Biogeography of Korea's top predator, the yellow-throated Marten: evolutionary history and population dynamics

Prevalence of Varied Coat Coloration in a Yellow-Throated Marten (Martes flavigula) Population

Simple Summary

Abnormal coloration is very rare in any given population of wildlife; however, our research identified a yellow-throated marten population with a high ratio of this phenomenon for the first time. Across the main distribution of the species with relevant observational data, we observed abnormally-colored martens in only Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park. Abnormal coloration had a variety of forms and individuals with white paws that accounted for a larger proportion of the overall population than normal individuals. This shows heritable variation in the region, which is worthy of further research.

Abstract

Mammalian coat color is determined by heritable variations such as disease, nutrition, and hormone levels. Variation in animal coat color is also considered an environmental indicator and provides clues for the study of population genetics and biogeography. Records of abnormal coloration in the wild are rare, not only because it is often selected against, but also because of the difficulties in detection of the phenomenon. We used long-term camera-trapping data to first report abnormal coat coloration in yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula) in China. Six types of abnormal coloration were found only in the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, Northeast China, which were not reported in other regions in China. A total of 268 videos of Martes flavigula contained normal coloration, 455 videos of individuals of the species contained abnormal coloration, 437 contained the ‘gloving’ type (martens with de-pigmented front toes, paws or lower forelimbs), while the remaining other 18 videos contained five types (different degrees of white-spotting and dilution). The higher relative abundance index (0.428, ‘gloving’ to 0.329, normal) and wide distribution area of the ‘gloving’ type indicated that this abnormal coat coloration type is usual in Northeast China, which may reflect genetic variability in the local population. These records will contribute to further research on animal coat color and its corresponding adaptive strategy.

Phylogeography and palaeomodelling of Duseniella patagonica (Barnadesioideae), an early-diverging member of Asteraceae endemic to the Argentinean Monte and Patagonia

We performed an integrated phylogeographical and palaeoclimatic study of an early-diverging member of Asteraceae, Duseniella patagonica, endemic to Argentina. Chloroplast and nuclear markers were sequenced from 106 individuals belonging to 20 populations throughout the species range. We analysed genetic spatial distribution, diversity and structure, tested for range expansion, estimated divergence times, reconstructed ancestral areas and modelled present and past species distributions based on climatic data. Duseniella diverged from its sister genera during the Late/Middle Miocene. Its ancestral area included southern Monte plus eastern and central Patagonia. A vicariant event separated Monte and Patagonian clades during the Plio-Pleistocene. This would have involved unfavourable climate, soil, elevation, volcanism and/or other geomorphological processes between 40 and 43.5°S, in the sourroundings of the Somuncura plateau. Each clade possesses its own haplotypes and nucleotypes. Two populations, one in southern Monte and the other in eastern Patagonia, contain the highest diversity and exclusive haplotypes, representing hypothetical ancestral refugia. Northern Monte and southern Patagonian populations show low to null genetic diversity, being the most recently colonized areas. Climatic models indicate that winter temperature influenced the distribution of Duseniella, with an increase in probability of occurrence during colder periods, thus enabling diversification during glacial episodes.