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Liu X, Lin L, Sinding MHS, Bertola LD, Hanghøj K, Quinn L, Garcia-Erill G, Rasmussen MS, Schubert M, Pečnerová P, Balboa RF, Li Z, Heaton MP, Smith TPL, Pinto RR, Wang X, Kuja J, Brüniche-Olsen A, Meisner J, Santander CG, Ogutu JO, Masembe C, da Fonseca RR, Muwanika V, Siegismund HR, Albrechtsen A, Moltke I, Heller R. Introgression and disruption of migration routes have shaped the genetic integrity of wildebeest populations. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2921. [PMID: 38609362 PMCID: PMC11014984 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47015-y] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a keystone species in savanna ecosystems from southern to eastern Africa, and is well known for its spectacular migrations and locally extreme abundance. In contrast, the black wildebeest (C. gnou) is endemic to southern Africa, barely escaped extinction in the 1900s and is feared to be in danger of genetic swamping from the blue wildebeest. Despite the ecological importance of the wildebeest, there is a lack of understanding of how its unique migratory ecology has affected its gene flow, genetic structure and phylogeography. Here, we analyze whole genomes from 121 blue and 22 black wildebeest across the genus' range. We find discrete genetic structure consistent with the morphologically defined subspecies. Unexpectedly, our analyses reveal no signs of recent interspecific admixture, but rather a late Pleistocene introgression of black wildebeest into the southern blue wildebeest populations. Finally, we find that migratory blue wildebeest populations exhibit a combination of long-range panmixia, higher genetic diversity and lower inbreeding levels compared to neighboring populations whose migration has recently been disrupted. These findings provide crucial insights into the evolutionary history of the wildebeest, and tangible genetic evidence for the negative effects of anthropogenic activities on highly migratory ungulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Long Lin
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Laura D Bertola
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Hanghøj
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Liam Quinn
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Mikkel Schubert
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Renzo F Balboa
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zilong Li
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael P Heaton
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), Clay Center, NE, USA
| | - Timothy P L Smith
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), Clay Center, NE, USA
| | - Rui Resende Pinto
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research-University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Section for Biodiversity, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Josiah Kuja
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Jonas Meisner
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cindy G Santander
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joseph O Ogutu
- Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Charles Masembe
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rute R da Fonseca
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research-University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Section for Biodiversity, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vincent Muwanika
- Department of Environmental Management, Makerere University, PO Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Hans R Siegismund
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ida Moltke
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Bertola LD, Quinn L, Hanghøj K, Garcia-Erill G, Rasmussen MS, Balboa RF, Meisner J, Bøggild T, Wang X, Lin L, Nursyifa C, Liu X, Li Z, Chege M, Moodley Y, Brüniche-Olsen A, Kuja J, Schubert M, Agaba M, Santander CG, Sinding MHS, Muwanika V, Masembe C, Siegismund HR, Moltke I, Albrechtsen A, Heller R. Giraffe lineages are shaped by major ancient admixture events. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1576-1586.e5. [PMID: 38479386 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.051] [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: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Strong genetic structure has prompted discussion regarding giraffe taxonomy,1,2,3 including a suggestion to split the giraffe into four species: Northern (Giraffa c. camelopardalis), Reticulated (G. c. reticulata), Masai (G. c. tippelskirchi), and Southern giraffes (G. c. giraffa).4,5,6 However, their evolutionary history is not yet fully resolved, as previous studies used a simple bifurcating model and did not explore the presence or extent of gene flow between lineages. We therefore inferred a model that incorporates various evolutionary processes to assess the drivers of contemporary giraffe diversity. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing data from 90 wild giraffes from 29 localities across their current distribution. The most basal divergence was dated to 280 kya. Genetic differentiation, FST, among major lineages ranged between 0.28 and 0.62, and we found significant levels of ancient gene flow between them. In particular, several analyses suggested that the Reticulated lineage evolved through admixture, with almost equal contribution from the Northern lineage and an ancestral lineage related to Masai and Southern giraffes. These new results highlight a scenario of strong differentiation despite gene flow, providing further context for the interpretation of giraffe diversity and the process of speciation in general. They also illustrate that conservation measures need to target various lineages and sublineages and that separate management strategies are needed to conserve giraffe diversity effectively. Given local extinctions and recent dramatic declines in many giraffe populations, this improved understanding of giraffe evolutionary history is relevant for conservation interventions, including reintroductions and reinforcements of existing populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D Bertola
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Liam Quinn
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Hanghøj
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Renzo F Balboa
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonas Meisner
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Bøggild
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Long Lin
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Casia Nursyifa
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zilong Li
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mumbi Chege
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Naivasha, Kenya
| | - Yoshan Moodley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Republic of South Africa
| | | | - Josiah Kuja
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Schubert
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morris Agaba
- School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Nelson Mandela Road, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Cindy G Santander
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Vincent Muwanika
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Charles Masembe
- College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Hans R Siegismund
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Moltke
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Rasmus Heller
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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3
