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Rasmussen L, Fontsere C, Soto-Calderón ID, Guillen R, Savage A, Hansen AJ, Hvilsom C, Gilbert MTP. Assessing the genetic composition of cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) before sweeping anthropogenic impact. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5514-5527. [PMID: 37702122 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17130] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
During the last century, the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) has been threatened by multiple anthropogenic factors that drastically affected their habitat and population size. As the genetic impact of these pressures is largely unknown, this study aimed to establish a genetic baseline with the use of temporal sampling to determine the genetic makeup before detrimental anthropogenic impact. Genomes were resequenced from a combination of historical museum samples and modern wild samples at low-medium coverage, to unravel how the cotton-top tamarin population structure and genomic diversity may have changed during this period. Our data suggest two populations can be differentiated, probably separated historically by the mountain ranges of the Paramillo Massif in Colombia. Although this population structure persists in the current populations, modern samples exhibit genomic signals consistent with recent inbreeding, such as long runs of homozygosity and a reduction in genome-wide heterozygosity especially in the greater northeast population. This loss is likely the consequence of the population reduction following the mass exportation of cotton-top tamarins for biomedical research in the 1960s, coupled with the habitat loss this species continues to experience. However, current populations have not experienced an increase in genetic load. We propose that the historical genetic baseline established in this study can be used to provide insight into alteration in the modern population influenced by a drastic reduction in population size as well as providing background information to be used for future conservation decision-making for the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linett Rasmussen
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Research and Conservation, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Claudia Fontsere
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Iván D Soto-Calderón
- Laboratorio de Genética Animal. Grupo Agrociencias, Biodiversidad y Territorio, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | - Anders Johannes Hansen
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- University Museum, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
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Savage A, Díaz L, Pasion J, Torregroza K, Guillen R. Proyecto Titi: Teaching children that cotton‐top tamarins (
Saguinus oedipus
) are not appropriate pets. Am J Primatol 2022; 85:e23431. [PMID: 36106358 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) are a critically endangered species found only in Colombia. Their survival is threatened by extensive habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade. Because many people in Colombia have a low level of awareness of cotton-top tamarins and even less understanding of the impacts that the illegal pet trade has on the species and its long-term survival, Proyecto Tití has developed a series of programs for children in rural elementary schools that introduce children to cotton-top tamarins. This study examines Proyecto Titi's efforts to reduce the desire to have a cotton-top tamarin as a pet with outcomes focused specifically on (1) creating an emotional connection between people and cotton-top tamarins, (2) identifying the feelings and understanding the challenges that cotton-top tamarin face when they are kept as pets, and (3) empowering students to make positive choices to help cotton-top tamarins. Both TITI KIDS and TITIRITIANDO programs helped students to (1) increase their knowledge of cotton-top tamarins, (2) understand the damage that the pet trade has on individual animals and the long-term survival of cotton-top tamarins and (3) provide practical actions that they can engage in to protect cotton-top tamarins for the future. Our hope is that students from our programs become advocates for conservation in their communities and assist in the long-term conservation activities to protect cotton-top tamarins in Colombia.
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Mortberg MA, Minikel EV, Vallabh SM. Analysis of non-human primate models for evaluating prion disease therapeutic efficacy. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010728. [PMID: 35994510 PMCID: PMC9436048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the conformational corruption of the prion protein (PrP), encoded by the prion protein gene (PRNP). While no disease-modifying therapy is currently available, genetic and pharmacological proofs of concept support development of therapies that lower PrP levels in the brain. In light of proposals for clinical testing of such drugs in presymptomatic individuals at risk for genetic prion disease, extensive nonclinical data are likely to be required, with extra attention paid to choice of animal models. Uniquely, the entire prion disease process can be faithfully modeled through transmission of human prions to non-human primates (NHPs), raising the question of whether NHP models should be used to assess therapeutic efficacy. Here we systematically aggregate data from N = 883 prion-inoculated animals spanning six decades of research studies. Using this dataset, we assess prion strain, route of administration, endpoint, and passage number to characterize the relationship of tested models to currently prevalent human subtypes of prion disease. We analyze the incubation times observed across diverse models and perform power calculations to assess the practicability of testing prion disease therapeutic efficacy in NHPs. We find that while some models may theoretically be able to support therapeutic efficacy studies, pilot studies would be required to confirm incubation time and attack rate before pivotal studies could be designed, cumulatively requiring several years. The models with the shortest and most tightly distributed incubation times are those with smaller brains and weaker homology to humans. Our findings indicate that it would be challenging to conduct efficacy studies in NHPs in a paradigm that honors the potential advantages of NHPs over other available models, on a timeframe that would not risk unduly delaying patient access to promising drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A. Mortberg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sonia M. Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Maynard L, Savage A, Vega J, DeWan A, Díaz L, Gezon Z, Guillen R. Can creating sustainable livelihoods with communities impact cotton‐top tamarin (
Saguinus oedipus
) conservation in Colombia? CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lily Maynard
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Cincinnati Ohio USA
- Disney's Animals, Science, & Environment Lake Buena Vista Florida USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Zak Gezon
- Disney's Animals, Science, & Environment Lake Buena Vista Florida USA
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Ruiz-Miranda CR, de Morais MM, Dietz LA, Rocha Alexandre B, Martins AF, Ferraz LP, Mickelberg J, Hankerson SJ, Dietz JM. Estimating population sizes to evaluate progress in conservation of endangered golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216664. [PMID: 31166940 PMCID: PMC6550383 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts to reverse the decline of endangered golden lion tamarin monkeys have been relatively successful because the Brazilian organization dedicated to the species' conservation (Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado, AMLD) relies on science-based computer modeling to determine the number of tamarins necessary to achieve demographic and genetic goals, and a process of strategic planning to achieve those goals. Accurate estimates of the numbers of tamarins in forest fragments are essential to evaluate progress in achieving goals and adapt strategies as necessary. In this report we present the results of a new method to survey the number of tamarins in the wild, a modification of the point transect with lures procedure. Using this method, we estimate that in 2014 there were approximately 3,700 golden lion tamarins in 41,400 hectares of Atlantic Forest. Of these, 59% are from remnant wild populations, 34% are descendants of captive-born reintroduced animals and 7% are descendants of wild translocated groups. The number of tamarins and amount of forest estimated in this survey exceeded values necessary to meet AMLD's definition of a viable population, determined to be 2,000 tamarins in 25,000 hectares of connected and protected forest. However, the seven forest blocks and their tamarin populations are not yet adequately connected and protected. AMLD's strategic plan to achieve a viable population of golden lion tamarins includes 12 strategies that mitigate these and other threats or contribute directly to the conservation goal. The point transect with lures survey method provides a way to evaluate progress in achieving that goal and adapt strategies as appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R. Ruiz-Miranda
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado, Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcio M. de Morais
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado, Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lou Ann Dietz
- Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado, Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Save the Golden Lion Tamarin, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brenda Rocha Alexandre
- Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado, Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Campus Praia Vermelha, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jennifer Mickelberg
- Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado, Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sarah J. Hankerson
- Department of Psychology, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - James M. Dietz
- Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado, Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Save the Golden Lion Tamarin, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
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