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Dyson K, Nicolau AP, Tenneson K, Francesconi W, Daniels A, Andrich G, Caldas B, Castaño S, de Campos N, Dilger J, Guidotti V, Jaques I, McCullough IM, McDevitt AD, Molina L, Nekorchuk DM, Newberry T, Pereira CL, Perez J, Richards-Dimitrie T, Rivera O, Rodriguez B, Sales N, Tello J, Wespestad C, Zutta B, Saah D. Coupling remote sensing and eDNA to monitor environmental impact: A pilot to quantify the environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0289437. [PMID: 38354171 PMCID: PMC10866516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring is essential to ensure that environmental goals are being achieved, including those of sustainable agriculture. Growing interest in environmental monitoring provides an opportunity to improve monitoring practices. Approaches that directly monitor land cover change and biodiversity annually by coupling the wall-to-wall coverage from remote sensing and the site-specific community composition from environmental DNA (eDNA) can provide timely, relevant results for parties interested in the success of sustainable agricultural practices. To ensure that the measured impacts are due to the environmental projects and not exogenous factors, sites where projects have been implemented should be benchmarked against counterfactuals (no project) and control (natural habitat) sites. Results can then be used to calculate diverse sets of indicators customized to monitor different projects. Here, we report on our experience developing and applying one such approach to assess the impact of shaded cocoa projects implemented by the Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA) near São Félix do Xingu, in Pará, Brazil. We used the Continuous Degradation Detection (CODED) and LandTrendr algorithms to create a remote sensing-based assessment of forest disturbance and regeneration, estimate carbon sequestration, and changes in essential habitats. We coupled these remote sensing methods with eDNA analyses using arthropod-targeted primers by collecting soil samples from intervention and counterfactual pasture field sites and a control secondary forest. We used a custom set of indicators from the pilot application of a coupled monitoring framework called TerraBio. Our results suggest that, due to IMAFLORA's shaded cocoa projects, over 400 acres were restored in the intervention area and the community composition of arthropods in shaded cocoa is closer to second-growth forests than that of pastures. In reviewing the coupled approach, we found multiple aspects worked well, and we conclude by presenting multiple lessons learned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Dyson
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Andréa P. Nicolau
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Karis Tenneson
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Wendy Francesconi
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Amy Daniels
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Giulia Andrich
- Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Caldas
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Silvia Castaño
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Nathanael de Campos
- Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - John Dilger
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Vinicius Guidotti
- Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Iara Jaques
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Ian M. McCullough
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | | | - Luis Molina
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Dawn M. Nekorchuk
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Tom Newberry
- University of Salford, Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jorge Perez
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | | | - Ovidio Rivera
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Beatriz Rodriguez
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Naiara Sales
- University of Salford, Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jhon Tello
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Crystal Wespestad
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Brian Zutta
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - David Saah
- University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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2
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King NG, Wilmes SB, Browett SS, Healey A, McDevitt AD, McKeown NJ, Roche R, Skujina I, Smale DA, Thorpe JM, Malham S. Seasonal development of a tidal mixing front drives shifts in community structure and diversity of bacterioplankton. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5201-5210. [PMID: 37555658 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Bacterioplankton underpin biogeochemical cycles and an improved understanding of the patterns and drivers of variability in their distribution is needed to determine their wider functioning and importance. Sharp environmental gradients and dispersal barriers associated with ocean fronts are emerging as key determinants of bacterioplankton biodiversity patterns. We examined how the development of the Celtic Sea Front (CF), a tidal mixing front on the Northwest European Shelf affects bacterioplankton communities. We performed 16S-rRNA metabarcoding on 60 seawater samples collected from three depths (surface, 20 m and seafloor), across two research cruises (May and September 2018), encompassing the intra-annual range of the CF intensity. Communities above the thermocline of stratified frontal waters were clearly differentiated and less diverse than those below the thermocline and communities in the well-mixed waters of the Irish Sea. This effect was much more pronounced in September, when the CF was at its peak intensity. The stratified zone likely represents a stressful environment for bacterioplankton due to a combination of high temperatures and low nutrients, which fewer taxa can tolerate. Much of the observed variation was driven by Synechococcus spp. (cyanobacteria), which were more abundant within the stratified zone and are known to thrive in warm oligotrophic waters. Synechococcus spp. are key contributors to global primary productivity and carbon cycling and, as such, variability driven by the CF is likely to influence regional biogeochemical processes. However, further studies are required to explicitly link shifts in community structure to function and quantify their wider importance to pelagic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan G King
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
| | - Sophie-B Wilmes
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
| | - Samuel S Browett
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
- Molecular Ecology Research Group, Eco-Innovation Research Centre, School of Science and Computing, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Amy Healey
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Allan D McDevitt
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland
| | - Niall J McKeown
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Ronan Roche
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
| | - Ilze Skujina
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Plymouth, UK
| | - Jamie M Thorpe
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
| | - Shelagh Malham
- Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK
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3
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Prasetyo AP, Cusa M, Murray JM, Agung F, Muttaqin E, Mariani S, McDevitt AD. Universal closed-tube barcoding for monitoring the shark and ray trade in megadiverse conservation hotspots. iScience 2023; 26:107065. [PMID: 37389182 PMCID: PMC10300358 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Trade restrictions for endangered elasmobranch species exist to disincentivise their exploitation and curb their declines. However, trade monitoring is challenging due to product variety and the complexity of import/export routes. We investigate the use of a portable, universal, DNA-based tool which would greatly facilitate in-situ monitoring. We collected shark and ray samples across the Island of Java, Indonesia, and selected 28 commonly encountered species (including 22 CITES-listed species) to test a recently developed real-time PCR single-assay originally developed for screening bony fish. In the absence of a bespoke elasmobranch identification online platform in the original FASTFISH-ID model, we employed a deep learning algorithm to recognize species based on DNA melt-curve signatures. By combining visual and machine-learning assignment methods, we distinguished 25/28 species, 20 of which were CITES-listed. With further refinement, this method can improve monitoring of the elasmobranch trade worldwide, without a lab or species-specific assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andhika P. Prasetyo
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
- Centre Fisheries Research, Ministry for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Research Centre for Conservation of Marine and Inland Water Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Marine Cusa
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Joanna M. Murray
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Lowestoft, UK
| | - Firdaus Agung
- Directorate for Conservation and Marine Biodiversity, Ministry for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Efin Muttaqin
- Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Stefano Mariani
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Allan D. McDevitt
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, School of Science and Computing, Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland
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4
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Croose E, Hanniffy R, Harrington A, Põdra M, Gómez A, Bolton PL, Lavin JV, Browett SS, Pinedo J, Lacanal D, Galdos I, Ugarte J, Torre A, Wright P, MacPherson J, McDevitt AD, Carter SP, Harrington LA. Mink on the brink: comparing survey methods for detecting a critically endangered carnivore, the European mink Mustela lutreola. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-023-01657-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
AbstractMonitoring rare and elusive species is critical in guiding appropriate conservation management measures. Mammalian carnivores are challenging to monitor directly, due to their generally nocturnal and solitary lifestyle, and relatively large home ranges. The European mink Mustela lutreola is a critically endangered, small, semi-aquatic carnivore and is one of the most threatened mammal species in Europe. In northern Spain, the European mink population is monitored regionally using different methods and approaches, making assessment of national population status difficult. There is an urgent need to 1) assess the efficacy of survey methods and 2) identify a standard monitoring methodology that can be deployed rapidly and inexpensively over large areas of the mink’s range. We deployed four methods—camera trapping, hair tubes, live trapping, and environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples—to compare the probability of detecting European mink when present at 25 sampling sites within five 10 × 10 km2, and the economic cost and time required for each method. All four methods successfully detected European mink but the probability of detection varied by method. Camera trapping and hair tubes had the highest probability of detection; however, eDNA and live trapping detected mink in one 10 × 10 km2 where the latter two methods did not. For future European mink monitoring programs, we recommend a combination of at least two methods and suggest that camera traps or hair tubes are combined with live trapping or eDNA (depending on the scale and aims of the study), to gather critical information on distribution, occupancy and conservation status.