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Balboa RF, Bertola LD, Brüniche-Olsen A, Rasmussen MS, Liu X, Besnard G, Salmona J, Santander CG, He S, Zinner D, Pedrono M, Muwanika V, Masembe C, Schubert M, Kuja J, Quinn L, Garcia-Erill G, Stæger FF, Rakotoarivony R, Henrique M, Lin L, Wang X, Heaton MP, Smith TPL, Hanghøj K, Sinding MHS, Atickem A, Chikhi L, Roos C, Gaubert P, Siegismund HR, Moltke I, Albrechtsen A, Heller R. African bushpigs exhibit porous species boundaries and appeared in Madagascar concurrently with human arrival. Nat Commun 2024; 15:172. [PMID: 38172616 PMCID: PMC10764920 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44105-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Several African mammals exhibit a phylogeographic pattern where closely related taxa are split between West/Central and East/Southern Africa, but their evolutionary relationships and histories remain controversial. Bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus) and red river hogs (P. porcus) are recognised as separate species due to morphological distinctions, a perceived lack of interbreeding at contact, and putatively old divergence times, but historically, they were considered conspecific. Moreover, the presence of Malagasy bushpigs as the sole large terrestrial mammal shared with the African mainland raises intriguing questions about its origin and arrival in Madagascar. Analyses of 67 whole genomes revealed a genetic continuum between the two species, with putative signatures of historical gene flow, variable FST values, and a recent divergence time (<500,000 years). Thus, our study challenges key arguments for splitting Potamochoerus into two species and suggests their speciation might be incomplete. Our findings also indicate that Malagasy bushpigs diverged from southern African populations and underwent a limited bottleneck 1000-5000 years ago, concurrent with human arrival in Madagascar. These results shed light on the evolutionary history of an iconic and widespread African mammal and provide insight into the longstanding biogeographic puzzle surrounding the bushpig's presence in Madagascar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzo F Balboa
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laura D Bertola
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Xiaodong Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Guillaume Besnard
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR 5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Jordi Salmona
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR 5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Cindy G Santander
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shixu He
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dietmar Zinner
- Cognitive Ecology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Primate Cognition, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Miguel Pedrono
- UMR ASTRE, CIRAD, Campus International de Baillarguet, Montpellier, France
| | - Vincent Muwanika
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Charles Masembe
- College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mikkel Schubert
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Josiah Kuja
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Liam Quinn
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Long Lin
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Kristian Hanghøj
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Anagaw Atickem
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lounès Chikhi
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR 5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier, 31062, Toulouse, France
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Christian Roos
- Gene Bank of Primates and Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR 5174, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier, 31062, Toulouse, France
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hans R Siegismund
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Moltke
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Rasmus Heller
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Blin M, Dametto S, Agniwo P, Webster BL, Angora E, Dabo A, Boissier J. A duplex tetra-primer ARMS-PCR assay to discriminate three species of the Schistosoma haematobium group: Schistosoma curassoni, S. bovis, S. haematobium and their hybrids. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:121. [PMID: 37029440 PMCID: PMC10082484 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05754-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of applications involving single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has greatly increased since the beginning of the 2000s, with the number of associated techniques expanding rapidly in the field of molecular research. Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-PCR (T-ARMS-PCR) is one such technique involving SNP genotyping. It has the advantage of amplifying multiple alleles in a single reaction with the inclusion of an internal molecular control. We report here the development of a rapid, reliable and cost-effective duplex T-ARMS-PCR assay to distinguish between three Schistosoma species, namely Schistosoma haematobium (human parasite), Schistosoma bovis and Schistosoma curassoni (animal parasites), and their hybrids. This technique will facilitate studies of population genetics and the evolution of introgression events. METHODS During the development of the technique we focused on one of the five inter-species internal transcribed spacer (ITS) SNPs and one of the inter-species 18S SNPs which, when combined, discriminate between all three Schistosoma species and their hybrid forms. We designed T-ARMS-PCR primers to amplify amplicons of specific lengths for each species, which in turn can then be visualized on an electrophoresis gel. This was further tested using laboratory and field-collected adult worms and field-collected larval stages (miracidia) from Spain, Egypt, Mali, Senegal and Ivory Coast. The combined duplex T-ARMS-PCR and ITS + 18S primer set was then used to differentiate the three species in a single reaction. RESULTS The T-ARMS-PCR assay was able to detect DNA from both species being analysed at the maximum and minimum levels in the DNA ratios (95/5) tested. The duplex T-ARMS-PCR assay was also able to detect all hybrids tested and was validated by sequencing the ITS and the 18S amplicons of 148 of the field samples included in the study. CONCLUSIONS The duplex tetra-primer ARMS-PCR assay described here can be applied to differentiate between Schistosoma species and their hybrid forms that infect humans and animals, thereby providing a method to investigate the epidemiology of these species in endemic areas. The addition of several markers in a single reaction saves considerable time and is of long-standing interest for investigating genetic populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Blin
- Hosts Pathogens Environment Interactions, UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, UM, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, 66860, France
- SAS ParaDev®, 66860, Perpignan, France
| | - Sarah Dametto
- Hosts Pathogens Environment Interactions, UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, UM, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, 66860, France
| | - Privat Agniwo
- Hosts Pathogens Environment Interactions, UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, UM, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, 66860, France
- Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy, IRL 3189, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Bonnie L Webster
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Science, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Imperial College London School of Public Health, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Etienne Angora
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland
- Unité de Formation et de Recherche Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, BPV 34, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Abdoulaye Dabo
- Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy, IRL 3189, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Jérôme Boissier
- Hosts Pathogens Environment Interactions, UMR 5244, CNRS, IFREMER, UM, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, 66860, France.
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