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Snow NP, Glow MP, Foster JA, VerCauteren KC. Seasonal efficacy and risks from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for wild pigs. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:3227-3237. [PMID: 38357838 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive and destructive species throughout many regions of the world. A sodium nitrite (SN) toxic bait is currently used in Australia and being developed for use in the US and other countries to combat the increasing populations of wild pigs. In the US, efforts to modify the Australian SN-toxic bait and baiting strategy have focused on reducing issues with non-target animals accessing the SN-toxic bait spilled outside of bait stations by wild pigs. We tested and compared modifications for efficacy (with wild pigs) and hazards (with non-targets) in north-central Texas, US during summer (July 2021) and winter (March 2023) seasons. RESULTS During both seasons we found that visitation to the bait sites declined 94-99% after deploying the SN-toxic bait, and we found a total of 106 dead wild pigs, indicating considerable lethality for the local population. Prior to deploying the SN-toxic bait, Global Positioning System (GPS)-collared wild pigs were more likely to cease visiting bait sites during summer when foraging resources were abundant. Farrowing decreased visitation to bait sites during the winter. We observed no dead non-targets during summer; winter results showed an average of 5.2 dead migrating birds per bait site (primarily Dark-eye juncos [Junco hyemalis]) from consuming SN-toxic bait spilled by wild pigs. The presence and winter-foraging behaviors of migrating birds appeared to increase hazards for those species. CONCLUSION The current formulation of SN-toxic bait was effective at removing wild pigs during both seasons, however it is clear that different baiting strategies may be required in winter when migrating birds are present. Baiting wild pigs prior to farrowing during the winter, and during drier summers, may further improve efficacy of the bait. Reducing hazards to non-targets could be achieved by refining the SN-toxic bait or modifying bait stations to decrease the potential for spillage, decreasing environmental persistence if spilled, or decreasing attractiveness to migrating birds. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P Snow
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael P Glow
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Justin A Foster
- Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Hunt, Texas, USA
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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2
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Barmentlo NWG, Meirmans PG, Stiver WH, Yarkovich JG, McCann BE, Piaggio AJ, Wright D, Smyser TJ, Bosse M. Natural selection on feralization genes contributed to the invasive spread of wild pigs throughout the United States. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17383. [PMID: 38747342 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17383] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Despite a long presence in the contiguous United States (US), the distribution of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa × domesticus) has expanded rapidly since the 1980s, suggesting a more recent evolutionary shift towards greater invasiveness. Contemporary populations of wild pigs represent exoferal hybrid descendants of domestic pigs and European wild boar, with such hybridization expected to enrich genetic diversity and increase the adaptive potential of populations. Our objective was to characterize how genetic enrichment through hybridization increases the invasiveness of populations by identifying signals of selection and the ancestral origins of selected loci. Our study focused on invasive wild pigs within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which represents a hybrid population descendent from the admixture of established populations of feral pigs and an introduction of European wild boar to North America. Accordingly, we genotyped 881 wild pigs with multiple high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. We found 233 markers under putative selection spread over 79 regions across 16 out of 18 autosomes, which contained genes involved in traits affecting feralization. Among these, genes were found to be related to skull formation and neurogenesis, with two genes, TYRP1 and TYR, also encoding for crucial melanogenesis enzymes. The most common haplotypes associated with regions under selection for the Great Smoky Mountains population were also common among other populations throughout the region, indicating a key role of putatively selective variants in the fitness of invasive populations. Interestingly, many of these haplotypes were absent among European wild boar reference genotypes, indicating feralization through genetic adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niek W G Barmentlo
- Section Ecology & Evolution, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick G Meirmans
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Blake E McCann
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, North Dakota, USA
| | | | - Dominic Wright
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Timothy J Smyser
- USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Mirte Bosse
- Section Ecology & Evolution, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Wageningen University & Research - Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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3
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Jiménez-Ruiz S, Santos N, Barasona JA, Fine AE, Jori F. Editorial: Pathogen transmission at the domestic-wildlife interface: a growing challenge that requires integrated solutions. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1415335. [PMID: 38835890 PMCID: PMC11148438 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1415335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Saúl Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación GISAZ, UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Nuno Santos
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associated Laboratory, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, Vairão, Portugal
| | - José A Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ferran Jori
- UMR ASTRE (Animal, Santé, Territoires, Risque et Ecosystèmes), CIRAD-INRAE, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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4
