1
|
Bowman J, Enard D, Lynch VJ. Phylogenomics reveals an almost perfect polytomy among the almost ungulates ( Paenungulata). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.07.570590. [PMID: 38106080 PMCID: PMC10723481 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.07.570590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenetic studies have resolved most relationships among Eutherian Orders. However, the branching order of elephants (Proboscidea), hyraxes (Hyracoidea), and sea cows (Sirenia) (i.e., the Paenungulata) has remained uncertain since at least 1758, when Linnaeus grouped elephants and manatees into a single Order (Bruta) to the exclusion of hyraxes. Subsequent morphological, molecular, and large-scale phylogenomic datasets have reached conflicting conclusions on the branching order within Paenungulates. We use a phylogenomic dataset of alignments from 13,388 protein-coding genes across 261 Eutherian mammals to infer phylogenetic relationships within Paenungulates. We find that gene trees almost equally support the three alternative resolutions of Paenungulate relationships and that despite strong support for a Proboscidea+Hyracoidea split in the multispecies coalescent (MSC) tree, there is significant evidence for gene tree uncertainty, incomplete lineage sorting, and introgression among Proboscidea, Hyracoidea, and Sirenia. Indeed, only 8-10% of genes have statistically significant phylogenetic signal to reject the hypothesis of a Paenungulate polytomy. These data indicate little support for any resolution for the branching order Proboscidea, Hyracoidea, and Sirenia within Paenungulata and suggest that Paenungulata may be as close to a real, or at least unresolvable, polytomy as possible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Bowman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, 551 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - David Enard
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Vincent J. Lynch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, 551 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu XY, Liu SL, Wei HW, Wang XW, Yu J, Shen S, Zhou LW. Preliminary species diversity and community phylogenetics of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi in the Dabie Mountains, Central China reveal unexpected richness. IMA Fungus 2023; 14:23. [PMID: 37964331 PMCID: PMC10644440 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00130-9] [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: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Wood-inhabiting fungi have important economic values as well as playing a major ecological role in forest ecosystem cycles. The Dabie Mountains, at the junction of Henan, Hubei, and Anhui Provinces, Central China, provide an ideal climate and favorable niches for the speciation and diversification of various forms of life including fungi. We studied the species diversity and community phylogenetics of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi that revealed 175 wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous species, of which 20 represented unidentified species, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses of 575 specimens collected from ten sampling sites. These species belonged to two classes, 11 orders, 42 families, and 106 genera of Basidiomycota, and included 12 edible species, 28 medicinal species, four poisonous species, and seven forest pathogens. Four types of fungal distribution pattern at the genus level were recognized for 65 genera, while another 41 genera could not be placed in any known distribution pattern. The five sampling sites in the eastern part of the Dabie Mountains had significantly higher species diversity and phylogenetic diversity of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi than those in the western part, and thus deserve priority in terms of conservation. The community of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi in the Dabie Mountains is generally affected by a combination of habitat filtering and competitive exclusion. This study provides a basis on which to build actions for the comprehensive recognition, utilization, and conservation of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People's Republic of China
- College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Liang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao-Wen Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People's Republic of China
- College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue-Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People's Republic of China
- College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Wei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People's Republic of China.
- College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cagle LA, Stacy NI, Harvey JW, de Wit M, Adler L, Walsh M, Bonde R, Stokol T. Cytochemical staining of leukocytes and platelets in the Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris): identification of a bilobed monocyte similar to other members of the Paenungulata. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1149000. [PMID: 37426076 PMCID: PMC10326046 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1149000] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Manatees (Antillean-, Amazonian, and African-) and dugongs belong to the Order Sirenia, and when combined with elephants and rock hyraxes, form the Paenungulata. A bilobed mononuclear cell has previously been identified in elephants and rock hyraxes, but not in manatees and dugongs, with cytochemical staining identifying these cells as bilobed monocytes in elephants. The objective of this study was to characterize leukocytes (white blood cells, WBC) and platelets in blood films of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris; n = 8) using one routine hematological (Wright-Giemsa) and eight cytochemical stains: alkaline phosphatase (ALP), α-naphthyl butyrate esterase (ANBE), chloroacetate esterase (CAE), Luna, myeloperoxidase (MPx), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Sudan black B (SBB), and toluidine blue (TB). Heterophils and lymphocytes comprised most of the WBC, with low numbers of eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes. Additionally, 1-3% of the WBC were bilobed mononuclear cells. Bilobed mononuclear cell proportions were similar to rock hyraxes, but lower than elephants (approximate range 20-60%). Heterophils and eosinophils were positive for MPx, ALP, SBB, and PAS, with heterophils also being positive for CAE. Most of the lymphocytes were positive for ANBE and they were variably positive for CAE. Monocytes and bilobed mononuclear cells had similar cytochemical staining reactions (variably positive for all stains, except Luna and TB), supporting a monocytic origin, like elephants. Platelets were ANBE- and PAS-positive. Luna stain was useful for identifying eosinophils and TB was uninformative. This study provides new information on the morphological features and cytochemical staining characteristics of WBC and platelets and will aid in obtaining accurate hematological data of Florida manatees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. Cagle
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Nicole I. Stacy
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - John W. Harvey
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Martine de Wit
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, The Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Laurie Adler
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Michael Walsh
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Robert Bonde
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Tracy Stokol
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Malungo IB, Mokale R, Bertelsen MF, Manger PR. Cholinergic, catecholaminergic, serotonergic, and orexinergic neuronal populations in the brain of the lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:844-878. [PMID: 36179372 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25092] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The current study provides an analysis of the cholinergic, catecholaminergic, serotonergic, and orexinergic neuronal populations, or nuclei, in the brain of the lesser hedgehog tenrec, as revealed with immunohistochemical techniques. For all four of these neuromodulatory systems, the nuclear organization was very similar to that observed in other Afrotherian species and is broadly similar to that observed in other mammals. The cholinergic system shows the most variation, with the lesser hedgehog tenrec exhibiting palely immunopositive cholinergic neurons in the ventral portion of the lateral septal nucleus, and the possible absence of cholinergic neurons in the parabigeminal nucleus and the medullary tegmental field. The nuclear complement of the catecholaminergic, serotonergic and orexinergic systems showed no specific variances in the lesser hedgehog tenrec when compared to other Afrotherians, or broadly with other mammals. A striking feature of the lesser hedgehog tenrec brain is a significant mesencephalic flexure that is observed in most members of the Tenrecoidea, as well as the closely related Chrysochlorinae (golden moles), but is not present in the greater otter shrew, a species of the Potomogalidae lineage currently incorporated into the Tenrecoidea. In addition, the cholinergic neurons of the ventral portion of the lateral septal nucleus are observed in the golden moles, but not in the greater otter shrew. This indicates that either complex parallel evolution of these features occurred in the Tenrecoidea and Chrysochlorinae lineages, or that the placement of the Potomogalidae within the Tenrecoidea needs to be re-examined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Illke B Malungo
