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Burriel-Carranza B, Mochales-Riaño G, Talavera A, Els J, Estarellas M, Al Saadi S, Urriago Suarez JD, Olsson PO, Matschiner M, Carranza S. Clinging on the brink: Whole genomes reveal human-induced population declines and severe inbreeding in the Critically Endangered Emirati Leaf-toed Gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus). Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17451. [PMID: 38970417 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17451] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Human-mediated habitat destruction has had a profound impact on increased species extinction rates and population declines worldwide. The coastal development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the last two decades, serves as an example of how habitat transformation can alter the landscape of a country in just a few years. Here, we study the genomic implications of habitat transformation in the Critically Endangered Emirati Leaf-toed Gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus), the only endemic vertebrate of the UAE. We generate a high-quality reference genome for this gecko, representing the first reference genome for the family Phyllodactylidae, and produce whole-genome resequencing data for 23 specimens from 10 different species of leaf-toed geckos. Our results show that A. caudivolvulus has consistently lower genetic diversity than any other Arabian species of Asaccus, suggesting a history of ancient population declines. However, high levels of recent inbreeding are recorded among populations in heavily developed areas, with a more than 50% increase in long runs of homozygosity within a 9-year period. Moreover, results suggest that this species does not effectively purge deleterious mutations, hence making it more vulnerable to future stochastic threats. Overall, results show that A. caudivolvulus is in urgent need of protection, and habitat preservation must be warranted to ensure the species' survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernat Burriel-Carranza
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Adrián Talavera
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Johannes Els
- Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maria Estarellas
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Salvador Carranza
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Gu L, Wu F, Zheng X, Zhang X, Chen Y, Lu L, Liu X, Mo S, Chao Z, He Z, Shang Y, Wei D, Wei S, Chen Y, Xu T. Molecular genetic identification of Wuzhishan ant chicken, a newly discovered resource in China. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1319854. [PMID: 38962700 PMCID: PMC11221338 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1319854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Wuzhishan ant (MY) chicken exhibits significant differences from other chicken breeds. However, the molecular genetic relationship between the MY breed and other chicken breeds has not been assessed. Methods Whole-genome resequencing was used to compare genetic diversity, nucleotide diversity, the fixation index, the linkage disequilibrium coefficient, and phylogenetic tree relationships between the MY breed and the Wenchang (WC), Danzhou (DZ), Bawangling (BW), and Longsheng Feng (LF) breeds. Results A total of 21,586,378 singlenucleotide polymorphisms and 4,253,341 insertions/deletions were screened out among the five breeds. The MY breed had the second highest genomic genetic diversity and nucleotide diversity and the lowest LD coefficient among the five breeds. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree analysis showed that individual birds of each breed clustered together with those of their respective breeds. Discussion Our data indicated that the MY breed is distinct from the other breeds and can be considered a new genetic resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Gu
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Fanghu Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Xinli Zheng
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Yanmin Chen
- Wuzhishan Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine and Fishery Service Center, Wuzhishan Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Wuzhishan, China
| | - Lizhi Lu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiangxiang Liu
- Wuzhishan Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine and Fishery Service Center, Wuzhishan Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Wuzhishan, China
| | - Shuhui Mo
- Wuzhishan Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine and Fishery Service Center, Wuzhishan Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Wuzhishan, China
| | - Zhe Chao
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Zhongchun He
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Shang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Dong Wei
- Wuzhishan Ant Chicken Cooperative, Wuzhishan, China
| | - Sheng Wei
- Wuzhishan Ant Chicken Cooperative, Wuzhishan, China
| | - Youyi Chen
- Wuzhishan Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine and Fishery Service Center, Wuzhishan Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Wuzhishan, China
| | - Tieshan Xu
- Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
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3
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Hogg CJ. Translating genomic advances into biodiversity conservation. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:362-373. [PMID: 38012268 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00671-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
A key action of the new Global Biodiversity Framework is the maintenance of genetic diversity in all species to safeguard their adaptive potential. To achieve this goal, a translational mindset, which aims to convert results of basic research into direct practical benefits, needs to be applied to biodiversity conservation. Despite much discussion on the value of genomics to conservation, a disconnect between those generating genomic resources and those applying it to biodiversity management remains. As global efforts to generate reference genomes for non-model species increase, investment into practical biodiversity applications is critically important. Applications such as understanding population and multispecies diversity and longitudinal monitoring need support alongside education for policymakers on integrating the data into evidence-based decisions. Without such investment, the opportunity to revolutionize global biodiversity conservation using genomics will not be fully realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life & Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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4
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Tengstedt ANB, Liu S, Jacobsen MW, Gundlund C, Møller PR, Berg S, Bekkevold D, Hansen MM. Genomic insights on conservation priorities for North Sea houting and European lake whitefish (Coregonus spp.). Mol Ecol 2024:e17367. [PMID: 38686435 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Population genomics analysis holds great potential for informing conservation of endangered populations. We focused on a controversial case of European whitefish (Coregonus spp.) populations. The endangered North Sea houting is the only coregonid fish that tolerates oceanic salinities and was previously considered a species (C. oxyrhinchus) distinct from European lake whitefish (C. lavaretus). However, no firm evidence for genetic-based salinity adaptation has been available. Also, studies based on microsatellite and mitogenome data suggested surprisingly recent divergence (c. 2500 years bp) between houting and lake whitefish. These data types furthermore have provided no evidence for possible inbreeding. Finally, a controversial taxonomic revision recently classified all whitefish in the region as C. maraena, calling conservation priorities of houting into question. We used whole-genome and ddRAD sequencing to analyse six lake whitefish populations and the only extant indigenous houting population. Demographic inference indicated post-glacial expansion and divergence between lake whitefish and houting occurring not long after the Last Glaciation, implying deeper population histories than previous analyses. Runs of homozygosity analysis suggested not only high inbreeding (FROH up to 30.6%) in some freshwater populations but also FROH up to 10.6% in the houting prompting conservation concerns. Finally, outlier scans provided evidence for adaptation to high salinities in the houting. Applying a framework for defining conservation units based on current and historical reproductive isolation and adaptive divergence led us to recommend that the houting be treated as a separate conservation unit regardless of species status. In total, the results underscore the potential of genomics to inform conservation practices, in this case clarifying conservation units and highlighting populations of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shenglin Liu
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Magnus W Jacobsen
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | | | - Peter Rask Møller
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Berg
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Dorte Bekkevold
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Silkeborg, Denmark
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5
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Schmidt TL, Thia JA, Hoffmann AA. How Can Genomics Help or Hinder Wildlife Conservation? Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2024; 12:45-68. [PMID: 37788416 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-051810] [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: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Genomic data are becoming increasingly affordable and easy to collect, and new tools for their analysis are appearing rapidly. Conservation biologists are interested in using this information to assist in management and planning but are typically limited financially and by the lack of genomic resources available for non-model taxa. It is therefore important to be aware of the pitfalls as well as the benefits of applying genomic approaches. Here, we highlight recent methods aimed at standardizing population assessments of genetic variation, inbreeding, and forms of genetic load and methods that help identify past and ongoing patterns of genetic interchange between populations, including those subjected to recent disturbance. We emphasize challenges in applying some of these methods and the need for adequate bioinformatic support. We also consider the promises and challenges of applying genomic approaches to understand adaptive changes in natural populations to predict their future adaptive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L Schmidt
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia;
| | - Joshua A Thia
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia;
| | - Ary A Hoffmann
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia;
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6
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Zhang M, Wang S, Xu R, Liu Y, Zhang H, Sun M, Wang J, Liu Z, Wu K. Managing genomic diversity in conservation programs of Chinese domestic chickens. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:92. [PMID: 38097971 PMCID: PMC10722821 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00866-3] [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: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective conservation and utilization of farm animals are fundamental for realizing sustainable increases in food production. In situ and ex situ conservation are the two main strategies that are currently used to protect the genetic integrity of Chinese domestic chicken breeds. However, genomic diversity and population structure have not been compared in these conserved populations. RESULTS Three hundred and sixty-one individuals from three Chinese domestic chicken breeds were collected from populations conserved in situ and ex situ and genotyped using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). First, we used different parameters based on heterozygosity, genomic inbreeding, and linkage disequilibrium to estimate the genomic diversity of these populations, and applied principal component analysis (PCA), neighbor-joining tree, and ADMIXTURE to analyze population structure. We found that the small ex situ conserved populations, which have been maintained in controlled environments, retained less genetic diversity than the in situ conserved populations. In addition, genetic differentiation was detected between the in situ and ex situ conserved populations of the same breed. Next, we analyzed signatures of selection using three statistical methods (fixation index (FST), nucleotide diversity (Pi), and cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH) to study the genetic footprints that underlie the differentiation between in situ and ex situ conserved populations. We concluded that, in these small populations, differentiation might be caused by genetic drift or by mutations from the original populations. The differentiation observed in the population of Beijing You chicken probably reflects adaptation to environmental changes in temperature and humidity that the animals faced when they were moved from their place of origin to the new site for ex situ conservation. CONCLUSIONS Conservation programs of three Chinese domestic chicken breeds have maintained their genomic diversity to a sustainable degree. The small ex situ conserved populations, which are maintained in controlled environments, retain less genetic diversity than populations conserved in situ. In addition, the transfer of populations from their place of origin to another site for conservation purposes results in genetic differentiation, which may be caused by genetic drift or adaptation. This study provides a basis for further optimization of in situ and ex situ conservation programs for domestic chicken breeds in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