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Canright VR, Piaggio AJ, Beasley JC. Invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) diets on barrier islands in the southeastern United States. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38517109 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biological invasions are a leading cause of reductions in global biodiversity. Islands are particularly sensitive to invasions, which often result in cascading impacts throughout island communities. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are globally invasive and pose threats to numerous taxa and ecosystems, particularly for islands where they have contributed to declines of many endemic species. However, the impacts of wild pig diet on the flora and fauna remain understudied in many island systems. RESULTS We used DNA metabarcoding of wild pig fecal samples to quantify the seasonal diet composition of wild pigs on three barrier islands in the southeastern United States. Wild pigs exhibited a diverse diet dominated by plants, but also including marine and terrestrial animals. The diet composition of plants varied seasonally and between islands. Consumption of invertebrates also changed seasonally, with a shift to coastal invertebrates, particularly crabs, in spring and summer. Vertebrates were found in <10% of samples, but spanned broad taxa including amphibians, fish, mammals, and reptiles. Species consumed by wild pigs indicate that wild pigs use a variety of habitats within barrier islands for foraging, including maritime forests, saltmarshes, and beaches. CONCLUSIONS An observed shift to beach foraging during sea turtle nesting season suggests wild pigs have potential to hinder nesting success on islands without established management programs. These findings provide insight into the diverse diets of wild pigs on barrier islands and highlight the need for removal of wild pigs from sensitive island ecosystems because of their potential impacts to native plant and animal communities. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vienna R Canright
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Antoinette J Piaggio
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
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5
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Cheek RG, McLaughlin JF, Gamboa MP, Marshall CA, Johnson BM, Silver DB, Mauro AA, Ghalambor CK. A lack of genetic diversity and minimal adaptive evolutionary divergence in introduced Mysis shrimp after 50 years. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13637. [PMID: 38283609 PMCID: PMC10818135 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The successes of introduced populations in novel habitats often provide powerful examples of evolution and adaptation. In the 1950s, opossum shrimp (Mysis diluviana) individuals from Clearwater Lake in Minnesota, USA were transported and introduced to Twin Lakes in Colorado, USA by fisheries managers to supplement food sources for trout. Mysis were subsequently introduced from Twin Lakes into numerous lakes throughout Colorado. Because managers kept detailed records of the timing of the introductions, we had the opportunity to test for evolutionary divergence within a known time interval. Here, we used reduced representation genomic data to investigate patterns of genetic diversity, test for genetic divergence between populations, and for evidence of adaptive evolution within the introduced populations in Colorado. We found very low levels of genetic diversity across all populations, with evidence for some genetic divergence between the Minnesota source population and the introduced populations in Colorado. There was little differentiation among the Colorado populations, consistent with the known provenance of a single founding population, with the exception of the population from Gross Reservoir, Colorado. Demographic modeling suggests that at least one undocumented introduction from an unknown source population hybridized with the population in Gross Reservoir. Despite the overall low genetic diversity we observed, F ST outlier and environmental association analyses identified multiple loci exhibiting signatures of selection and adaptive variation related to elevation and lake depth. The success of introduced species is thought to be limited by genetic variation, but our results imply that populations with limited genetic variation can become established in a wide range of novel environments. From an applied perspective, the observed patterns of divergence between populations suggest that genetic analysis can be a useful forensic tool to determine likely sources of invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca G. Cheek
- Department of BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Jessica F. McLaughlin
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Maybellene P. Gamboa
- Department of Organismal Biology and EcologyColorado CollegeColorado SpringsColoradoUSA
| | - Craig A. Marshall
- Department of BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Council on Science and TechnologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Brett M. Johnson
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Douglas B. Silver
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Alexander A. Mauro
- Department of BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Cameron K. Ghalambor
- Department of BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
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6
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Canright VR, Piaggio AJ, Chinn SM, Giglio RM, Craine JM, Beasley JC. DNA metabarcoding reveals consumption of diverse community of amphibians by invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in the southeastern United States. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20889. [PMID: 38017141 PMCID: PMC10684498 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48139-9] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most widespread, destructive vertebrate species globally. Their success can largely be attributed to their generalist diets, which are dominated by plant material but also include diverse animal taxa. Wild pigs are demonstrated nest predators of ground-nesting birds and reptiles, and likely pose a threat to amphibians given their extensive overlap in wetland use. DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples from 222 adult wild pigs culled monthly from 2017 to 2018 revealed a diverse diet dominated by plant material, with 166 plant genera from 56 families and 18 vertebrate species identified. Diet composition varied seasonally with availability for plants and was consistent between sexes. Amphibians were the most frequent vertebrate group consumed and represented the majority of vertebrate species detected, suggesting amphibians are potentially vulnerable to predation by wild pigs in our study region. Mammal, reptile, and bird species were also detected in pig diets, but infrequently. Our results highlight the need for research on the impacts of wild pigs on amphibians to better inform management and conservation of imperiled species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vienna R Canright
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA.