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Reabetswe Mokale
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Centre for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Paul R Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Herpesvirus and adenovirus surveillance in threatened wild West Indian (Trichechus manatus) and Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis), Brazil. Acta Trop 2022; 237:106740. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
|
6
|
Heritage S, Seiffert ER. Total evidence time-scaled phylogenetic and biogeographic models for the evolution of sea cows (Sirenia, Afrotheria). PeerJ 2022; 10:e13886. [PMID: 36042864 PMCID: PMC9420408 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular phylogenetic studies that have included sirenians from the genera Trichechus, Dugong, and Hydrodamalis have resolved their interrelationships but have yielded divergence age estimates that are problematically discordant. The ages of these lineage splits have profound implications for how to interpret the sirenian fossil record-including clade membership, biogeographic patterns, and correlations with Earth history events. In an effort to address these issues, here we present a total evidence phylogenetic analysis of Sirenia that includes living and fossil species and applies Bayesian tip-dating methods to estimate their interrelationships and divergence times. In addition to extant sirenians, our dataset includes 56 fossil species from 106 dated localities and numerous afrotherian outgroup taxa. Genetic, morphological, temporal, and biogeographic data are assessed simultaneously to bring all available evidence to bear on sirenian phylogeny. The resulting time-tree is then used for Bayesian geocoordinates reconstruction analysis, which models ancestral geographic areas at splits throughout the phylogeny, thereby allowing us to infer the direction and timing of dispersals. Our results suggest that Pan-Sirenia arose in North Africa during the latest Paleocene and that the Eocene evolution of stem sirenians was primarily situated in the Tethyan realm. In the late Eocene, some lineages moved into more northern European latitudes, an area that became the source region for a key trans-Atlantic dispersal towards the Caribbean and northern-adjacent west Atlantic. This event led to the phylogenetic and biogeographic founding of crown Sirenia with the Dugongidae-Trichechidae split occurring at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary (~33.9 Ma), temporally coincident with the onset of dropping global sea levels and temperatures. This region became the nexus of sirenian diversification and supported taxonomically-rich dugongid communities until the earliest Pliocene. The Dugonginae-Hydrodamalinae split occurred near Florida during the early Miocene (~21.2 Ma) and was followed by a west-bound dispersal that gave rise to the Pacific hydrodamalines. The late middle Miocene (~12.2 Ma) split of Dugong from all other dugongines also occurred near Florida and our analyses suggest that the Indo-Pacific distribution of modern dugongs is the result of a trans-Pacific dispersal. From at least the early Miocene, trichechid evolution was based entirely in South America, presumably within the Pebas Wetlands System. We infer that the eventual establishment of Amazon drainage into the South Atlantic allowed the dispersal of Trichechus out of South America no earlier than the mid-Pliocene. Our analyses provide a new temporal and biogeographic framework for understanding major events in sirenian evolution and their possible relationships to oceanographic and climatic changes. These hypotheses can be further tested with the recovery and integration of new fossil evidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Heritage
- Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Erik R. Seiffert
- Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA,Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Mammalogy, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Molecular Evolution of Tooth-Related Genes Provides New Insights into Dietary Adaptations of Mammals. J Mol Evol 2021; 89:458-471. [PMID: 34287664 PMCID: PMC8318974 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-10017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Mammals have evolved different tooth phenotypes that are hypothesized to be associated with feeding habits. However, the genetic basis for the linkage has not been well explored. In this study, we investigated 13 tooth-related genes, including seven enamel-related genes (AMELX, AMBN, ENAM, AMTN, ODAM, KLK4 and MMP20) and six dentin-related genes (DSPP, COL1A1, DMP1, IBSP, MEPE and SPP1), from 63 mammals to determine their evolutionary history. Our results showed that different evolutionary histories have evolved among divergent feeding habits in mammals. There was stronger positive selection for eight genes (ENAM, AMTN, ODAM, KLK4, DSPP, DMP1, COL1A1, MEPE) in herbivore lineages. In addition, AMELX, AMBN, ENAM, AMTN, MMP20 and COL1A1 underwent accelerated evolution in herbivores. While relatively strong positive selection was detected in IBSP, SPP1, and DSPP, accelerated evolution was only detected for MEPE and SPP1 genes among the carnivorous lineages. We found positive selection on AMBN and ENAM genes for omnivorous primates in the catarrhini clade. Interestingly, a significantly positive association between the evolutionary rate of ENAM, ODAM, KLK4, MMP20 and the average enamel thickness was found in primates. Additionally, we found molecular convergence in some amino acid sites of tooth-related genes among the lineages whose feeding habit are similar. The positive selection of related genes might promote the formation and bio-mineralization of tooth enamel and dentin, which would make the tooth structure stronger. Our results revealed that mammalian tooth-related genes have experienced variable evolutionary histories, which provide some new insights into the molecular basis of dietary adaptation in mammals.
Collapse
|
8
|
Robuchon M, Pavoine S, Véron S, Delli G, Faith DP, Mandrici A, Pellens R, Dubois G, Leroy B. Revisiting species and areas of interest for conserving global mammalian phylogenetic diversity. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3694. [PMID: 34140481 PMCID: PMC8211746 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23861-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Various prioritisation strategies have been developed to cope with accelerating biodiversity loss and limited conservation resources. These strategies could become more engaging for decision-makers if they reflected the positive effects conservation can have on future projected biodiversity, by targeting net positive outcomes in future projected biodiversity, rather than reflecting the negative consequences of further biodiversity losses only. Hoping to inform the post-2020 biodiversity framework, we here apply this approach of targeting net positive outcomes in future projected biodiversity to phylogenetic diversity (PD) to re-identify species and areas of interest for conserving global mammalian PD. We identify priority species/areas as those whose protection would maximise gains in future projected PD. We also identify loss-significant species/areas as those whose/where extinction(s) would maximise losses in future projected PD. We show that our priority species/areas differ from loss-significant species/areas. While our priority species are mostly similar to those identified by the EDGE of Existence Programme, our priority areas generally differ from previously-identified ones for global mammal conservation. We further highlight that these newly-identified species/areas of interest currently lack protection and offer some guidance for their future management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marine Robuchon
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséumnational d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
- Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Sorbonne Université, Université Caen-Normandie, Université des Antilles, Paris, France.
- Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, Directorate for Sustainable Resources, Ispra (VA), Italy.
| | - Sandrine Pavoine
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséumnational d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Simon Véron
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Giacomo Delli
- Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, Directorate for Sustainable Resources, Ispra (VA), Italy
| | | | - Andrea Mandrici
- Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, Directorate for Sustainable Resources, Ispra (VA), Italy
| | - Roseli Pellens
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Grégoire Dubois
- Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, Directorate for Sustainable Resources, Ispra (VA), Italy
| | - Boris Leroy
- Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Sorbonne Université, Université Caen-Normandie, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Krásová J, Mikula O, Šumbera R, Horáková S, Robovský J, Kostin DS, Martynov AA, Lavrenchenko LA, Bryja J. The Rufous Sengi is not
Elephantulus
—Multilocus reconstruction of evolutionary history of sengis from the subfamily Macroscelidinae. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jarmila Krásová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Sylvie Horáková
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Jan Robovský
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Danila S. Kostin
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Aleksey A. Martynov
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Leonid A. Lavrenchenko
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Himschoot EA, Wenker ES, Reed EG, Sampson J, Power ML. Macronutrient composition of milk from two captive African elephant (Loxodonta africana) cows. Zoo Biol 2021; 40:192-200. [PMID: 33705586 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We assayed 31 milk samples collected from two African elephant cows housed at the Indianapolis Zoo across lactation (birth to calf age 973 days) for macronutrient composition (water, fat, protein, sugar, gross energy [GE], ash, calcium, and phosphorus). All assays were performed at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park Nutrition Laboratory, Washington, DC (SNZP) using standard methods developed at SNZP. Milk constituents are expressed on a weight-per-weight basis (%) and as a proportion each constituent contributes to milk energy. Calf weights were recorded, and growth rate calculated. The macronutrient composition of the African elephant milk samples was compared to previously published results for Asian elephants using analysis of covariance. African elephant milk is similar to Asian elephant milk, being moderately high in fat and energy and low in sugar. The mean values across lactation (excluding colostrum; n = 28) are 5.6 ± 0.3% crude protein, 3.1 ± 0.3% sugar, 13.0 ± 1.0% fat, and GE of 1.63 ± 0.10 kcal/g. Milk composition did not differ between cows. Milk composition significantly changed over lactation; fat and protein increased, and sugar decreased with calf age, comparable to previously reported data for African and Asian elephant milk. The proportion of milk energy from fat increased and that from sugar decreased over lactation, but the energy from protein was relatively constant. Protein contributed a higher proportion of energy to African elephant milk compared to Asian elephant milk (20.6% vs. 17.0%, p = .001). Despite this, calf growth rate was similar between the species, with the calves in this study gaining about 0.8 kg/day for the first 6 months.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Himschoot
- Nutrition Laboratory, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Wenker
- Nutrition Laboratory, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Eda G Reed
- Nutrition Laboratory, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | - Michael L Power
- Nutrition Laboratory, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mu Y, Huang X, Liu R, Gai Y, Liang N, Yin D, Shan L, Xu S, Yang G. ACPT gene is inactivated in mammalian lineages that lack enamel or teeth. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10219. [PMID: 33552707 PMCID: PMC7831365 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of tooth or enamel is widespread in multiple mammal lineages. Although several studies have been reported, the evolutionary mechanisms of tooth/enamel loss are still unclear. Most previous studies have found that some tooth-related genes have been inactivated in toothless and/or enamel-less mammals, such as ENAM, ODAM, C4orf26, AMBN, AMTN, DSPP, etc. Here, we conducted evolutionary analyses on ACPT playing a key role in amelogenesis, to interrogate the mechanisms. We obtained the ACPT sequences from 116 species, including edentulous and enamel-less mammals. The results shows that variant ORF-disrupting mutations were detected in ACPT coding region among nine edentulous baleen whales and three enamel-less taxa (pygmy sperm whale, aardvark, nine-banded armadillo). Furtherly, selective pressure uncovered that the selective constraints have been relaxed among all toothless and enamel-less lineages. Moreover, our results support the hypothesis that mineralized teeth were lost or degenerated in the common ancestor of crown Mysticeti through two shared single-base sites deletion in exon 4 and 5 of ACPT among all living baleen whales. DN/dS values on transitional branches were used to estimate ACPT inactivation records. In the case of aardvark, inactivation of ACPT was estimated at ~23.60–28.32 Ma, which is earlier than oldest aardvark fossil record (Orycteropus minutus, ~19 Ma), suggesting that ACPT inactivation may result in degeneration or loss of enamel. Conversely, the inactivation time of ACPT estimated in armadillo (~10.18–11.30 Ma) is later than oldest fossil record, suggesting that inactivation of ACPT may result from degeneration or loss of enamel in these mammals. Our findings suggested that different mechanisms of degeneration of tooth/enamel might exist among toothless and enamel-less lineages during evolution. Our study further considered that ACPT is a novel gene for studying tooth evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Mu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yulin Gai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Na Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Daiqing Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Shan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shixia Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bhagwandin A, Ndlovu N, Bronner GN, Bennett NC, Manger PR. The hypercholinergic brain of the Cape golden mole (Chrysochloris asiatica). J Chem Neuroanat 2020; 110:101856. [PMID: 32937165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2020.101856] [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: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Studies detailing the anatomy of the brain of the golden moles are few. A recent study indicated that in the Hottentot golden mole (a member of the Amblysominae clade), there was a broad, atypical, distribution of cholinergic interneurons in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. To determine whether this broad distribution of cholinergic neurons is shared by other species of golden mole, we here examine the brain of the Cape golden mole (a member of the Chrysochlorinae clade, representing the second major clade within the family Chrysochloridae). Our analyses indicates the presence of a similar widespread distribution of cholinergic interneurons in the Cape golden mole. Thus, we conclude that these features are derived morphological traits in the brains of golden moles. In addition, we describe the nuclei generally considered to be part of the typical cholinergic system in mammals. Whereas the vast majority of these generally reported cholinergic nuclei were the same as recorded in other Eutherian mammals, it was noted that the cholinergic nuclei involved in oculomotion were substantially reduced in size, or absent in the case of the abducens nucleus. In addition, there was an absence of the cholinergic medial septal nucleus, but the presence of a cholinergic lateral septal nucleus. The laterodorsal and pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei evince regions where the cholinergic neurons are densely packed. These are atypical features of the mammalian cholinergic system, which when combined with the widespread atypical distribution of cholinergic interneurons, reveals a family-specific complement of cholinergic nuclei in the Chrysochloridae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adhil Bhagwandin
