1
|
Nagai K, Takahashi Y, Okabe H, Takahashi M, Tokita KI. Analysis of Genetic Structure and Genetic Diversity in Japanese Grey-Headed Lapwing Population Using mtDNA. Zoolog Sci 2024; 41:257-262. [PMID: 38809864 DOI: 10.2108/zs230094] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The grey-headed lapwing (Vanellus cinereus) is a wading species in East Asia. However, examples of regional population dynamics and genetic research are limited. To reconsider the natural history and current status of the grey-headed lapwing in Japan, we analyzed the genetic diversity of the Japanese grey-headed lapwing population. We collected 77 grey-headed lapwing samples from 12 locations across Japan during the breeding season and three individuals during the wintering season and extracted DNA; 496-bp sequences of the ND2, which form part of the mitochondrial DNA, were determined for genetic analysis of the population. Consequently, 10 haplotypes were detected in 80 individuals, and 67 individuals, 84% of the total, shared two haplotypes, namely Vc1 and Vc2. Furthermore, the results showed that the prevalence of Vc1 was higher mainly in northern Japan, while that of Vc2 was higher mainly in southern Japan. Genetic diversity analysis showed that the overall haplotype diversity in Japan was 0.617, which is not particularly low. The sequence of Vc1 was exactly the same as that of grey-headed lapwing in China. Our study revealed the genetic structure of the grey-headed lapwing, suggesting that as the grey-headed lapwing expanded its distribution area into southern Japan, many Vc2-positive individuals migrated southward, resulting in a higher detection rate of Vc2 in southern Japan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Nagai
- Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate 020-8550, Japan,
- Research and Education Centre for Natural Sciences, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8521, Japan
- Tohoku Natural History Research Group, Morioka, Iwate 020-8550, Japan
| | - Yusuke Takahashi
- Tohoku Natural History Research Group, Morioka, Iwate 020-8550, Japan
- Japan Wildlife Research Centre, Koto, Tokyo 130-8606, Japan
| | - Hiroto Okabe
- Kyushu Environmental Evaluation Association, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 813-0004, Japan
| | - Masao Takahashi
- Iwate Prefectural Museum, Ueda, Morioka, Iwate 020-0102, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Tokita
- Research and Education Centre for Natural Sciences, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8521, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cortés-Díaz D, Buitrago-Torres DL, Restrepo-Cardona JS, Estellés-Domingo I, López-López P. Bridging Evolutionary History and Conservation of New World Vultures. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3175. [PMID: 37893899 PMCID: PMC10603630 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203175] [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: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The New World Vultures (Cathartidae) include seven species of obligate scavengers that, despite their ecological relevance, present critical information gaps around their evolutionary history and conservation. Insights into their phylogenetic relationships in recent years has enabled the addressing of such information gaps through approaches based on phylogeny. We reconstructed the ancestral area in America of the current species using two regionalization schemes and methods: Biogeography with Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis (BioGeoBears) and Bayesian Binary Model-Monte Carlo Markov Chains (BBM-MCMC). Then, we identified the priority species and areas for conservation by means of the Evolutionary Distinctiveness index (ED), as a proxy of the uniqueness of species according to phylogeny, and the Global Endangerment index (GE), mapping phylogenetic diversity. We found that the ancestral area of New World Vultures in America corresponds to South America, with dispersal processes that led to a recolonization of North America by Coragyps atratus, Gymnogyps californianus and Cathartes aura. We identified the Black Vulture, G. californianus and Vultur gryphus as priority species based on ED and "Evolutionary Distinct Globally Endangered" (EDGE) indexes, and the lowlands of Amazon River basin and the Orinoco basin and some tributaries areas of the Guiana Shield were identified as the priority areas when mapping the phylogenetic diversity. This study highlights the importance of filling knowledge gaps of species of conservation concern through the integration of evolutionary and ecological information and tools and, thus, developing adequate strategies to enhance the preservation of these species in the face of the current loss of biodiversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Cortés-Díaz
- Semillero de Investigación en Ecología y Conservación, Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá 110151, Colombia;
| | | | - Juan Sebastián Restrepo-Cardona
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
- Fundación Cóndor Andino—Ecuador, Quito 170143, Ecuador
| | - Irene Estellés-Domingo
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, C/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain;
| | - Pascual López-López