- Beijing Capital Agribusiness Future Biotechnology Co., Ltd., No. 75 Bingjiaokou Hutong, Beijing, 100088, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiwei Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Ran Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yijun Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
- College of Animal Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, 402460, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengxia Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Junyan Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhexi Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Keliang Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Ghildiyal K, Nayak SS, Rajawat D, Sharma A, Chhotaray S, Bhushan B, Dutt T, Panigrahi M. Genomic insights into the conservation of wild and domestic animal diversity: A review. Gene 2023; 886:147719. [PMID: 37597708 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Due to environmental change and anthropogenic activities, global biodiversity has suffered an unprecedented loss, and the world is now heading toward the sixth mass extinction event. This urges the need to step up our efforts to promote the sustainable use of animal genetic resources and plan effective strategies for their conservation. Although habitat preservation and restoration are the primary means of conserving biodiversity, genomic technologies offer a variety of novel tools for identifying biodiversity hotspots and thus, support conservation efforts. Conservation genomics is a broad area of science that encompasses the application of genomic data from thousands or tens of thousands of genome-wide markers to address important conservation biology concerns. Genomic approaches have revolutionized the way we understand and manage animal populations, providing tools to identify and preserve unique genetic variants and alleles responsible for adaptive genetic variation, reducing the deleterious consequences of inbreeding, and increasing the adaptive potential of threatened species. The advancement of genomic technologies, particularly comparative genomic approaches, and the increased accessibility of genomic resources in the form of genome-enabled taxa for non-model organisms, provides a distinct advantage in defining conservation units over traditional genetics approaches. The objective of this review is to provide an exhaustive overview of the concept of conservation genomics, discuss the rationale behind the transition from conservation genetics to genomic approaches, and emphasize the potential applications of genomic techniques for conservation purposes. We also highlight interesting case studies in both livestock and wildlife species where genomic techniques have been used to accomplish conservation goals. Finally, we address some challenges and future perspectives in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanika Ghildiyal
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Sonali Sonejita Nayak
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Divya Rajawat
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Anurodh Sharma
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Supriya Chhotaray
- Animal Genetics and Breeding Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Triveni Dutt
- Livestock Production and Management Section, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Manjit Panigrahi
- Division of Animal Genetics, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India.
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8
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Delomas TA, Willis SC. Estimating microhaplotype allele frequencies from low-coverage or pooled sequencing data. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:415. [PMID: 37923981 PMCID: PMC10623847 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05554-z] [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: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microhaplotypes have the potential to be more cost-effective than SNPs for applications that require genetic panels of highly variable loci. However, development of microhaplotype panels is hindered by a lack of methods for estimating microhaplotype allele frequency from low-coverage whole genome sequencing or pooled sequencing (pool-seq) data. RESULTS We developed new methods for estimating microhaplotype allele frequency from low-coverage whole genome sequence and pool-seq data. We validated these methods using datasets from three non-model organisms. These methods allowed estimation of allele frequency and expected heterozygosity at depths routinely achieved from pooled sequencing. CONCLUSIONS These new methods will allow microhaplotype panels to be designed using low-coverage WGS and pool-seq data to discover and evaluate candidate loci. The python script implementing the two methods and documentation are available at https://www.github.com/delomast/mhFromLowDepSeq .
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Delomas
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center, 483 CBLS, 120 Flagg Road, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA.
| | - Stuart C Willis
- Hagerman Genetics Laboratory, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Hagerman, ID, USA
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9
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Schmidt C, Hoban S, Jetz W. Conservation macrogenetics: harnessing genetic data to meet conservation commitments. Trends Genet 2023; 39:816-829. [PMID: 37648576 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.08.002] [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] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Genetic biodiversity is rapidly gaining attention in global conservation policy. However, for almost all species, conservation relevant, population-level genetic data are lacking, limiting the extent to which genetic diversity can be used for conservation policy and decision-making. Macrogenetics is an emerging discipline that explores the patterns and processes underlying population genetic composition at broad taxonomic and spatial scales by aggregating and reanalyzing thousands of published genetic datasets. Here we argue that focusing macrogenetic tools on conservation needs, or conservation macrogenetics, will enhance decision-making for conservation practice and fill key data gaps for global policy. Conservation macrogenetics provides an empirical basis for better understanding the complexity and resilience of biological systems and, thus, how anthropogenic drivers and policy decisions affect biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Schmidt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Sean Hoban
- The Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, USA
| | - Walter Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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10
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Baltazar‐Soares M, Britton JR, Pinder A, Harrison AJ, Nunn AD, Quintella BR, Mateus CS, Bolland JD, Dodd JR, Almeida PR, Dominguez Almela V, Andreou D. Seascape genomics reveals limited dispersal and suggests spatially varying selection among European populations of sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus). Evol Appl 2023; 16:1169-1183. [PMID: 37360030 PMCID: PMC10286227 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus is an anadromous and semelparous fish without homing behaviors. Despite being a freshwater, free-living organism for a large part of their life cycle, its adulthood is spent as a parasite of marine vertebrates. In their native European range, while it is well-established that sea lampreys comprise a single nearly-panmictic population, few studies have further explored the evolutionary history of natural populations. Here, we performed the first genome-wide characterization of sea lamprey's genetic diversity in their European natural range. The objectives were to investigate the connectivity among river basins and explore evolutionary processes mediating dispersal during the marine phase, with the sequencing of 186 individuals from 8 locations spanning the North Eastern Atlantic coast and the North Sea with double-digest RAD-sequencing, obtaining a total of 30,910 bi-allelic SNPs. Population genetic analyses reinforced the existence of a single metapopulation encompassing freshwater spawning sites within the North Eastern Atlantic and the North Sea, though the prevalence of private alleles at northern latitudes suggested some limits to the species' dispersal. Seascape genomics suggested a scenario where oxygen concentration and river runoffs impose spatially varying selection across their distribution range. Exploring associations with the abundance of potential hosts further suggested that hake and cod could also impose selective pressures, although the nature of such putative biotic interactions was unresolved. Overall, the identification of adaptive seascapes in a panmictic anadromous species could contribute to conservation practices by providing information for restoration activities to mitigate local extinctions on freshwater sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Baltazar‐Soares
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
- MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences CentreISPA – Instituto UniversitárioLisbonPortugal
- Department of BiologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - J. Robert Britton
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Adrian Pinder
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Andrew J. Harrison
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Andrew D. Nunn
- University of HullHull International Fisheries InstituteHullUK
| | - Bernardo R. Quintella
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences CentreUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
- Department of Animal BiologyFaculty of Sciences, University of LisbonLisbonPortugal
| | - Catarina S. Mateus
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences CentreUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
| | | | - Jamie R. Dodd
- University of HullHull International Fisheries InstituteHullUK
| | - Pedro R. Almeida
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences CentreUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and TechnologyUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
| | - Victoria Dominguez Almela
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
| | - Demetra Andreou
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and TechnologyBournemouth UniversityDorsetUK
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11
