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Bugarski-Stanojević V, Đokić M, Stamenković G, Barišić Klisarić N, Stojković O, Jojić V, Savić I. A Cryptic Subterranean Mammal Species, the Lesser Blind Mole Rat ( Nannospalax leucodon syrmiensis)-Retreated but Not Extinct. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:774. [PMID: 38473158 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050774] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Blind mole rats (genus Nannospalax) attract a great deal of attention because of their cancer resistance and longevity. Due to the high rate of chromosome rearrangements, 74 Nannospalax chromosomal forms have been discovered. The convergence of their external morphology complicates their taxonomy, and many cryptic species remain unrecognized. Thus, the European N. leucodon supersp. is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with "Data Deficient" status. It is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity to clarify its taxonomy, to recognize each cryptic species, and assign to them the correct conservation status. Of the more than 20 chromosomal forms described within N. leucodon, five cryptic species occur in Serbia. The most threatened among them-N. l. syrmiensis, described and named 50 years ago in the regions of Srem, Belgrade and Mačva-has been declared extinct in the literature, which may have negative consequences for the conservation of wildlife genetic diversity. Through five years of fieldwork and comparison of 16SrRNA and MT-CYTB gene segments between old, archived teeth and recently collected material, we show that N. l. syrmiensis is not extinct. However, its habitat has been fragmented and reduced, owing primarily to anthropogenic impact. Therefore, detailed surveillance, population-structure studies, risk assessment, and appropriate conservation measures are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanja Bugarski-Stanojević
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marko Đokić
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gorana Stamenković
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nataša Barišić Klisarić
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Oliver Stojković
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vida Jojić
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivo Savić
- Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
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de Oliveira TD, de Freitas TR. Investigating the evolutionary dynamics of diploid number variation in Ctenomys (Ctenomyidae, Rodentia). Genet Mol Biol 2024; 46:e20230180. [PMID: 38315881 PMCID: PMC10842476 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0180] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Contrary to predictions from classical hybrid sterility models of chromosomal speciation, some organisms display high rates of karyotype variation. Ctenomys are the current mammals with the greatest interspecific and intraspecific chromosomal variation. A large number of species have been studied cytogenetically. The diploid numbers of chromosomes range from 2n = 10 to 2n = 70. Here, we analyzed karyotype evolution in Ctenomys using comparative phylogenetic methods. We found a strong phylogenetic signal with chromosome number. This refutes the chromosomal megaevolution model, which proposes the independent accumulation of multiple chromosomal rearrangements in each closely related species. We found that Brownian motion (BM) described the observed characteristic changes more thoroughly than the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck and Early-Burst models. This suggests that the evolution of chromosome numbers occurs by a random walk along phylogenetic clades. However, our data indicate that the BM model alone does not fully characterize the chromosomal evolution of Ctenomys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thays Duarte de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Thales R.O. de Freitas
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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3
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Oliveira da Silva W, Malcher SM, Ferguson-Smith MA, O'Brien PCM, Rossi RV, Geise L, Pieczarka JC, Nagamachi CY. Chromosomal rearrangements played an important role in the speciation of rice rats of genus Cerradomys (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae, Oryzomyini). Sci Rep 2024; 14:545. [PMID: 38177653 PMCID: PMC10766967 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50861-3] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Rodents of the genus Cerradomys belong to tribe Oryzomyini, one of the most diverse and speciose groups in Sigmodontinae (Rodentia, Cricetidae). The speciation process in Cerradomys is associated with chromosomal rearrangements and biogeographic dynamics in South America during the Pleistocene era. As the morphological, molecular and karyotypic aspects of Myomorpha rodents do not evolve at the same rate, we strategically employed karyotypic characters for the construction of chromosomal phylogeny to investigate whether phylogenetic relationships using chromosomal data corroborate the radiation of Cerradomys taxa recovered by molecular phylogeny. Comparative chromosome painting using Hylaeamys megacephalus (HME) whole chromosome probes in C. langguthi (CLA), Cerradomys scotii (CSC), C. subflavus (CSU) and C. vivoi (CVI) shows that karyotypic variability is due to 16 fusion events, 2 fission events, 10 pericentric inversions and 1 centromeric repositioning, plus amplification of constitutive heterochromatin in the short arms of the X chromosomes of CSC and CLA. The chromosomal phylogeny obtained by Maximum Parsimony analysis retrieved Cerradomys as a monophyletic group with 97% support (bootstrap), with CSC as the sister to the other species, followed by a ramification into two clades (69% of branch support), the first comprising CLA and the other branch including CVI and CSU. We integrated the chromosome painting analysis of Eumuroida rodents investigated by HME and Mus musculus (MMU) probes and identified several syntenic blocks shared among representatives of Cricetidae and Muridae. The Cerradomys genus underwent an extensive karyotypic evolutionary process, with multiple rearrangements that shaped extant karyotypes. The chromosomal phylogeny corroborates the phylogenetic relationships proposed by molecular analysis and indicates that karyotypic diversity is associated with species radiation. Three syntenic blocks were identified as part of the ancestral Eumuroida karyotype (AEK): MMU 7/19 (AEK 1), MMU 14 (AEK 10) and MMU 12 (AEK 11). Besides, MMU 5/10 (HME 18/2/24) and MMU 8/13 (HME 22/5/11) should be considered as signatures for Cricetidae, while MMU 5/9/14, 5/7/19, 5 and 8/17 for Sigmodontinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willam Oliveira da Silva