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, C/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Martinez-Hernandez JE, Berrios P, Santibáñez R, Cuesta Astroz Y, Sanchez C, Martin AJM, Trombert AN. First metagenomic analysis of the Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus) gut microbiome reveals microbial diversity and wide resistome. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15235. [PMID: 37434868 PMCID: PMC10332357 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is the largest scavenger in South America. This predatory bird plays a crucial role in their ecological niche by removing carcasses. We report the first metagenomic analysis of the Andean condor gut microbiome. Methods This work analyzed shotgun metagenomics data from a mixture of fifteen captive Chilean Andean condors. To filter eukaryote contamination, we employed BWA-MEM v0.7. Taxonomy assignment was performed using Kraken2 and MetaPhlAn v2.0 and all filtered reads were assembled using IDBA-UD v1.1.3. The two most abundant species were used to perform a genome reference-guided assembly using MetaCompass. Finally, we performed a gene prediction using Prodigal and each gene predicted was functionally annotated. InterproScan v5.31-70.0 was additionally used to detect homology based on protein domains and KEGG mapper software for reconstructing metabolic pathways. Results Our results demonstrate concordance with the other gut microbiome data from New World vultures. In the Andean condor, Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum present, with Clostridium perfringens, a potentially pathogenic bacterium for other animals, as dominating species in the gut microbiome. We assembled all reads corresponding to the top two species found in the condor gut microbiome, finding between 94% to 98% of completeness for Clostridium perfringens and Plesiomonas shigelloides, respectively. Our work highlights the ability of the Andean condor to act as an environmental reservoir and potential vector for critical priority pathogens which contain relevant genetic elements. Among these genetic elements, we found 71 antimicrobial resistance genes and 1,786 virulence factors that we associated with several adaptation processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. Eduardo Martinez-Hernandez
- Laboratorio de Redes Biológicas, Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- CGNA (Agriaquaculture Nutritional Genomic Center), Temuco, Chile
| | - Pablo Berrios
- Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Santibáñez
- Laboratorio de Redes Biológicas, Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yesid Cuesta Astroz
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Colombia
| | - Carolina Sanchez
- Centro de Oncología de Precisión, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Genomics Core, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto J. M. Martin
- Laboratorio de Redes Biológicas, Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Escuela de Ingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Annette N. Trombert
- Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ericson PGP, Irestedt M, Zuccon D, Larsson P, Tison JL, Emslie SD, Götherström A, Hume JP, Werdelin L, Qu Y. A 14,000-year-old genome sheds light on the evolution and extinction of a Pleistocene vulture. Commun Biol 2022; 5:857. [PMID: 35999361 PMCID: PMC9399080 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03811-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The New World Vulture [Coragyps] occidentalis (L. Miller, 1909) is one of many species that were extinct by the end of the Pleistocene. To understand its evolutionary history we sequenced the genome of a 14,000 year old [Coragyps] occidentalis found associated with megaherbivores in the Peruvian Andes. occidentalis has been viewed as the ancestor, or possibly sister, to the extant Black Vulture Coragyps atratus, but genomic data shows occidentalis to be deeply nested within the South American clade of atratus. Coragyps atratus inhabits lowlands, but the fossil record indicates that occidentalis mostly occupied high elevations. Our results suggest that occidentalis evolved from a population of atratus in southwestern South America that colonized the High Andes 300 to 400 kya. The morphological and morphometric differences between occidentalis and atratus may thus be explained by ecological diversification following from the natural selection imposed by this new and extreme, high elevation environment. The sudden evolution of a population with significantly larger body size and different anatomical proportions than atratus thus constitutes an example of punctuated evolution. 14,000 year old DNA reveals the evolutionary dynamics and adaptations of South American vultures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Per G P Ericson
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-10405, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Martin Irestedt
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-10405, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dario Zuccon
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), UMR7205 CNRS MNHN UPMC EPHE Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Petter Larsson
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-10405, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jean-Luc Tison
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Örebro University Hospital; Södra Grev Rosengatan, SE-70185, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Steven D Emslie