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Wilder AP, Supple MA, Subramanian A, Mudide A, Swofford R, Serres-Armero A, Steiner C, Koepfli KP, Genereux DP, Karlsson EK, Lindblad-Toh K, Marques-Bonet T, Munoz Fuentes V, Foley K, Meyer WK, Ryder OA, Shapiro B, Andrews G, Armstrong JC, Bianchi M, Birren BW, Bredemeyer KR, Breit AM, Christmas MJ, Clawson H, Damas J, Di Palma F, Diekhans M, Dong MX, Eizirik E, Fan K, Fanter C, Foley NM, Forsberg-Nilsson K, Garcia CJ, Gatesy J, Gazal S, Genereux DP, Goodman L, Grimshaw J, Halsey MK, Harris AJ, Hickey G, Hiller M, Hindle AG, Hubley RM, Hughes GM, Johnson J, Juan D, Kaplow IM, Karlsson EK, Keough KC, Kirilenko B, Koepfli KP, Korstian JM, Kowalczyk A, Kozyrev SV, Lawler AJ, Lawless C, Lehmann T, Levesque DL, Lewin HA, Li X, Lind A, Lindblad-Toh K, Mackay-Smith A, Marinescu VD, Marques-Bonet T, Mason VC, Meadows JRS, Meyer WK, Moore JE, Moreira LR, Moreno-Santillan DD, Morrill KM, Muntané G, Murphy WJ, Navarro A, Nweeia M, Ortmann S, Osmanski A, Paten B, Paulat NS, Pfenning AR, Phan BN, Pollard KS, Pratt HE, Ray DA, Reilly SK, Rosen JR, Ruf I, Ryan L, Ryder OA, Sabeti PC, Schäffer DE, Serres A, Shapiro B, Smit AFA, Springer M, Srinivasan C, Steiner C, Storer JM, Sullivan KAM, Sullivan PF, Sundström E, Supple MA, Swofford R, Talbot JE, Teeling E, Turner-Maier J, Valenzuela A, Wagner F, Wallerman O, Wang C, Wang J, Weng Z, Wilder AP, Wirthlin ME, Xue JR, Zhang X. The contribution of historical processes to contemporary extinction risk in placental mammals. Science 2023; 380:eabn5856. [PMID: 37104572 PMCID: PMC10184782 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn5856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Species persistence can be influenced by the amount, type, and distribution of diversity across the genome, suggesting a potential relationship between historical demography and resilience. In this study, we surveyed genetic variation across single genomes of 240 mammals that compose the Zoonomia alignment to evaluate how historical effective population size (Ne) affects heterozygosity and deleterious genetic load and how these factors may contribute to extinction risk. We find that species with smaller historical Ne carry a proportionally larger burden of deleterious alleles owing to long-term accumulation and fixation of genetic load and have a higher risk of extinction. This suggests that historical demography can inform contemporary resilience. Models that included genomic data were predictive of species' conservation status, suggesting that, in the absence of adequate census or ecological data, genomic information may provide an initial risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryn P Wilder
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Megan A Supple
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | | | | | - Ross Swofford
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Aitor Serres-Armero
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Cynthia Steiner
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 30008, USA
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | | | - Elinor K Karlsson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala 751 32, Sweden
| | - Tomas Marques-Bonet
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona 08010, Spain
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Violeta Munoz Fuentes
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory-European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Kathleen Foley
- College of Law, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Wynn K Meyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
- Department of Evolution, Behavior and Ecology, Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
| | - Beth Shapiro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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12
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Divergent sensory and immune gene evolution in sea turtles with contrasting demographic and life histories. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2201076120. [PMID: 36749728 PMCID: PMC9962930 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201076120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea turtles represent an ancient lineage of marine vertebrates that evolved from terrestrial ancestors over 100 Mya. The genomic basis of the unique physiological and ecological traits enabling these species to thrive in diverse marine habitats remains largely unknown. Additionally, many populations have drastically declined due to anthropogenic activities over the past two centuries, and their recovery is a high global conservation priority. We generated and analyzed high-quality reference genomes for the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles, representing the two extant sea turtle families. These genomes are highly syntenic and homologous, but localized regions of noncollinearity were associated with higher copy numbers of immune, zinc-finger, and olfactory receptor (OR) genes in green turtles, with ORs related to waterborne odorants greatly expanded in green turtles. Our findings suggest that divergent evolution of these key gene families may underlie immunological and sensory adaptations assisting navigation, occupancy of neritic versus pelagic environments, and diet specialization. Reduced collinearity was especially prevalent in microchromosomes, with greater gene content, heterozygosity, and genetic distances between species, supporting their critical role in vertebrate evolutionary adaptation. Finally, diversity and demographic histories starkly contrasted between species, indicating that leatherback turtles have had a low yet stable effective population size, exhibit extremely low diversity compared with other reptiles, and harbor a higher genetic load compared with green turtles, reinforcing concern over their persistence under future climate scenarios. These genomes provide invaluable resources for advancing our understanding of evolution and conservation best practices in an imperiled vertebrate lineage.
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13
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Conservation genomics of an endangered arboreal mammal following the 2019-2020 Australian megafire. Sci Rep 2023; 13:480. [PMID: 36627361 PMCID: PMC9831986 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27587-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The impacts of a changing climate threaten species, populations and ecosystems. Despite these significant and large-scale impacts on threatened species, many remain understudied and have little to no genetic information available. The greater glider, Petauroides volans, is an endangered species highly sensitive to the predicted changes in temperature under a changing climate and was recently severely impacted by a megafire natural disaster (85% estimated population loss). Baseline genetic data is essential for conservation management and for detecting detrimental changes in fire-effected populations. We collected genetic samples within 2 years post the 2019-2020 catastrophic Australian bushfires to examine adaptive potential, baseline genetic diversity and population structure, across their southern range in the state of New South Wales. Population genomic analyses were conducted using 8493 genome-wide SNPs for 86 greater glider individuals across 14 geographic locations. Substantial genetic structure was detected across locations, with low genetic diversity and effective population sizes observed in isolated areas. Additionally, we found signals of putative adaptation in response to temperature in greater gliders using a genotype-environment association analysis. These findings have important implications for the management of greater glider populations by identifying at-risk populations and identifying adaptive potential. We demonstrate the importance of baseline genetic information for endangered species as a practical approach to conservation. This is particularly important given the threat that changes in temperatures and megafire events, as predicted under a changing climate, poses for this species.
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14
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Meiring C, Schurz H, van Helden P, Hoal E, Tromp G, Kinnear C, Kleynhans L, Glanzmann B, van Schalkwyk L, Miller M, Möller M. African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) from the Kruger National Park, South Africa are currently not inbred but have low genomic diversity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14979. [PMID: 36056068 PMCID: PMC9440078 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19025-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) have undergone severe population reductions and are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Small, isolated populations have the potential to suffer from threats to their genetic diversity that may impact species viability and future survival. This study provides the first set of population-wide genomic data to address conservation concerns for this endangered species. Whole genome sequencing data were generated for 71 free-ranging African wild dogs from the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa, and used to estimate important population genomic parameters. Genomic diversity metrics revealed that variation levels were low; however, this African wild dog population showed low levels of inbreeding. Very few first- and second-order relationships were observed in this cohort, with most relationships falling into the third-order or distant category. Patterns of homozygosity could have resulted from historical inbreeding or a loss in genome variation due to a population bottleneck. Although the results suggest that this stronghold African wild dog population maintains low levels of inbreeding, likely due to their cooperative breeding system, it may lead to a continuous population decline when a reduced number of suitable mates are available. Consequently, the low genomic variation may influence species viability over time. This study highlights the importance of assessing population genomic parameters to set conservation priorities. Future studies should include the investigation of the potential of this endangered species to adapt to environmental changes considering the low genomic diversity in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Meiring
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa.
| | - Haiko Schurz
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Paul van Helden
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Eileen Hoal
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Gerard Tromp
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
- South African Tuberculosis Bioinformatics Initiative (SATBBI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Craig Kinnear
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
- Genomics Centre, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, PO Box 19070, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Léanie Kleynhans
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Brigitte Glanzmann
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
- Genomics Centre, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, PO Box 19070, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Louis van Schalkwyk
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, PO Box 12, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Soutpan Road, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Michele Miller
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
| | - Marlo Möller
- DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Francie van Zijl Drive, Cape Town, 7500, South Africa
- Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private bag X1, Merriman Avenue, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
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15
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Genomics of Adaptation and Speciation. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071187. [PMID: 35885970 PMCID: PMC9321343 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
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16
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Population dynamics and genetic connectivity in recent chimpanzee history. CELL GENOMICS 2022; 2:None. [PMID: 35711737 PMCID: PMC9188271 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge on the population history of endangered species is critical for conservation, but whole-genome data on chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) is geographically sparse. Here, we produced the first non-invasive geolocalized catalog of genomic diversity by capturing chromosome 21 from 828 non-invasive samples collected at 48 sampling sites across Africa. The four recognized subspecies show clear genetic differentiation correlating with known barriers, while previously undescribed genetic exchange suggests that these have been permeable on a local scale. We obtained a detailed reconstruction of population stratification and fine-scale patterns of isolation, migration, and connectivity, including a comprehensive picture of admixture with bonobos (Pan paniscus). Unlike humans, chimpanzees did not experience extended episodes of long-distance migrations, which might have limited cultural transmission. Finally, based on local rare variation, we implement a fine-grained geolocalization approach demonstrating improved precision in determining the origin of confiscated chimpanzees.