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Browett SS, Synnott R, O'Meara DB, Antwis RE, Browett SS, Bown KJ, Wangensteen OS, Dawson DA, Searle JB, Yearsley JM, McDevitt AD. Resource competition drives an invasion-replacement event among shrew species on an island. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:698-709. [PMID: 36617677 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Invasive mammals are responsible for the majority of native species extinctions on islands. While most of these extinction events will be due to novel interactions between species (e.g. exotic predators and naive prey), it is more unusual to find incidences where a newly invasive species causes the decline/extinction of a native species on an island when they normally coexist elsewhere in their overlapping mainland ranges. We investigated if resource competition between two insectivorous small mammals was playing a significant role in the rapid replacement of the native pygmy shrew Sorex minutus in the presence of the recently invading greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula on the island of Ireland. We used DNA metabarcoding of gut contents from >300 individuals of both species to determine each species' diet and measured the body size (weight and length) during different stages of the invasion in Ireland (before, during and after the species come into contact with one another) and on a French island where both species have long coexisted (acting as a natural 'control' site). Dietary composition, niche width and overlap and body size were compared in these different stages. The body size of the invasive C. russula and composition of its diet changes between when it first invades an area and after it becomes established. During the initial stages of the invasion, individual shrews are larger and consume larger sized invertebrate prey species. During later stages of the invasion, C. russula switches to consuming smaller prey taxa that are more essential for the native species. As a result, the level of interspecific dietary overlap increases from between 11% and 14% when they first come into contact with each other to between 39% and 46% after the invasion. Here we show that an invasive species can quickly alter its dietary niche in a new environment, ultimately causing the replacement of a native species. In addition, the invasive shrew could also be potentially exhausting local resources of larger invertebrate species. These subsequent changes in terrestrial invertebrate communities could have severe impacts further downstream on ecosystem functioning and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel S Browett
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK.,Molecular Ecology Research Group, Eco-Innovation Research Centre, School of Science and Computing, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland.,NERC Environmental Omics Facility, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Rebecca Synnott
- Molecular Ecology Research Group, Eco-Innovation Research Centre, School of Science and Computing, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Denise B O'Meara
- Molecular Ecology Research Group, Eco-Innovation Research Centre, School of Science and Computing, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Rachael E Antwis
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Stephen S Browett
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Kevin J Bown
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Owen S Wangensteen
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Deborah A Dawson
- NERC Environmental Omics Facility, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Jon M Yearsley
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Allan D McDevitt
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK.,Department of Natural Sciences and the Environment, School of Science and Computing, Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland
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6
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Broadhurst HA, Gregory LM, Bleakley EK, Perkins JC, Lavin JV, Bolton P, Browett SS, Howe CV, Singleton N, Tansley D, Sales NG, McDevitt AD. Mapping differences in mammalian distributions and diversity using environmental DNA from rivers. Sci Total Environ 2021; 801:149724. [PMID: 34467903 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Finding more efficient ways to monitor and estimate the diversity of mammalian communities is a major step towards their management and conservation. Environmental DNA (eDNA) from river water has recently been shown to be a viable method for biomonitoring mammalian communities. Most of the studies to date have focused on the potential for eDNA to detect individual species, with little focus on describing patterns of community diversity and structure. Here, we first focus on the sampling effort required to reliably map the diversity and distribution of semi-aquatic and terrestrial mammals and allow inferences of community structure surrounding two rivers in southeastern England. Community diversity and composition was then assessed based on species richness and β-diversity, with differences between communities partitioned into nestedness and turnover, and the sampling effort required to rapidly detect semi-aquatic and terrestrial species was evaluated based on species accumulation curves and occupancy modelling. eDNA metabarcoding detected 25 wild mammal species from five orders, representing the vast majority (82%) of the species expected in the area. The required sampling effort varied between orders, with common species (generally rodents, deer and lagomorphs) more readily detected, with carnivores detected less frequently. Measures of species richness differed between rivers (both overall and within each mammalian order) and patterns of β-diversity revealed the importance of species replacement in sites within each river, against a pattern of species loss between the two rivers. eDNA metabarcoding demonstrated its capability to rapidly detect mammal species, allowing inferences of community composition that will better inform future sampling strategies for this Class. Importantly, this study highlights the potential use of eDNA data for investigating mammalian community dynamics over different spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Broadhurst
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Luke M Gregory
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Emma K Bleakley
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Joseph C Perkins
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Jenna V Lavin
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Polly Bolton
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Samuel S Browett
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK; School of Science and Computing, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Claire V Howe
- Natural England, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol, UK
| | - Natalie Singleton
- Essex Wildlife Trust, Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Colchester, UK
| | - Darren Tansley
- Essex Wildlife Trust, Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Colchester, UK
| | | | - Allan D McDevitt
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK.
