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Wolfenson LI, McCracken GR, Ruzzante DE, Mirol P, Solé-Cava A. Low STR variability in the threatened marsh deer, Blastocerus dichotomus, detected through amplicon sequencing in non-invasive samples. Genet Mol Biol 2022; 45:e20220105. [PMID: 36288451 PMCID: PMC9601240 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2022-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocerus dichotomus is the largest deer in South America. We have used 25 microsatellite markers detected and genotyped by Next Generation Sequencing to estimate the genetic variability of B. dichotomus in Argentina, where most of its populations are threatened. Primer design was based on the sequence of a shallow partial genome (15,967,456 reads; 16.66% genome coverage, mean depth 1.64) of a single individual. From the thousands of microsatellite loci found, even under high stringency selection, we chose and tested a set of 80 markers on 30 DNA samples extracted from tissue and feces from three Argentinean populations. Heterozygosity levels were low across all loci in all populations (H=0.31 to 0.40). Amplicon sequencing is a fast, easy, and affordable technique that can be very useful for the characterization of microsatellite marker sets for the conservation genetics of non-model organisms. This work is also one of the first ones to use amplicon sequencing in non-invasive samples and represents an important development for the study of threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Irene Wolfenson
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, “Bernardino Rivadavia”, División de Mastozoología, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Daniel E. Ruzzante
- Dalhousie University, Department of Biology, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Patricia Mirol
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, “Bernardino Rivadavia”, División de Mastozoología, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonio Solé-Cava
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Genetica, Centro Nacional para a Identificação Molecular do Pescado (CENIMP), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Vasiljevic N, Morf NV, Senn J, Pérez‐Espona S, Mattucci F, Mucci N, Moore‐Jones G, Pisano SRR, Kratzer A, Ogden R. Phylogeography and population genetic structure of the European roe deer in Switzerland following recent recolonization. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8626. [PMID: 35222977 PMCID: PMC8858214 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the early 1800s, the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) was probably extirpated from Switzerland, due to overhunting and deforestation. After a federal law was enacted in 1875 to protect lactating females and young, and limiting the hunting season, the roe deer successfully recovered and recolonized Switzerland. In this study, we use mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA markers to investigate the recolonization and assess contemporary genetic structure in relation to broad topographic features, in order to understand underlying ecological processes, inform future roe deer management strategies, and explore the opportunity for development of forensic traceability tools. The results concerning the recolonization origin support natural, multidirectional immigration from neighboring countries. We further demonstrate that there is evidence of weak genetic differentiation within Switzerland among topographic regions. Finally, we conclude that the genetic data support the recognition of a single roe deer management unit within Switzerland, within which there is a potential for broad-scale geographic origin assignment using nuclear markers to support law enforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Vasiljevic
- Zurich Institute of Forensic MedicineUniversity of ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Nadja V. Morf
- Zurich Institute of Forensic MedicineUniversity of ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Josef Senn
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSLBirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Sílvia Pérez‐Espona
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin InstituteUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Federica Mattucci
- ISPRA‐Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca AmbientaleArea per la Genetica della Conservazione BIO‐CGEBolognaItaly
| | - Nadia Mucci
- ISPRA‐Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca AmbientaleArea per la Genetica della Conservazione BIO‐CGEBolognaItaly
| | - Gaia Moore‐Jones
- Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse‐FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Simone Roberto Rolando Pisano
- Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse‐FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Adelgunde Kratzer
- Zurich Institute of Forensic MedicineUniversity of ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Rob Ogden
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin InstituteUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
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Buzan E, Gerič U, Potušek S, Flajšman K, Pokorny B. First Insights into the Population Genetic Structure and Heterozygosity-Fitness Relationship in Roe Deer Inhabiting the Area between the Alps and Dinaric Mountains. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122276. [PMID: 33276566 PMCID: PMC7761463 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We determined the genetic variability, population structure, and influence of genetic factors on two parameters of fitness (body mass and reproductive ability) in roe deer females in the contact zone between the Alps and the Dinaric Mountains by utilizing microsatellite variations in 214 individuals collected throughout Slovenia, Central Europe. Spatial differences in the genetic diversity of the species can be explained by population history, different approaches to population management and/or different connectivity among subpopulations. The population genetic structure confirms the high side fidelity of roe deer, but also shows the existence of admixtures of genes among different areas. We found evidence that genetic factors, including individual heterozygosity, influence body mass, confirming that heterozygosity positively affects fitness in wild populations. However, as the effect of genetic factors is usually masked or overruled by the influence of environmental factors, i.e., availability of resources, data on the joint influence of external and intrinsic factors on fitness and other life-history traits are needed to better predict the population dynamics of targeted