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17
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Gupta PK. Earth Biogenome Project: present status and future plans. Trends Genet 2022; 38:811-820. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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18
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Wambugu PW, Henry R. Supporting in situ conservation of the genetic diversity of crop wild relatives using genomic technologies. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2207-2222. [PMID: 35170117 PMCID: PMC9303585 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The last decade has witnessed huge technological advances in genomics, particularly in DNA sequencing. Here, we review the actual and potential application of genomics in supporting in situ conservation of crop wild relatives (CWRs). In addition to helping in prioritization of protection of CWR taxa and in situ conservation sites, genome analysis is allowing the identification of novel alleles that need to be prioritized for conservation. Genomics is enabling the identification of potential sources of important adaptive traits that can guide the establishment or enrichment of in situ genetic reserves. Genomic tools also have the potential for developing a robust framework for monitoring and reporting genome‐based indicators of genetic diversity changes associated with factors such as land use or climate change. These tools have been demonstrated to have an important role in managing the conservation of populations, supporting sustainable access and utilization of CWR diversity, enhancing accelerated domestication of new crops and forensic genomics thus preventing misappropriation of genetic resources. Despite this great potential, many policy makers and conservation managers have failed to recognize and appreciate the need to accelerate the application of genomics to support the conservation and management of biodiversity in CWRs to underpin global food security. Funding and inadequate genomic expertise among conservation practitioners also remain major hindrances to the widespread application of genomics in conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peterson W Wambugu
- Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Genetic Resources Research Institute, P.O. Box 30148, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Robert Henry
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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19
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Utilizing museomics to trace the complex history and species boundaries in an avian-study system of conservation concern. Heredity (Edinb) 2022; 128:159-168. [PMID: 35082388 PMCID: PMC8897408 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-022-00499-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
A taxonomic classification that accurately captures evolutionary history is essential for conservation. Genomics provides powerful tools for delimiting species and understanding their evolutionary relationships. This allows for a more accurate and detailed view on conservation status compared with other, traditionally used, methods. However, from a practical and ethical perspective, gathering sufficient samples for endangered taxa may be difficult. Here, we use museum specimens to trace the evolutionary history and species boundaries in an Asian oriole clade. The endangered silver oriole has long been recognized as a distinct species based on its unique coloration, but a recent study suggested that it might be nested within the maroon oriole-species complex. To evaluate species designation, population connectivity, and the corresponding conservation implications, we assembled a de novo genome and used whole-genome resequencing of historical specimens. Our results show that the silver orioles form a monophyletic lineage within the maroon oriole complex and that maroon and silver forms continued to interbreed after initial divergence, but do not show signs of recent gene flow. Using a genome scan, we identified genes that may form the basis for color divergence and act as reproductive barriers. Taken together, our results confirm the species status of the silver oriole and highlight that taxonomic revision of the maroon forms is urgently needed. Our study demonstrates how genomics and Natural History Collections (NHC) can be utilized to shed light on the taxonomy and evolutionary history of natural populations and how such insights can directly benefit conservation practitioners when assessing wild populations.
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20
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Hogg CJ, Ottewell K, Latch P, Rossetto M, Biggs J, Gilbert A, Richmond S, Belov K. Threatened Species Initiative: Empowering conservation action using genomic resources. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2115643118. [PMID: 35042806 PMCID: PMC8795520 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115643118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, 15,521 animal species are listed as threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and of these less than 3% have genomic resources that can inform conservation management. To combat this, global genome initiatives are developing genomic resources, yet production of a reference genome alone does not conserve a species. The reference genome allows us to develop a suite of tools to understand both genome-wide and functional diversity within and between species. Conservation practitioners can use these tools to inform their decision-making. But, at present there is an implementation gap between the release of genome information and the use of genomic data in applied conservation by conservation practitioners. In May 2020, we launched the Threatened Species Initiative and brought a consortium of genome biologists, population biologists, bioinformaticians, population geneticists, and ecologists together with conservation agencies across Australia, including government, zoos, and nongovernment organizations. Our objective is to create a foundation of genomic data to advance our understanding of key Australian threatened species, and ultimately empower conservation practitioners to access and apply genomic data to their decision-making processes through a web-based portal. Currently, we are developing genomic resources for 61 threatened species from a range of taxa, across Australia, with more than 130 collaborators from government, academia, and conservation organizations. Developed in direct consultation with government threatened-species managers and other conservation practitioners, herein we present our framework for meeting their needs and our systematic approach to integrating genomics into threatened species recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life & Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Kym Ottewell
- Conservation Science Centre, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, & Attractions, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia
| | - Peter Latch
- Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water & Environment, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Maurizio Rossetto
- Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - James Biggs
- Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
| | | | | | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life & Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Mahfooz S, Singh P, Akhter Y. A comparative study of microsatellites among crocodiles and development of genomic resources for the critically endangered Indian gharial. Genetica 2022; 150:67-75. [DOI: 10.1007/s10709-021-00148-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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22
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Gooley RM, Dicks KL, Ferrie GM, Lacy RC, Ballou JD, Callicrate T, Senn H, Koepfli KP, Edwards CW, Pukazhenthi BS. Applying genomics to metapopulation management in North American insurance populations of southern sable antelope (Hippotragus niger niger) and addra gazelle (Nanger dama ruficollis). Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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23
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Low neutral and immunogenetic diversity in northern fringe populations of the green toad Bufotes viridis: implications for conservation. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01407-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractGenetic variation is often lower at high latitudes, which may compromise the adaptability and hence survival of organisms. Here we show that genetic variability is negatively correlated with northern latitude in European green toads (Bufotes viridis). The result holds true for both putatively neutral microsatellite variation and supposedly adaptive MHC Class IIB variation. In particular, our findings have bearing on the conservation status of this species in Sweden, on the northern limit of its distribution where local populations are small and fragmented. These genetically impoverished populations are closely related to other populations found around the Baltic Sea basin. The low neutral and adaptive variation in these fringe populations compared to population at central ranges confirms a pattern shared across all other amphibians so far studied. In Sweden, the situation of green toads is of concern as the remaining populations may not have the evolutionary potential to cope with present and future environmental challenges.
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Abstract
AbstractObserving and quantifying primate behavior in the wild is challenging. Human presence affects primate behavior and habituation of new, especially terrestrial, individuals is a time-intensive process that carries with it ethical and health concerns, especially during the recent pandemic when primates are at even greater risk than usual. As a result, wildlife researchers, including primatologists, have increasingly turned to new technologies to answer questions and provide important data related to primate conservation. Tools and methods should be chosen carefully to maximize and improve the data that will be used to answer the research questions. We review here the role of four indirect methods—camera traps, acoustic monitoring, drones, and portable field labs—and improvements in machine learning that offer rapid, reliable means of combing through large datasets that these methods generate. We describe key applications and limitations of each tool in primate conservation, and where we anticipate primate conservation technology moving forward in the coming years.
