1
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Lowe WH, Addis BR, Cochrane MM. Outbreeding reduces survival during metamorphosis in a headwater stream salamander. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17375. [PMID: 38699973 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17375] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Assessing direct fitness effects of individual genetic diversity is challenging due to the intensive and long-term data needed to quantify survival and reproduction in the wild. But resolving these effects is necessary to determine how inbreeding and outbreeding influence eco-evolutionary processes. We used 8 years of capture-recapture data and single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes for 1906 individuals to test for effects of individual heterozygosity on stage-specific survival probabilities in the salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus. The life cycle of G. porphyriticus includes an aquatic larval stage followed by metamorphosis into a semi-aquatic adult stage. In our study populations, the larval stage lasts 6-10 years, metamorphosis takes several months, and lifespan can reach 20 years. Previous studies showed that metamorphosis is a sensitive life stage, leading us to predict that fitness effects of individual heterozygosity would occur during metamorphosis. Consistent with this prediction, monthly probability of survival during metamorphosis declined with multi-locus heterozygosity (MLH), from 0.38 at the lowest MLH (0.10) to 0.06 at the highest MLH (0.38), a reduction of 84%. Body condition of larvae also declined significantly with increasing MLH. These relationships were consistent in the three study streams. With evidence of localised inbreeding within streams, these results suggest that outbreeding disrupts adaptations in pre-metamorphic and metamorphic individuals to environmental gradients along streams, adding to evidence that headwater streams are hotspots of microgeographic adaptation. Our results also underscore the importance of incorporating life history in analyses of the fitness effects of individual genetic diversity and suggest that metamorphosis and similar discrete life stage transitions may be critical periods of viability selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winsor H Lowe
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Brett R Addis
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Madaline M Cochrane
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
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2
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Schmidt TL, Thia JA, Hoffmann AA. How Can Genomics Help or Hinder Wildlife Conservation? Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2024; 12:45-68. [PMID: 37788416 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-051810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Genomic data are becoming increasingly affordable and easy to collect, and new tools for their analysis are appearing rapidly. Conservation biologists are interested in using this information to assist in management and planning but are typically limited financially and by the lack of genomic resources available for non-model taxa. It is therefore important to be aware of the pitfalls as well as the benefits of applying genomic approaches. Here, we highlight recent methods aimed at standardizing population assessments of genetic variation, inbreeding, and forms of genetic load and methods that help identify past and ongoing patterns of genetic interchange between populations, including those subjected to recent disturbance. We emphasize challenges in applying some of these methods and the need for adequate bioinformatic support. We also consider the promises and challenges of applying genomic approaches to understand adaptive changes in natural populations to predict their future adaptive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L Schmidt
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia;
| | - Joshua A Thia
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia;
| | - Ary A Hoffmann
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia;
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3
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Pečnerová P, Lord E, Garcia-Erill G, Hanghøj K, Rasmussen MS, Meisner J, Liu X, van der Valk T, Santander CG, Quinn L, Lin L, Liu S, Carøe C, Dalerum F, Götherström A, Måsviken J, Vartanyan S, Raundrup K, Al-Chaer A, Rasmussen L, Hvilsom C, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Sinding MHS, Aastrup P, Van Coeverden de Groot PJ, Schmidt NM, Albrechtsen A, Dalén L, Heller R, Moltke I, Siegismund HR. Population genomics of the muskox' resilience in the near absence of genetic variation. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17205. [PMID: 37971141 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Genomic studies of species threatened by extinction are providing crucial information about evolutionary mechanisms and genetic consequences of population declines and bottlenecks. However, to understand how species avoid the extinction vortex, insights can be drawn by studying species that thrive despite past declines. Here, we studied the population genomics of the muskox (Ovibos moschatus), an Ice Age relict that was at the brink of extinction for thousands of years at the end of the Pleistocene yet appears to be thriving today. We analysed 108 whole genomes, including present-day individuals representing the current native range of both muskox subspecies, the white-faced and the barren-ground muskox (O. moschatus wardi and O. moschatus moschatus) and a ~21,000-year-old ancient individual from Siberia. We found that the muskox' demographic history was profoundly shaped by past climate changes and post-glacial re-colonizations. In particular, the white-faced muskox has the lowest genome-wide heterozygosity recorded in an ungulate. Yet, there is no evidence of inbreeding depression in native muskox populations. We hypothesize that this can be explained by the effect of long-term gradual population declines that allowed for purging of strongly deleterious mutations. This study provides insights into how species with a history of population bottlenecks, small population sizes and low genetic diversity survive against all odds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Pečnerová
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Edana Lord
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Genís Garcia-Erill
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Hanghøj
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Malthe Sebro Rasmussen
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonas Meisner
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tom van der Valk
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cindy G Santander
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Liam Quinn