species, which would enable sustainable, science-based population management. Abstract Across its pan-European distribution, the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) faces a wide diversity of environmental and climatic conditions; therefore, several factors, including intrinsic ones, shape life-history traits and cause significant variability in parameters of fitness. By utilizing microsatellite variations in 214 roe deer females collected throughout Slovenia, Central Europe, we determined the genetic variability and population structure of this species in the contact zone between the Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, i.e., over a wider area where data on the genetic outlook for this—the most common and widespread European wild ungulate—have been completely lacking so far. Throughout the country, we found moderate microsatellite diversity (Ho = 0.57–0.65) in relation to the observed heterozygosity reported for other roe deer populations in Europe. Spatial differences in genetic diversity of the species in Slovenia can be explained by population history linked to varying approaches to population management and/or different connectivity among subpopulations in topographically differentiated habitats. A country-wide pattern of genetic structure is clearly defined by separation of the populations into three groups present in the following regions: (i) Southern sub-Mediterranean and Karst regions, (ii) Central Slovenia, and (iii) the Sub-Pannonian Region in the north-east. This is also confirmed by evidencing a moderate isolation by distance, especially by separating southern samples (coastal Slovenia) from others. Levels of genetic differentiation vary among populations, which can be explained by the effect of natural geographical barriers or the presence of anthropogenic barriers such as urban areas and highways. In the subset of 172 yearling females, we analyzed the influence of genetic advantage (individual heterozygosity) and other genetic data (reflected in the structuring of the population) on body mass and reproductive ability. We found evidence that genetic factors influence the body mass of roe deer yearling females (explaining altogether 18.8% of body mass variance), and the level of individual heterozygosity alone also positively affected body mass, which is in accordance with the theory that heterozygosity is commonly positively correlated with fitness in wild populations. However, we did not uncover any effect of heterozygosity on two parameters of reproductive ability (fertility and potential reproductive outcome), indicating that several other factors, especially environmental ones, have a predominant effect on the parameters of fitness in roe deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Buzan
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (E.B.); (U.G.); (S.P.)
- Environmental Protection College, Trg mladosti 7, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia
| | - Urška Gerič
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (E.B.); (U.G.); (S.P.)
| | - Sandra Potušek
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia; (E.B.); (U.G.); (S.P.)
| | - Katarina Flajšman
- Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Boštjan Pokorny
- Environmental Protection College, Trg mladosti 7, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia
- Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Correspondence:
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Steinbach P, Heddergott M, Weigand H, Weigand AM, Wilwert E, Stubbe M, Helm B, Campbell RE, Stubbe A, Frantz AC. Rare migrants suffice to maintain high genetic diversity in an introduced island population of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus): Evidence from molecular data and simulations. Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Lee YS, Markov N, Voloshina I, Argunov A, Bayarlkhagva D, Oh JG, Park YS, Min MS, Lee H, Kim KS. Genetic diversity and genetic structure of the Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) populations from Asia. BMC Genet 2015; 16:100. [PMID: 26282405 PMCID: PMC4539716 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-015-0244-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The roe deer, Capreolus sp., is one of the most widespread meso-mammals of Palearctic distribution, and includes two species, the European roe deer, C. capreolus inhabiting mainly Europe, and the Siberian roe deer, C. pygargus, distributed throughout continental Asia. Although there are a number of genetic studies concerning European roe deer, the Siberian roe deer has been studied less, and none of these studies use microsatellite markers. Natural processes have led to genetic structuring in wild populations. To understand how these factors have affected genetic structure and connectivity of Siberian roe deer, we investigated variability at 12 microsatellite loci for Siberian roe deer from ten localities in Asia. Results Moderate levels of genetic diversity (HE = 0.522 to 0.628) were found in all populations except in Jeju Island, South Korea, where the diversity was lowest (HE = 0.386). Western populations showed relatively low genetic diversity and higher degrees of genetic differentiation compared with eastern populations (mean Ar = 3.54 (east), 2.81 (west), mean FST = 0.122). Bayesian-based clustering analysis revealed the existence of three genetically distinct groups (clusters) for Siberian roe deer, which comprise of the Southeastern group (Mainland Korea, Russian Far East, Trans-Baikal region and Northern part of Mongolia), Northwestern group (Western Siberia and Ural in Russia) and Jeju Island population. Genetic analyses including AMOVA (FRT = 0.200), Barrier and PCA also supported genetic differentiation among regions separated primarily by major mountain ridges, suggesting that mountains played a role in the genetic differentiation of Siberian roe deer. On the other hand, genetic evidence also suggests an ongoing migration that may facilitate genetic admixture at the border areas between two groups. Conclusions Our results reveal an apparent pattern of genetic differentiation among populations inhabiting Asia, showing moderate levels of genetic diversity with an east-west gradient. The results suggest at least three distinct management units of roe deer in continental Asia, although genetic admixture is evident in some border areas. The insights obtained from this study shed light on management of Siberian roe deer in Asia and may be applied in conservation of local populations of Siberian roe deer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-015-0244-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Sun Lee
- Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea.
