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement, de la Faune et des Parcs Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada ; Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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28
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Fenderson LE, Kovach AI, Litvaitis JA, O'Brien KM, Boland KM, Jakubas WJ. A multiscale analysis of gene flow for the New England cottontail, an imperiled habitat specialist in a fragmented landscape. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:1853-75. [PMID: 24963381 PMCID: PMC4063480 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Landscape features of anthropogenic or natural origin can influence organisms' dispersal patterns and the connectivity of populations. Understanding these relationships is of broad interest in ecology and evolutionary biology and provides key insights for habitat conservation planning at the landscape scale. This knowledge is germane to restoration efforts for the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), an early successional habitat specialist of conservation concern. We evaluated local population structure and measures of genetic diversity of a geographically isolated population of cottontails in the northeastern United States. We also conducted a multiscale landscape genetic analysis, in which we assessed genetic discontinuities relative to the landscape and developed several resistance models to test hypotheses about landscape features that promote or inhibit cottontail dispersal within and across the local populations. Bayesian clustering identified four genetically distinct populations, with very little migration among them, and additional substructure within one of those populations. These populations had private alleles, low genetic diversity, critically low effective population sizes (3.2-36.7), and evidence of recent genetic bottlenecks. Major highways and a river were found to limit cottontail dispersal and to separate populations. The habitat along roadsides, railroad beds, and utility corridors, on the other hand, was found to facilitate cottontail movement among patches. The relative importance of dispersal barriers and facilitators on gene flow varied among populations in relation to landscape composition, demonstrating the complexity and context dependency of factors influencing gene flow and highlighting the importance of replication and scale in landscape genetic studies. Our findings provide information for the design of restoration landscapes for the New England cottontail and also highlight the dual influence of roads, as both barriers and facilitators of dispersal for an early successional habitat specialist in a fragmented landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey E Fenderson
- 114 James Hall, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire, 03824
| | - Adrienne I Kovach
- 114 James Hall, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire, 03824
| | - John A Litvaitis
- 114 James Hall, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire, 03824
| | - Kathleen M O'Brien
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge 321 Port Road, Wells, Maine, 04090
| | - Kelly M Boland
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge 321 Port Road, Wells, Maine, 04090
| | - Walter J Jakubas
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife 650 State Street, Bangor, Maine, 04401
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Montiglio PO, Garant D, Bergeron P, Messier GD, Réale D. Pulsed resources and the coupling between life-history strategies and exploration patterns in eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus). J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:720-8. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Olivier Montiglio
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en écologie comportementale; Département des Sciences Biologiques; Université du Québec à Montréal; CP 8888 succursale centre-ville Montréal QC H3C 3P8 Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de biologie; Faculté des sciences; Université de Sherbrooke; 2500 boul. de l'Université Sherbrooke QC J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Département de biologie; Faculté des sciences; Université de Sherbrooke; 2500 boul. de l'Université Sherbrooke QC J1K 2R1 Canada
| | - Gabrielle Dubuc Messier
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en écologie comportementale; Département des Sciences Biologiques; Université du Québec à Montréal; CP 8888 succursale centre-ville Montréal QC H3C 3P8 Canada
| | - Denis Réale
- Chaire de recherche du Canada en écologie comportementale; Département des Sciences Biologiques; Université du Québec à Montréal; CP 8888 succursale centre-ville Montréal QC H3C 3P8 Canada
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Laurence S, Smith MJ, Schulte-Hostedde AI. Effects of structural connectivity on fine scale population genetic structure of muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:3524-35. [PMID: 24223287 PMCID: PMC3797496 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Revised: 07/21/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In heterogeneous landscapes, physical barriers and loss of structural connectivity have been shown to reduce gene flow and therefore lead to population structuring. In this study, we assessed the influence of landscape features on population genetic structure and gene flow of a semiaquatic species, the muskrat. A total of 97 muskrats were sampled from three watersheds near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. We estimated population genetic structure using 11 microsatellite loci and identified a single genetic cluster and no genetic differences were found among the watersheds as a result of high levels of gene flow. At finer scales, we assessed the correlation between individual pairwise genetic distances and Euclidean distance as well as different models of least cost path (LCP). We used a range of cost values for the landscape types in order to build our LCP models. We found a positive relationship between genetic distance and least cost distance when we considered roads as corridors for movements. Open landscapes and urban areas seemed to restrict but not prevent gene flow within the study area. Our study underlines the high-dispersal ability of generalist species in their use of landscape and highlights how landscape features often considered barriers to animal movements are corridors for other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Laurence
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
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Robert K, Garant D, Vander Wal E, Pelletier F. Context-dependent social behaviour: testing the interplay between season and kinship with raccoons. J Zool (1987) 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Robert
- Département de biologie; Université de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke QC Canada
| | - D. Garant
- Département de biologie; Université de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke QC Canada
| | - E. Vander Wal
- Département de biologie; Université de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke QC Canada
| | - F. Pelletier
- Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation; Département de biologie; Université de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke QC Canada
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Bergeron P, Montiglio PO, Réale D, Humphries MM, Gimenez O, Garant D. Disruptive viability selection on adult exploratory behaviour in eastern chipmunks. J Evol Biol 2013; 26:766-74. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Bergeron
- Département de Biologie; Université de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke QC Canada
| | - P.-O. Montiglio
- Département des Sciences Biologiques; UQAM; Montreal QC Canada
| | - D. Réale
- Département des Sciences Biologiques; UQAM; Montreal QC Canada
| | - M. M. Humphries
- Natural Resource Sciences; Macdonald Campus; McGill University; Ste-Anne de Bellevue QC Canada
| | - O. Gimenez