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
| | - Long Lin
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shanlin Liu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Carøe
- The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Fredrik Dalerum
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Biodiversity Research Institute (CSIC-UO-PA), Mieres, Spain
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Anders Götherström
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Archaeological Research Laboratory, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johannes Måsviken
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sergey Vartanyan
- North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute N.A.N.A. Shilo, Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia
| | | | - Amal Al-Chaer
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Linett Rasmussen
- Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- The GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel-Holger S Sinding
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Peter Aastrup
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Niels Martin Schmidt
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anders Albrechtsen
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Love Dalén
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Moltke
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans Redlef Siegismund
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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4
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Clark MS, Hoffman JI, Peck LS, Bargelloni L, Gande D, Havermans C, Meyer B, Patarnello T, Phillips T, Stoof-Leichsenring KR, Vendrami DLJ, Beck A, Collins G, Friedrich MW, Halanych KM, Masello JF, Nagel R, Norén K, Printzen C, Ruiz MB, Wohlrab S, Becker B, Dumack K, Ghaderiardakani F, Glaser K, Heesch S, Held C, John U, Karsten U, Kempf S, Lucassen M, Paijmans A, Schimani K, Wallberg A, Wunder LC, Mock T. Multi-omics for studying and understanding polar life. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7451. [PMID: 37978186 PMCID: PMC10656552 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43209-y] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Polar ecosystems are experiencing amongst the most rapid rates of regional warming on Earth. Here, we discuss 'omics' approaches to investigate polar biodiversity, including the current state of the art, future perspectives and recommendations. We propose a community road map to generate and more fully exploit multi-omics data from polar organisms. These data are needed for the comprehensive evaluation of polar biodiversity and to reveal how life evolved and adapted to permanently cold environments with extreme seasonality. We argue that concerted action is required to mitigate the impact of warming on polar ecosystems via conservation efforts, to sustainably manage these unique habitats and their ecosystem services, and for the sustainable bioprospecting of novel genes and compounds for societal gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Clark
- British Antarctic Survey, UKRI-NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
| | - J I Hoffman
- British Antarctic Survey, UKRI-NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
- Universität Bielefeld, VHF, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - L S Peck
- British Antarctic Survey, UKRI-NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
| | - L Bargelloni
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, I-35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - D Gande
- Microbial Ecophysiology Group, Faculty of Biology/Chemistry & MARUM, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 3, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - C Havermans
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - B Meyer
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), 23129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - T Patarnello
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, Università degli Studi di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, I-35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - T Phillips
- British Antarctic Survey, UKRI-NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - K R Stoof-Leichsenring
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, 14473, Potsdam, Germany
| | - D L J Vendrami
- Universität Bielefeld, VHF, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - A Beck
- Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns, Botanische Staatssammlung München (SNSB-BSM), Menzinger Str. 67, 80638, München, Germany
| | - G Collins
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre & Loewe-Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, 231 Morrin Road St Johns, Auckland, 1072, New Zealand
| | - M W Friedrich
- Microbial Ecophysiology Group, Faculty of Biology/Chemistry & MARUM, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 3, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - K M Halanych
- Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC, 28409, USA
| | - J F Masello
- Universität Bielefeld, VHF, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Giessen, Germany
| | - R Nagel
- Universität Bielefeld, VHF, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK
| | - K Norén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - C Printzen
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre & Loewe-Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - M B Ruiz
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Universität Duisburg-Essen, Universitätstrasse 5, 45151, Essen, Germany
| | - S Wohlrab
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), 23129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - B Becker
- Universität zu Köln, Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 60674, Köln, Germany
| | - K Dumack
- Universität zu Köln, Terrestrische Ökologie, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 60674, Köln, Germany
| | - F Ghaderiardakani
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Lessingstraße 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - K Glaser
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - S Heesch
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - C Held
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - U John
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - U Karsten
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3, 18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - S Kempf
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - M Lucassen
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - A Paijmans
- Universität Bielefeld, VHF, Konsequenz 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - K Schimani
- Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Wallberg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - L C Wunder
