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Wang Z, Martin A, Brunton D, Grueter CC, Qu J, He JS, Ji W, Nan Z. The effects of grassland degradation on the genetic structure of a small mammal. Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 38704846 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12836] [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] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Grassland degradation is challenging the health of grassland ecosystems globally and causing biodiversity decline. Previous studies have demonstrated the impact of grassland degradation on the abundance and behavior of small mammals. Little is known about how it affects the genetic structure of gregarious mammals in the wild. This study explores the effects of grassland degradation on the genetic structure of a small burrowing mammal, plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae). We used nine microsatellite loci to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation between colonies and genetic relatedness between individuals within the colony. We found that pikas in severely degraded grasslands had a significantly higher genetic diversity within colonies, a higher level of gene flow between colonies, and a lower genetic differentiation between colonies compared to pikas in less degraded grasslands. Individuals within colonies had a significantly lower genetic relatedness in severely degraded grasslands than in less degraded grasslands. This study has provided potential evidence of a significant impact of grassland degradation on the genetic structure of pikas, which has caused a breakdown of their kin-selected colony structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Amy Martin
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Dianne Brunton
- School of Natural Sciences (SNS), Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Cyril C Grueter
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali, China
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jiapeng Qu
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Qinghai Province Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Xining, China
| | - Jin-Sheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weihong Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- School of Natural Sciences (SNS), Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Zhibiao Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Stephens D, Fleming PJS, Sawyers E, Mayr TP. An isolated population reveals greater genetic structuring of the Australian dingo. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19105. [PMID: 36352001 PMCID: PMC9646726 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23648-1] [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: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The Australian dingo is a recent anthropogenic addition to the Australian fauna, which spread rapidly across the continent and has since widely interbred with modern dogs. Genetic studies of dingoes have given rise to speculation about their entry to the continent and subsequent biogeographic effects, but few studies of their contemporary population structure have been conducted. Here we investigated the dingo ancestry and population structure of free-living dogs in western Victoria and contrasted it with a wider southern Australian sample. We wished to determine whether their geographic isolation was mirrored in genetic isolation. To address this question, we analysed 34 microsatellite markers using Bayesian clustering and discriminant analysis of principal components, and summarised genetic diversity at the population and individual level. The broader southern Australia sample (n = 1138) comprised mostly hybrid animals, with 30% considered pure dingoes. All western Victorian individuals (n = 59) appeared to be hybrids with high dingo ancestry. The population showed no evidence of admixture with other populations and low genetic diversity on all measures tested. Based upon our characterisation of this unusual mainland population, we advise against assuming homogeneity of dingoes across the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter J. S. Fleming
- grid.1680.f0000 0004 0559 5189Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800 Australia ,grid.1020.30000 0004 1936 7371Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351 Australia ,grid.1048.d0000 0004 0473 0844Institute for Agriculture and the Environment, Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 Australia
| | - Emma Sawyers
- grid.1680.f0000 0004 0559 5189Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800 Australia ,Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 10 Valentine Ave, Parramatta, NSW 2150 Australia
| | - Tim P. Mayr
- grid.452205.40000 0000 9561 2798Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, 308-390 Koorlong Ave, Irymple, VIC 3498 Australia
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Joubran SS, Cassin-Sackett L. Genomic resources for an ecologically important rodent, Gunnison’s prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni). CONSERV GENET RESOUR 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12686-021-01192-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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