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Prescott GW, Sutherland WJ, Aguirre D, Baird M, Bowman V, Brunner J, Connette GM, Cosier M, Dapice D, De Alban JDT, Diment A, Fogerite J, Fox J, Hlaing W, Htun S, Hurd J, LaJeunesse Connette K, Lasmana F, Lim CL, Lynam A, Maung AC, McCarron B, McCarthy JF, McShea WJ, Momberg F, Mon MS, Myint T, Oberndorf R, Oo TN, Phelps J, Rao M, Schmidt-Vogt D, Speechly H, Springate-Baginski O, Steinmetz R, Talbott K, Than MM, Thaung TL, Thawng SCL, Thein KM, Thein S, Tizard R, Whitten T, Williams G, Wilson T, Woods K, Ziegler AD, Zrust M, Webb EL. Political transition and emergent forest-conservation issues in Myanmar. Conserv Biol 2017; 31:1257-1270. [PMID: 29030915 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Political and economic transitions have had substantial impacts on forest conservation. Where transitions are underway or anticipated, historical precedent and methods for systematically assessing future trends should be used to anticipate likely threats to forest conservation and design appropriate and prescient policy measures to counteract them. Myanmar is transitioning from an authoritarian, centralized state with a highly regulated economy to a more decentralized and economically liberal democracy and is working to end a long-running civil war. With these transitions in mind, we used a horizon-scanning approach to assess the 40 emerging issues most affecting Myanmar's forests, including internal conflict, land-tenure insecurity, large-scale agricultural development, demise of state timber enterprises, shortfalls in government revenue and capacity, and opening of new deforestation frontiers with new roads, mines, and hydroelectric dams. Averting these threats will require, for example, overhauling governance models, building capacity, improving infrastructure- and energy-project planning, and reforming land-tenure and environmental-protection laws. Although challenges to conservation in Myanmar are daunting, the political transition offers an opportunity for conservationists and researchers to help shape a future that enhances Myanmar's social, economic, and environmental potential while learning and applying lessons from other countries. Our approach and results are relevant to other countries undergoing similar transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham W Prescott
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore
| | - William J Sutherland
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Daniel Aguirre
- International Commission of Jurists, 15, Shan Yeikthar Street, Pann Hlaing Ward, Myanmar
| | - Matthew Baird
- MatthewBaird.com.au, 309 Peaks Garden Condo, 187/14 Thanon Chang Klan, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand
| | - Vicky Bowman
- Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), No. 6 (A), Shin Saw Pu Road, Kayinchan Qtr, Ahlone, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Jake Brunner
- IUCN Indo-Burma Group, 1st floor, Building 2A, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Grant M Connette
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, U.S.A
| | - Martin Cosier
- Myanmar Environmental Governance Program, U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law, Vermont Law School, 164 Chelsea Street, P.O. Box 96, South Royalton, VT 05068, U.S.A
| | - David Dapice
- John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A
| | - Jose Don T De Alban
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore
| | - Alex Diment
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Myanmar, 12 Narnattaw Road, Shwe Kainnayi Housing, Kamaryut Township, 11051, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Julia Fogerite
- IUCN Myanmar, 212 Sabae Marga Street, Kamaryut, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Jefferson Fox
- East-West Centre, 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848-1601, U.S.A
| | - Win Hlaing
- FLEGT Secretariat, No 58 Kyaing Tone Street, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Saw Htun
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Myanmar, 12 Narnattaw Road, Shwe Kainnayi Housing, Kamaryut Township, 11051, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Jack Hurd
- The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203-1606, U.S.A
| | - Katherine LaJeunesse Connette
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, U.S.A
| | - Felicia Lasmana
- Daemeter Consulting, Jl. Tangkuban Perahu 1, Taman Kencana, Bogor, Jawa Barat, 16128, Indonesia
| | - Cheng Ling Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore
| | - Antony Lynam
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Center for Global Conservation, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, U.S.A
| | - Aye Chan Maung
- Forest Research Institute, Yezin, Zeyarthiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Benjamin McCarron
- Asia Research and Engagement, 10 Anson Road, #26-04, International Plaza, 079903, Singapore
| | - John F McCarthy
- Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, JG Crawford Building, 132 Lennox Crossing, Acton ACT 0200, Australia
| | - William J McShea
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, U.S.A
| | - Frank Momberg
- Fauna & Flora International (FFI) Myanmar, No. 35, 3rd Floor, Shan Gone Condo, San Chaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Myat Su Mon
- Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, No. 39, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Than Myint
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Myanmar, 12 Narnattaw Road, Shwe Kainnayi Housing, Kamaryut Township, 11051, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Robert Oberndorf
- USAID's Myanmar Land Tenure Project, Implemented by Tetra Tech, No. 17, Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yankin Township, Yangon, 11081, Myanmar
| | - Thaung Naing Oo
- Forest Research Institute, Yezin, Zeyarthiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Jacob Phelps
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, U.K
| | - Madhu Rao
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Center for Global Conservation, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, U.S.A
| | - Dietrich Schmidt-Vogt
- Chair of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Freiburg University, Tennenbacherstr. 4, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hugh Speechly
- FLEGT Secretariat, No 58 Kyaing Tone Street, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Oliver Springate-Baginski
- School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, U.K
| | - Robert Steinmetz
- WWF Thailand, 87 Soi Phatholyothin 5, Samsen Nai Phayathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Kirk Talbott
- Environmental Law Institute, 1730 M Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036, U.S.A
| | - Maung Maung Than
- RECOFTC, P.O. Box 1111, Kasetsart Post Office, Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok, 10903, Thailand
| | - Tint Lwin Thaung
- RECOFTC, P.O. Box 1111, Kasetsart Post Office, Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok, 10903, Thailand
| | - Salai Cung Lian Thawng