| | - Antoinette J Piaggio
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sarah M Chinn
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Rachael M Giglio
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
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7
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Oh KP, Van de Weyer N, Ruscoe WA, Henry S, Brown PR. From chip to SNP: Rapid development and evaluation of a targeted capture genotyping-by-sequencing approach to support research and management of a plaguing rodent. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288701. [PMID: 37590245 PMCID: PMC10434965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The management of invasive species has been greatly enhanced by population genetic analyses of multilocus single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) datasets that provide critical information regarding pest population structure, invasion pathways, and reproductive biology. For many applications there is a need for protocols that offer rapid, robust and efficient genotyping on the order of hundreds to thousands of SNPs, that can be tailored to specific study populations and that are scalable for long-term monitoring schemes. Despite its status as a model laboratory species, there are few existing resources for studying wild populations of house mice (Mus musculus spp.) that strike this balance between data density and laboratory efficiency. Here we evaluate the utility of a custom targeted capture genotyping-by-sequencing approach to support research on plaguing house mouse populations in Australia. This approach utilizes 3,651 hybridization capture probes targeting genome-wide SNPs identified from a sample of mice collected in grain-producing regions of southeastern Australia genotyped using a commercially available microarray platform. To assess performance of the custom panel, we genotyped wild caught mice (N = 320) from two adjoining farms and demonstrate the ability to correctly assign individuals to source populations with high confidence (mean >95%), as well as robust kinship inference within sites. We discuss these results in the context of proposed applications for future genetic monitoring of house mice in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin P. Oh
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nikki Van de Weyer
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Steve Henry
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Peter R. Brown
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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8
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Hudson CM, Cuenca Cambronero M, Moosmann M, Narwani A, Spaak P, Seehausen O, Matthews B. Environmentally independent selection for hybrids between divergent freshwater stickleback lineages in semi-natural ponds. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1166-1184. [PMID: 37394735 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14194] [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: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Hybridization following secondary contact of genetically divergent populations can influence the range expansion of invasive species, though specific outcomes depend on the environmental dependence of hybrid fitness. Here, using two genetically and ecologically divergent threespine stickleback lineages that differ in their history of freshwater colonization, we estimate fitness variation of parental lineages and hybrids in semi-natural freshwater ponds with contrasting histories of nutrient loading. In our experiment, we found that fish from the older freshwater lineage (Lake Geneva) and hybrids outperformed fish from the younger freshwater lineage (Lake Constance) in terms of both growth and survival, regardless of the environmental context of our ponds. Across all ponds, hybrids exhibited the highest survival. Although wild-caught adult populations differed in their functional and defence morphology, it is unclear which of these traits underlie the fitness differences observed among juveniles in our experiment. Overall, our work suggests that when hybrid fitness is insensitive to environmental conditions, as observed here, introgression may promote population expansion into unoccupied habitats and accelerate invasion success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Marshall Hudson
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Center of Ecology, Evolution and Biochemistry, Lucerne, Switzerland
- Division of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Cuenca Cambronero
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Center of Ecology, Evolution and Biochemistry, Lucerne, Switzerland
- Aquatic Ecology Group, University of Vic, Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Spain
| | - Marvin Moosmann
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Center of Ecology, Evolution and Biochemistry, Lucerne, Switzerland
- Division of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anita Narwani
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Piet Spaak
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ole Seehausen
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Center of Ecology, Evolution and Biochemistry, Lucerne, Switzerland
- Division of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Blake Matthews
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Center of Ecology, Evolution and Biochemistry, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Chinn SM, Smyser T, Beasley JC. Variance in offspring sex ratio and maternal allocation in a highly invasive mammal. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10136. [PMID: 37250446 PMCID: PMC10213710 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Skewed sex ratios at birth are widely reported in wild populations, however, the extent to which parents are able to modulate the sex ratio of offspring to maximize their own fitness remains unclear. This is particularly true for highly polytocous species as maximizing fitness may include trade-offs between sex ratio and the size and number of offspring in litters. In such cases, it may be adaptive for mothers to adjust both the number of offspring per litter and offspring sex to maximize individual fitness. Investigating maternal sex allocation in wild pigs (Sus scrofa) under stochastic environmental conditions, we predicted that under favorable conditions, high-quality mothers (larger and older) would produce male-biased litters and invest more in producing larger litters with more males. We also predicted sex ratio would vary relative to litter size, with a male-bias among smaller litters. We found evidence that increasing wild boar ancestry, maternal age and condition, and resource availability may weakly contribute to male-biased sex ratio, however, unknown factors not measured in this study are assumed to be more influential. High-quality mothers allocated more resources to litter production, but this relationship was driven by adjustment of litter size, not sex ratio. There was no relationship between sex ratio and litter size. Collectively, our results emphasized that adjustment of litter size appeared to be the primary reproductive characteristic manipulated in wild pigs to increase fitness rather than adjustment of offspring sex ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Chinn