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nhanisi Ndlovu
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Gary N Bronner
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Paul R Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rehman A, Khan MF, Bibi S, Riaz M, Nouroz F. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of Schizothorax plagiostomus and Schizothorax esocinus with other members of subfamilies of cyprinidae on the basis of complete mitochondrial genome and 12S, 16S ribosomal RNA from Northren areas of Pakistan. Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2020; 31:250-256. [PMID: 32634032 DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2020.1787397] [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: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We assessed the relationship of Schizothoracinae species with other subfamilies Alburninae, Xenocyprinae, Cultrinae and Squaliobarbinae of family Cyprinidae by creating the phylogenetic trees using complete mitogenome and 12S and 16S RNA. Our representative species show the great affiliation with other but separated from a group composed of Metzia mesembrinum, Metzia longinasus, Metzia lineata and Metzia formosae of subfamily Alburninae while other subfamilies formed distinct group. The members of subfamily Schizothoracinae shows separate line of evolution from subfamily Barbinae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aqsa Rehman
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
| | | | - Saira Bibi
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan.,Department of Zoology, Women University Swabi, Pakistan
| | - Mehreen Riaz
- Department of Zoology, Women University Swabi, Pakistan
| | - Faisal Nouroz
- Department of Bioinformatics, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Accelerated Evolution of Limb-Related Gene Hoxd11 in the Common Ancestor of Cetaceans and Ruminants (Cetruminantia). G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:515-524. [PMID: 31792005 PMCID: PMC7003097 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Reduced numbers of carpal and tarsal bones (wrist and ankle joints) are extensively observed in the clade of Cetacea and Ruminantia (Cetruminantia). Homebox D11 (Hoxd11) is one of the important genes required for limb development in mammals. Mutations in Hoxd11 can lead to defects in particular bones of limbs, including carpus and tarsus. To test whether evolutionary changes in Hoxd11 underlie the loss of these bones in Cetruminantia, we sequenced and analyzed Hoxd11 coding sequences and compared them with other 5′ HoxA and HoxD genes in a taxonomic coverage of Cetacea, Ruminantia and other mammalian relatives. Statistical tests on the Hoxd11 sequences found an accelerated evolution in the common ancestor of cetaceans and ruminants, which coincided with the reduction of carpal and tarsal bones in this clade. Five amino acid substitutions (G222S, G227A, G229S, A240T and G261V) and one amino acid deletion (G254Del) occurred in this lineage. In contrast, other 5′ HoxA and HoxD genes do not show this same evolutionary pattern, but instead display a highly conserved pattern of evolution in this lineage. Accelerated evolution of Hoxd11, but not other 5′ HoxA and HoxD genes, is probably related to the reduction of the carpal and tarsal bones in Cetruminantia. Moreover, we found two amino acid substitutions (G110S and D223N) in Hoxd11 that are unique to the lineage of Cetacea, which coincided with hindlimb loss in the common ancestor of cetaceans. Our results give molecular evidence of Hoxd11 adaptive evolution in cetaceans and ruminants, which could be correlated with limb morphological adaptation.
Collapse
|
15
|
Wenker ES, Himschoot EA, Henry B, Toddes B, Power ML. Macronutrient composition of longitudinal milk samples from captive aardvarks (
Orycteropus afer
). Zoo Biol 2019; 38:405-413. [DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S. Wenker
- Nutrition LaboratorySmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington District of Columbia
| | - Elizabeth A. Himschoot
- Nutrition LaboratorySmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington District of Columbia
| | - Barbara Henry
- Department of NutritionCincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati Ohio
| | | | - Michael L. Power
- Nutrition LaboratorySmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington District of Columbia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hüppi E, Sánchez-Villagra MR, Tzika AC, Werneburg I. Ontogeny and phylogeny of the mammalian chondrocranium: the cupula nasi anterior and associated structures of the anterior head region. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2018; 4:29. [PMID: 30505462 PMCID: PMC6260904 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-018-0112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of chondrocrania has a long tradition with a focus on single specimens and stages. It revealed great interspecific diversity and a notion of intraspecific variation. As an embryonic structure, the chondrocranium is subject to major changes in ontogeny with resorption and ossification of different cartilaginous structures. The cupula nasi anterior is the anteriormost portion of the cartilaginous nasal capsule and is expected to mirror much of the animal's life history and lifestyle. Its diversity in mammals is reflected in the external nasal anatomy of newborns. Marsupials and placentals show marked differences, likely related to breathing and suckling behavior. RESULTS We examined histological sections of five marsupial and three placentals species and traced the development of the cupula nasi anterior and the anterior nasal capsule. We found ontogenetic variation for nearly 50% of the 43 characters defined herein. By comparing to the literature and considering ontogenetic variation, we performed an analysis of character evolution in 70 mammalian species and reconstructed the nasal anatomy of the therian ancestor. CONCLUSIONS At birth, marsupials have a complete but simple cupula nasi anterior, whereas placentals display a more diverse morphology due to reductions and variations of chondrocranial elements. The more compact nasal capsule in marsupials is related to a long and strong fixation to the mother's teat after birth. Within marsupials and placentals, several derived characters distinguish major taxa, probably related to developmental and functional constraints. The reconstructed ancestral anatomy of the cupula nasi anterior supports the hypothesis that the therian ancestor was placental-like and that the marsupial lifestyle is more derived.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Hüppi
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich, Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marcelo R. Sánchez-Villagra
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum der Universität Zürich, Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Athanasia C. Tzika
- Laboratory of Artificial & Natural Evolution (LANE), Department of Genetics & Evolution, University of Geneva, Quai E. Ansermet 30, 1205 Genève, Switzerland
| | - Ingmar Werneburg
- Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (HEP) at Eberhard Karls Universität, Sigwartstraße 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Hölderlinstraße 12, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- & Biodiversitätsforschung an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Medger K, Bennett NC, Chimimba CT, Oosthuizen MK, Mikkelsen JD, Coen CW. Analysis of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-1 and kisspeptin neuronal systems in the nonphotoregulated seasonally breeding eastern rock elephant-shrew (Elephantulus myurus). J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:2388-2405. [PMID: 30004584 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Of the 18 sub-Saharan elephant-shrew species, only eastern rock elephant-shrews reproduce seasonally throughout their distribution, a process seemingly independent of photoperiod. The present study characterizes gonadal status and location/intensity of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-1 (GnRH-1) and kisspeptin immunoreactivities in this polyovulating species in the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. GnRH-1-immunoreactive (ir) cell bodies are predominantly in the medial septum, diagonal band, and medial preoptic area; processes are generally sparse except in the external median eminence. Kisspeptin-ir cell bodies are detected only within the arcuate nucleus; the density of processes is generally low, except in the septohypothalamic nucleus, ventromedial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, arcuate nucleus, and internal and external median eminence. Kisspeptin-ir processes are negligible at locations containing GnRH-1-ir cell bodies. The external median eminence is the only site with conspicuously overlapping distributions of the respective immunoreactivities and, accordingly, a putative site for kisspeptin's regulation of GnRH-1 release in this species. In the nonbreeding season in males, there is an increase in the rostral population of GnRH-1-ir cell bodies and density of GnRH-1-ir processes in the median eminence. In both sexes, the breeding season is associated with increased kisspeptin-ir process density in the rostral periventricular area of the third ventricle and arcuate nucleus; at the latter site, this is positively correlated with gonadal mass. Cross-species comparisons lead us to hypothesize differential mechanisms within these peptidergic systems: that increased GnRH-1 immunoreactivity during the nonbreeding season reflects increased accumulation with reduced release; that increased kisspeptin immunoreactivity during the breeding season reflects increased synthesis with increased release.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Medger
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Christian T Chimimba
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (CIB), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Maria K Oosthuizen
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jens D Mikkelsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Clive W Coen
- Reproductive Neurobiology, Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Driven by limited resources and a sense of urgency, the prioritization of species for conservation has been a persistent concern in conservation science. Gymnosperms (comprising ginkgo, conifers, cycads, and gnetophytes) are one of the most threatened groups of living organisms, with 40% of the species at high risk of extinction, about twice as many as the most recent estimates for all plants (i.e. 21.4%). This high proportion of species facing extinction highlights the urgent action required to secure their future through an objective prioritization approach. The Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) method rapidly ranks species based on their evolutionary distinctiveness and the extinction risks they face. EDGE is applied to gymnosperms using a phylogenetic tree comprising DNA sequence data for 85% of gymnosperm species (923 out of 1090 species), to which the 167 missing species were added, and IUCN Red List assessments available for 92% of species. The effect of different extinction probability transformations and the handling of IUCN data deficient species on the resulting rankings is investigated. Although top entries in our ranking comprise species that were expected to score well (e.g. Wollemia nobilis, Ginkgo biloba), many were unexpected (e.g. Araucaria araucana). These results highlight the necessity of using approaches that integrate evolutionary information in conservation science.
Collapse
|
19
|
Mason MJ, Bennett NC, Pickford M. The middle and inner ears of the Palaeogene golden moleNamachloris: A comparison with extant species. J Morphol 2017; 279:375-395. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Mason
- University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience; Downing Street; Cambridge CB2 3EG United Kingdom
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology; University of Pretoria; Pretoria 0002 South Africa
| | - Martin Pickford
- Sorbonne Universités, CR2P, UMR 7207 du CNRS, Département Histoire de la Terre, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle et Université Pierre et Marie Curie; France
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Affiliation(s)
- Graham I.H. Kerley
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology; Nelson Mandela University; PO Box 77000 NMMU 6031 Port Elizabeth South Africa
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Halliday TJD, Upchurch P, Goswami A. Resolving the relationships of Paleocene placental mammals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 92:521-550. [PMID: 28075073 PMCID: PMC6849585 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The 'Age of Mammals' began in the Paleocene epoch, the 10 million year interval immediately following the Cretaceous-Palaeogene mass extinction. The apparently rapid shift in mammalian ecomorphs from small, largely insectivorous forms to many small-to-large-bodied, diverse taxa has driven a hypothesis that the end-Cretaceous heralded an adaptive radiation in placental mammal evolution. However, the affinities of most Paleocene mammals have remained unresolved, despite significant advances in understanding the relationships of the extant orders, hindering efforts to reconstruct robustly the origin and early evolution of placental mammals. Here we present the largest cladistic analysis of Paleocene placentals to date, from a data matrix including 177 taxa (130 of which are Palaeogene) and 680 morphological characters. We improve the resolution of the relationships of several enigmatic Paleocene clades, including families of 'condylarths'. Protungulatum is resolved as a stem eutherian, meaning that no crown-placental mammal unambiguously pre-dates the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary. Our results support an Atlantogenata-Boreoeutheria split at the root of crown Placentalia, the presence of phenacodontids as closest relatives of Perissodactyla, the validity of Euungulata, and the placement of Arctocyonidae close to Carnivora. Periptychidae and Pantodonta are resolved as sister taxa, Leptictida and Cimolestidae are found to be stem eutherians, and Hyopsodontidae is highly polyphyletic. The inclusion of Paleocene taxa in a placental phylogeny alters interpretations of relationships and key events in mammalian evolutionary history. Paleocene mammals are an essential source of data for understanding fully the biotic dynamics associated with the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. The relationships presented here mark a critical first step towards accurate reconstruction of this important interval in the evolution of the modern fauna.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. D. Halliday
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
| | - Paul Upchurch
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Gatesy J, Meredith RW, Janecka JE, Simmons MP, Murphy WJ, Springer MS. Resolution of a concatenation/coalescence kerfuffle: partitioned coalescence support and a robust family‐level tree for Mammalia. Cladistics 2016; 33:295-332. [DOI: 10.1111/cla.12170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John Gatesy
- Department of Biology University of California Riverside CA 92521 USA
| | - Robert W. Meredith
- Department of Biology and Molecular Biology Montclair State University Montclair NJ 07043 USA
| | - Jan E. Janecka
- Department of Biological Sciences Duquesne University Pittsburgh PA 15282 USA
| | - Mark P. Simmons
- Department of Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins CO 80523 USA
| | - William J. Murphy
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Mark S. Springer
- Department of Biology University of California Riverside CA 92521 USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Faith DP. The PD Phylogenetic Diversity Framework: Linking Evolutionary History to Feature Diversity for Biodiversity Conservation. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND PHYLOGENETIC SYSTEMATICS 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-22461-9_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
24
|