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7
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McDevitt AD, Coscia I, Browett SS, Ruiz-González A, Statham MJ, Ruczyńska I, Roberts L, Stojak J, Frantz AC, Norén K, Ågren EO, Learmount J, Basto M, Fernandes C, Stuart P, Tosh DG, Sindicic M, Andreanszky T, Isomursu M, Panek M, Korolev A, Okhlopkov IM, Saveljev AP, Pokorny B, Flajšman K, Harrison SWR, Lobkov V, Ćirović D, Mullins J, Pertoldi C, Randi E, Sacks BN, Kowalczyk R, Wójcik JM. Next-generation phylogeography resolves post-glacial colonization patterns in a widespread carnivore, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), in Europe. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:993-1006. [PMID: 34775636 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Carnivores tend to exhibit a lack of (or less pronounced) genetic structure at continental scales in both a geographic and temporal sense and this can confound the identification of post-glacial colonization patterns in this group. In this study we used genome-wide data (using genotyping by sequencing [GBS]) to reconstruct the phylogeographic history of a widespread carnivore, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), by investigating broad-scale patterns of genomic variation, differentiation and admixture amongst contemporary populations in Europe. Using 15,003 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 524 individuals allowed us to identify the importance of refugial regions for the red fox in terms of endemism (e.g., Iberia). In addition, we tested multiple post-glacial recolonization scenarios of previously glaciated regions during the Last Glacial Maximum using an Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) approach that were unresolved from previous studies. This allowed us to identify the role of admixture from multiple source population post-Younger Dryas in the case of Scandinavia and ancient land-bridges in the colonization of the British Isles. A natural colonization of Ireland was deemed more likely than an ancient human-mediated introduction as has previously been proposed and potentially points to a larger mammalian community on the island in the early post-glacial period. Using genome-wide data has allowed us to tease apart broad-scale patterns of structure and diversity in a widespread carnivore in Europe that was not evident from using more limited marker sets and provides a foundation for next-generation phylogeographic studies in other non-model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan D McDevitt
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Ilaria Coscia
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Samuel S Browett
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Aritz Ruiz-González
- Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Mark J Statham
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, Center for Veterinary Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Iwona Ruczyńska
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Liam Roberts
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Joanna Stojak
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Alain C Frantz
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Karin Norén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik O Ågren
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jane Learmount
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Sand Hutton, UK
| | - Mafalda Basto
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carlos Fernandes
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Peter Stuart
- Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Institute of Technology Tralee, Kerry, Ireland
| | - David G Tosh
- National Museums of Northern Ireland, Hollywood, UK
| | - Magda Sindicic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Marja Isomursu
- Finnish Food Authority, Veterinary Bacteriology and Pathology Research Unit, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Andrey Korolev
- Institute of Biology of Komi Science, Remote Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia
| | - Innokentiy M Okhlopkov
- Institute of Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russia
| | - Alexander P Saveljev
- Department of Animal Ecology, Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming, Kirov, Russia
| | | | | | - Stephen W R Harrison
- School of Animal Rural & Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, UK
| | - Vladimir Lobkov
- Faculty of Biology, Odessa I.I. Mechnykov National University, Odessa, Ukraine
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jacinta Mullins
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Cino Pertoldi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Ettore Randi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Benjamin N Sacks
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, Center for Veterinary Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Rafał Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Jan M Wójcik
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
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8
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Harrison XA, McDevitt AD, Dunn JC, Griffiths SM, Benvenuto C, Birtles R, Boubli JP, Bown K, Bridson C, Brooks DR, Browett SS, Carden RF, Chantrey J, Clever F, Coscia I, Edwards KL, Ferry N, Goodhead I, Highlands A, Hopper J, Jackson J, Jehle R, da Cruz Kaizer M, King T, Lea JMD, Lenka JL, McCubbin A, McKenzie J, de Moraes BLC, O'Meara DB, Pescod P, Preziosi RF, Rowntree JK, Shultz S, Silk MJ, Stockdale JE, Symondson WOC, de la Pena MV, Walker SL, Wood MD, Antwis RE. Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210552. [PMID: 34403636 PMCID: PMC8370808 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between hosts and their resident microbial communities are a fundamental component of fitness for both agents. Though recent research has highlighted the importance of interactions between animals and their bacterial communities, comparative evidence for fungi is lacking, especially in natural populations. Using data from 49 species, we present novel evidence of strong covariation between fungal and bacterial communities across the host phylogeny, indicative of recruitment by hosts for specific suites of microbes. Using co-occurrence networks, we demonstrate marked variation across host taxonomy in patterns of covariation between bacterial and fungal abundances. Host phylogeny drives differences in the overall richness of bacterial and fungal communities, but the effect of diet on richness was only evident in the mammalian gut microbiome. Sample type, tissue storage and DNA extraction method also affected bacterial and fungal community composition, and future studies would benefit from standardized approaches to sample processing. Collectively these data indicate fungal microbiomes may play a key role in host fitness and suggest an urgent need to study multiple agents of the animal microbiome to accurately determine the strength and ecological significance of host-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allan D. McDevitt
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Jenny C. Dunn
- School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, UK
| | - Sarah M. Griffiths
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
| | - Chiara Benvenuto
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Richard Birtles
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Jean P. Boubli
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Kevin Bown
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Calum Bridson
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Darren R. Brooks
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Samuel S. Browett
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Ruth F. Carden
- School of Archaeology, University College Dublin, Ireland
- Wildlife Ecological and Osteological Consultancy, Wicklow, Ireland
| | - Julian Chantrey
- Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Friederike Clever
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Ilaria Coscia
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Katie L. Edwards
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, UK
| | - Natalie Ferry
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Ian Goodhead
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Andrew Highlands
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Jane Hopper
- The Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Reserve, Hythe, Kent, UK
| | - Joseph Jackson
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Robert Jehle
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | | | - Tony King
- The Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Reserve, Hythe, Kent, UK
- School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, UK
| | - Jessica M. D. Lea
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Jessica L. Lenka
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | | | - Jack McKenzie
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | | | - Denise B. O'Meara
- School of Science and Computing, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland
| | - Poppy Pescod
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Richard F. Preziosi
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
| | - Jennifer K. Rowntree
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
| | - Susanne Shultz
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | | | - Jennifer E. Stockdale
- School of Biosciences, University of Cardiff, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | - Susan L. Walker
- North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, UK
| | - Michael D. Wood
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Rachael E. Antwis
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
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9
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Browett SS, Curran TG, O’Meara DB, Harrington AP, Sales NG, Antwis RE, O’Neill D, McDevitt AD. Primer biases in the molecular assessment of diet in multiple insectivorous mammals. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00115-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
AbstractOur understanding of trophic interactions of small insectivorous mammals has been drastically improved with the advent of DNA metabarcoding. The technique has continued to be optimised over the years, with primer choice repeatedly being a vital factor for dietary inferences. However, the majority of dietary studies examining the effect of primer choice often rely on in silico analyses or comparing between species that occupy an identical niche type. Here, we apply DNA metabarcoding to empirically compare the prey detection capabilities of two widely used primer sets when assessing the diets of a flying (lesser horseshoe bat; Rhinolophus hipposideros) and two ground-dwelling insectivores (greater white-toothed shrew; Crocidura russula and pygmy shrew; Sorex minutus). Although R. hipposideros primarily rely on two prey orders (Lepidoptera and Diptera), the unique taxa detected by each primer shows that a combination of primers may be the best approach to fully describe bat trophic ecology. However, random forest classifier analysis suggests that one highly degenerate primer set detected the majority of both shrews’ diet despite higher levels of host amplification. The wide range of prey consumed by ground-dwelling insectivores can therefore be accurately documented from using a single broad-range primer set, which can decrease cost and labour. The results presented here show that dietary inferences will differ depending on the primer or primer combination used for insectivores occupying different niches (i.e., hunting in the air or ground) and demonstrate the importance of performing empirical pilot studies for novel study systems.