| | - Nickolay Markov
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology Urals Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, 620144, Russia.
| | - Inna Voloshina
- Lazovsky State Nature Reserve, Lazo, Primorsky Krai, 692980, Russia.
| | - Alexander Argunov
- Institute for Biological problems of Cryolihtozone Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, 677980, Russia.
| | - Damdingiin Bayarlkhagva
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, 210646, Mongolia.
| | - Jang Geun Oh
- Research Institute for Hallasan, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeju, 690-815, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong-Su Park
- Department of Conservation Ecology, National Institute of Ecology, 1210, Geumgang-ro, Maseo-myeon, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 325-813, South Korea.
| | - Mi-Sook Min
- Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hang Lee
- Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kyung Seok Kim
- Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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Olano-Marin J, Plis K, Sönnichsen L, Borowik T, Niedziałkowska M, Jędrzejewska B. Weak population structure in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and evidence of introgressive hybridization with Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus) in northeastern Poland. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109147. [PMID: 25271423 PMCID: PMC4182808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated contemporary and historical influences on the pattern of genetic diversity of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The study was conducted in northeastern Poland, a zone where vast areas of primeval forests are conserved and where the European roe deer was never driven to extinction. A total of 319 unique samples collected in three sampling areas were genotyped at 16 microsatellites and one fragment (610 bp) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. Genetic diversity was high, and a low degree of genetic differentiation among sampling areas was observed with both microsatellites and mtDNA. No evidence of genetic differentiation between roe deer inhabiting open fields and forested areas was found, indicating that the ability of the species to exploit these contrasting environments might be the result of its phenotypic plasticity. Half of the studied individuals carried an mtDNA haplotype that did not belong to C. capreolus, but to a related species that does not occur naturally in the area, the Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus). No differentiation between individuals with Siberian and European mtDNA haplotypes was detected at microsatellite loci. Introgression of mtDNA of Siberian roe deer into the genome of European roe deer has recently been detected in eastern Europe. Such introgression might be caused by human-mediated translocations of Siberian roe deer within the range of European roe deer or by natural hybridization between these species in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanita Olano-Marin
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Kamila Plis
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Leif Sönnichsen
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tomasz Borowik
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
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Baker KH, Rus Hoelzel A. Evolution of population genetic structure of the British roe deer by natural and anthropogenic processes (Capreolus capreolus). Ecol Evol 2012; 3:89-102. [PMID: 23403955 PMCID: PMC3568846 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Revised: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human influence typically impacts on natural populations of conservation interest. These interactions are varied and sometimes complex, and may be negative and unintended or associated with conservation and management strategy. Understanding the details of how these interactions influence and are influenced by natural evolutionary processes is essential to the development of effective conservation strategies. In this study, we investigate a species in Britain that has experienced both negative impact through overhunting in historical times and management efforts through culls and translocations. At the same time, there are regional populations that have been less affected by human influence. We use mtDNA and nuclear microsatellite DNA markers to investigate patterns of connectivity and diversity and find multiple insular populations in Britain that probably evolved within the Holocene (when the habitat was free of ice). We identify three concurrent processes. First, surviving indigenous populations show highly provincial patterns of philopatry, maintaining and generating population structure on a small geographic scale. Second, founder populations into habitat extirpated of native populations have expanded, but remained largely insular. Third, introductions into established populations generate some admixture. We discuss the implications for the evolution of diversity of the integration of natural processes with anthropogenic influences on population size and distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karis H Baker
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
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Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses reveal pronounced genetic structuring in Tunisian wild boar Sus scrofa. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-010-0452-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Zachos FE, Hajji GM, Hmwe SS, Hartl GB, Lorenzini R, Mattioli S. Population Viability Analysis and Genetic Diversity of the Endangered Red DeerCervus elaphusPopulation from Mesola, Italy. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2009. [DOI: 10.2981/07-075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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10
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Zachos FE, Cirovic D, Kirschning J, Otto M, Hartl GB, Petersen B, Honnen AC. Genetic variability, differentiation, and founder effect in golden jackals (Canis aureus) from Serbia as revealed by mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellite loci. Biochem Genet 2009; 47:241-50. [PMID: 19169806 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-009-9221-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2008] [Accepted: 09/08/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed 121 golden jackals (Canis aureus) from six sample sites in Serbia with regard to genetic variability and differentiation as revealed by mitochondrial control region sequences and eight nuclear microsatellite loci. There was no variation at all in the mtDNA sequences, and nuclear variability was very low (average observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.29 and 0.34, respectively). This is in line with the considerable recent range expansion of this species in the Balkans and indicates a strong founder effect in the recently established Serbian population. We did not find evidence of differentiation between the northeastern jackals and those from the plain of Srem or those in between. F-statistics and Bayesian Structure analyses, however, were indicative of a low degree of overall differentiation in the Serbian population. A vagrant Austrian jackal that was also analyzed was genetically indistinguishable from its Serbian conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank E Zachos
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany.