- Microbial Ecophysiology Group, Faculty of Biology/Chemistry & MARUM, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 3, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - T Mock
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
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5
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Dussex N, Tørresen OK, van der Valk T, Le Moullec M, Veiberg V, Tooming-Klunderud A, Skage M, Garmann-Aarhus B, Wood J, Rasmussen JA, Pedersen ÅØ, Martin SL, Røed KH, Jakobsen KS, Dalén L, Hansen BB, Martin MD. Adaptation to the High-Arctic island environment despite long-term reduced genetic variation in Svalbard reindeer. iScience 2023; 26:107811. [PMID: 37744038 PMCID: PMC10514459 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Typically much smaller in number than their mainland counterparts, island populations are ideal systems to investigate genetic threats to small populations. The Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) is an endemic subspecies that colonized the Svalbard archipelago ca. 6,000-8,000 years ago and now shows numerous physiological and morphological adaptations to its arctic habitat. Here, we report a de-novo chromosome-level assembly for Svalbard reindeer and analyze 133 reindeer genomes spanning Svalbard and most of the species' Holarctic range, to examine the genomic consequences of long-term isolation and small population size in this insular subspecies. Empirical data, demographic reconstructions, and forward simulations show that long-term isolation and high inbreeding levels may have facilitated the reduction of highly deleterious-and to a lesser extent, moderately deleterious-variation. Our study indicates that long-term reduced genetic diversity did not preclude local adaptation to the High Arctic, suggesting that even severely bottlenecked populations can retain evolutionary potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Dussex
- Department of Natural History, University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Erling Skakkes gate 47A, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ole K. Tørresen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom van der Valk
- Centre for PalaeoGenetics, Svante Arrhenius väg 20C, SE 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, SE 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathilde Le Moullec
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Vebjørn Veiberg
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO 7034 Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ave Tooming-Klunderud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Morten Skage
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Benedicte Garmann-Aarhus
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, NO 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jonathan Wood
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA Cambridge, UK
| | - Jacob A. Rasmussen
- Department of Natural History, University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Erling Skakkes gate 47A, Trondheim, Norway
- Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Sarah L.F. Martin
- Department of Natural History, University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Erling Skakkes gate 47A, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Knut H. Røed
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Kjetill S. Jakobsen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Love Dalén
- Centre for PalaeoGenetics, Svante Arrhenius väg 20C, SE 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, SE 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Brage B. Hansen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO 7034 Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Michael D. Martin
- Department of Natural History, University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Erling Skakkes gate 47A, Trondheim, Norway
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO 7491 Trondheim, Norway
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6
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Dussex N, Morales HE, Grossen C, Dalén L, van Oosterhout C. Purging and accumulation of genetic load in conservation. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:961-969. [PMID: 37344276 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Our ability to assess the threat posed by the genetic load to small and declining populations has been greatly improved by advances in genome sequencing and computational approaches. Yet, considerable confusion remains around the definitions of the genetic load and its dynamics, and how they impact individual fitness and population viability. We illustrate how both selective purging and drift affect the distribution of deleterious mutations during population size decline and recovery. We show how this impacts the composition of the genetic load, and how this affects the extinction risk and recovery potential of populations. We propose a framework to examine load dynamics and advocate for the introduction of load estimates in the management of endangered populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Dussex
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Erling Skakkes Gate 47A, 7012 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Hernán E Morales
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christine Grossen
- WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Love Dalén
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius väg 20C, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cock van Oosterhout
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ Norwich, UK
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7
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Afonso RO, Pina-Martins F, Friesen V, Sun Z, Campioni L, Madeiros J, Silva MC. No evidence of inbreeding depression despite a historical severe bottleneck in the endangered Bermuda petrel (Pterodroma cahow). J Hered 2023; 114:459-469. [PMID: 37162284 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad030] [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: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bermuda petrel Pterodroma cahow is an island endemic seabird that belongs to the Procellariiformes, one of the most endangered orders of birds. Historical records suggest a significant population size decline following human settlement in Bermuda, bringing the species to near extinction. Since the 1950s, the population has been recovering aided by the implementation of an ongoing conservation plan. However, it still faces several threats, and negative genetic effects resulting from that drastic decline are to be expected, including inbreeding and genetic drift. We studied genetic diversity and levels of inbreeding, and their effects on individual fitness and mating choice. We also tested for a genetic signature of the recent demographic bottleneck. For this, we analyzed variation in thousands of nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms derived from double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing and 1 mitochondrial gene (cytochrome oxidase I). The results revealed that the Bermuda petrel suffered a recent genetic bottleneck and shows low mitochondrial diversity compared with other petrel species. Conversely, nuclear diversity was similar to that of other endangered petrels. Inbreeding levels were not high overall, although some individuals were highly inbred. However, we found no evidence that individual inbreeding or relatedness between mates affected hatching success, or that mate choice is influenced by kinship in this very small population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita O Afonso
- cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Francisco Pina-Martins
- cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Vicki Friesen
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Zhengxin Sun
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Letizia Campioni
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Ispa-Instituto Universitário, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jeremy Madeiros
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Bermuda, Hamilton, Bermuda
| | - Mónica C Silva
- cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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8
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L Rocha J, Silva P, Santos N, Nakamura M, Afonso S, Qninba A, Boratynski Z, Sudmant PH, Brito JC, Nielsen R, Godinho R. North African fox genomes show signatures of repeated introgression and adaptation to life in deserts. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1267-1286. [PMID: 37308700 PMCID: PMC10527534 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02094-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Elucidating the evolutionary process of animal adaptation to deserts is key to understanding adaptive responses to climate change. Here we generated 82 individual whole genomes of four fox species (genus Vulpes) inhabiting the Sahara Desert at different evolutionary times. We show that adaptation of new colonizing species to a hot arid environment has probably been facilitated by introgression and trans-species polymorphisms shared with older desert resident species, including a putatively adaptive 25 Mb genomic region. Scans for signatures of selection implicated genes affecting temperature perception, non-renal water loss and heat production in the recent adaptation of North African red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), after divergence from Eurasian populations approximately 78 thousand years ago. In the extreme desert specialists, Rueppell's fox (V. rueppellii) and fennec (V. zerda), we identified repeated signatures of selection in genes affecting renal water homeostasis supported by gene expression and physiological differences. Our study provides insights into the mechanisms and genetic underpinnings of a natural experiment of repeated adaptation to extreme conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana L Rocha
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal.
- Department of Integrative Biology and Department of Statistics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Pedro Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santos
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Mónia Nakamura
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Sandra Afonso
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Abdeljebbar Qninba
- Laboratory of Geophysics and Natural Hazards, Geophysics, Natural Patrimony and Green Chemistry Research Center (GEOPAC), Institut Scientifique, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Zbyszek Boratynski
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Peter H Sudmant
- Department of Integrative Biology and Department of Statistics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - José C Brito
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Rasmus Nielsen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Department of Statistics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Raquel Godinho
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal.
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa.
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9
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von Seth J, van der Valk T, Lord E, Sigeman H, Olsen RA, Knapp M, Kardailsky O, Robertson F, Hale M, Houston D, Kennedy E, Dalén L, Norén K, Massaro M, Robertson BC, Dussex N. Genomic trajectories of a near-extinction event in the Chatham Island black robin. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:747. [DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08963-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Understanding the micro-evolutionary response of populations to demographic declines is a major goal in evolutionary and conservation biology. In small populations, genetic drift can lead to an accumulation of deleterious mutations, which will increase the risk of extinction. However, demographic recovery can still occur after extreme declines, suggesting that natural selection may purge deleterious mutations, even in extremely small populations. The Chatham Island black robin (Petroica traversi) is arguably the most inbred bird species in the world. It avoided imminent extinction in the early 1980s and after a remarkable recovery from a single pair, a second population was established and the two extant populations have evolved in complete isolation since then. Here, we analysed 52 modern and historical genomes to examine the genomic consequences of this extreme bottleneck and the subsequent translocation.
Results
We found evidence for two-fold decline in heterozygosity and three- to four-fold increase in inbreeding in modern genomes. Moreover, there was partial support for temporal reduction in total load for detrimental variation. In contrast, compared to historical genomes, modern genomes showed a significantly higher realised load, reflecting the temporal increase in inbreeding. Furthermore, the translocation induced only small changes in the frequency of deleterious alleles, with the majority of detrimental variation being shared between the two populations.
Conclusion
Our results highlight the dynamics of mutational load in a species that recovered from the brink of extinction, and show rather limited temporal changes in mutational load. We hypothesise that ancestral purging may have been facilitated by population fragmentation and isolation on several islands for thousands of generations and may have already reduced much of the highly deleterious load well before human arrival and introduction of pests to the archipelago. The majority of fixed deleterious variation was shared between the modern populations, but translocation of individuals with low mutational load could possibly mitigate further fixation of high-frequency deleterious variation.