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10
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Sales NG, Wangensteen OS, Carvalho DC, Deiner K, Præbel K, Coscia I, McDevitt AD, Mariani S. Space-time dynamics in monitoring neotropical fish communities using eDNA metabarcoding. Sci Total Environ 2021; 754:142096. [PMID: 32898783 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The biodiverse Neotropical ecoregion remains insufficiently assessed, poorly managed, and threatened by unregulated human activities. Novel, rapid and cost-effective DNA-based approaches are valuable to improve understanding of the biological communities and for biomonitoring in remote areas. Here, we evaluate the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding for assessing the structure and distribution of fish communities by analysing water and sediment from 11 locations along the Jequitinhonha River catchment (Brazil). Each site was sampled twice, before and after a major rain event in a five-week period and fish diversity was estimated using high-throughput sequencing of 12S rRNA amplicons. In total, 252 Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) and 34 fish species were recovered, including endemic, introduced, and previously unrecorded species for this basin. Spatio-temporal variation of eDNA from fish assemblages was observed and species richness was nearly twice as high before the major rain event compared to afterwards. Yet, peaks of diversity were primarily associated with only four of the locations. No correlation between β-diversity and longitudinal distance or presence of dams was detected, but low species richness observed at sites located near dams might that these anthropogenic barriers may have an impact on local fish diversity. Unexpectedly high α-diversity levels recorded at the river mouth suggest that these sections should be further evaluated as putative "eDNA reservoirs" for rapid monitoring. By uncovering spatio-temporal changes, unrecorded biodiversity components, and putative anthropogenic impacts on fish assemblages, we further strengthen the potential of eDNA metabarcoding as a biomonitoring tool, especially in regions often neglected or difficult to access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Guimarães Sales
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK; CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Owen Simon Wangensteen
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Daniel Cardoso Carvalho
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia de Vertebrados, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Kim Præbel
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ilaria Coscia
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Allan D McDevitt
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK; School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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11
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Coscia I, Wilmes SB, Ironside JE, Goward-Brown A, O'Dea E, Malham SK, McDevitt AD, Robins PE. Fine-scale seascape genomics of an exploited marine species, the common cockle Cerastoderma edule, using a multimodelling approach. Evol Appl 2020; 13:1854-1867. [PMID: 32908590 PMCID: PMC7463313 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Population dynamics of marine species that are sessile as adults are driven by oceanographic dispersal of larvae from spawning to nursery grounds. This is mediated by life-history traits such as the timing and frequency of spawning, larval behaviour and duration, and settlement success. Here, we use 1725 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to study the fine-scale spatial genetic structure in the commercially important cockle species Cerastoderma edule and compare it to environmental variables and current-mediated larval dispersal within a modelling framework. Hydrodynamic modelling employing the NEMO Atlantic Margin Model (AMM15) was used to simulate larval transport and estimate connectivity between populations during spawning months (April-September), factoring in larval duration and interannual variability of ocean currents. Results at neutral loci reveal the existence of three separate genetic clusters (mean F ST = 0.021) within a relatively fine spatial scale in the north-west Atlantic. Environmental association analysis indicates that oceanographic currents and geographic proximity explain over 20% of the variance observed at neutral loci, while genetic variance (71%) at outlier loci was explained by sea surface temperature extremes. These results fill an important knowledge gap in the management of a commercially important and overexploited species, bringing us closer to understanding the role of larval dispersal in connecting populations at a fine geographic scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Coscia
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | - Sophie B Wilmes
- School of Ocean Sciences Marine Centre Wales Bangor University Menai Bridge UK
| | - Joseph E Ironside
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences Aberystwyth University, Penglais Aberystwyth UK
| | - Alice Goward-Brown
- School of Ocean Sciences Marine Centre Wales Bangor University Menai Bridge UK
| | | | - Shelagh K Malham
- School of Ocean Sciences Marine Centre Wales Bangor University Menai Bridge UK
| | - Allan D McDevitt
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | - Peter E Robins
- School of Ocean Sciences Marine Centre Wales Bangor University Menai Bridge UK
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12
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel S. Browett
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford M5 4WTUK
| | - Denise B. O'Meara
- Molecular Ecology Research Group Eco‐Innovation Research Centre School of Science and Computing Waterford Institute of Technology Waterford Ireland
| | - Allan D. McDevitt
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford M5 4WTUK
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13
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Sales NG, McKenzie MB, Drake J, Harper LR, Browett SS, Coscia I, Wangensteen OS, Baillie C, Bryce E, Dawson DA, Ochu E, Hänfling B, Lawson Handley L, Mariani S, Lambin X, Sutherland C, McDevitt AD. Fishing for mammals: Landscape‐level monitoring of terrestrial and semi‐aquatic communities using eDNA from riverine systems. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Guimarães Sales
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | - Maisie B. McKenzie
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | - Joseph Drake
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts‐Amherst Amherst USA
| | - Lynsey R. Harper
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Hull Kingston upon Hull UK
| | - Samuel S. Browett
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | - Ilaria Coscia
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | | | - Charles Baillie
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | - Emma Bryce
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - Deborah A. Dawson
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Erinma Ochu
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | - Bernd Hänfling
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Hull Kingston upon Hull UK
| | - Lori Lawson Handley
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences University of Hull Kingston upon Hull UK
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool UK
| | - Xavier Lambin
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - Christopher Sutherland
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts‐Amherst Amherst USA
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Allan D. McDevitt
- Environment and Ecosystem Research Centre School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
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14
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Vega R, McDevitt AD, Stojak J, Mishta A, Wójcik JM, Kryštufek B, Searle JB. Phylogeographical structure of the pygmy shrew: revisiting the roles of southern and northern refugia in Europe. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSouthern and northern glacial refugia are considered paradigms that explain the complex phylogeographical patterns and processes of European biota. Here, we provide a revisited statistical phylogeographical analysis of the pygmy shrew Sorex minutus Linnaeus, 1766 (Eulipotyphla, Soricidae), examining its genetic diversity, genetic differentiation and demographic history in the Mediterranean peninsulas and in Western and Central Europe. The results showed support for genetically distinct and diverse phylogeographical groups consistent with southern and northern glacial refugia, as expected from previous studies. We also identified geographical barriers concordant with glaciated mountain ranges during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), early diversification events dated between the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene for the main phylogeographical groups, and recent (post-LGM) patterns of demographic expansions. This study is the most comprehensive investigation of this species to date, and the results have implications for the conservation of intraspecific diversity and the preservation of the evolutionary potential of S. minutus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Vega