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina; Wilmington, 601S. College Road, Wilmington, NC, 28403, USA
| | - Anders Götherström
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julian P Hume
- Bird Group, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Akeman St, Tring, Herts, UK
| | - Lars Werdelin
- Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-10405, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-10405, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gutherz SB, O'Connor PM. Postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in non-aquatic neoavians: Insights from accipitrimorphae. J Anat 2022; 241:1387-1398. [PMID: 35981708 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13742] [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: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Postcranial skeletal pneumaticity, air-filled bones of the trunk and limbs, is exclusive to birds among extant tetrapods and exhibits significant variation in its expression among different species. Such variation is not random but exhibits relationships with both body mass and locomotor specializations. Most species-level comparative research to date has focused on aquatic-oriented taxa (e.g., Anseriformes). The lack of data from non-aquatic birds constrains our ability to characterize global (i.e., avian-wide) patterns of this trait complex. To address this gap, the study conducted herein quantified postcranial pneumaticity in Accipitrimorphae, a mostly terrestrial clade composed of species that span a range of body sizes and exhibit diverse flight/foraging behaviors. All examined species (n = 88) invariably pneumatized the postaxial through pre-caudal vertebrae, sternum, coracoid, humerus, vertebral and sternal ribs, and pelvic girdle, a pattern herein referred to as the accipitrimorph baseline. Of the 88 sampled species, 41 expanded upon this pattern, whereas 10 species exhibited a reduction. No species deviated from the accipitrimorph baseline by more than two anatomical regions. A phylogenetically-informed regression analysis failed to identify a significant relationship between body mass and pneumaticity. However, specific pneumaticity phenotypes deviating from the baseline were correlated with aspects of wing morphology, tail length, and home range size. Results from this and previous studies provide clarity on two hypotheses: (1) aquatic taxa display distinct pneumaticity expression patterns relative to non-aquatic birds, notably with reductions in the proportion of the skeleton filled with air in diving specialists and (2) contemporary comparative studies, including the one herein, that explicitly account for phylogenetic relationships consistently fail to support the oft-cited positive relationship between pneumaticity and body mass. Instead, historical relationships and functional/ecological attributes (e.g., diving, specialized flight behaviors) appear to be the primary drivers underlying patterns of variation in this trait complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel B Gutherz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.,Ohio Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Irvine Hall, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Patrick M O'Connor
- Ohio Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Irvine Hall, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pirastru M, Mereu P, Manca L, Bebbere D, Naitana S, Leoni GG. Anthropogenic Drivers Leading to Population Decline and Genetic Preservation of the Eurasian Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulvus). Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101038. [PMID: 34685409 PMCID: PMC8540517 DOI: 10.3390/life11101038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human activities are having increasingly devastating effects on the health of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Studying the adaptive responses of animal species to changes in their habitat can be useful in mitigating this impact. Vultures represent one of the most virtuous examples of adaptation to human-induced environmental changes. Once dependent on wild ungulate populations, these birds have adapted to the epochal change resulting from the birth of agriculture and livestock domestication, maintaining their essential role as ecological scavengers. In this review, we retrace the main splitting events characterising the vultures’ evolution, with particular emphasis on the Eurasian griffon Gyps fulvus. We summarise the main ecological and behavioural traits of this species, highlighting its vulnerability to elements introduced into the habitat by humans. We collected the genetic information available to date, underlining their importance for improving the management of this species, as an essential tool to support restocking practices and to protect the genetic integrity of G. fulvus. Finally, we examine the difficulties in implementing a coordination system that allows genetic information to be effectively transferred into management programs. Until a linking network is established between scientific research and management practices, the risk of losing important wildlife resources remains high.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Pirastru
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (M.P.); (L.M.)