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAikenSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Timothy Smyser
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife ServicesFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAikenSouth CarolinaUSA
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Miller RS, Bevins SN, Cook G, Free R, Pepin KM, Gidlewski T, Brown VR. Adaptive risk-based targeted surveillance for foreign animal diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2329-e2340. [PMID: 35490290 PMCID: PMC9790623 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14576] [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: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Animal disease surveillance is an important component of the national veterinary infrastructure to protect animal agriculture and facilitates identification of foreign animal disease (FAD) introduction. Once introduced, pathogens shared among domestic and wild animals are especially challenging to manage due to the complex ecology of spillover and spillback. Thus, early identification of FAD in wildlife is critical to minimize outbreak severity and potential impacts on animal agriculture as well as potential impacts on wildlife and biodiversity. As a result, national surveillance and monitoring programs that include wildlife are becoming increasingly common. Designing surveillance systems in wildlife or, more importantly, at the interface of wildlife and domestic animals, is especially challenging because of the frequent lack of ecological and epidemiological data for wildlife species and technical challenges associated with a lack of non-invasive methodologies. To meet the increasing need for targeted FAD surveillance and to address gaps in existing wildlife surveillance systems, we developed an adaptive risk-based targeted surveillance approach that accounts for risks in source and recipient host populations. The approach is flexible, accounts for changing disease risks through time, can be scaled from local to national extents and permits the inclusion of quantitative data or when information is limited to expert opinion. We apply this adaptive risk-based surveillance framework to prioritize areas for surveillance in wild pigs in the United States with the objective of early detection of three diseases: classical swine fever, African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. We discuss our surveillance framework, its application to wild pigs and discuss the utility of this framework for surveillance of other host species and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S. Miller
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Veterinary ServicesCenter for Epidemiology and Animal HealthFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Sarah N. Bevins
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research CenterFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Gericke Cook
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Veterinary ServicesCenter for Epidemiology and Animal HealthFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Ross Free
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Veterinary ServicesSwine Commodity HealthRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Kim M. Pepin
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research CenterFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Thomas Gidlewski
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Disease ProgramFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Vienna R. Brown
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Wildlife ServicesNational Feral Swine Damage Management ProgramFort CollinsColoradoUSA
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11
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Chinn SM, Schlichting PE, Smyser TJ, Bowden CF, Beasley JC. Factors influencing pregnancy, litter size, and reproductive parameters of invasive wild pigs. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Chinn
- University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and Warnell Scholl of Forestry and Natural Resources Aiken SC 29802 USA
| | | | - Timothy J. Smyser
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Courtney F. Bowden
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and Warnell Scholl of Forestry and Natural Resources Aiken SC 29802 USA
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12
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Genomic tools reveal complex social organization of an invasive large mammal (Sus scrofa). Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02840-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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13
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Gray SM, Humphreys JM, Montgomery RA, Etter DR, VerCauteren KC, Kramer DB, Roloff GJ. Behavioral states in space and time: understanding landscape use by an invasive mammal. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven M. Gray
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources Building East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - John M. Humphreys
- Pest Management Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Sidney MT 59270 USA
| | - Robert A. Montgomery
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road Tubney Oxon OX13 5QL United Kingdom
| | - Dwayne R. Etter
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources–Wildlife Division Lansing MI 48911 USA
| | - Kurt C. VerCauteren
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Daniel B. Kramer
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources Building East Lansing MI 48824 USA
- James Madison College Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - Gary J. Roloff