- Ecology Research Group, Section of Natural and Applied Sciences, School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Becket, Canterbury, Kent, UK
| | - Allan D McDevitt
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Joanna Stojak
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Alina Mishta
- Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Jan M Wójcik
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Boris Kryštufek
- Slovenian Museum of Natural History, Prešernova, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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15
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McDevitt AD, Sales NG, Browett SS, Sparnenn AO, Mariani S, Wangensteen OS, Coscia I, Benvenuto C. Environmental DNA metabarcoding as an effective and rapid tool for fish monitoring in canals. J Fish Biol 2019; 95:679-682. [PMID: 31183856 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We focus on a case study along an English canal comparing environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with two types of electrofishing techniques (wade-and-reach and boom-boat). In addition to corroborating data obtained by electrofishing, eDNA provided a wider snapshot of fish assemblages. Given the semi-lotic nature of canals, we encourage the use of eDNA as a fast and cost-effective tool to detect and monitor whole fish communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan D McDevitt
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Naiara Guimarães Sales
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Samuel S Browett
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Abbie O Sparnenn
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Owen S Wangensteen
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ilaria Coscia
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Chiara Benvenuto
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
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16
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O’Meara DB, McDevitt AD, O’Neill D, Harrington AP, Turner P, Carr W, Desmond M, Lawton C, Marnell F, Rubalcava S, Sheehy E, Sleeman DP, Tosh D, Waters C, O’Reilly C. Retracing the history and planning the future of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in Ireland using non-invasive genetics. MAMMAL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-018-0353-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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17
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Gubili C, Mariani S, Weckworth BV, Galpern P, McDevitt AD, Hebblewhite M, Nickel B, Musiani M. Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of connectivity patterns: A basis for prioritizing conservation efforts for threatened populations. Evol Appl 2016; 10:199-211. [PMID: 28127396 PMCID: PMC5253427 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem fragmentation and habitat loss have been the focus of landscape management due to restrictions on contemporary connectivity and dispersal of populations. Here, we used an individual approach to determine the drivers of genetic differentiation in caribou of the Canadian Rockies. We modelled the effects of isolation by distance, landscape resistance and predation risk and evaluated the consequences of individual migratory behaviour (seasonally migratory vs. sedentary) on gene flow in this threatened species. We applied distance-based and reciprocal causal modelling approaches, testing alternative hypotheses on the effects of geographic, topographic, environmental and local population-specific variables on genetic differentiation and relatedness among individuals. Overall, gene flow was restricted to neighbouring local populations, with spatial coordinates, local population size, groups and elevation explaining connectivity among individuals. Landscape resistance, geographic distances and predation risk were correlated with genetic distances, with correlations threefold higher for sedentary than for migratory caribou. As local caribou populations are increasingly isolated, our results indicate the need to address genetic connectivity, especially for populations with individuals displaying different migratory behaviours, whilst maintaining quality habitat both within and across the ranges of threatened populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysoula Gubili
- School of Environment and Life Sciences University of Salford Salford UK; Faculties of Environmental Design and Veterinary Medicine University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
| | - Stefano Mariani
- School of Environment and Life Sciences University of Salford Salford UK
| | | | - Paul Galpern
- Faculties of Environmental Design and Veterinary Medicine University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
| | - Allan D McDevitt
- School of Environment and Life Sciences University of Salford Salford UK
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT USA
| | - Barry Nickel
- Environmental Studies Department Center for Integrated Spatial Research University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Marco Musiani
- Faculties of Environmental Design and Veterinary Medicine University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
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18
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Stojak J, McDevitt AD, Herman JS, Kryštufek B, Uhlíková J, Purger JJ, Lavrenchenko LA, Searle JB, Wójcik JM. Between the Balkans and the Baltic: Phylogeography of a Common Vole Mitochondrial DNA Lineage Limited to Central Europe. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168621. [PMID: 27992546 PMCID: PMC5161492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The common vole (Microtus arvalis) has been a model species of small mammal for studying end-glacial colonization history. In the present study we expanded the sampling from central and eastern Europe, analyzing contemporary genetic structure to identify the role of a potential 'northern glacial refugium', i.e. a refugium at a higher latitude than the traditional Mediterranean refugia. Altogether we analyzed 786 cytochrome b (cytb) sequences (representing mitochondrial DNA; mtDNA) from the whole of Europe, adding 177 new sequences from central and eastern Europe, and we conducted analyses on eight microsatellite loci for 499 individuals (representing nuclear DNA) from central and eastern Europe, adding data on 311 new specimens. Our new data fill gaps in the vicinity of the Carpathian Mountains, the potential northern refugium, such that there is now dense sampling from the Balkans to the Baltic Sea. Here we present evidence that the Eastern mtDNA lineage of the common vole was present in the vicinity of this Carpathian refugium during the Last Glacial Maximum and the Younger Dryas. The Eastern lineage expanded from this refugium to the Baltic and shows low cytb nucleotide diversity in those most northerly parts of the distribution. Analyses of microsatellites revealed a similar pattern but also showed little differentiation between all of the populations sampled in central and eastern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Stojak
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Allan D. McDevitt
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy S. Herman
- Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Boris Kryštufek
- Vertebrate Department, Slovenian Museum of Natural History, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jitka Uhlíková
- Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jenő J. Purger
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Biology, University in Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Leonid A. Lavrenchenko
- Department of Mammalian Microevolution, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jeremy B. Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Jan M. Wójcik
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
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19
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Nally JE, Arent Z, Bayles DO, Hornsby RL, Gilmore C, Regan S, McDevitt AD, Yearsley J, Fanning S, McMahon BJ. Emerging Infectious Disease Implications of Invasive Mammalian Species: The Greater White-Toothed Shrew (Crocidura russula) Is Associated With a Novel Serovar of Pathogenic Leptospira in Ireland. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005174. [PMID: 27935961 PMCID: PMC5147805 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) is an invasive mammalian species that was first recorded in Ireland in 2007. It currently occupies an area of approximately 7,600 km2 on the island. C. russula is normally distributed in Northern Africa and Western Europe, and was previously absent from the British Isles. Whilst invasive species can have dramatic and rapid impacts on faunal and floral communities, they may also be carriers of pathogens facilitating disease transmission in potentially naive populations. Pathogenic leptospires are endemic in Ireland and a significant cause of human and animal disease. From 18 trapped C. russula, 3 isolates of Leptospira were cultured. However, typing of these isolates by standard serological reference methods was negative, and suggested an, as yet, unidentified serovar. Sequence analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA and secY indicated that these novel isolates belong to Leptospira alstonii, a unique pathogenic species of which only 7 isolates have been described to date. Earlier isolations were limited geographically to China, Japan and Malaysia, and this leptospiral species had not previously been cultured from mammals. Restriction enzyme analysis (REA) further confirms the novelty of these strains since no similar patterns were observed with a reference database of leptospires. As with other pathogenic Leptospira species, these isolates contain lipL32 and do not grow in the presence of 8-azagunaine; however no evidence of disease was apparent after experimental infection of hamsters. These isolates are genetically related to L. alstonii but have a novel REA pattern; they represent a new serovar which we designate as serovar Room22. This study demonstrates that invasive mammalian species act as bridge vectors of novel zoonotic pathogens such as Leptospira. Leptospirosis is a global zoonotic disease. Pathogenic species of Leptospira are excreted in urine from asymptomatic carrier hosts which facilitates disease transmission to new hosts. To date, there are 10 species of pathogenic leptospires which comprise more than 200 serovars. Disease transmission of these strains is maintained by a wide range of domestic and wild animal species. In this work, we discovered that an invasive mammalian species, the greater white toothed shrew, which was first identified in Ireland in 2007, acts as a carrier for a species of leptospires never before identified in Ireland. Results demonstrate that invasive mammalian species act as bridge vectors of novel zoonotic pathogens such as Leptospira.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarlath E. Nally
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Zbigniew Arent
- University Centre of Veterinary Medicine JU-UAK, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland
| | - Darrell O. Bayles
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Richard L. Hornsby
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Colm Gilmore
- OIE Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory, Veterinary Sciences Division, AFBI, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Siobhan Regan
- UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Allan D. McDevitt
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Jon Yearsley
- UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science and UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Séamus Fanning
- UCD Centre for Food Safety, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Barry J. McMahon
- UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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Herman JS, Jóhannesdóttir F, Jones EP, McDevitt AD, Michaux JR, White TA, Wójcik JM, Searle JB. Post-glacial colonization of Europe by the wood mouse,Apodemus sylvaticus: evidence of a northern refugium and dispersal with humans. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S. Herman
- National Museums of Scotland; Chambers Street Edinburgh EH1 1JF UK
| | - Fríđa Jóhannesdóttir
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Corson Hall Ithaca NY 14853-2701 USA
| | | | - Allan D. McDevitt
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre; School of Environment and Life Sciences; University of Salford; Salford M5 4WT UK
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; 17-230 Białowieża Poland
| | - Johan R. Michaux
- Unité de génétique de la conservation; Institut de Botanique; Université de Liège; 4000 Liège Belgique
| | - Thomas A. White
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Corson Hall Ithaca NY 14853-2701 USA
- Lancaster Environment Centre; Lancaster University; Lancaster LA1 4YQ UK
| | - Jan M. Wójcik
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; 17-230 Białowieża Poland
| | - Jeremy B. Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Corson Hall Ithaca NY 14853-2701 USA
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21
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Stojak J, Wójcik JM, Ruczyńska I, Searle JB, McDevitt AD. Contrasting and congruent patterns of genetic structuring in two Microtus vole species using museum specimens. MAMMAL RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-015-0260-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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22
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Gargan LM, Cornette R, Yearsley JM, Montgomery WI, Paupério J, Alves PC, Butler F, Pascal M, Tresset A, Herrel A, Lusby J, Tosh DG, Searle JB, McDevitt AD. Molecular and morphological insights into the origin of the invasive greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) in Ireland. Biol Invasions 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-016-1056-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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23
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Stojak J, McDevitt AD, Herman JS, Searle JB, Wójcik JM. Post-glacial colonization of eastern Europe from the Carpathian refugium: evidence from mitochondrial DNA of the common voleMicrotus arvalis. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Stojak
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; 17-230 Białowieża Poland
| | - Allan D. McDevitt
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; 17-230 Białowieża Poland
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics; University of Leuven; 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Jeremy S. Herman
- Department of Natural Sciences; National Museums Scotland; Edinburgh EH1 1JF UK
| | - Jeremy B. Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Ithaca NY 14853-2701 USA
| | - Jan M. Wójcik
- Mammal Research Institute; Polish Academy of Sciences; 17-230 Białowieża Poland
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24
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Frantz AC, McDevitt AD, Pope LC, Kochan J, Davison J, Clements CF, Elmeros M, Molina-Vacas G, Ruiz-Gonzalez A, Balestrieri A, Van Den Berge K, Breyne P, Do Linh San E, Ågren EO, Suchentrunk F, Schley L, Kowalczyk R, Kostka BI, Ćirović D, Šprem N, Colyn M, Ghirardi M, Racheva V, Braun C, Oliveira R, Lanszki J, Stubbe A, Stubbe M, Stier N, Burke T. Revisiting the phylogeography and demography of European badgers (Meles meles) based on broad sampling, multiple markers and simulations. Heredity (Edinb) 2014; 113:443-53. [PMID: 24781805 PMCID: PMC4220720 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2014.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the phylogeography of European mammals has been extensively investigated since the 1990s, many studies were limited in terms of sampling distribution, the number of molecular markers used and the analytical techniques employed, frequently leading to incomplete postglacial recolonisation scenarios. The broad-scale genetic structure of the European badger (Meles meles) is of interest as it may result from historic restriction to glacial refugia and/or recent anthropogenic impact. However, previous studies were based mostly on samples from western Europe, making it difficult to draw robust conclusions about the location of refugia, patterns of postglacial expansion and recent demography. In the present study, continent-wide sampling and analyses with multiple markers provided evidence for two glacial refugia (Iberia and southeast Europe) that contributed to the genetic variation observed in badgers in Europe today. Approximate Bayesian computation provided support for a colonisation of Scandinavia from both Iberian and southeastern refugia. In the whole of Europe, we observed a decline in genetic diversity with increasing latitude, suggesting that the reduced diversity in the peripheral populations resulted from a postglacial expansion processes. Although MSVAR v.1.3 also provided evidence for recent genetic bottlenecks in some of these peripheral populations, the simulations performed to estimate the method's power to correctly infer the past demography of our empirical populations suggested that the timing and severity of bottlenecks could not be established with certainty. We urge caution against trying to relate demographic declines inferred using MSVAR with particular historic or climatological events.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Frantz
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility,
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield,
Sheffield, UK
- Musée National d'Histoire
Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - A D McDevitt
- School of Biology and Environmental
Science, University College Dublin, Dublin,
Ireland
| | - L C Pope
- School of Biological Science, University
of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland,
Australia
| | - J Kochan
- Department of Genetics and Animal
Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,
Wrocław, Poland
| | - J Davison
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences,
University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - C F Clements
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility,
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield,
Sheffield, UK
| | - M Elmeros
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus
University, Rønde, Denmark
| | - G Molina-Vacas
- Animal Biology Department, University of
Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Ruiz-Gonzalez
- Department of Zoology, Biogeography and
Population Dynamics Research Group, University of the Basque Country,
UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - A Balestrieri