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Kahl SM, Kappel C, Joshi J, Lenhard M. Phylogeography of a widely distributed plant species reveals cryptic genetic lineages with parallel phenotypic responses to warming and drought conditions. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:13986-14002. [PMID: 34707833 PMCID: PMC8525116 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
To predict how widely distributed species will perform under future climate change, it is crucial to understand and reveal their underlying phylogenetics. However, detailed information about plant adaptation and its genetic basis and history remains scarce and especially widely distributed species receive little attention despite their putatively high adaptability. To examine the adaptation potential of a widely distributed species, we sampled the model plant Silene vulgaris across Europe. In a greenhouse experiment, we exposed the offspring of these populations to a climate change scenario for central Europe and revealed the population structure through whole-genome sequencing. Plants were grown under two temperatures (18°C and 21°C) and three precipitation regimes (65, 75, and 90 mm) to measure their response in biomass and fecundity-related traits. To reveal the population genetic structure, ddRAD sequencing was employed for a whole-genome approach. We found three major genetic clusters in S. vulgaris from Europe: one cluster comprising Southern European populations, one cluster of Western European populations, and another cluster containing central European populations. Population genetic diversity decreased with increasing latitude, and a Mantel test revealed significant correlations between F ST and geographic distances as well as between genetic and environmental distances. Our trait analysis showed that the genetic clusters significantly differed in biomass-related traits and in the days to flowering. However, half of the traits showed parallel response patterns to the experimental climate change scenario. Due to the differentiated but parallel response patterns, we assume that phenotypic plasticity plays an important role for the adaptation of the widely distributed species S. vulgaris and its intraspecific genetic lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M. Kahl
- Biodiversity Research/Systematic BotanyInstitute of Biochemistry and BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB)BerlinGermany
| | - Christian Kappel
- GeneticsInstitute of Biochemistry and BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Jasmin Joshi
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB)BerlinGermany
- Institute for Landscape and Open SpaceEastern Switzerland University of Applied SciencesRapperswilSwitzerland
| | - Michael Lenhard
- GeneticsInstitute of Biochemistry and BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
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26
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Whole genome sequences from non-invasively collected caribou faecal samples. CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-021-01235-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AbstractConservation genomics is an important tool to manage threatened species under current biodiversity loss. Recent advances in sequencing technology mean that we can now use whole genomes to investigate demographic history, local adaptation, inbreeding, and more in unprecedented detail. However, for many rare and elusive species only non-invasive samples such as faeces can be obtained, making it difficult to take advantage of whole genome data. We present a method to extract DNA from the mucosal layer of faecal samples to re-sequence high coverage whole genomes using standard laboratory techniques. We use wild collected faecal pellets collected from caribou (Rangifer tarandus), a species undergoing declines in many parts of its range in Canada and subject to comprehensive conservation and population monitoring measures. We compare four faecal genomes to two tissue genomes sequenced in the same run. Quality metrics were similar between faecal and tissue samples with the main difference being the alignment success of raw reads to the reference genome due to differences in low quality and endogenous DNA content, affecting overall coverage. One of our faecal genomes was only re-sequenced at low coverage (1.6 ×), however the other three obtained between 7 and 15 ×, compared to 19 and 25 × for the tissue samples. We successfully re-sequenced high-quality whole genomes from faecal DNA and are one of the first to obtain genome-wide data from wildlife faecal DNA in a non-primate species. Our work represents an important advancement for non-invasive conservation genomics.
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27
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Chromosome-Level Genome Assemblies Expand Capabilities of Genomics for Conservation Biology. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12091336. [PMID: 34573318 PMCID: PMC8466942 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome assemblies are in the process of becoming an increasingly important tool for understanding genetic diversity in threatened species. Unfortunately, due to limited budgets typical for the area of conservation biology, genome assemblies of threatened species, when available, tend to be highly fragmented, represented by tens of thousands of scaffolds not assigned to chromosomal locations. The recent advent of high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) enables more contiguous assemblies containing scaffolds spanning the length of entire chromosomes for little additional cost. These inexpensive contiguous assemblies can be generated using Hi-C scaffolding of existing short-read draft assemblies, where N50 of the draft contigs is larger than 0.1% of the estimated genome size and can greatly improve analyses and facilitate visualization of genome-wide features including distribution of genetic diversity in markers along chromosomes or chromosome-length scaffolds. We compared distribution of genetic diversity along chromosomes of eight mammalian species, including six listed as threatened by IUCN, where both draft genome assemblies and newer chromosome-level assemblies were available. The chromosome-level assemblies showed marked improvement in localization and visualization of genetic diversity, especially where the distribution of low heterozygosity across the genomes of threatened species was not uniform.
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Duntsch L, Whibley A, Brekke P, Ewen JG, Santure AW. Genomic data of different resolutions reveal consistent inbreeding estimates but contrasting homozygosity landscapes for the threatened Aotearoa New Zealand hihi. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6006-6020. [PMID: 34242449 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Inbreeding can lead to a loss of heterozygosity in a population and when combined with genetic drift may reduce the adaptive potential of a species. However, there is uncertainty about whether resequencing data can provide accurate and consistent inbreeding estimates. Here, we performed an in-depth inbreeding analysis for hihi (Notiomystis cincta), an endemic and nationally vulnerable passerine bird of Aotearoa New Zealand. We first focused on subsampling variants from a reference genome male, and found that low-density data sets tend to miss runs of homozygosity (ROH) in some places and overestimate ROH length in others, resulting in contrasting homozygosity landscapes. Low-coverage resequencing and 50 K SNP array densities can yield comparable inbreeding results to high-coverage resequencing approaches, but the results for all data sets are highly dependent on the software settings employed. Second, we extended our analysis to 10 hihi where low-coverage whole genome resequencing, RAD-seq and SNP array genotypes are available. We inferred ROH and individual inbreeding to evaluate the relative effects of sequencing depth versus SNP density on estimating inbreeding coefficients and found that high rates of missingness downwardly bias both the number and length of ROH. In summary, when using genomic data to evaluate inbreeding, studies must consider that ROH estimates are heavily dependent on analysis parameters, data set density and individual sequencing depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Duntsch
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Annabel Whibley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Patricia Brekke
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - John G Ewen
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Anna W Santure
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Jensen A, Lillie M, Bergström K, Larsson P, Höglund J. Whole genome sequencing reveals high differentiation, low levels of genetic diversity and short runs of homozygosity among Swedish wels catfish. Heredity (Edinb) 2021; 127:79-91. [PMID: 33963302 PMCID: PMC8249479 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-021-00438-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of genetic markers in the context of conservation is largely being outcompeted by whole-genome data. Comparative studies between the two are sparse, and the knowledge about potential effects of this methodology shift is limited. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing data to assess the genetic status of peripheral populations of the wels catfish (Silurus glanis), and discuss the results in light of a recent microsatellite study of the same populations. The Swedish populations of the wels catfish have suffered from severe declines during the last centuries and persists in only a few isolated water systems. Fragmented populations generally are at greater risk of extinction, for example due to loss of genetic diversity, and may thus require conservation actions. We sequenced individuals from the three remaining native populations (Båven, Emån, and Möckeln) and one reintroduced population of admixed origin (Helge å), and found that genetic diversity was highest in Emån but low overall, with strong differentiation among the populations. No signature of recent inbreeding was found, but a considerable number of short runs of homozygosity were present in all populations, likely linked to historically small population sizes and bottleneck events. Genetic substructure within any of the native populations was at best weak. Individuals from the admixed population Helge å shared most genetic ancestry with the Båven population (72%). Our results are largely in agreement with the microsatellite study, and stresses the need to protect these isolated populations at the northern edge of the distribution of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Jensen
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mette Lillie
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Kristofer Bergström
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Per Larsson
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Jacob Höglund
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Escoda L, Castresana J. The genome of the Pyrenean desman and the effects of bottlenecks and inbreeding on the genomic landscape of an endangered species. Evol Appl 2021; 14:1898-1913. [PMID: 34295371 PMCID: PMC8288019 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is a small semiaquatic mammal endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. Despite its limited range, this species presents a strong genetic structure due to past isolation in glacial refugia and subsequent bottlenecks. Additionally, some populations are highly fragmented today as a consequence of river barriers, causing substantial levels of inbreeding. These features make the Pyrenean desman a unique model in which to study the genomic footprints of differentiation, bottlenecks and extreme isolation in an endangered species. To understand these processes, the complete genome of the Pyrenean desman was sequenced and assembled using a Bloom filter-based approach. An analysis of the 1.83 Gb reference genome and the sequencing of five additional individuals from different evolutionary units allowed us to detect its main genomic characteristics. The population differentiation of the species was reflected in highly distinctive demographic trajectories. In addition, a severe population bottleneck during the postglacial recolonization of the eastern Pyrenees created one of the lowest genomic heterozygosity values recorded in a mammal. Moreover, isolation and inbreeding gave rise to a high proportion of runs of homozygosity (ROH). Despite these extremely low levels of genetic diversity, two key multigene families from an eco-evolutionary perspective, the major histocompatibility complex and olfactory receptor genes, showed heterozygosity excess in the majority of individuals, revealing that functional diversity can be maintained up to a certain extent. Furthermore, these two classes of genes were significantly less abundant than expected within ROH. In conclusion, the genomic landscape of each analysed Pyrenean desman turned out to be strikingly distinctive and was a clear reflection of its recent ancestry and current conservation conditions. These results may help characterize the genomic health of each individual, and can be crucial for the conservation and management of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Escoda
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC‐Universitat Pompeu Fabra)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Jose Castresana
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC‐Universitat Pompeu Fabra)BarcelonaSpain