Puttick MN, Thomas GH. Fossils and living taxa agree on patterns of body mass evolution: a case study with Afrotheria. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 282:20152023. [PMID: 26674947 PMCID: PMC4707753 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of life is extinct, so incorporating some fossil evidence into analyses of macroevolution is typically seen as necessary to understand the diversification of life and patterns of morphological evolution. Here we test the effects of inclusion of fossils in a study of the body size evolution of afrotherian mammals, a clade that includes the elephants, sea cows and elephant shrews. We find that the inclusion of fossil tips has little impact on analyses of body mass evolution; from a small ancestral size (approx. 100 g), there is a shift in rate and an increase in mass leading to the larger-bodied Paenungulata and Tubulidentata, regardless of whether fossils are included or excluded from analyses. For Afrotheria, the inclusion of fossils and morphological character data affect phylogenetic topology, but these differences have little impact upon patterns of body mass evolution and these body mass evolutionary patterns are consistent with the fossil record. The largest differences between our analyses result from the evolutionary model, not the addition of fossils. For some clades, extant-only analyses may be reliable to reconstruct body mass evolution, but the addition of fossils and careful model selection is likely to increase confidence and accuracy of reconstructed macroevolutionary patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark N Puttick
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
| | - Gavin H Thomas
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Veron S, Davies TJ, Cadotte MW, Clergeau P, Pavoine S. Predicting loss of evolutionary history: Where are we? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 92:271-291. [PMID: 26467982 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The Earth's evolutionary history is threatened by species loss in the current sixth mass extinction event in Earth's history. Such extinction events not only eliminate species but also their unique evolutionary histories. Here we review the expected loss of Earth's evolutionary history quantified by phylogenetic diversity (PD) and evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) at risk. Due to the general paucity of data, global evolutionary history losses have been predicted for only a few groups, such as mammals, birds, amphibians, plants, corals and fishes. Among these groups, there is now empirical support that extinction threats are clustered on the phylogeny; however this is not always a sufficient condition to cause higher loss of phylogenetic diversity in comparison to a scenario of random extinctions. Extinctions of the most evolutionarily distinct species and the shape of phylogenetic trees are additional factors that can elevate losses of evolutionary history. Consequently, impacts of species extinctions differ among groups and regions, and even if global losses are low within large groups, losses can be high among subgroups or within some regions. Further, we show that PD and ED are poorly protected by current conservation practices. While evolutionary history can be indirectly protected by current conservation schemes, optimizing its preservation requires integrating phylogenetic indices with those that capture rarity and extinction risk. Measures based on PD and ED could bring solutions to conservation issues, however they are still rarely used in practice, probably because the reasons to protect evolutionary history are not clear for practitioners or due to a lack of data. However, important advances have been made in the availability of phylogenetic trees and methods for their construction, as well as assessments of extinction risk. Some challenges remain, and looking forward, research should prioritize the assessment of expected PD and ED loss for more taxonomic groups and test the assumption that preserving ED and PD also protects rare species and ecosystem services. Such research will be useful to inform and guide the conservation of Earth's biodiversity and the services it provides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Veron
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 55-61 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - T Jonathan Davies
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 ave Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada.,African Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, APK Campus, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Marc W Cadotte
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Philippe Clergeau
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 55-61 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Pavoine
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 55-61 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France.,Mathematical Ecology Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
Species tree reconstruction has been a subject of substantial research due to its central role across biology and medicine. A species tree is often reconstructed using a set of gene trees or by directly using sequence data. In either of these cases, one of the main confounding phenomena is the discordance between a species tree and a gene tree due to evolutionary events such as duplications and losses. Probabilistic methods can resolve the discordance by coestimating gene trees and the species tree but this approach poses a scalability problem for larger data sets. We present MixTreEM-DLRS: A two-phase approach for reconstructing a species tree in the presence of gene duplications and losses. In the first phase, MixTreEM, a novel structural expectation maximization algorithm based on a mixture model is used to reconstruct a set of candidate species trees, given sequence data for monocopy gene families from the genomes under study. In the second phase, PrIME-DLRS, a method based on the DLRS model (Åkerborg O, Sennblad B, Arvestad L, Lagergren J. 2009. Simultaneous Bayesian gene tree reconstruction and reconciliation analysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106(14):5714-5719), is used for selecting the best species tree. PrIME-DLRS can handle multicopy gene families since DLRS, apart from modeling sequence evolution, models gene duplication and loss using a gene evolution model (Arvestad L, Lagergren J, Sennblad B. 2009. The gene evolution model and computing its associated probabilities. J ACM. 56(2):1-44). We evaluate MixTreEM-DLRS using synthetic and biological data, and compare its performance with a recent genome-scale species tree reconstruction method PHYLDOG (Boussau B, Szöllősi GJ, Duret L, Gouy M, Tannier E, Daubin V. 2013. Genome-scale coestimation of species and gene trees. Genome Res. 23(2):323-330) as well as with a fast parsimony-based algorithm Duptree (Wehe A, Bansal MS, Burleigh JG, Eulenstein O. 2008. Duptree: a program for large-scale phylogenetic analyses using gene tree parsimony. Bioinformatics 24(13):1540-1541). Our method is competitive with PHYLDOG in terms of accuracy and runs significantly faster and our method outperforms Duptree in accuracy. The analysis constituted by MixTreEM without DLRS may also be used for selecting the target species tree, yielding a fast and yet accurate algorithm for larger data sets. MixTreEM is freely available at http://prime.scilifelab.se/mixtreem/.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ikram Ullah
- School of Computer Science and Communication, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pekka Parviainen
- Department of Computer Science, Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Jens Lagergren
- School of Computer Science and Communication, Science for Life Laboratory, Swedish e-Science Research Center (SeRC), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Faith DP. Phylogenetic diversity, functional trait diversity and extinction: avoiding tipping points and worst-case losses. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20140011. [PMID: 25561672 PMCID: PMC4290425 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The phylogenetic diversity measure, ('PD'), measures the relative feature diversity of different subsets of taxa from a phylogeny. At the level of feature diversity, PD supports the broad goal of biodiversity conservation to maintain living variation and option values. PD calculations at the level of lineages and features include those integrating probabilities of extinction, providing estimates of expected PD. This approach has known advantages over the evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered (EDGE) methods. Expected PD methods also have limitations. An alternative notion of expected diversity, expected functional trait diversity, relies on an alternative non-phylogenetic model and allows inferences of diversity at the level of functional traits. Expected PD also faces challenges in helping to address phylogenetic tipping points and worst-case PD losses. Expected PD may not choose conservation options that best avoid worst-case losses of long branches from the tree of life. We can expand the range of useful calculations based on expected PD, including methods for identifying phylogenetic key biodiversity areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Faith