- Department of Biosciences, University
of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - K Van Den Berge
- Research Institute for Nature and
Forest, Geraardsbergen, Belgium
| | - P Breyne
- Research Institute for Nature and
Forest, Geraardsbergen, Belgium
| | - E Do Linh San
- Department of Zoology and Entomology,
University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - E O Ågren
- National Veterinary Institute,
Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, Uppsala,
Sweden
| | - F Suchentrunk
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology,
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna,
Austria
| | - L Schley
- Administration de la nature et des
forêts, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - R Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute,
Bialowieza, Poland
| | - B I Kostka
- Queen's University Belfast,
Northern Ireland, UK
| | - D Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of
Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - N Šprem
- Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping,
Game Management and Special Zoology, University of Zagreb,
Zagreb, Croatia
| | - M Colyn
- CNRS, UMR 6553, ECOBIO,
Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - M Ghirardi
- Università degli Studi di
Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - V Racheva
- Balkani Wildlife Society,
Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - C Braun
- 9 chemin du Kilbs,
Bischoffsheim, France
| | - R Oliveira
- Departamento de Zoologia e
Antropologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto,
Porto, Portugal
| | - J Lanszki
- Department of Nature Conservation,
University of Kaposvár, Kaposvár,
Hungary
| | - A Stubbe
- Domplatz 4,
Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - M Stubbe
- Domplatz 4,
Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - N Stier
- Institute of Forest Botany and Forest
Zoology, Dresden University of Technology, Tharandt,
Germany
| | - T Burke
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility,
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield,
Sheffield, UK
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25
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Herman JS, McDevitt AD, Kawałko A, Jaarola M, Wójcik JM, Searle JB. Land-bridge calibration of molecular clocks and the post-glacial Colonization of Scandinavia by the Eurasian field vole Microtus agrestis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103949. [PMID: 25111840 PMCID: PMC4128820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Phylogeography interprets molecular genetic variation in a spatial and temporal context. Molecular clocks are frequently used to calibrate phylogeographic analyses, however there is mounting evidence that molecular rates decay over the relevant timescales. It is therefore essential that an appropriate rate is determined, consistent with the temporal scale of the specific analysis. This can be achieved by using temporally spaced data such as ancient DNA or by relating the divergence of lineages directly to contemporaneous external events of known time. Here we calibrate a Eurasian field vole (Microtus agrestis) mitochondrial genealogy from the well-established series of post-glacial geophysical changes that led to the formation of the Baltic Sea and the separation of the Scandinavian peninsula from the central European mainland. The field vole exhibits the common phylogeographic pattern of Scandinavian colonization from both the north and the south, however the southernmost of the two relevant lineages appears to have originated in situ on the Scandinavian peninsula, or possibly in the adjacent island of Zealand, around the close of the Younger Dryas. The mitochondrial substitution rate and the timescale for the genealogy are closely consistent with those obtained with a previous calibration, based on the separation of the British Isles from mainland Europe. However the result here is arguably more certain, given the level of confidence that can be placed in one of the central assumptions of the calibration, that field voles could not survive the last glaciation of the southern part of the Scandinavian peninsula. Furthermore, the similarity between the molecular clock rate estimated here and those obtained by sampling heterochronous (ancient) DNA (including that of a congeneric species) suggest that there is little disparity between the measured genetic divergence and the population divergence that is implicit in our land-bridge calibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S. Herman
- Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Allan D. McDevitt
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Agata Kawałko
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
- Statistical Office, Centre for Forestry and Preservation of Nature, Białystok, Poland
| | - Maarit Jaarola
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan M. Wójcik
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Jeremy B. Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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26
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Mullins J, McDevitt AD, Kowalczyk R, Ruczyńska I, Górny M, Wójcik JM. The influence of habitat structure on genetic differentiation in red fox populations in north-eastern Poland. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 59:367-376. [PMID: 24954926 PMCID: PMC4058057 DOI: 10.1007/s13364-014-0180-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has the widest global distribution among terrestrial carnivore species, occupying most of the Northern Hemisphere in its native range. Because it carries diseases that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals, it is important to gather information about their movements and dispersal in their natural habitat but it is difficult to do so at a broad scale with trapping and telemetry. In this study, we have described the genetic diversity and structure of red fox populations in six areas of north-eastern Poland, based on samples collected from 2002–2003. We tested 22 microsatellite loci isolated from the dog and the red fox genome to select a panel of nine polymorphic loci suitable for this study. Genetic differentiation between the six studied populations was low to moderate and analysis in Structure revealed a panmictic population in the region. Spatial autocorrelation among all individuals showed a pattern of decreasing relatedness with increasing distance and this was not significantly negative until 93 km, indicating a pattern of isolation-by-distance over a large area. However, there was no correlation between genetic distance and either Euclidean distance or least-cost path distance at the population level. There was a significant relationship between genetic distance and the proportion of large forests and water along the Euclidean distances. These types of habitats may influence dispersal paths taken by red foxes, which is useful information in terms of wildlife disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta Mullins
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
| | - Allan D McDevitt
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland ; School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Rafał Kowalczyk
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
| | - Iwona Ruczyńska
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
| | - Marcin Górny
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
| | - Jan M Wójcik
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
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27
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Weckworth BV, Musiani M, Decesare NJ, McDevitt AD, Hebblewhite M, Mariani S. Preferred habitat and effective population size drive landscape genetic patterns in an endangered species. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20131756. [PMID: 24004939 PMCID: PMC3768318 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.1756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Landscape genetics provides a framework for pinpointing environmental features that determine the important exchange of migrants among populations. These studies usually test the significance of environmental variables on gene flow, yet ignore one fundamental driver of genetic variation in small populations, effective population size, Ne. We combined both approaches in evaluating genetic connectivity of a threatened ungulate, woodland caribou. We used least-cost paths to calculate matrices of resistance distance for landscape variables (preferred habitat, anthropogenic features and predation risk) and population-pairwise harmonic means of Ne, and correlated them with genetic distances, FST and Dc. Results showed that spatial configuration of preferred habitat and Ne were the two best predictors of genetic relationships. Additionally, controlling for the effect of Ne increased the strength of correlations of environmental variables with genetic distance, highlighting the significant underlying effect of Ne in modulating genetic drift and perceived spatial connectivity. We therefore have provided empirical support to emphasize preventing increased habitat loss and promoting population growth to ensure metapopulation viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byron V Weckworth
- Faculties of Environmental Design and Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4.