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10
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Aylward M, Sagar V, Natesh M, Ramakrishnan U. How methodological changes have influenced our understanding of population structure in threatened species: insights from tiger populations across India. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200418. [PMID: 35430878 PMCID: PMC9014192 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Unprecedented advances in sequencing technology in the past decade allow a better understanding of genetic variation and its partitioning in natural populations. Such inference is critical to conservation: to understand species biology and identify isolated populations. We review empirical population genetics studies of Endangered Bengal tigers within India, where 60–70% of wild tigers live. We assess how changes in marker type and sampling strategy have impacted inferences by reviewing past studies, and presenting three novel analyses including a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel, genome-wide SNP markers, and a whole-mitochondrial genome network. At a broad spatial scale, less than 100 SNPs revealed the same patterns of population clustering as whole genomes (with the exception of one additional population sampled only in the SNP panel). Mitochondrial DNA indicates a strong structure between the northeast and other regions. Two studies with more populations sampled revealed further substructure within Central India. Overall, the comparison of studies with varied marker types and sample sets allows more rigorous inference of population structure. Yet sampling of some populations is limited across all studies, and these should be the focus of future sampling efforts. We discuss challenges in our understanding of population structure, and how to further address relevant questions in conservation genetics.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Celebrating 50 years since Lewontin's apportionment of human diversity’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Aylward
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, India, 560065
| | - Vinay Sagar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, India, 560065
| | - Meghana Natesh
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati, India, 517507
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, India, 560065
- Senior Fellow, DBT Wellcome Trust India Alliance, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500034
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11
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New developments in the field of genomic technologies and their relevance to conservation management. CONSERV GENET 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-021-01415-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AbstractRecent technological advances in the field of genomics offer conservation managers and practitioners new tools to explore for conservation applications. Many of these tools are well developed and used by other life science fields, while others are still in development. Considering these technological possibilities, choosing the right tool(s) from the toolbox is crucial and can pose a challenging task. With this in mind, we strive to inspire, inform and illuminate managers and practitioners on how conservation efforts can benefit from the current genomic and biotechnological revolution. With inspirational case studies we show how new technologies can help resolve some of the main conservation challenges, while also informing how implementable the different technologies are. We here focus specifically on small population management, highlight the potential for genetic rescue, and discuss the opportunities in the field of gene editing to help with adaptation to changing environments. In addition, we delineate potential applications of gene drives for controlling invasive species. We illuminate that the genomic toolbox offers added benefit to conservation efforts, but also comes with limitations for the use of these novel emerging techniques.
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12
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Tietgen L, Hagen IJ, Kleven O, Bernardi CD, Kvalnes T, Norén K, Hasselgren M, Wallén JF, Angerbjörn A, Landa A, Eide NE, Flagstad Ø, Jensen H. Fur colour in the Arctic fox: genetic architecture and consequences for fitness. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211452. [PMID: 34583587 PMCID: PMC8479361 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies provide good opportunities for studying the genetic basis of adaptive traits in wild populations. Yet, previous studies often failed to identify major effect genes. In this study, we used high-density single nucleotide polymorphism and individual fitness data from a wild non-model species. Using a whole-genome approach, we identified the MC1R gene as the sole causal gene underlying Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus fur colour. Further, we showed the adaptive importance of fur colour genotypes through measures of fitness that link ecological and evolutionary processes. We found a tendency for blue foxes that are heterozygous at the fur colour locus to have higher fitness than homozygous white foxes. The effect of genotype on fitness was independent of winter duration but varied with prey availability, with the strongest effect in years of increasing rodent populations. MC1R is located in a genomic region with high gene density, and we discuss the potential for indirect selection through linkage and pleiotropy. Our study shows that whole-genome analyses can be successfully applied to wild species and identify major effect genes underlying adaptive traits. Furthermore, we show how this approach can be used to identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of interactions between ecology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Tietgen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Ingerid J Hagen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Oddmund Kleven
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Cecilia Di Bernardi
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway.,Department of Biology and Biotechnologies 'Charles Darwin', University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale dell' Università 32, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Karin Norén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Malin Hasselgren
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Johan Fredrik Wallén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden.,Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm 10405, Sweden
| | - Anders Angerbjörn
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Arild Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Øystein Flagstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
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13