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Stella Miranda Malcher
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Malcolm Andrew Ferguson-Smith
- Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Patricia Caroline Mary O'Brien
- Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rogério Vieira Rossi
- Departamento de Biologia e Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso (UFMT), Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Lena Geise
- Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Mastozoologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Julio Cesar Pieczarka
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Cleusa Yoshiko Nagamachi
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
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Németh A, Mizsei E, Laczkó L, Czabán D, Hegyeli Z, Lengyel S, Csorba G, Sramkó G. Evolutionary history and systematics of European blind mole rats (Rodentia: Spalacidae: Nannospalax): Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation in a puzzling group. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 190:107958. [PMID: 37914032 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Species delimitation is a powerful approach to assist taxonomic decisions in challenging taxa where species boundaries are hard to establish. European taxa of the blind mole rats (genus Nannospalax) display small morphological differences and complex chromosomal evolution at a shallow evolutionary divergence level. Previous analyses led to the recognition of 25 'forms' in their distribution area. We provide a comprehensive framework to improve knowledge on the evolutionary history and revise the taxonomy of European blind mole rats based on samples from all but three of the 25 forms. We sequenced two nuclear-encoded genetic regions and the whole mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for phylogenetic tree reconstructions using concatenation and coalescence-based species-tree estimations. The phylogenetic analyses confirmed that Aegean N. insularis belongs to N. superspecies xanthodon, and that it represents the second known species of this superspecies in Europe. Mainland taxa reached Europe from Asia Minor in two colonisation events corresponding to two superspecies-level taxa: N. superspecies monticola (taxon established herewith) reached Europe c. 2.1 million years ago (Mya) and was followed by N. superspecies leucodon (re-defined herewith) c. 1.5 Mya. Species delimitation allowed the clarification of the taxonomic contents of the above superspecies. N. superspecies monticola contains three species geographically confined to the western periphery of the distribution of blind mole rats, whereas N. superspecies leucodon is more speciose with six species and several additional subspecies. The observed geographic pattern hints at a robust peripatric speciation process and rapid chromosomal evolution. The present treatment is thus regarded as the minimum taxonomic content of each lineage, which can be further refined based on other sources of information such as karyological traits, crossbreeding experiments, etc. The species delimitation models also allowed the recognition of a hitherto unnamed blind mole rat taxon from Albania, described here as a new subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Németh
- Department of Nature Conservation, Zoology and Game Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi u. 138, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; BirdLife Hungary - Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society, Költő u. 21, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edvárd Mizsei
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; DRI Conservation Ecology Research Group, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Bem tér 18/C, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Levente Laczkó
- Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; HUN-REN-UD Conservation Biology Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Zsolt Hegyeli
- Milvus Group Bird and Nature Protection Association, Crinului St. 22, 540343 Târgu Mureş, Romania
| | - Szabolcs Lengyel
- DRI Conservation Ecology Research Group, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Bem tér 18/C, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gábor Csorba
- Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross u. 13, H-1088 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Sramkó
- Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary; HUN-REN-UD Conservation Biology Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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Csorba G, Moldován O, Schneider V, Németh A. Conservation status of the blind mole rat populations in Hungary (Rodentia: Spalacinae: Nannospalax) revisited. Biol Futur 2023; 74:475-487. [PMID: 38363538 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-024-00204-8] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Regular reviews of long-term research and conservation programs are useful sources of information for future directions in science and for the assessment of current conservation status of taxa. In this paper, we compiled all available data from the last 10 years related to Hungarian blind mole rat populations and assessed this information according to the following main themes: systematics, distribution and threats, and conservation actions. Based on the most recent information, national and global risk assessments are provided for the three species of Nannospalax (N. montanosyrmiensis, N. hungaricus and N. syrmiensis), currently accepted as part of the Hungarian fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Csorba
- Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross 13, Budapest, 1088, Hungary.