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11
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SOMMER RS, FAHLKE JM, SCHMÖLCKE U, BENECKE N, ZACHOS FE. Quaternary history of the European roe deerCapreolus capreolus. Mamm Rev 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2008.00137.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Zachos FE, Otto M, Unici R, Lorenzini R, Hartl GB. Evidence of a phylogeographic break in the Romanian brown bear (Ursus arctos) population from the Carpathians. Mamm Biol 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2007.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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13
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Hajji GM, Zachos FE, Charfi-Cheikrouha F, Hartl GB. Conservation genetics of the imperilled Barbary red deer in Tunisia. Anim Conserv 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2007.00098.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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14
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Zachos FE, Hartl GB, Suchentrunk F. Fluctuating asymmetry and genetic variability in the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus): a test of the developmental stability hypothesis in mammals using neutral molecular markers. Heredity (Edinb) 2007; 98:392-400. [PMID: 17375126 DOI: 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), used as an indicator of developmental stability, has long been hypothesized to be negatively correlated with genetic variability as a consequence of more variable organisms being better suited to buffer developmental pathways against environmental stress. However, it is still a matter of debate if this is due to metabolic properties of enzymes encoded by certain key loci or rather to overall genomic heterozygosity. Previous analyses suggest that there might be a general difference between homeo- and poikilotherms in that only the latter tend to exhibit the negative correlation predicted by theory. In the present study, we addressed these questions by analysing roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from five German populations with regard to FA in metric and non-metric skull and mandible traits as well as variability at eight microsatellite loci. Genetic variability was quantified by heterozygosity and mean d2 parameters, and although the latter did not show any relationship with FA, we found for the first time a statistically significant negative correlation of microsatellite heterozygosity and non-metric FA among populations. Because microsatellites are non-coding markers, this may be interpreted as evidence for the role of overall genomic heterozygosity in determining developmental stability. To test if the threshold character of non-metric traits is responsible for the metric vs non-metric difference we also carried out calculations where we treated our metric traits as threshold values. This, however, did not yield significant correlations between FA and genetic variability either.
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Affiliation(s)
- F E Zachos
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany.
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15
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Geographically large-scale genetic monomorphism in a highly successful introduced species: the case of the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) in Europe. Mamm Biol 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2006.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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16
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Kirschning J, Zachos FE, Cirovic D, Radovic IT, Hmwe SS, Hartl GB. Population Genetic Analysis of Serbian Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) by Means of Mitochondrial Control Region Sequences. Biochem Genet 2007; 45:409-20. [PMID: 17265184 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-007-9082-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A population genetic analysis based on sequences of the mitochondrial control region in 110 red foxes from five sampling localities in northern Serbia was carried out. The analysis yielded nine different haplotypes. Neither haplotype phylogeny nor their distribution was in accordance with the geographic location of the populations. In particular, the data failed to detect an unequivocal influence of the two big rivers, the Danube and the Tisza, separating the populations studied. Population differentiation was altogether low, without any relationship to the rivers as possible migration barriers. Although the possibility of foxes crossing the rivers over bridges or by swimming, thus keeping up gene flow, cannot be ruled out, it is most probable that the control region sequences are not sensitive enough to resolve small-scale population relationships but rather show patterns determined by stochastic processes such as genetic drift or lineage sorting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kirschning
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-University, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24118, Kiel, Germany
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Hmwe SS, Zachos FE, Sale JB, Rose HR, Hartl GB. Genetic variability and differentiation in red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Scotland and England. J Zool (1987) 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00123.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Genetic analysis of an isolated red deer (Cervus elaphus) population showing signs of inbreeding depression. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-006-0065-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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