| | - Paolo Mereu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (M.P.); (L.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Laura Manca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (M.P.); (L.M.)
| | - Daniela Bebbere
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (D.B.); (S.N.); (G.G.L.)
| | - Salvatore Naitana
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (D.B.); (S.N.); (G.G.L.)
| | - Giovanni G. Leoni
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (D.B.); (S.N.); (G.G.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Urantówka AD, Kroczak A, Strzała T, Zaniewicz G, Kurkowski M, Mackiewicz P. Mitogenomes of Accipitriformes and Cathartiformes Were Subjected to Ancestral and Recent Duplications Followed by Gradual Degeneration. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6357707. [PMID: 34432018 PMCID: PMC8435663 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The rearrangement of 37 genes with one control region, firstly identified in Gallus gallus mitogenome, is believed to be ancestral for all Aves. However, mitogenomic sequences obtained in recent years revealed that many avian mitogenomes contain duplicated regions that were omitted in previous genomic versions. Their evolution and mechanism of duplication are still poorly understood. The order of Accipitriformes is especially interesting in this context because its representatives contain a duplicated control region in various stages of degeneration. Therefore, we applied an appropriate PCR strategy to look for duplications within the mitogenomes of the early diverged species Sagittarius serpentarius and Cathartiformes, which is a sister order to Accipitriformes. The analyses revealed the same duplicated gene order in all examined taxa and the common ancestor of these groups. The duplicated regions were subjected to gradual degeneration and homogenization during concerted evolution. The latter process occurred recently in the species of Cathartiformes as well as in the early diverged lineages of Accipitriformes, that is, Sagittarius serpentarius and Pandion haliaetus. However, in other lineages, that is, Pernis ptilorhynchus, as well as representatives of Aegypiinae, Aquilinae, and five related subfamilies of Accipitriformes (Accipitrinae, Circinae, Buteoninae, Haliaeetinae, and Milvinae), the duplications were evolving independently for at least 14–47 Myr. Different portions of control regions in Cathartiformes showed conflicting phylogenetic signals indicating that some sections of these regions were homogenized at a frequency higher than the rate of speciation, whereas others have still evolved separately.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Dawid Urantówka
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Kroczak
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland.,Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Faculty of Biotechnology, Wrocław University, Poland
| | - Tomasz Strzała
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Zaniewicz
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Avian Ecophysiology Unit, University of Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marcin Kurkowski
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
| | - Paweł Mackiewicz
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Faculty of Biotechnology, Wrocław University, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
De Panis D, Lambertucci SA, Wiemeyer G, Dopazo H, Almeida FC, Mazzoni CJ, Gut M, Gut I, Padró J. Mitogenomic analysis of extant condor species provides insight into the molecular evolution of vultures. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17109. [PMID: 34429448 PMCID: PMC8384887 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96080-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of large vultures linked to mountainous habitats was accompanied by extreme physiological and behavioral specializations for energetically efficient flights. However, little is known on the genetic traits associated with the evolution of these obligate soaring scavengers. Mitochondrial DNA plays a vital role in regulating oxidative stress and energy production, and hence may be an important target of selection for flight performance. Herein, we characterized the first mitogenomes of the Andean and California condors, the world's heaviest flying birds and the only living representatives of the Vultur and Gymnogyps genus. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships and evaluated possible footprints of convergent evolution associated to the life-history traits and distributional range of vultures. Our phylogenomic analyses supported the independent evolution of vultures, with the origin of Cathartidae in the early Paleogene (~ 61 Mya), and estimated the radiation of extant condors during the late Miocene (~ 11 Mya). Selection analyses indicated that vultures exhibit signals of relaxation of purifying selection relative to other accipitrimorph raptors, possibly indicating the degeneration of flapping flight ability. Overall, our results suggest that the extreme specialization of vultures for efficient soaring flight has compensated the evolution of large body sizes mitigating the selection pressure on mtDNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D. De Panis