- The Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Nunes LA, Turvey ST, Rosindell J. The price of conserving avian phylogenetic diversity: a global prioritization approach. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20140004. [PMID: 25561665 PMCID: PMC4290418 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of rapid biodiversity loss and limited funds available for conservation represents a major global concern. While there are many approaches for conservation prioritization, few are framed as financial optimization problems. We use recently published avian data to conduct a global analysis of the financial resources required to conserve different quantities of phylogenetic diversity (PD). We introduce a new prioritization metric (ADEPD) that After Downlisting a species gives the Expected Phylogenetic Diversity at some future time. Unlike other metrics, ADEPD considers the benefits to future PD associated with downlisting a species (e.g. moving from Endangered to Vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List). Combining ADEPD scores with data on the financial cost of downlisting different species provides a cost-benefit prioritization approach for conservation. We find that under worst-case spending $3915 can save 1 year of PD, while under optimal spending $1 can preserve over 16.7 years of PD. We find that current conservation spending patterns are only expected to preserve one quarter of the PD that optimal spending could achieve with the same total budget. Maximizing PD is only one approach within the wider goal of biodiversity conservation, but our analysis highlights more generally the danger involved in uninformed spending of limited resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Nunes
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Samuel T Turvey
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - James Rosindell
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Pohlová L, Schepsky P, Lehmann T, Hochkirch A, Masopustová R, Simek J, Schoo W, Vodička R, Robovský J. Defining management units for European captive aardvarks. Zoo Biol 2014; 33:433-9. [PMID: 25185761 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a very unique, but relatively widespread African mammal. Although some morphological variation has been observed between forest and savannah populations and among different African regions, they are all considered as a single species. However, no modern taxonomic revision is available. All captive aardvarks in Europe are believed to stem from wild born animals from Namibia, but recently several new wild-caught aardvarks from Tanzania have been integrated into the captive population. This raises the question, whether these specimens should be interbred with the existing captive population or whether there is a risk of outbreeding depression. We studied the genetic structure of the captive populations by sequencing two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and 16S rRNA) to assess the degree of genetic differentiation between the two source regions. Our data suggest that the aardvarks kept in European zoos belong to the same phylogenetic (mitochondrial) lineage as the differentiation in the two studied mitochondrial markers was extremely low. A more comprehensive analysis of a larger sample with well documented origin (covering the complete geographic range) and with more sensitive genetic markers is needed to infer any final conclusions concerning the aardvark's taxonomy and identification of suitable aardvark management units.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ludmila Pohlová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Cheng P, Yu D, Liu S, Tang Q, Liu H. Molecular Phylogeny and Conservation Priorities of the Subfamily Acheilognathinae (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Zoolog Sci 2014; 31:300-8. [DOI: 10.2108/zs130069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peilin Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Dan Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Siqing Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Qiongying Tang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Huanzhang Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Rager L, Hautier L, Forasiepi A, Goswami A, Sánchez-Villagra MR. Timing of cranial suture closure in placental mammals: Phylogenetic patterns, intraspecific variation, and comparison with marsupials. J Morphol 2013; 275:125-40. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Rager
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum; Universität Zürich, Karl Schmid-Strasse 4; CH-8006 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Lionel Hautier
- Department of Zoology; University of Cambridge; Cambridge CB2 3EJ UK
- Laboratoire de Paléontologie; Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution (ISE-M, UMR-CNRS 5554), C.c. 64, Université Montpellier 2; Place Eugène Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier Cedex 05 France
| | - Analía Forasiepi
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum; Universität Zürich, Karl Schmid-Strasse 4; CH-8006 Zürich Switzerland
- CONICET, IANIGLA, CCT-Mendoza; Avda. Ruiz Leal s/n, 5500, Mendoza Mendoza Argentina
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Department of Genetics; Evolution and Environment, University College London; London UK
| | - Marcelo R. Sánchez-Villagra
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum; Universität Zürich, Karl Schmid-Strasse 4; CH-8006 Zürich Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Kasai F, O'Brien PCM, Ferguson-Smith MA. Afrotheria genome; overestimation of genome size and distinct chromosome GC content revealed by flow karyotyping. Genomics 2013; 102:468-71. [PMID: 24055950 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2013.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2013] [Revised: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Afrotheria genome size is reported to be over 50% larger than that of human, but we show that this is a gross overestimate. Although genome sequencing in Afrotheria is not complete, extensive homology with human has been revealed by chromosome painting. We provide new data on chromosome size and GC content in four Afrotherian species using flow karyotyping. Genome sizes are 4.13 Gb in aardvark, 4.01 Gb in African elephant, 3.69 Gb in golden mole and 3.31 Gb in manatee, whereas published results show a mean of 5.18 Gb for Afrotheria. Genome GC content shows a negative correlation with size, indicating that this is due to differences in the amount of AT-rich sequences. Low genome GC content and small variance in chromosome GC content are characteristic of aardvark and elephant and may be associated with the high degree of conserved synteny, suggesting that these are features of the Afrotherian ancestral genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fumio Kasai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Benoit J, Crumpton N, Merigeaud S, Tabuce R. Petrosal and Bony Labyrinth Morphology Supports Paraphyly of Elephantulus Within Macroscelididae (Mammalia, Afrotheria). J MAMM EVOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-013-9234-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
34
|
Benoit J, Crumpton N, Mérigeaud S, Tabuce R. A Memory Already like an Elephant's? The Advanced Brain Morphology of the Last Common Ancestor of Afrotheria (Mammalia). BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2013; 81:154-69. [DOI: 10.1159/000348481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
35
|