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources Building East Lansing MI 48824 USA
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Scandura M, Fabbri G, Caniglia R, Iacolina L, Mattucci F, Mengoni C, Pante G, Apollonio M, Mucci N. Resilience to Historical Human Manipulations in the Genomic Variation of Italian Wild Boar Populations. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.833081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human activities can globally modify natural ecosystems determining ecological, demographic and range perturbations for several animal species. These changes can jeopardize native gene pools in different ways, leading either to genetic homogenization, or conversely, to the split into genetically divergent demes. In the past decades, most European wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations were heavily managed by humans. Anthropic manipulations have strongly affected also Italian populations through heavy hunting, translocations and reintroductions that might have deeply modified their original gene pools. In this study, exploiting the availability of the well-mapped porcine genome, we applied genomic tools to explore genome-wide variability in Italian wild boar populations, investigate their genetic structure and detect signatures of possible introgression from domestic pigs and non-native wild boar. Genomic data from 134 wild boar sampled in six areas of peninsular Italy and in Sardinia were gathered using the Illumina Porcine SNP60 BeadChip (60k Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms – SNPs) and compared with reference genotypes from European specimens and from domestic pigs (both commercial and Italian local breeds), using multivariate and maximum-likelihood approaches. Pairwise FST values, multivariate analysis and assignment procedures indicated that Italian populations were highly differentiated from all the other analyzed European wild boar populations. Overall, a lower heterozygosity was found in the Italian population than in the other European regions. The most diverging populations in Castelporziano Presidential Estate and Maremma Regional Park can be the result of long-lasting isolation, reduced population size and genetic drift. Conversely, an unexpected similarity was found among Apennine populations, even at high distances. Signatures of introgression from both non-Italian wild boar and domestic breeds were very limited. To summarize, we successfully applied genome-wide procedures to explore, for the first time, the genomic diversity of Italian wild boar, demonstrating that they represent a strongly heterogeneous assemblage of demes with different demographic and manipulation histories. Nonetheless, our results suggest that a native component of genomic variation is predominant over exogenous ones in most populations.
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15
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Mangan AM, Piaggio AJ, Bodenchuk MJ, Pierce CF, Smyser TJ. Rooting Out Genetic Structure of Invasive Wild Pigs in Texas. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Mangan
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Antoinette J. Piaggio
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Michael J. Bodenchuk
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services P.O. Box 690170 San Antonio TX 78269 USA
| | - Courtney F. Pierce
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Timothy J. Smyser
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
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16
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Koen EL, Newton EJ, Ellington EH. Evaluating potential sources of invasive wild pigs in Ontario. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14744-14757. [PMID: 34765138 PMCID: PMC8571589 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are considered one of the most damaging species globally, and once they become established in an area, they are notoriously difficult to eliminate. As such, identifying the potential pathways of invasion, especially in places with emerging populations, is critical for preventing new or continued invasion. Wild pigs have been reported in Ontario, Canada, in recent years. We tested four nonexclusive hypotheses about the source of wild pigs in Ontario: (a) escapees from captive sources within Ontario; (b) invasion from neighboring jurisdictions; (c) existing wild populations within Ontario; and (d) translocation and illegal release. We found that sightings of Eurasian wild boar were closer to premises with wild boar than were random locations; wild boar sightings were an average of 16.3 km (SD = 25.4 km, min = 0.2 km, n = 20) from premises with wild boar. We also found that sightings of domestic pigs were closer to domestic pig farms than expected. Sightings of wild pigs in groups of more than four animals were rare. Our results suggest that wild pigs observed in Ontario are recent escapes from captivity, recognizing that there may be established groups of wild pigs that we have not yet detected. While not common, we also received reports indicating that in the past, wild pigs have been translocated and illegally released. Other North American jurisdictions that have been successful at eliminating wild pigs have removed existing populations and changed regulations to limit future invasion, such as prohibiting possession and transport of wild boar and prohibiting hunting of wild pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L. Koen
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring SectionOntario Ministry of Northern DevelopmentMines, Natural Resources, and ForestryPeterboroughONCanada
| | - Erica J. Newton
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring SectionOntario Ministry of Northern DevelopmentMines, Natural Resources, and ForestryPeterboroughONCanada
| | - E. Hance Ellington
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and ConservationRange Cattle Research and Education CenterUniversity of FloridaOnaFloridaUSA
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17