- grid.412234.20000 0001 2112 473XGrupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina ,grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, 1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S. A. Lambertucci
- grid.412234.20000 0001 2112 473XGrupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina
| | - G. Wiemeyer
- grid.412234.20000 0001 2112 473XGrupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina ,Ecoparque Buenos Aires-Argentina, República de la India 3000, 1425 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina ,Fundación Cabure-Í, Mcal Antonio Sucre 2842, 1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina ,grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Present Address: Hospital Escuela, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín 280, 1427 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - H. Dopazo
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, 1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F. C. Almeida
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, 1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C. J. Mazzoni
- grid.511553.6Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research (BeGenDiv), Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - M. Gut
- grid.11478.3bCNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 4, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - I. Gut
- grid.11478.3bCNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 4, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - J. Padró
- grid.412234.20000 0001 2112 473XGrupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Robinson JA, Bowie RCK, Dudchenko O, Aiden EL, Hendrickson SL, Steiner CC, Ryder OA, Mindell DP, Wall JD. Genome-wide diversity in the California condor tracks its prehistoric abundance and decline. Curr Biol 2021; 31:2939-2946.e5. [PMID: 33989525 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Due to their small population sizes, threatened and endangered species frequently suffer from a lack of genetic diversity, potentially leading to inbreeding depression and reduced adaptability.1 During the latter half of the twentieth century, North America's largest soaring bird,2 the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus; Critically Endangered3), briefly went extinct in the wild. Though condors once ranged throughout North America, by 1982 only 22 individuals remained. Following decades of captive breeding and release efforts, there are now >300 free-flying wild condors and ∼200 in captivity. The condor's recent near-extinction from lead poisoning, poaching, and loss of habitat is well documented,4 but much about its history remains obscure. To fill this gap and aid future management of the species, we produced a high-quality chromosome-length genome assembly for the California condor and analyzed its genome-wide diversity. For comparison, we also examined the genomes of two close relatives: the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus; Vulnerable3) and the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura; Least Concern3). The genomes of all three species show evidence of historic population declines. Interestingly, the California condor genome retains a high degree of variation, which our analyses reveal is a legacy of its historically high abundance. Correlations between genome-wide diversity and recombination rate further suggest a history of purifying selection against linked deleterious alleles, boding well for future restoration. We show how both long-term evolutionary forces and recent inbreeding have shaped the genome of the California condor, and provide crucial genomic resources to enable future research and conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A Robinson
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Rauri C K Bowie
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Olga Dudchenko
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Theoretical and Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Erez Lieberman Aiden
- The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Theoretical and Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech, Pudong, China; Faculty of Science, UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Cynthia C Steiner
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Beckman Center for Conservation Research, Escondido, CA, USA
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Beckman Center for Conservation Research, Escondido, CA, USA; Department of Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - David P Mindell
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Wall