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28
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Coscia I, McDevitt AD, King JJ, Roche WK, McLoughlin C, Mariani S. A species-to-be? The genetic status and colonization history of the critically endangered Killarney shad. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2013; 69:1190-5. [PMID: 23933070 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2013] [Revised: 07/28/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Typically anadromous, the twaite shad (Alosa fallax) can become landlocked and adapt to a fully freshwater life. The only landlocked shad population in Northwestern Europe is found in a lake in Ireland, Lough Leane. The Killarney shad, Alosa killarnensis (or Alosa fallax killarnensis, as it is mostly referred to) displays a level of morphological divergence that indicates a long-term isolation in the lake. Microsatellites and mtDNA control region sequences were used within a coalescent framework (BEAST and Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC)) to investigate its colonization history and to clarify its taxonomic status. Results indicate that the lake was likely colonized in two independent events, the first coinciding with the retreat of the ice sheet from the area after the Last Glacial Maximum and the second after the Younger Dryas. Microsatellite data has shown that these two landlocked lineages have completely admixed within the lake, and have started diverging significantly from their closest ancestor, the twaite shad. We argue that our molecular results (together with the life-history and physiological divergence between Killarney and twaite shad) are conspicuous enough to view the landlocked population as a new species, and one whose future existence would certainly not be insured by its sister taxon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Coscia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Ch. Deberiotstraat 32, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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29
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30
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Abstract
Among agents of selection that shape phenotypic traits in animals, humans can cause more rapid changes than many natural factors. Studies have focused on human selection of morphological traits, but little is known about human selection of behavioural traits. By monitoring elk (Cervus elaphus) with satellite telemetry, we tested whether individuals harvested by hunters adopted less favourable behaviours than elk that survived the hunting season. Among 45 2-year-old males, harvested elk showed bolder behaviour, including higher movement rate and increased use of open areas, compared with surviving elk that showed less conspicuous behaviour. Personality clearly drove this pattern, given that inter-individual differences in movement rate were present before the onset of the hunting season. Elk that were harvested further increased their movement rate when the probability of encountering hunters was high (close to roads, flatter terrain, during the weekend), while elk that survived decreased movements and showed avoidance of open areas. Among 77 females (2-19 y.o.), personality traits were less evident and likely confounded by learning because females decreased their movement rate with increasing age. As with males, hunters typically harvested females with bold behavioural traits. Among less-experienced elk (2-9 y.o.), females that moved faster were harvested, while elk that moved slower and avoided open areas survived. Interestingly, movement rate decreased as age increased in those females that survived, but not in those that were eventually harvested. The latter clearly showed lower plasticity and adaptability to the local environment. All females older than 9 y.o. moved more slowly, avoided open areas and survived. Selection on behavioural traits is an important but often-ignored consequence of human exploitation of wild animals. Human hunting could evoke exploitation-induced evolutionary change, which, in turn, might oppose adaptive responses to natural and sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Ciuti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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31
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McDevitt AD, Oliver MK, Piertney SB, Szafrańska PA, Konarzewski M, Zub K. Individual variation in dispersal associated with phenotype influences fine-scale genetic structure in weasels. CONSERV GENET 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-012-0376-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Weckworth BV, Musiani M, McDevitt AD, Hebblewhite M, Mariani S. Reconstruction of caribou evolutionary history in Western North America and its implications for conservation. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:3610-24. [PMID: 22612518 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05621.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The role of Beringia as a refugium and route for trans-continental exchange of fauna during glacial cycles of the past 2million years are well documented; less apparent is its contribution as a significant reservoir of genetic diversity. Using mitochondrial DNA sequences and 14 microsatellite loci, we investigate the phylogeographic history of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in western North America. Patterns of genetic diversity reveal two distinct groups of caribou. Caribou classified as a Northern group, of Beringian origin, exhibited greater number and variability in mtDNA haplotypes compared to a Southern group originating from refugia south of glacial ice. Results indicate that subspecies R. t. granti of Alaska and R. t. groenlandicus of northern Canada do not constitute distinguishable units at mtDNA or microsatellites, belying their current status as separate subspecies. Additionally, the Northern Mountain ecotype of woodland caribou (presently R. t. caribou) has closer kinship to caribou classified as granti or groenlandicus. Comparisons of mtDNA and microsatellite data suggest that behavioural and ecological specialization is a more recently derived life history characteristic. Notably, microsatellite differentiation among Southern herds is significantly greater, most likely as a result of human-induced landscape fragmentation and genetic drift due to smaller population sizes. These results not only provide important insight into the evolutionary history of northern species such as caribou, but also are important indicators for managers evaluating conservation measures for this threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byron V Weckworth
- Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4.
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Searle JB, Kotlík P, Rambau RV, Marková S, Herman JS, McDevitt AD. The Celtic fringe of Britain: insights from small mammal phylogeography. Proc Biol Sci 2009; 276:4287-94. [PMID: 19793757 PMCID: PMC2817114 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.1422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2009] [Accepted: 09/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent genetic studies have challenged the traditional view that the ancestors of British Celtic people spread from central Europe during the Iron Age and have suggested a much earlier origin for them as part of the human recolonization of Britain at the end of the last glaciation. Here we propose that small mammals provide an analogue to help resolve this controversy. Previous studies have shown that common shrews (Sorex araneus) with particular chromosomal characteristics and water voles (Arvicola terrestris) of a specific mitochondrial (mt) DNA lineage have peripheral western/northern distributions with striking similarities to that of Celtic people. We show that mtDNA lineages of three other small mammal species (bank vole Myodes glareolus, field vole Microtus agrestis and pygmy shrew Sorex minutus) also form a 'Celtic fringe'. We argue that these small mammals most reasonably colonized Britain in a two-phase process following the last glacial maximum (LGM), with climatically driven partial replacement of the first colonists by the second colonists, leaving a peripheral geographical distribution for the first colonists. We suggest that these natural Celtic fringes provide insight into the same phenomenon in humans and support its origin in processes following the end of the LGM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Biology, University of York, PO Box 373, York YO105YW, UK.
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McDevitt AD, Edwards CJ, O’Toole P, O’Sullivan P, O’Reilly C, Carden RF. Genetic structure of, and hybridisation between, red (Cervus elaphus) and sika (Cervus nippon) deer in Ireland. Mamm Biol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2009.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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