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Newell C, Walker H, Caro T. Pig pigmentation: testing Gloger’s rule. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Comparative studies indicate that several mammalian clades obey Gloger’s rule in that they exhibit darker coloration in humid warm climates, although the mechanisms responsible for this association still are poorly understood. We surveyed external appearances of a single species, the feral pig (Sus scrofa), shot at 48 hunting lodges across North America and matched these to potential abiotic drivers, namely: relative humidity, temperature, precipitation, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and to biotic factors of habitat shade and predation pressure. We found that darker animals occupy locations of greater precipitation and warmer temperatures, as expected from Gloger’s rule. The recent range expansion of S. scrofa implies selection for pelage coloration has occurred very rapidly. Separating pelage coloration into eumelanin- and phaeomelanin-based pigmentation, we found more pronounced eumelanin-based pelage in areas of higher rainfall and temperatures and UV radiation, whereas pelage phaeomelanin is related to cool dry climates with lower UV radiation. This implies that humidity or UV protection but not crypsis are the mechanisms underlying Gloger’s rule in this species and the factors driving eumelanin and phaeomelanin expression in mammalian pelage are different, reinforcing new interpretations of this venerable rule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Newell
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Hannah Walker
- Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Tim Caro
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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18
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Anderson D, Negishi Y, Ishiniwa H, Okuda K, Hinton TG, Toma R, Nagata J, Tamate HB, Kaneko S. Introgression dynamics from invasive pigs into wild boar following the March 2011 natural and anthropogenic disasters at Fukushima. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210874. [PMID: 34187197 PMCID: PMC8242833 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural and anthropogenic disasters have the capability to cause sudden extrinsic environmental changes and long-lasting perturbations including invasive species, species expansion and influence evolution as selective pressures force adaption. Such disasters occurred on 11 March 2011, in Fukushima, Japan, when an earthquake, tsunami and meltdown of a nuclear power plant all drastically reformed anthropogenic land use. Using genetic data, we demonstrate how wild boar (Sus scrofa leucomystax) have persevered against these environmental changes, including an invasion of escaped domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). Concurrently, we show evidence of successful hybridization between pigs and native wild boar in this area; however in future offspring, the pig legacy has been diluted through time. We speculate that the range expansion dynamics inhibit long-term introgression and introgressed alleles will continue to decrease at each generation while only maternally inherited organelles will persist. Using the gene flow data among wild boar, we assume that offspring from hybrid lineages will continue dispersal north at low frequencies as climates warm. We conclude that future risks for wild boar in this area include intraspecies competition, revitalization of human-related disruptions and disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donovan Anderson
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Yuki Negishi
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroko Ishiniwa
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kei Okuda
- Faculty of Human Environmental Studies, Hiroshima Shudo University, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Thomas G Hinton
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Rio Toma
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Junco Nagata
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Shingo Kaneko
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan.,Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan
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19
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Chinn SM, Kilgo JC, Vukovich MA, Beasley JC. Influence of intrinsic and extrinsic attributes on neonate survival in an invasive large mammal. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11033. [PMID: 34040083 PMCID: PMC8155080 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90495-x] [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: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding factors influencing survival of neonates for wild species is important for successful management, particularly for determining drivers of population dynamics. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are invasive and populations are rapidly increasing in part due to high reproductive capacity. Survival of adults is generally high, however, survival of piglets, and particularly neonates, is largely unknown. We located neonates at the natal nest and quantified survival in relation to individual and maternal biological attributes, and environmental variables. During 2017-2020, we captured 50 neonates from 13 litters and documented 28 mortalities (56%) over six weeks. Survival was positively influenced by pelage coloration, likely as a form of camouflage from predators. Male neonates had higher survival. They were born larger than females, which could be beneficial for thermoregulation and competition for milk. Neonates born to larger sows had lower survival. Sow size was positively correlated with litter size, and this finding may reflect the increased nutritional demands of sustaining large litters, or difficulties in defending more neonates against predators. Neonates born in warmer months had higher survival than those born in cooler months. Neonates are inefficient thermoregulators, thus being born in warmer months could be beneficial for maintaining homeostasis as well as access to more food resources. These are the largest and most complete data for neonate wild pig survival and will inform population models for the development of management strategies to reduce negative impacts of this destructive invasive species on native ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Chinn
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XUniversity of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29803 USA ,Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - John C. Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC 29809 USA
| | - Mark A. Vukovich
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC 29809 USA ,grid.472551.00000 0004 0404 3120USDA Forest Service-Shawnee National Forest, Vienna, IL 62995 USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XUniversity of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29803 USA ,Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, Athens, GA 30602 USA