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive; CNRS Montpellier; Montpellier France
| | - D. Garant
- Département de Biologie; Université de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke QC Canada
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Talbot B, Garant D, Rioux Paquette S, Mainguy J, Pelletier F. Lack of genetic structure and female-specific effect of dispersal barriers in a rabies vector, the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). PLoS One 2012; 7:e49736. [PMID: 23166760 PMCID: PMC3498222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaluating the permeability of potential barriers to movement, dispersal and gene exchanges can help describe spreading patterns of wildlife diseases. Here, we used landscape genetics methods to assess the genetic structure of the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), which is a frequent vector of rabies, a lethal zoonosis of great concern for public health. Our main objective was to identify landscape elements shaping the genetic structure of this species in Southern Québec, Canada, in an area where the raccoon rabies variant has been detected. We hypothesised that geographic distance and landscape barriers, such as highways and major rivers, would modulate genetic structure. We genotyped a total of 289 individuals sampled across a large area (22,000 km2) at nice microsatellite loci. Genetic structure analyses identified a single genetic cluster in the study area. Major rivers and highways, however, influenced the genetic relatedness among sampled individuals. Sex-specific analyses revealed that rivers significantly limited dispersal only for females while highways only had marginal effects. Rivers and highways did not significantly affect male dispersal. These results support the contention that female skunks are more philopatric than males. Overall, our results suggest that the effects of major rivers and highways on dispersal are sex-specific and rather weak and are thus unlikely to prevent the spread of rabies within and among striped skunk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Talbot
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
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Porlier M, Garant D, Perret P, Charmantier A. Habitat-linked population genetic differentiation in the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 103:781-91. [PMID: 23087385 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/ess064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Although the recent emergence of the field of landscape genetics has led to several studies investigating the effects of habitat composition between populations on genetic differentiation, much less is known on the impact of within-habitat ecological characteristics on levels of gene flow and genetic differentiation among populations. Using data on 840 individuals sampled in 8 sites in Corsica and 1 in southern France and analyzed at 10 microsatellite loci, we assessed the spatial and temporal population genetic structure of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in Corsica and identified the ecological factors, both between- and within-sampling sites, responsible for the observed genetic structure. We found temporally stable fine-scale genetic structure within Corsica, with genetic differentiation values among populations corresponding to ~25% of levels observed between Corsica and the mainland. This structure was not explained by the geographic distance among populations or by the presence of physical barriers but was instead related to local habitat types (deciduous or evergreen oaks). Our results are thus consistent with previously documented phenotypic differences among habitats in morphological and reproductive traits. These findings suggest that although individuals have high dispersal ability, local adaptation might reduce gene flow among populations located in different habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Porlier
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qc, J1K 2R1 Canada.
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References. Mol Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/9780470979365.refs] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Messier GD, Garant D, Bergeron P, Réale D. Environmental conditions affect spatial genetic structures and dispersal patterns in a solitary rodent. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:5363-73. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2011] [Revised: 07/13/2012] [Accepted: 07/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Dubuc Messier
- Département des Sciences Biologiques; Université du Québec à Montréal; CP-8888 Succursale Centre-Ville; Montréal; QC; Canada; H3C 3P8
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de Biologie; Université de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke; QC; Canada; J1K 2R1
| | - Patrick Bergeron
- Département de Biologie; Université de Sherbrooke; Sherbrooke; QC; Canada; J1K 2R1
| | - Denis Réale
- Département des Sciences Biologiques; Université du Québec à Montréal; CP-8888 Succursale Centre-Ville; Montréal; QC; Canada; H3C 3P8
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Côté H, Garant D, Robert K, Mainguy J, Pelletier F. Genetic structure and rabies spread potential in raccoons: the role of landscape barriers and sex-biased dispersal. Evol Appl 2012; 5:393-404. [PMID: 25568059 DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2012.00238.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying natural barriers to movements of hosts associated with infectious diseases is essential for developing effective control strategies. Raccoon rabies variant (RRV) is a zoonosis of concern for humans because its main vector, the raccoon (Procyon lotor), is found near residential areas. In Québec, Canada, all cases of RRV found in raccoons since 2006 were detected on the eastern side of the Richelieu River, suggesting that this river acts as a barrier to gene flow and thus the potential for RRV to spread. The objectives of this study were to characterize the genetic structure of raccoon populations and assess the effect of the Richelieu River on the population structure in southern Québec, Canada. We also evaluated whether RRV spread potential differed between sex and at a larger spatial scale. Our analyses revealed a weak signal of genetic differentiation among individuals located on each side of the Richelieu River. At a larger spatial scale, genetic structuring was weak. Our results suggest that rivers might not always efficiently restrain raccoon movements and spread of RRV. We suggest that the difference in genetic structure found between sexes can be partly explained by male movements during the breeding season in winter, when ice bridges allow passage over most rivers in Québec.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Côté
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada ; Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Karine Robert
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada ; Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Julien Mainguy
- Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Direction de l'expertise sur la faune et ses habitats, Service de la biodiversité et des maladies de la faune Québec city, QC, Canada
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada ; Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Demography and Conservation, Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Bergeron P, Careau V, Humphries MM, Réale D, Speakman JR, Garant D. The energetic and oxidative costs of reproduction in a free-ranging rodent. Funct Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2011.01868.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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BERGERON P, RÉALE D, HUMPHRIES MM, GARANT D. Evidence of multiple paternity and mate selection for inbreeding avoidance in wild eastern chipmunks. J Evol Biol 2011; 24:1685-94. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02294.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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