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Slimp M, Williams LD, Hale H, Johnson MG. On the potential of Angiosperms353 for population genomic studies. APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES 2021; 9:APS311419. [PMID: 34336401 PMCID: PMC8312745 DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE The successful application of universal targeted sequencing markers, such as those developed for the Angiosperms353 probe set, within populations could reduce or eliminate the need for specific marker development, while retaining the benefits of full-gene sequences in population-level analyses. However, whether the Angiosperms353 markers provide sufficient variation within species to calculate demographic parameters is untested. METHODS Using herbarium specimens from a 50-year-old floristic survey in Texas, we sequenced 95 samples from 24 species using the Angiosperms353 probe set. Our data workflow calls variants within species and prepares data for population genetic analysis using standard metrics. In our case study, gene recovery was affected by genomic library concentration only at low concentrations and displayed limited phylogenetic bias. RESULTS We identified over 1000 segregating variants with zero missing data for 92% of species and demonstrate that Angiosperms353 markers contain sufficient variation to estimate pairwise nucleotide diversity (π)-typically between 0.002 and 0.010, with most variation found in flanking non-coding regions. In a subset of variants that were filtered to reduce linkage, we uncovered high heterozygosity in many species, suggesting that denser sampling within species should permit estimation of gene flow and population dynamics. DISCUSSION Angiosperms353 should benefit conservation genetic studies by providing universal repeatable markers, low missing data, and haplotype information, while permitting inclusion of decades-old herbarium specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Slimp
- Department of Biological SciencesTexas Tech University2901 Main StreetLubbockTexas79409USA
| | - Lindsay D. Williams
- Department of Biological SciencesTexas Tech University2901 Main StreetLubbockTexas79409USA
| | - Haley Hale
- Department of Biological SciencesTexas Tech University2901 Main StreetLubbockTexas79409USA
| | - Matthew G. Johnson
- Department of Biological SciencesTexas Tech University2901 Main StreetLubbockTexas79409USA
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Coexistence without conflict, the recovery of Ireland’s endangered wild grey partridge Perdix perdix. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-021-01470-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBy 1995, Ireland’s wild grey partridge (Perdix perdix) was extinct nationally as a breeding species on farmland. The two populations remaining were confined to Ireland’s industrial cutaway peat bogs. One of these populations was deemed viable. In 1996, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of Ireland and the Irish Grey Partridge Conservation Trust established a conservation project to prevent the extirpation of this population. In this paper, we explore the impact of each management factor on two key demographic response variables: chick survival rates and the number of breeding pairs. The numbers of linear metres of nesting strips had the most significantly positive effect on spring pairs, followed by the total number of supplementary food hoppers and the total hectares of brood-rearing and over-winter cover. Counterintuitively, encounters with Hen Harriers (Circus cyaneus) did not negatively affect chick survival or the number of spring pairs. While we cannot rule out the contribution of each explanatory variable, none had a statistically significant effect on chick survival, suggesting there may be locally confounding factors that our model could not capture. The weather conditions during the peak hatching period had a significant influence on chick survival, with the average maximum temperature observed in June having the strongest positive association with an increase of 1 °C in the average maximum temperature in June associated with an increase in chick survival of 9.4% on average. Conversely, for every additional 1 mm of rain in June, there was a 0.23% drop in chick survival on average.
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Camak DT, Osborne MJ, Turner TF. Population genomics and conservation of Gila Trout (Oncorhynchus gilae). CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01355-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Lou F, Gao T, Han Z. Identification of putative key genes for thermal adaptation in the Japanese mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) through population genomic analysis. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2021; 39:100828. [PMID: 33838619 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the mechanisms underlying the relationship between genetic variation and the adaptation of Oratosquilla oratoria populations to different habitat temperature. Here, the genome-wide genetic information of three O. oratoria populations were obtained by IIB restriction site-associated DNA (2b-RAD) sequencing and 2403 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. Based on the 2403 SNPs, we found a remarkable genetic differentiation between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea groups of O. oratoria. Furthermore, 63 SNPs are thought to be associated with different sea temperatures. Based on the 63 SNPs, it is hypothesised that the long-term temperature differences may contribute to the variation of genes associated with multiple biological functions, such as material metabolism, cytoskeleton, cellular processes, inflammatory response and hormonal regulation. This study provides new information for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between genetic variation and the adaptation of Oratosquilla oratoria populations to different temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangrui Lou
- Fishery College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, China; School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, Shandong 264005, China
| | - Tianxiang Gao
- Fishery College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, China
| | - Zhiqiang Han
- Fishery College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, China.
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Andrews KR, Epstein B, Leslie MS, Fiedler P, Morin PA, Hoelzel AR. Genomic signatures of divergent selection are associated with social behaviour for spinner dolphin ecotypes. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:1993-2008. [PMID: 33645853 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the genomic basis of adaptation is critical for understanding evolutionary processes and predicting how species will respond to environmental change. Spinner dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) present a unique system for studying adaptation. Within this large geographical region are four spinner dolphin ecotypes with weak neutral genetic divergence and no obvious barriers to gene flow, but strong spatial variation in morphology, behaviour and habitat. These ecotypes have large population sizes, which could reduce the effects of drift and facilitate selection. To identify genomic regions putatively under divergent selective pressures between ecotypes, we used genome scans with 8994 RADseq single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify population differentiation outliers and genotype-environment association outliers. Gene ontology enrichment analyses indicated that outlier SNPs from both types of analyses were associated with multiple genes involved in social behaviour and hippocampus development, including 15 genes associated with the human social disorder autism. Evidence for divergent selection on social behaviour is supported by previous evidence that these spinner dolphin ecotypes differ in mating systems and associated social behaviours. In particular, three of the ETP ecotypes probably have a polygynous mating system characterized by strong premating competition among males, whereas the fourth ecotype probably has a polygynandrous mating system characterized by strong postmating competition such as sperm competition. Our results provide evidence that selection for social behaviour may be an evolutionary force driving diversification of spinner dolphins in the ETP, potentially as a result of divergent sexual selection associated with different mating systems. Future studies should further investigate the potential adaptive role of the candidate genes identified here, and could probably find further signatures of selection using whole genome sequence data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly R Andrews
- School of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Brendan Epstein
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | | | - Paul Fiedler
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Phillip A Morin
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - A Rus Hoelzel
- School of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
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37
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Neal KM, Fisher RN, Mitrovich MJ, Shaffer HB. Conservation Genomics of the Threatened Western Spadefoot, Spea hammondii, in Urbanized Southern California. J Hered 2021; 111:613-627. [PMID: 33245338 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esaa049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Populations of the western spadefoot (Spea hammondii) in southern California occur in one of the most urbanized and fragmented landscapes on the planet and have lost up to 80% of their native habitat. Orange County is one of the last strongholds for this pond-breeding amphibian in the region, and ongoing restoration efforts targeting S. hammondii have involved habitat protection and the construction of artificial breeding ponds. These efforts have successfully increased breeding activity, but genetic characterization of the populations, including estimates of effective population size and admixture between the gene pools of constructed artificial and natural ponds, has never been undertaken. Using thousands of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms, we characterized the population structure, genetic diversity, and genetic connectivity of spadefoots in Orange County to guide ongoing and future management efforts. We identified at least 2, and possibly 3 major genetic clusters, with additional substructure within clusters indicating that individual ponds are often genetically distinct. Estimates of landscape resistance suggest that ponds on either side of the Los Angeles Basin were likely interconnected historically, but intense urban development has rendered them essentially isolated, and the resulting risk of interruption to natural metapopulation dynamics appears to be high. Resistance surfaces show that the existing artificial ponds were well-placed and connected to natural populations by low-resistance corridors. Toad samples from all ponds (natural and artificial) returned extremely low estimates of effective population size, possibly due to a bottleneck caused by a recent multi-year drought. Management efforts should focus on maintaining gene flow among natural and artificial ponds by both assisted migration and construction of new ponds to bolster the existing pond network in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Neal
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Robert N Fisher
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, San Diego, CA
| | | | - H Bradley Shaffer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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38
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Do We Need to Identify Adaptive Genetic Variation When Prioritizing Populations for Conservation? CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-020-01327-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Fargeot L, Loot G, Prunier JG, Rey O, Veyssière C, Blanchet S. Patterns of Epigenetic Diversity in Two Sympatric Fish Species: Genetic vs. Environmental Determinants. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:107. [PMID: 33467145 PMCID: PMC7830833 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic components are hypothesized to be sensitive to the environment, which should permit species to adapt to environmental changes. In wild populations, epigenetic variation should therefore be mainly driven by environmental variation. Here, we tested whether epigenetic variation (DNA methylation) observed in wild populations is related to their genetic background, and/or to the local environment. Focusing on two sympatric freshwater fish species (Gobio occitaniae and Phoxinus phoxinus), we tested the relationships between epigenetic differentiation, genetic differentiation (using microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers), and environmental distances between sites. We identify positive relationships between pairwise genetic and epigenetic distances in both species. Moreover, epigenetic marks better discriminated populations than genetic markers, especially in G. occitaniae. In G. occitaniae, both pairwise epigenetic and genetic distances were significantly associated to environmental distances between sites. Nonetheless, when controlling for genetic differentiation, the link between epigenetic differentiation and environmental distances was not significant anymore, indicating a noncausal relationship. Our results suggest that fish epigenetic variation is mainly genetically determined and that the environment weakly contributed to epigenetic variation. We advocate the need to control for the genetic background of populations when inferring causal links between epigenetic variation and environmental heterogeneity in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fargeot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, F-09200 Moulis, France;
| | - Géraldine Loot
- CNRS, UPS, École Nationale de Formation Agronomique (ENFA), UMR 5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse CEDEX 4, France; (G.L.); (C.V.)
- Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), F-75231 Paris CEDEX 05, France
| | - Jérôme G. Prunier
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, F-09200 Moulis, France;
| | - Olivier Rey
- CNRS, Interaction Hôtes-Parasites-Environnements (IHPE), UMR 5244, F-66860 Perpignan, France;
| | - Charlotte Veyssière
- CNRS, UPS, École Nationale de Formation Agronomique (ENFA), UMR 5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse CEDEX 4, France; (G.L.); (C.V.)
| | - Simon Blanchet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, F-09200 Moulis, France;
- CNRS, UPS, École Nationale de Formation Agronomique (ENFA), UMR 5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse CEDEX 4, France; (G.L.); (C.V.)
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A reference allelic ladder for Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) enables linking grouse genetic data across studies. CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-020-01180-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractRapid anthropogenic climate change and progressing habitat degradation are considered top threats to biodiversity. The employment of demanding umbrella species as indicators for ecosystem health is a popular and cost-effective strategy that facilitates continuous monitoring and evaluation within a long-term conservation management scheme. The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and the Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) are both considered viable candidates due to their extensive habitat requirements, the possibility for conservative, non-invasive sampling, and their broad popular appeal. Regional population surveys based on genetic data from Short Sequence Repeat (SSR) analysis are being conducted throughout the Palearctic. However, to ensure reliable comparability among laboratories, standardization is required. Here, we report a catalogue of fifty fully characterized reference alleles from twelve SSR loci and the construction of a customizable allelic ladder for genotyping and individualization in Western Capercaillie and Black Grouse. This methodological improvement will help to cost-efficiently generate and collate supraregional data from different grouse surveys and thereby contribute to conservation management. Reference alleles and ladders can be obtained on demand.
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Beninde J, Möst M, Meyer A. Optimized and affordable high-throughput sequencing workflow for preserved and nonpreserved small zooplankton specimens. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:1632-1646. [PMID: 32677266 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Genomic analysis of hundreds of individuals is increasingly becoming standard in evolutionary and ecological research. Individual-based sequencing generates large amounts of valuable data from experimental and field studies, while using preserved samples is an invaluable resource for studying biodiversity in remote areas or across time. Yet, small-bodied individuals or specimens from collections are often of limited use for genomic analyses due to a lack of suitable extraction and library preparation protocols for preserved or small amounts of tissues. Currently, high-throughput sequencing in zooplankton is mostly restricted to clonal species, that can be maintained in live cultures to obtain sufficient amounts of tissue, or relies on a whole-genome amplification step that comes with several biases and high costs. Here, we present a workflow for high-throughput sequencing of single small individuals omitting the need for prior whole-genome amplification or live cultures. We establish and demonstrate this method using 27 species of the genus Daphnia, aquatic keystone organisms, and validate it with small-bodied ostracods. Our workflow is applicable to both live and preserved samples at low costs per sample. We first show that a silica-column based DNA extraction method resulted in the highest DNA yields for nonpreserved samples while a precipitation-based technique gave the highest yield for ethanol-preserved samples and provided the longest DNA fragments. We then successfully performed short-read whole genome sequencing from single Daphnia specimens and ostracods. Moreover, we assembled a draft reference genome from a single Daphnia individual (>50× coverage) highlighting the value of the workflow for non-model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik Beninde
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Markus Möst
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Axel Meyer
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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42
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Eriksson CE, Ruprecht J, Levi T. More affordable and effective noninvasive single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping using high‐throughput amplicon sequencing. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:1505-1516. [DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Joel Ruprecht
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
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Sun Y, Deng T, Zhang A, Moore MJ, Landis JB, Lin N, Zhang H, Zhang X, Huang J, Zhang X, Sun H, Wang H. Genome Sequencing of the Endangered Kingdonia uniflora (Circaeasteraceae, Ranunculales) Reveals Potential Mechanisms of Evolutionary Specialization. iScience 2020; 23:101124. [PMID: 32428861 PMCID: PMC7232092 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Kingdonia uniflora, an alpine herb, has an extremely narrow distribution and represents a model for studying evolutionary mechanisms of species that have adapted to undisturbed environments for evolutionarily long periods of time. We assembled a 1,004.7-Mb draft genome (encoding 43,301 genes) of K. uniflora and found significant overrepresentation in gene families associated with DNA repair, underrepresentation in gene families associated with stress response, and loss of most plastid ndh genes. During the evolutionary process, the overrepresentation of gene families involved in DNA repair could help asexual K. uniflora reduce the accumulation of deleterious mutations, while reducing genetic diversity, which is important in responding to environment fluctuations. The underrepresentation of gene families related to stress response and functional loss of ndh genes could be due to lack or loss of ability to respond to environmental changes caused by long-term adaptation to a relatively stable ecological environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Tao Deng
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Aidi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | | | - Jacob B Landis
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA; School of Integrative Plant Science, Section of Plant Biology and the L.H. Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Nan Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huajie Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jinling Huang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Xiujun Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Hang Sun
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Hengchang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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44
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von Thaden A, Nowak C, Tiesmeyer A, Reiners TE, Alves PC, Lyons LA, Mattucci F, Randi E, Cragnolini M, Galián J, Hegyeli Z, Kitchener AC, Lambinet C, Lucas JM, Mölich T, Ramos L, Schockert V, Cocchiararo B. Applying genomic data in wildlife monitoring: Development guidelines for genotyping degraded samples with reduced single nucleotide polymorphism panels. Mol Ecol Resour 2020. [PMID: 31925943 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13136.applying] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The genomic era has led to an unprecedented increase in the availability of genome-wide data for a broad range of taxa. Wildlife management strives to make use of these vast resources to enable refined genetic assessments that enhance biodiversity conservation. However, as new genomic platforms emerge, problems remain in adapting the usually complex approaches for genotyping of noninvasively collected wildlife samples. Here, we provide practical guidelines for the standardized development of reduced single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels applicable for microfluidic genotyping of degraded DNA samples, such as faeces or hairs. We demonstrate how microfluidic SNP panels can be optimized to efficiently monitor European wildcat (Felis silvestris S.) populations. We show how panels can be set up in a modular fashion to accommodate informative markers for relevant population genetics questions, such as individual identification, hybridization assessment and the detection of population structure. We discuss various aspects regarding the implementation of reduced SNP panels and provide a framework that will allow both molecular ecologists and practitioners to help bridge the gap between genomics and applied wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina von Thaden
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Carsten Nowak
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Annika Tiesmeyer
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tobias E Reiners
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Paulo C Alves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO - Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Leslie A Lyons
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Federica Mattucci
- Area per la Genetica della Conservazione, ISPRA, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ettore Randi
- Department BIGEA, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Margherita Cragnolini
- Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, Biologisch-Pharmazeutische Fakultät, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - José Galián
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Zsolt Hegyeli
- "Milvus Group" Bird and Nature Protection Association, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Andrew C Kitchener
- Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.,Institute of Geography, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Clotilde Lambinet
- Department of Science and Environmental Management, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - José M Lucas
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Thomas Mölich
- Landesverband Thüringen e.V., BUND für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND), Erfurt, Germany
| | - Luana Ramos
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO - Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vinciane Schockert
- Department of Science and Environmental Management, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Berardino Cocchiararo
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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45
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Potter S, Neaves LE, Lethbridge M, Eldridge MDB. Understanding Historical Demographic Processes to Inform Contemporary Conservation of an Arid zone Specialist: The Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E154. [PMID: 32023869 PMCID: PMC7073556 DOI: 10.3390/genes11020154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Little genetic research has been undertaken on mammals across the vast expanse of the arid biome in Australia, despite continuing species decline and need for conservation management. Here, we evaluate the contemporary and historical genetic connectivity of the yellow-footed rock-wallaby, Petrogalexanthopusxanthopus, a threatened macropodid which inhabits rocky outcrops across the disconnected mountain range systems of the southern arid biome. We use 17 microsatellite loci together with mitochondrial control region data to determine the genetic diversity of populations and the evolutionary processes shaping contemporary population dynamics on which to base conservation recommendations. Our results indicate the highly fragmented populations have reduced diversity and limited contemporary gene flow, with most populations having been through population bottlenecks. Despite limited contemporary gene flow, the phylogeographic relationships of the mitochondrial control region indicate a lack of structure and suggests greater historical connectivity. This is an emerging outcome for mammals across this arid region. On the basis of our results, we recommend augmentation of populations of P. x.xanthopus, mixing populations from disjunct mountain range systems to reduce the chance of continued diversity loss and inbreeding depression, and therefore maximize the potential for populations to adapt and survive into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Potter
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney 2010, New South Wales, Australia (M.D.B.E.)
