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Baker KH, Gray HWI, Lister AM, Spassov N, Welch AJ, Trantalidou K, De Cupere B, Bonillas E, De Jong M, Çakırlar C, Sykes N, Hoelzel AR. Ancient and modern DNA track temporal and spatial population dynamics in the European fallow deer since the Eemian interglacial. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3015. [PMID: 38346983 PMCID: PMC10861457 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48112-6] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic factors have impacted the diversity and evolutionary trajectory of various species. This can be through factors such as pressure on population size or range, habitat fragmentation, or extensive manipulation and translocation. Here we use time-calibrated data to better understand the pattern and processes of evolution in the heavily manipulated European fallow deer (Dama dama). During the Pleistocene, fallow deer had a broad distribution across Europe and were found as far north as Britain during the Eemian interglacial. The last glacial period saw fallow deer retreat to southern refugia and they did not disperse north afterwards. Their recolonisation was mediated by people and, from northern Europe and the British Isles, fallow deer were transported around the world. We use ancient and modern mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and mitogenomic data from Eemian Britain to assess the pattern of change in distribution and lineage structure across Europe over time. We find founder effects and mixed lineages in the northern populations, and stability over time for populations in southern Europe. The Eemian sample was most similar to a lineage currently in Italy, suggesting an early establishment of the relevant refuge. We consider the implications for the integration of anthropogenic and natural processes towards a better understanding of the evolution of fallow deer in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- K H Baker
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - H W I Gray
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - A M Lister
- Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - N Spassov
- National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - A J Welch
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - K Trantalidou
- Hellenic Ministry of Culture, 5 Themistokleous Str., 10677, Athens, Greece
| | - B De Cupere
- OD Earth and History of Life, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - E Bonillas
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - M De Jong
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - C Çakırlar
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Poststraat 6, 9712 NL, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - N Sykes
- Department of Archaeology and History, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - A R Hoelzel
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
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