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20
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Provenance and genetic diversity of the non-native geckos Phelsuma grandis Gray 1870 and Gekko gecko (Linnaeus 1758) in southern Florida, USA. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02463-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Outreach increases detections of an invasive species in a crowdsourced monitoring program. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02526-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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22
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Pollock LA, Newton EJ, Koen EL. Predicting high-risk areas for African swine fever spread at the wild-domestic pig interface in Ontario. Prev Vet Med 2021; 191:105341. [PMID: 33848740 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The probability of disease transmission among livestock premises via spillover from wildlife vectors depends on interacting ecological, demographic, and behavioural variables. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) act as vectors and reservoirs of many diseases, including African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly lethal and contagious viral disease that affects both wild and domestic swine. Wild pigs play a significant role in the spread of ASF in geographic locations where the disease is present. Planning and preparedness will ensure that swift action can be taken to control ASF if it is introduced into North America. We used a network to predict the highest risk areas for ASF spread in Ontario, Canada given the distribution of wild pig sightings and other risk factors for wild pig presence and movement on the landscape. We used network nodes to represent the presence of domestic pig farms in a defined area, and we weighted network edges by the probability of ASF virus movement between nodes via movement of wild pigs. Our network models predicted that central Ontario has relatively high network closeness, suggesting that this area has a relatively high risk of virus exposure. These highly connected areas tended to also have the highest domestic pig farm density within a node. Central and eastern Ontario had the highest predicted network betweenness, suggesting that these areas are important for controlling virus flow across the province. We detected 10 communities or clusters within the overall network, where nodes were highly connected locally and relatively less connected to the rest of the network. Predicting areas with a high risk of exposure to the ASF virus due to wild pig movement in Ontario will guide managers on where to focus surveillance for ASF in the wild pig population and where to heighten biosecurity within commercial and backyard pig farms, ensuring that managers are prepared to act quickly to limit spread of ASF if the virus is introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Pollock
- Trent University, Department of Biology, Peterborough, ON, Canada; Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Erica J Newton
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Erin L Koen
- Trent University, Department of Biology, Peterborough, ON, Canada; Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Peterborough, ON, Canada.
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23
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Delgado-Acevedo J, Zamorano A, DeYoung RW, Campbell TA. Genetic Population Structure of Wild Pigs in Southern Texas. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010168. [PMID: 33445721 PMCID: PMC7828165 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010168] [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: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Wild pigs are the most abundant wild exotic ungulate in the United States. In Texas, particularly, they are abundant and represent a threat to ecosystems, agriculture and humans. Our objective was to apply a landscape-scale analysis of population genetic structure of wild pigs to aid in their management in southern Texas. We used microsatellites to assist large-scale applied management. We found that some populations were isolated from one another. However, many individuals and local populations were admixed, which indicates that multiple introductions and artificial movement of individuals has occurred. Wild pig management efficiency and effectiveness may be able to improve if illegal translocations stop (e.g., enforcing laws) and if management cooperatives are created to manage spatially extensive areas of southern Texas. Abstract Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) alter ecosystems, affect the economy, and carry diseases that can be transmitted to livestock, humans, and wildlife. Understanding wild pig movements and population structure data, including natural population boundaries and dispersal, may potentially increase the efficiency and effectiveness of management actions. We trapped, conducted aerial shootings, and hunted wild pigs from 2005 to 2009 in southern Texas. We used microsatellites to assist large-scale applied management. We quantify broad-scale population structure among 24 sites across southern Texas by computing an overall FST value, and a Bayesian clustering algorithm both with and without considering the spatial location of samples. At a broad geographic scale, pig populations displayed a moderate degree of genetic structure (FST = 0.11). The best partition for number of populations, based on 2nd order rate of change of the likelihood distribution, was K = 10 genetic clusters. The spatially explicit Bayesian clustering algorithm produced similar results, with minor differences in designation of admixed sites. We found evidence of past (and possibly ongoing) translocations; many populations were admixed. Our original goal was to identify landscape features, such as barriers or dispersal corridors, that could be used to aid management. Unfortunately, the extensive admixture among clusters made this impossible. This research shows that large-scale management of wild pigs may be necessary to achieve control and ameliorate damages. Reduction or cessation of translocations is necessary to prevent human-mediated dispersion of wild pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Delgado-Acevedo
- Texas A&M University-Commerce, STC 262, Commerce, TX 75429, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-903-468-3333
| | - Angeline Zamorano
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; (A.Z.); (R.W.D.)