| | - Linda E. Neaves
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney 2010, New South Wales, Australia (M.D.B.E.)
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5 LR, UK
| | - Mark Lethbridge
- Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide 5001, Australia;
| | - Mark D. B. Eldridge
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney 2010, New South Wales, Australia (M.D.B.E.)
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46
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von Thaden A, Nowak C, Tiesmeyer A, Reiners TE, Alves PC, Lyons LA, Mattucci F, Randi E, Cragnolini M, Galián J, Hegyeli Z, Kitchener AC, Lambinet C, Lucas JM, Mölich T, Ramos L, Schockert V, Cocchiararo B. Applying genomic data in wildlife monitoring: Development guidelines for genotyping degraded samples with reduced single nucleotide polymorphism panels. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20. [PMID: 31925943 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The genomic era has led to an unprecedented increase in the availability of genome-wide data for a broad range of taxa. Wildlife management strives to make use of these vast resources to enable refined genetic assessments that enhance biodiversity conservation. However, as new genomic platforms emerge, problems remain in adapting the usually complex approaches for genotyping of noninvasively collected wildlife samples. Here, we provide practical guidelines for the standardized development of reduced single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels applicable for microfluidic genotyping of degraded DNA samples, such as faeces or hairs. We demonstrate how microfluidic SNP panels can be optimized to efficiently monitor European wildcat (Felis silvestris S.) populations. We show how panels can be set up in a modular fashion to accommodate informative markers for relevant population genetics questions, such as individual identification, hybridization assessment and the detection of population structure. We discuss various aspects regarding the implementation of reduced SNP panels and provide a framework that will allow both molecular ecologists and practitioners to help bridge the gap between genomics and applied wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina von Thaden
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Carsten Nowak
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Annika Tiesmeyer
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tobias E Reiners
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Paulo C Alves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO - Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Leslie A Lyons
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Federica Mattucci
- Area per la Genetica della Conservazione, ISPRA, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ettore Randi
- Department BIGEA, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Margherita Cragnolini
- Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, Biologisch-Pharmazeutische Fakultät, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - José Galián
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Zsolt Hegyeli
- "Milvus Group" Bird and Nature Protection Association, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Andrew C Kitchener
- Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.,Institute of Geography, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Clotilde Lambinet
- Department of Science and Environmental Management, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - José M Lucas
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Thomas Mölich
- Landesverband Thüringen e.V., BUND für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND), Erfurt, Germany
| | - Luana Ramos
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO - Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vinciane Schockert
- Department of Science and Environmental Management, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Berardino Cocchiararo
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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47
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Hebbar P, Ravikanth G, Aravind NA. A review on the conservation genetic studies of Indian amphibians and their implications on developing strategies for conservation†. J Genet 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-019-1159-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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48
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Hebbar P, Ravikanth G, Aravind NA. A review on the conservation genetic studies of Indian amphibians and their implications on developing strategies for conservation. J Genet 2019; 98:114. [PMID: 31819027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians show a very high level of diversity and endemism and are facing global declines from the past few decades. Studies have shown that the molecular tools can be helpful in their conservation efforts. In India, more than 80% of amphibians are endemic and most show a narrow range of distribution. Most of the Indian amphibians lack information on their genetic diversity. In this study, were view the overall trend on amphibian studies in India with the specific focus on conservation genetics. Overall, of the 173 studies, only 14 dealt with the conservation of amphibians through genetic tools and five studies estimated the genetic diversity or gene structure. Here, we discuss the gaps and provide future directions on how genetic studies can be helpful in Indian amphibian conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priti Hebbar
- Suri Sehgal Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru 560 064, India.
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49
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Clucas GV, Lou RN, Therkildsen NO, Kovach AI. Novel signals of adaptive genetic variation in northwestern Atlantic cod revealed by whole-genome sequencing. Evol Appl 2019; 12:1971-1987. [PMID: 31700539 PMCID: PMC6824067 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Selection can create complex patterns of adaptive differentiation among populations in the wild that may be relevant to management. Atlantic cod in the Northwest Atlantic are at a fraction of their historical abundance and a lack of recovery within the Gulf of Maine has created concern regarding the misalignment of fisheries management structures with biological population structure. To address this and investigate genome-wide patterns of variation, we used low-coverage sequencing to perform a region-wide, whole-genome analysis of fine-scale population structure. We sequenced 306 individuals from 20 sampling locations in U.S. and Canadian waters, including the major spawning aggregations in the Gulf of Maine in addition to spawning aggregations from Georges Bank, southern New England, the eastern Scotian Shelf, and St. Pierre Bank. With genotype likelihoods estimated at almost 11 million loci, we found large differences in haplotype frequencies of previously described chromosomal inversions between Canadian and U.S. sampling locations and also among U.S. sampling locations. Our whole-genome resolution also revealed novel outlier peaks, some of which showed significant genetic differentiation among sampling locations. Comparisons between allochronic winter- and spring-spawning populations revealed highly elevated relative (FST ) and absolute (dxy ) genetic differentiation near genes involved in reproduction, particularly genes associated with the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis, which likely control timing of spawning, contributing to prezygotic isolation. We also found genetic differentiation associated with heat shock proteins and other genes of functional relevance, with complex patterns that may point to multifaceted selection pressures and local adaptation among spawning populations. We provide a high-resolution picture of U.S. Atlantic cod population structure, revealing greater complexity than is currently recognized in management. Our genome-scan approach likely underestimates the full suite of adaptive differentiation among sampling locations. Nevertheless, it should inform the revision of stock boundaries to preserve adaptive genetic diversity and evolutionary potential of cod populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma V. Clucas
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - R. Nicolas Lou
- Department of Natural ResourcesCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
| | | | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
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50
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Chattopadhyay B, Garg KM, Soo YJ, Low GW, Frechette JL, Rheindt FE. Conservation genomics in the fight to help the recovery of the critically endangered Siamese crocodile Crocodylus siamensis. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:936-950. [PMID: 30659682 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Endangered species are often characterized by low genetic diversity and it is imperative for conservation efforts to incorporate the knowledge obtained from genetic studies for effective management. However, despite the promise of technological advances in sequencing, application of genome-wide data to endangered populations remains uncommon. In the present study we pursued a holistic conservation-genomic approach to inform a field-based management programme of a Critically Endangered species, the Siamese crocodile Crocodylus siamensis. Using thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms from throughout the genome, we revealed signals of introgression from two other crocodile species within our sample of both wild and captive-bred Siamese crocodiles from Cambodia. Our genetic screening of the Siamese crocodiles resulted in the subsequent re-introduction of 12 individuals into the wild as well as the selection of four individuals for captive breeding programmes. Comparison of intraspecific genetic diversity revealed an alarmingly low contemporary effective population size in the wild (<50) with evidence of a recent bottleneck around Tonle Sap Lake. We also projected a probable future extinction in the wild (within fewer than five generations) in this population in the absence of re-introduction efforts. However, an increase in the number of potential breeders through re-introductions, including the one resulting from this project, could counter this trend. Our results have been implemented in ongoing re-introduction and captive breeding programmes, with major implications for the conservation management of Siamese crocodiles, and provide a blueprint for the rescue effort of other "terminally ill" populations of critically endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Chattopadhyay
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kritika M Garg
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yun Jing Soo
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gabriel W Low
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Frank E Rheindt
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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