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Khan S, Nisar A, Ahmad H, Mehmood SA, Hameed M, Zhao X, Yang X, Feng X. Analyses of mitogenomic markers shed light on the divergence, population dynamics, and demographic history of Pakistani chickens. Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2020; 32:34-42. [PMID: 33179562 DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2020.1845323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Pakistan is one of a few sites, associated with the earliest known independent domestication event in the evolutionary history of chicken, which is socio-economically and historically the most important poultry bird in the country. However, the divergence, past population dynamics, and demographic history of Pakistani chickens have not been addressed so far. Therefore, we herein investigated the indigenous Pakistani chickens using mitogenomic markers. We first prepared individual DNA samples from the chicken feathers, and generated nucleotide sequence data, which was then subjected to various population genetics analyses. In molecular phylogenetic analysis, the Pakistani chickens were clustered under nine different clades. Among the wild fowls, the Indian red jungle fowl (IRJF) shared very close affinities to Pakistani chickens. The Bayesian skyline plot showed an increase in the effective population size of Pakistani chickens during the last 50 years. Finally, a time-calibrated phylogeny inferred molecular divergence of the Pakistani chickens. A molecular rate of 3.6 × 10-6 mutations/site/year (95% HPD interval: 2.28 × 10-8 to 9.32 × 10-6) was estimated for the data set. In a rooted tree with root-age of 12058 years (95% HPD interval: 1161-38411), the Pakistani chicken haplotypes showed divergence from IRJF haplotypes around 6987 years (95% HPD interval: 1132-20746) ago, and they shared their most recent common ancestor with Gallus gallus spadiceus, and G. g. jabouillei at the root of the tree. Overall, these results suggest that Pakistani chicken haplotypes share their ancestral gene pool with the IRJF as compared to other red jungle fowl subspecies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sawar Khan
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ayesha Nisar
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Habib Ahmad
- Department of Genetics, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
| | | | - Muddassar Hameed
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaochao Zhao
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangshu Yang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingang Feng
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Adawaren EO, Du Plessis M, Suleman E, Kindler D, Oosthuizen AO, Mukandiwa L, Naidoo V. The complete mitochondrial genome of Gyps coprotheres (Aves, Accipitridae, Accipitriformes): phylogenetic analysis of mitogenome among raptors. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10034. [PMID: 33240589 PMCID: PMC7666543 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Three species of Old World vultures on the Asian peninsula are slowly recovering from the lethal consequences of diclofenac. At present the reason for species sensitivity to diclofenac is unknown. Furthermore, it has since been demonstrated that other Old World vultures like the Cape (Gyps coprotheres; CGV) and griffon (G. fulvus) vultures are also susceptible to diclofenac toxicity. Oddly, the New World Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and pied crow (Corvus albus) are not susceptible to diclofenac toxicity. As a result of the latter, we postulate an evolutionary link to toxicity. As a first step in understanding the susceptibility to diclofenac toxicity, we use the CGV as a model species for phylogenetic evaluations, by comparing the relatedness of various raptor species known to be susceptible, non-susceptible and suspected by their relationship to the Cape vulture mitogenome. This was achieved by next generation sequencing and assembly. The Cape vulture mitogenome had a genome size of 16,908 bp. The mitogenome phylogenetic analysis indicated a close evolutionary relationship between Old World vultures and other members of the Accipitridae as indicated by bootstrap value of 100% on the phylogenetic trees. Based on this, we postulate that the other species could also be sensitive to the toxic effects of diclofenac. This warrants further investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Oluwasegun Adawaren
- Department of Paraclinical Science/Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Morne Du Plessis
- Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Essa Suleman
- Molecular Diagnostics, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.,Current affiliation: Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Duodane Kindler
- Molecular Diagnostics, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Almero O Oosthuizen
- Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Lillian Mukandiwa
- Department of Paraclinical Science/Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Vinny Naidoo
- Paraclinical Science/Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Graves GR, Matterson KO, Milensky CM, Schmidt BK, O'Mahoney MJV, Drovetski SV. Does solar irradiation drive community assembly of vulture plumage microbiotas? Anim Microbiome 2020; 2:24. [PMID: 33499993 PMCID: PMC7807431 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-00043-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stereotyped sunning behaviour in birds has been hypothesized to inhibit keratin-degrading bacteria but there is little evidence that solar irradiation affects community assembly and abundance of plumage microbiota. The monophyletic New World vultures (Cathartiformes) are renowned for scavenging vertebrate carrion, spread-wing sunning at roosts, and thermal soaring. Few avian species experience greater exposure to solar irradiation. We used 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate the plumage microbiota of wild individuals of five sympatric species of vultures in Guyana. RESULTS The exceptionally diverse plumage microbiotas (631 genera of Bacteria and Archaea) were numerically dominated by bacterial genera resistant to ultraviolet (UV) light, desiccation, and high ambient temperatures, and genera known for forming desiccation-resistant endospores (phylum Firmicutes, order Clostridiales). The extremophile genera Deinococcus (phylum Deinococcus-Thermus) and Hymenobacter (phylum, Bacteroidetes), rare in vertebrate gut microbiotas, accounted for 9.1% of 2.7 million sequences (CSS normalized and log2 transformed). Five bacterial genera known to exhibit strong keratinolytic capacities in vitro (Bacillus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Streptomyces) were less abundant (totaling 4%) in vulture plumage. CONCLUSIONS Bacterial rank-abundance profiles from melanized vulture plumage have no known analog in the integumentary systems of terrestrial vertebrates. The prominence of UV-resistant extremophiles suggests that solar irradiation may play a significant role in the assembly of vulture plumage microbiotas. Our results highlight the need for controlled in vivo experiments to test the effects of UV on microbial communities of avian plumage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gary R Graves
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA.
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Kenan O Matterson
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), University of Bologna, 48100, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Christopher M Milensky
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Brian K Schmidt
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Michael J V O'Mahoney
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Sergei V Drovetski
- Laboratories of Analytical Biology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
- Current address: USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, BARC-East Bldg. 308, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Demography of avian scavengers after Pleistocene megafaunal extinction. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9680. [PMID: 31273237 PMCID: PMC6609603 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45769-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The late Quaternary megafauna extinctions reshaped species assemblages, yet we know little about how extant obligate scavengers responded to this abrupt ecological change. To explore whether obligate scavengers persisted by depending on contemporary community linkages or via foraging flexibility, we tested the importance of the trophic interaction between pumas (Puma concolor) and native camelids (Vicugna vicugna and Lama guanicoe) for the persistence of Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) in southern South America, and compared the demographic history of three vultures in different continents. We sequenced and compiled mtDNA to reconstruct past population dynamics. Our results suggest that Andean condors increased in population size >10 KYA, whereas vicuñas and pumas showed stable populations and guanacos a recent (<10 KYA) demographic expansion, suggesting independent trajectories between species. Further, vultures showed positive demographic trends: white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) increased in population size, matching attenuated community changes in Africa, and California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) exhibited a steep demographic expansion ~20 KYA largely concurrent with North American megafaunal extinctions. Our results suggest that dietary plasticity of extant vulture lineages allowed them to thrive despite historical environmental changes. This dietary flexibility, however, is now detrimental as it enhances risk to toxicological compounds harbored by modern carrion resources.