| | - Randy W. DeYoung
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; (A.Z.); (R.W.D.)
| | - Tyler A. Campbell
- East Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Dr., Suite 410, San Antonio, TX 78216, USA;
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24
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Pierce CF, Brown VR, Olsen SC, Boggiatto P, Pedersen K, Miller RS, Speidel SE, Smyser TJ. Loci Associated With Antibody Response in Feral Swine ( Sus scrofa) Infected With Brucella suis. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:554674. [PMID: 33324693 PMCID: PMC7724110 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.554674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are a destructive invasive species widespread throughout the United States that disrupt ecosystems, damage crops, and carry pathogens of concern for the health of domestic stock and humans including Brucella suis-the causative organism for swine brucellosis. In domestic swine, brucellosis results in reproductive failure due to abortions and infertility. Contact with infected feral swine poses spillover risks to domestic pigs as well as humans, companion animals, wildlife, and other livestock. Genetic factors influence the outcome of infectious diseases; therefore, genome wide association studies (GWAS) of differential immune responses among feral swine can provide an understanding of disease dynamics and inform management to prevent the spillover of brucellosis from feral swine to domestic pigs. We sought to identify loci associated with differential antibody responses among feral swine naturally infected with B. suis using a case-control GWAS. Tissue, serum, and genotype data (68,516 bi-allelic single nucleotide polymorphisms) collected from 47 feral swine were analyzed in this study. The 47 feral swine were culture positive for Brucella spp. Of these 47, 16 were antibody positive (cases) whereas 31 were antibody negative (controls). Single-locus GWAS were performed using efficient mixed-model association eXpedited (EMMAX) methodology with three genetic models: additive, dominant, and recessive. Eight loci associated with seroconversion were identified on chromosome 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 18. Subsequent bioinformatic analyses revealed nine putative candidate genes related to immune function, most notably phagocytosis and induction of an inflammatory response. Identified loci and putative candidate genes may play an important role in host immune responses to B. suis infection, characterized by a detectable bacterial presence yet a differential antibody response. Given that antibody tests are used to evaluate brucellosis infection in domestic pigs and for disease surveillance in invasive feral swine, additional studies are needed to fully understand the genetic component of the response to B. suis infection and to more effectively translate estimates of Brucella spp. antibody prevalence among feral swine to disease control management action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney F Pierce
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States.,Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Vienna R Brown
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Feral Swine Damage Management Program, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Steven C Olsen
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Infectious Bacterial Diseases, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Paola Boggiatto
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Infectious Bacterial Diseases, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Kerri Pedersen
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Ryan S Miller
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Scott E Speidel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Timothy J Smyser
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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25
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Hohenlohe PA, Funk WC, Rajora OP. Population genomics for wildlife conservation and management. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:62-82. [PMID: 33145846 PMCID: PMC7894518 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Biodiversity is under threat worldwide. Over the past decade, the field of population genomics has developed across nonmodel organisms, and the results of this research have begun to be applied in conservation and management of wildlife species. Genomics tools can provide precise estimates of basic features of wildlife populations, such as effective population size, inbreeding, demographic history and population structure, that are critical for conservation efforts. Moreover, population genomics studies can identify particular genetic loci and variants responsible for inbreeding depression or adaptation to changing environments, allowing for conservation efforts to estimate the capacity of populations to evolve and adapt in response to environmental change and to manage for adaptive variation. While connections from basic research to applied wildlife conservation have been slow to develop, these connections are increasingly strengthening. Here we review the primary areas in which population genomics approaches can be applied to wildlife conservation and management, highlight examples of how they have been used, and provide recommendations for building on the progress that has been made in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
| | - W Chris Funk
- Department of Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Om P Rajora
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
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26
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Brown VR, Marlow MC, Gidlewski T, Bowen R, Bosco-Lauth A. Perspectives on the past, present, and future of feral swine disease surveillance in the United States. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:5898665. [DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vienna R Brown
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Feral Swine Damage Management Program
| | - Michael C Marlow
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Feral Swine Damage Management Program
| | - Thomas Gidlewski
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Disease Program
| | - Richard Bowen
- Colorado State University, Department of Biomedical Sciences
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