Svartman M, Stanyon R. The chromosomes of Afrotheria and their bearing on mammalian genome evolution. Cytogenet Genome Res 2012; 137:144-53. [PMID: 22868637 DOI: 10.1159/000341387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Afrotheria is the clade of placental mammals that, together with Xenarthra, Euarchontoglires and Laurasiatheria, represents 1 of the 4 main recognized supraordinal eutherian clades. It reunites 6 orders of African origin: Proboscidea, Sirenia, Hyracoidea, Macroscelidea, Afrosoricida and Tubulidentata. The apparently unlikely relationship among such disparate morphological taxa and their possible basal position at the base of the eutherian phylogenetic tree led to a great deal of attention and research on the group. The use of biomolecular data was pivotal in Afrotheria studies, as they were the basis for the recognition of this clade. Although morphological evidence is still scarce, a plethora of molecular data firmly attests to the phylogenetic relationship among these mammals of African origin. Modern cytogenetic techniques also gave a significant contribution to the study of Afrotheria, revealing chromosome signatures for the group as a whole, as well as for some of its internal relationships. The associations of human chromosomes HSA1/19 and 5/21 were found to be chromosome signatures for the group and provided further support for Afrotheria. Additional chromosome synapomorphies were also identified linking elephants and manatees in Tethytheria (the associations HSA2/3, 3/13, 8/22, 18/19 and the lack of HSA4/8) and elephant shrews with the aardvark (HSA2/8, 3/20 and 10/17). Herein, we review the current knowledge on Afrotheria chromosomes and genome evolution. The already available data on the group suggests that further work on this apparently bizarre assemblage of mammals will provide important data to a better understanding on mammalian genome evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Svartman
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
A substantial proportion of the world's living species, including one-third of the reef-building corals, are threatened with extinction and in pressing need of conservation action. In order to reduce biodiversity loss, it is important to consider species' contribution to evolutionary diversity along with their risk of extinction for the purpose of setting conservation priorities. Here I reconstruct the most comprehensive tree of life for the order Scleractinia (1,293 species) that includes all 837 living reef species, and employ a composite measure of phylogenetic distinctiveness and extinction risk to identify the most endangered lineages that would not be given top priority on the basis of risk alone. The preservation of these lineages, not just the threatened species, is vital for safeguarding evolutionary diversity. Tests for phylogeny-associated patterns show that corals facing elevated extinction risk are not clustered on the tree, but species that are susceptible, resistant or resilient to impacts such as bleaching and disease tend to be close relatives. Intensification of these threats or extirpation of the endangered lineages could therefore result in disproportionate pruning of the coral tree of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danwei Huang
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
May-Collado LJ, Agnarsson I. Phylogenetic analysis of conservation priorities for aquatic mammals and their terrestrial relatives, with a comparison of methods. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22562. [PMID: 21799899 PMCID: PMC3143159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Habitat loss and overexploitation are among the primary factors threatening populations of many mammal species. Recently, aquatic mammals have been highlighted as particularly vulnerable. Here we test (1) if aquatic mammals emerge as more phylogenetically urgent conservation priorities than their terrestrial relatives, and (2) if high priority species are receiving sufficient conservation effort. We also compare results among some phylogenetic conservation methods. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A phylogenetic analysis of conservation priorities for all 620 species of Cetartiodactyla and Carnivora, including most aquatic mammals. Conservation priority ranking of aquatic versus terrestrial species is approximately proportional to their diversity. However, nearly all obligated freshwater cetartiodactylans are among the top conservation priority species. Further, ∼74% and 40% of fully aquatic cetartiodactylans and carnivores, respectively, are either threatened or data deficient, more so than their terrestrial relatives. Strikingly, only 3% of all 'high priority' species are thought to be stable. An overwhelming 97% of these species thus either show decreasing population trends (87%) or are insufficiently known (10%). Furthermore, a disproportional number of highly evolutionarily distinct species are experiencing population decline, thus, such species should be closely monitored even if not currently threatened. Comparison among methods reveals that exact species ranking differs considerably among methods, nevertheless, most top priority species consistently rank high under any method. While we here favor one approach, we also suggest that a consensus approach may be useful when methods disagree. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These results reinforce prior findings, suggesting there is an urgent need to gather basic conservation data for aquatic mammals, and special conservation focus is needed on those confined to freshwater. That evolutionarily distinct--and thus 'biodiverse'--species are faring relatively poorly is alarming and requires further study. Our results offer a detailed guide to phylogeny-based conservation prioritization for these two orders.
Collapse
|
38
|
Ishida Y, Oleksyk TK, Georgiadis NJ, David VA, Zhao K, Stephens RM, Kolokotronis SO, Roca AL. Reconciling apparent conflicts between mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies in African elephants. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20642. [PMID: 21701575 PMCID: PMC3110795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 05/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation strategies for African elephants would be advanced by resolution of conflicting claims that they comprise one, two, three or four taxonomic groups, and by development of genetic markers that establish more incisively the provenance of confiscated ivory. We addressed these related issues by genotyping 555 elephants from across Africa with microsatellite markers, developing a method to identify those loci most effective at geographic assignment of elephants (or their ivory), and conducting novel analyses of continent-wide datasets of mitochondrial DNA. Results showed that nuclear genetic diversity was partitioned into two clusters, corresponding to African forest elephants (99.5% Cluster-1) and African savanna elephants (99.4% Cluster-2). Hybrid individuals were rare. In a comparison of basal forest "F" and savanna "S" mtDNA clade distributions to nuclear DNA partitions, forest elephant nuclear genotypes occurred only in populations in which S clade mtDNA was absent, suggesting that nuclear partitioning corresponds to the presence or absence of S clade mtDNA. We reanalyzed African elephant mtDNA sequences from 81 locales spanning the continent and discovered that S clade mtDNA was completely absent among elephants at all 30 sampled tropical forest locales. The distribution of savanna nuclear DNA and S clade mtDNA corresponded closely to range boundaries traditionally ascribed to the savanna elephant species based on habitat and morphology. Further, a reanalysis of nuclear genetic assignment results suggested that West African elephants do not comprise a distinct third species. Finally, we show that some DNA markers will be more useful than others for determining the geographic origins of illegal ivory. These findings resolve the apparent incongruence between mtDNA and nuclear genetic patterns that has confounded the taxonomy of African elephants, affirm the limitations of using mtDNA patterns to infer elephant systematics or population structure, and strongly support the existence of two elephant species in Africa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuko Ishida
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Taras K. Oleksyk
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Victor A. David
- Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kai Zhao
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Stephens
- Advanced Biomedical Computing Center, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Alfred L. Roca
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|