Collapse
|
14
|
Graves GR. Urohidrosis and tarsal color in Cathartes vultures (Aves: Cathartidae). P BIOL SOC WASH 2019. [DOI: 10.2988/19-00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gary R. Graves
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, MRC-116, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P. O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 USA, and Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universit
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Yabsley MJ, Vanstreels RET, Martinsen ES, Wickson AG, Holland AE, Hernandez SM, Thompson AT, Perkins SL, West CJ, Bryan AL, Cleveland CA, Jolly E, Brown JD, McRuer D, Behmke S, Beasley JC. Parasitaemia data and molecular characterization of Haemoproteus catharti from New World vultures (Cathartidae) reveals a novel clade of Haemosporida. Malar J 2018; 17:12. [PMID: 29310650 PMCID: PMC5759834 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2165-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background New World vultures (Cathartiformes: Cathartidae) are obligate scavengers comprised of seven species in five genera throughout the Americas. Of these, turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) and black vultures (Coragyps atratus) are the most widespread and, although ecologically similar, have evolved differences in morphology, physiology, and behaviour. Three species of haemosporidians have been reported in New World vultures to date: Haemoproteus catharti, Leucocytozoon toddi and Plasmodium elongatum, although few studies have investigated haemosporidian parasites in this important group of species. In this study, morphological and molecular methods were used to investigate the epidemiology and molecular biology of haemosporidian parasites of New World vultures in North America. Methods Blood and/or tissue samples were obtained from 162 turkey vultures and 95 black vultures in six states of the USA. Parasites were identified based on their morphology in blood smears, and sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and nuclear adenylosuccinate lyase genes were obtained for molecular characterization. Results No parasites were detected in black vultures, whereas 24% of turkey vultures across all sampling locations were positive for H. catharti by blood smear analysis and/or PCR testing. The phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome b gene sequences revealed that H. catharti is closely related to MYCAMH1, a yet unidentified haemosporidian from wood storks (Mycteria americana) in southeastern USA and northern Brazil. Haemoproteus catharti and MYCAMH1 represent a clade that is unmistakably separate from all other Haemoproteus spp., being most closely related to Haemocystidium spp. from reptiles and to Plasmodium spp. from birds and reptiles. Conclusions Haemoproteus catharti is a widely-distributed parasite of turkey vultures in North America that is evolutionarily distinct from other haemosporidian parasites. These results reveal that the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of avian haemosporidians are still being uncovered, and future studies combining a comprehensive evaluation of morphological and life cycle characteristics with the analysis of multiple nuclear and mitochondrial genes will be useful to redefine the genus boundaries of these parasites and to re-evaluate the relationships amongst haemosporidians of birds, reptiles and mammals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-017-2165-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Yabsley
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Ralph E T Vanstreels
- Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.,DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Ellen S Martinsen
- Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington DC, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Alexandra G Wickson
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Amanda E Holland
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Sonia M Hernandez
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Alec T Thompson
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Susan L Perkins
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - A Lawrence Bryan
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Christopher A Cleveland
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Emily Jolly
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Justin D Brown
- Pennsylvania Game Commission, Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Dave McRuer
- Wildlife Center of Virginia, Waynesboro, VA, USA
| | - Shannon Behmke
- Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Grigg NP, Krilow JM, Gutierrez-Ibanez C, Wylie DR, Graves GR, Iwaniuk AN. Anatomical evidence for scent guided foraging in the turkey vulture. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17408. [PMID: 29234134 PMCID: PMC5727128 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17794-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is a widespread, scavenging species in the Western Hemisphere that locates carrion by smell. Scent guided foraging is associated with an expansion of the olfactory bulbs of the brain in vertebrates, but no such neuroanatomical data exists for vultures. We provide the first measurements of turkey vulture brains, including the size of their olfactory bulbs and numbers of mitral cells, which provide the primary output of the olfactory bulbs. Comparative analyses show that the turkey vulture has olfactory bulbs that are 4× larger and contain twice as many mitral cells as those of the sympatric black vulture (Coragyps atratus), despite having brains that are 20% smaller. The turkey vulture has the largest olfactory bulbs in absolute terms and adjusted for brain size among birds, but the number of mitral cells is proportional to the size of their olfactory bulbs. The combination of large olfactory bulbs, high mitral cell counts and a greatly enlarged nasal cavity likely reflects a highly sensitive olfactory system. We suggest that this sensitive sense of smell allowed the turkey vulture to colonize biomes that are suboptimal for scavenging birds and become the most widespread vulture species in the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P Grigg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Justin M Krilow
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | | | - Douglas R Wylie
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Gary R Graves
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrew N Iwaniuk
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Graves GR. Sexual monomorphism in wing loading and wing aspect ratio in Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). P BIOL SOC WASH 2017. [DOI: 10.2988/17-00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gary R. Graves
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, MRC-116, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013, and Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, National Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|