- Pyoe Pin, No. 23, 1st Floor, Strand Mansion, 40th Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Kyaw Min Thein
- Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, No. 39, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
| | - Shwe Thein
- Land Core Group, 18D Sein Lei Yeik Thar Street, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Robert Tizard
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Myanmar, 12 Narnattaw Road, Shwe Kainnayi Housing, Kamaryut Township, 11051, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Tony Whitten
- Fauna & Flora International (FFI) Myanmar, No. 35, 3rd Floor, Shan Gone Condo, San Chaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Guy Williams
- Environmental Resources Management, 120 Robinson Road, Singapore, #10-01, 068913, Singapore
| | - Trevor Wilson
- Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, JG Crawford Building, 132 Lennox Crossing, Acton ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Kevin Woods
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, 215 Moses Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-2308, U.S.A
| | - Alan D Ziegler
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 1 Arts Link, 117570, Singapore
| | - Michal Zrust
- Daemeter Consulting, Jl. Tangkuban Perahu 1, Taman Kencana, Bogor, Jawa Barat, 16128, Indonesia
| | - Edward L Webb
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore
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Yang J, Chen X, Bai J, Fang D, Qiu Y, Jiang W, Yuan H, Bian C, Lu J, He S, Pan X, Zhang Y, Wang X, You X, Wang Y, Sun Y, Mao D, Liu Y, Fan G, Zhang H, Chen X, Zhang X, Zheng L, Wang J, Cheng L, Chen J, Ruan Z, Li J, Yu H, Peng C, Ma X, Xu J, He Y, Xu Z, Xu P, Wang J, Yang H, Wang J, Whitten T, Xu X, Shi Q. The Sinocyclocheilus cavefish genome provides insights into cave adaptation. BMC Biol 2016; 14:1. [PMID: 26728391 PMCID: PMC4698820 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-015-0223-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An emerging cavefish model, the cyprinid genus Sinocyclocheilus, is endemic to the massive southwestern karst area adjacent to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. In order to understand whether orogeny influenced the evolution of these species, and how genomes change under isolation, especially in subterranean habitats, we performed whole-genome sequencing and comparative analyses of three species in this genus, S. grahami, S. rhinocerous and S. anshuiensis. These species are surface-dwelling, semi-cave-dwelling and cave-restricted, respectively. RESULTS The assembled genome sizes of S. grahami, S. rhinocerous and S. anshuiensis are 1.75 Gb, 1.73 Gb and 1.68 Gb, respectively. Divergence time and population history analyses of these species reveal that their speciation and population dynamics are correlated with the different stages of uplifting of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We carried out comparative analyses of these genomes and found that many genetic changes, such as gene loss (e.g. opsin genes), pseudogenes (e.g. crystallin genes), mutations (e.g. melanogenesis-related genes), deletions (e.g. scale-related genes) and down-regulation (e.g. circadian rhythm pathway genes), are possibly associated with the regressive features (such as eye degeneration, albinism, rudimentary scales and lack of circadian rhythms), and that some gene expansion (e.g. taste-related transcription factor gene) may point to the constructive features (such as enhanced taste buds) which evolved in these cave fishes. CONCLUSION As the first report on cavefish genomes among distinct species in Sinocyclocheilus, our work provides not only insights into genetic mechanisms of cave adaptation, but also represents a fundamental resource for a better understanding of cavefish biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
| | | | - Jie Bai
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge, CB1 2JD, UK.
| | - Dongming Fang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Agricultural Genomes Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
| | - Ying Qiu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,China National Genebank, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Wansheng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
| | - Hui Yuan
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Chao Bian
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Jiang Lu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Shiyang He
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Xiaofu Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
| | - Yaolei Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China.
| | - Xiaoai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
| | - Xinxin You
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | | | - Ying Sun
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,China National Genebank, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | | | - Yong Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | | | - He Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Xiaoyong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
| | - Xinhui Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Lanping Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
| | | | - Le Cheng
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,BGI-Yunnan, Kunming, 650106, China.
| | - Jieming Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Ruan
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Jia Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Hui Yu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Chao Peng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Xingyu Ma
- Shenzhen BGI Fisheries Sci & Tech Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Zhenjiang BGI Fisheries Science & Technology Industrial Co. Ltd., Zhenjiang, 212000, China.
| | - Junmin Xu
- Shenzhen BGI Fisheries Sci & Tech Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Zhenjiang BGI Fisheries Science & Technology Industrial Co. Ltd., Zhenjiang, 212000, China.
| | - You He
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201204, China.
| | - Zhengfeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Pao Xu
- Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, China.
| | - Jian Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,James D. Watson Institute of Genome Science, Hangzhou, 310008, China.
| | - Huanming Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,James D. Watson Institute of Genome Science, Hangzhou, 310008, China.
| | - Jun Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Department of Biology, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Tony Whitten
- Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge, CB1 2JD, UK.
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
| | - Qiong Shi
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Shenzhen BGI Fisheries Sci & Tech Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, 518083, China. .,Zhenjiang BGI Fisheries Science & Technology Industrial Co. Ltd., Zhenjiang, 212000, China.
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