| | - Orsolya Moldován
- Hortobágy National Park Directorate, Sumen u. 2, Debrecen, 4024, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Animal Science, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Viktor Schneider
- Institute of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary
| | - Attila Németh
- Department of Nature Conservation, Zoology and Game Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- BirdLife Hungary - Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society, Költő u. 21, Budapest, 1121, Hungary
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Cryptic Diversity of the European Blind Mole Rat Nannospalax leucodon Species Complex: Implications for Conservation. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091097. [PMID: 35565523 PMCID: PMC9105853 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored the cryptic speciation of the Nannospalax leucodon species complex, characterised by intense karyotype evolution and reduced phenotypic variability that has produced different lineages, out of which 25 are described as chromosomal forms (CFs), so many cryptic species remain unnoticed. Although some of them should be classified as threatened, they lack the official nomenclature necessary to be involved in conservation strategies. Reproductive isolation between seven CFs has previously been demonstrated. To investigate the amount and dynamics of genetic discrepancy that follows chromosomal changes, infer speciation levels, and obtain phylogenetic patterns, we analysed mitochondrial 16S rRNA and MT-CYTB nucleotide polymorphism among 17 CFs—the highest number studied so far. Phylogenetic trees delineated 11 CFs as separate clades. Evolutionary divergence values overlapped with acknowledged higher taxonomic categories, or sometimes exceeded them. The fact that CFs with higher 2n are evolutionary older corresponds to the fusion hypothesis of Nannospalax karyotype evolution. To participate in conservation strategies, N. leucodon classification should follow the biological species concept, and proposed cryptic species should be formally named, despite a lack of classical morphometric discrepancy. We draw attention towards the syrmiensis and montanosyrmiensis CFs, estimated to be endangered/critically endangered, and emphasise the need for detailed monitoring and population survey for other cryptic species.
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Németh A, Csorba G, Laczkó L, Mizsei E, Bereczki J, Pásztor JA, Petró P, Sramkó G. Multi-Locus Genetic Identification of a Newly Discovered Population Reveals a Deep Genetic Divergence in European Blind Mole Rats (Rodentia: Spalacidae: Nannospalax). ANN ZOOL FENN 2020. [DOI: 10.5735/086.057.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Attila Németh
- Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross 13, H-1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Csorba
- Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross 13, H-1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Levente Laczkó
- Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Edvárd Mizsei
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Judit Bereczki
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - János Attila Pásztor
- Nature Conservation Group of ‘The friends of Albertirsa’ Association, Irsay Karoly 2, H-2730 Albertirsa, Hungary
| | - Péter Petró
- Nature Conservation Group of ‘The friends of Albertirsa’ Association, Irsay Karoly 2, H-2730 Albertirsa, Hungary
| | - Gábor Sramkó
- MTA-DE ‘Lendület’ Evolutionary Phylogenomics Research Group, Egyetem ter 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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Bugarski-Stanojević V, Stamenković G, Ćirović D, Ćirić D, Stojković O, Veličković J, Kataranovski D, Savić I. 16S rRNA gene polymorphism supports cryptic speciation within the lesser blind mole rat Nannospalax leucodon superspecies (Rodentia: Spalacidae). Mamm Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Visser JH, Bennett NC, Jansen van Vuuren B. Phylogeny and biogeography of the African Bathyergidae: a review of patterns and processes. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7730. [PMID: 31637115 PMCID: PMC6798870 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We review genealogical relationships, biogeographic patterns and broad historical drivers of speciation within the Bathyergidae, a group of endemic African rodents, as well as identify key taxa which need further research. Methods We sourced comparable cytochrome b sequence data (comparable data available for all members for the Family) and geographic information for all six genera of the African subterranean rodent. This information was combined into the most comprehensive and geographically representative evolutionary study for the Bathyergidae to date. Results Species richness within the Bathyergidae appears to be underestimated, with undescribed taxa in five of the six genera. Biogeographic patterns suggest large historical distributions, which were repeatedly fragmented by major landscape changes (especially rifting, uplift and drainage evolution) since the Miocene. Aside from vicariant events, other factors (ecological specialization, population-level responses and climatic change) may have been instrumental in driving divergences in the Bathyergidae. As such, adaptive differences may exist among both populations and species across their discrete ranges, driving independent evolutionary trajectories among taxa. In addition, highly fragmented distributions of divergent (and often relict) lineages indicates the possibility of narrow endemics restricted to diminishing suitable habitats. From this, it is clear that a systematic revision of the Bathyergidae is necessary; such a revision should include comprehensive sampling of all putative taxa, the addition of genomic information to assess adaptive differences, as well as ecological information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobus H Visser
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa
| | - Bettine Jansen van Vuuren
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa
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Riddle BR, Jezkova T. How is phylogeography shaping our understanding of the geography of diversity, diversification, and range dynamics in mammals? J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brett R Riddle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Tereza Jezkova
- Department of Biology, Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, OH, USA
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