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Foote AD, Hooper R, Alexander A, Baird RW, Baker CS, Ballance L, Barlow J, Brownlow A, Collins T, Constantine R, Dalla Rosa L, Davison NJ, Durban JW, Esteban R, Excoffier L, Martin SLF, Forney KA, Gerrodette T, Gilbert MTP, Guinet C, Hanson MB, Li S, Martin MD, Robertson KM, Samarra FIP, de Stephanis R, Tavares SB, Tixier P, Totterdell JA, Wade P, Wolf JBW, Fan G, Zhang Y, Morin PA. Runs of homozygosity in killer whale genomes provide a global record of demographic histories. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6162-6177. [PMID: 34416064 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Runs of homozygosity (ROH) occur when offspring inherit haplotypes that are identical by descent from each parent. Length distributions of ROH are informative about population history; specifically, the probability of inbreeding mediated by mating system and/or population demography. Here, we investigated whether variation in killer whale (Orcinus orca) demographic history is reflected in genome-wide heterozygosity and ROH length distributions, using a global data set of 26 genomes representative of geographic and ecotypic variation in this species, and two F1 admixed individuals with Pacific-Atlantic parentage. We first reconstructed demographic history for each population as changes in effective population size through time using the pairwise sequential Markovian coalescent (PSMC) method. We found a subset of populations declined in effective population size during the Late Pleistocene, while others had more stable demography. Genomes inferred to have undergone ancestral declines in effective population size, were autozygous at hundreds of short ROH (<1 Mb), reflecting high background relatedness due to coalescence of haplotypes deep within the pedigree. In contrast, longer and therefore younger ROH (>1.5 Mb) were found in low latitude populations, and populations of known conservation concern. These include a Scottish killer whale, for which 37.8% of the autosomes were comprised of ROH >1.5 Mb in length. The fate of this population, in which only two adult males have been sighted in the past five years, and zero fecundity over the last two decades, may be inextricably linked to its demographic history and consequential inbreeding depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Foote
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.,CMPG, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Hooper
- University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Alana Alexander
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Charles Scott Baker
- Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, USA.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lisa Ballance
- Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, USA.,Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jay Barlow
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Andrew Brownlow
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tim Collins
- Ocean Giants Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York City, New York
| | | | - Luciano Dalla Rosa
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Nicholas J Davison
- Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - John W Durban
- Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, USA.,Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ruth Esteban
- CIRCE, Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans, Algeciras, Spain
| | - Laurent Excoffier
- CMPG, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sarah L Fordyce Martin
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Karin A Forney
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Moss Landing, California, USA.,Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University, Moss Landing, California, USA
| | - Tim Gerrodette
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Section for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christophe Guinet
- UMR 7372 La Rochelle Université - CNRS, Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - M Bradley Hanson
- National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Songhai Li
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Science, Sanya, China
| | - Michael D Martin
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kelly M Robertson
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Filipa I P Samarra
- University of Iceland's Institute of Research Centres, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
| | - Renaud de Stephanis
- CIRCE, Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans, Algeciras, Spain
| | - Sara B Tavares
- Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK.,Cetacean Research Program, Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, Canada
| | - Paul Tixier
- UMR 7372 La Rochelle Université - CNRS, Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), Villiers-en-Bois, France.,MARBEC Université de Montpellier-CNRS-IFREMER-IRD, Sète, France
| | | | - Paul Wade
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jochen B W Wolf
- Section of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology II, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Guangyi Fan
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, China.,BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yaolei Zhang
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, China.,Translational Immunology group, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Phillip A Morin
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, California, USA
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14
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Lotsander A, Hasselgren M, Larm M, Wallén J, Angerbjörn A, Norén K. Low Persistence of Genetic Rescue Across Generations in the Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus). J Hered 2021; 112:276-285. [PMID: 33738472 PMCID: PMC8141685 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic rescue can facilitate the recovery of small and isolated populations suffering from inbreeding depression. Long-term effects are however complex, and examples spanning over multiple generations under natural conditions are scarce. The aim of this study was to test for long-term effects of natural genetic rescue in a small population of Scandinavian Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus). By combining a genetically verified pedigree covering almost 20 years with a long-term dataset on individual fitness (n = 837 individuals), we found no evidence for elevated fitness in immigrant F2 and F3 compared to native inbred foxes. Population inbreeding levels showed a fluctuating increasing trend and emergence of inbreeding within immigrant lineages shortly after immigration. Between 0–5 and 6–9 years post immigration, the average number of breeding adults decreased by almost 22% and the average proportion of immigrant ancestry rose from 14% to 27%. Y chromosome analysis revealed that 2 out of 3 native male lineages were lost from the gene pool, but all founders represented at the time of immigration were still contributing to the population at the end of the study period through female descendants. The results highlight the complexity of genetic rescue and suggest that beneficial effects can be brief. Continuous gene flow may be needed for small and threatened populations to recover and persist in a longer time perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lotsander
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Malin Larm
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Wallén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Karin Norén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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