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Reuber VM, Westbury MV, Rey-Iglesia A, Asefa A, Farwig N, Miehe G, Opgenoorth L, Šumbera R, Wraase L, Wube T, Lorenzen ED, Schabo DG. Topographic barriers drive the pronounced genetic subdivision of a range-limited fossorial rodent. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17271. [PMID: 38279205 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17271] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Due to their limited dispersal ability, fossorial species with predominantly belowground activity usually show increased levels of population subdivision across relatively small spatial scales. This may be exacerbated in harsh mountain ecosystems, where landscape geomorphology limits species' dispersal ability and leads to small effective population sizes, making species relatively vulnerable to environmental change. To better understand the environmental drivers of species' population subdivision in remote mountain ecosystems, particularly in understudied high-elevation systems in Africa, we studied the giant root-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus), a fossorial rodent confined to the afro-alpine ecosystem of the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. Using mitochondrial and low-coverage nuclear genomes, we investigated 77 giant root-rat individuals sampled from nine localities across its entire ~1000 km2 range. Our data revealed a distinct division into a northern and southern group, with no signs of gene flow, and higher nuclear genetic diversity in the south. Landscape genetic analyses of the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes indicated that population subdivision was driven by slope and elevation differences of up to 500 m across escarpments separating the north and south, potentially reinforced by glaciation of the south during the Late Pleistocene (~42,000-16,000 years ago). Despite this landscape-scale subdivision between the north and south, weak geographic structuring of sampling localities within regions indicated gene flow across distances of at least 16 km at the local scale, suggesting high, aboveground mobility for relatively long distances. Our study highlights that despite the potential for local-scale gene flow in fossorial species, topographic barriers can result in pronounced genetic subdivision. These factors can reduce genetic variability, which should be considered when developing conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M Reuber
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Addisu Asefa
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Nina Farwig
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Georg Miehe
- Department of Geography, Vegetation Geography, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lars Opgenoorth
- Department of Biology, Plant Ecology & Geobotany, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Luise Wraase
- Department of Geography, Environmental Informatics, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tilaye Wube
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Dana G Schabo
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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2
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Martinez Q, Okrouhlík J, Šumbera R, Wright M, Araújo R, Braude S, Hildebrandt TB, Holtze S, Ruf I, Fabre PH. Mammalian maxilloturbinal evolution does not reflect thermal biology. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4425. [PMID: 37479710 PMCID: PMC10361988 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39994-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of endothermy in vertebrates is a major research topic in recent decades that has been tackled by a myriad of research disciplines including paleontology, anatomy, physiology, evolutionary and developmental biology. The ability of most mammals to maintain a relatively constant and high body temperature is considered a key adaptation, enabling them to successfully colonize new habitats and harsh environments. It has been proposed that in mammals the anterior nasal cavity, which houses the maxilloturbinal, plays a pivotal role in body temperature maintenance, via a bony system supporting an epithelium involved in heat and moisture conservation. The presence and the relative size of the maxilloturbinal has been proposed to reflect the endothermic conditions and basal metabolic rate in extinct vertebrates. We show that there is no evidence to relate the origin of endothermy and the development of some turbinal bones by using a comprehensive dataset of µCT-derived maxilloturbinals spanning most mammalian orders. Indeed, we demonstrate that neither corrected basal metabolic rate nor body temperature significantly correlate with the relative surface area of the maxilloturbinal. Instead, we identify important variations in the relative surface area, morpho-anatomy, and complexity of the maxilloturbinal across the mammalian phylogeny and species ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Martinez
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution (ISEM, UMR 5554 CNRS-IRD-UM), Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon - CC 064 - 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, Montpellier, France.
- Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, DE-70191, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Mark Wright
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution (ISEM, UMR 5554 CNRS-IRD-UM), Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon - CC 064 - 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, Montpellier, France
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology & Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Ricardo Araújo
- Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Stan Braude
- Biology Department, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Thomas B Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Instiute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz-Instiute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Irina Ruf
- Abteilung Messelforschung und Mammalogie, Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Pierre-Henri Fabre
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution (ISEM, UMR 5554 CNRS-IRD-UM), Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon - CC 064 - 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, Montpellier, France
- Mammal Section, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, SW7 5DB, London, United Kingdom
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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Šumbera R, Lövy M, Nevo E, Okrouhlík J. Thermal biology in the Upper Galili Mountain blind mole rat (Nannospalax galili) and an overview of spalacine energetics. J Therm Biol 2023; 115:103618. [PMID: 37399744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103618] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Several hundred mammalian species thrive in complex burrow systems, which protect them from climatic extremes and predation. At the same time, it is also a stressful environment due to low food supply, high humidity, and, in some cases, a hypoxic and hypercapnic atmosphere. To face such conditions, subterranean rodents have convergently evolved low basal metabolic rate, high minimal thermal conductance and low body temperature. Although these parameters have been intensively studied in the last decades, such information is far from being well-known in one of the most studied groups of subterranean rodents, the blind mole rats of the genus Nannospalax. The lack of information is particularly noticeable for parameters such as the upper critical temperature and the width of the thermoneutral zone. In our study, we analysed the energetics of the Upper Galilee Mountain blind mole rat Nannospalax galili and found its basal metabolic rate of 0.84 ± 0.10 mL O2×g-1 × h-1, thermoneutral zone between 28 and 35 °C, mean Tb within the zone of 36.3 ± 0.6 °C, and minimal thermal conductance equal to 0.082 mL O2×g-1 × h-1 × C-1. Nannospalax galili is a truly homeothermic rodent well adapted to face lower ambient temperatures, because its Tb was stable down to the lowest temperature measured (10 °C). At the same time, a relatively high basal metabolic rate and relatively low minimal thermal conductance for a subterranean rodent of such body mass, and the difficulty of surviving ambient temperatures slightly above upper critical temperature, indicates problems with sufficient heat dissipation at higher temperatures. This can easily lead to overheating, that is relevant mainly during the hot-dry season. These findings suggest that N. galili can be threatened by ongoing global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Šumbera R, Uhrová M, Begall S, Caspar KR, Jerkovičová D, Van Daele P, Chitaukali WN, Faulkes CG, Bennett NC, Johannes C, Burda H, Mikula O. The biology of an isolated Mashona mole-rat population from southern Malawi, with implications for the diversity and biogeography of the genus Fukomys. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-023-00604-z] [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: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe Mashona mole-rat, Fukomys darlingi (Thomas, 1895), is a little studied social African mole-rat (Bathyergidae) from south-astern Africa. Here, we present an integrative study characterizing the genetic diversity of populations assigned to F. darlingi with special focus on animals from Nsanje, southern Malawi. These mole-rats show pronounced differences in body mass and general appearance compared to nominate F. darlingi from Zimbabwe and Mozambique, but their taxonomic status has so far remained unclear. A genetic analysis encompassing all major lineages of the genus Fukomys suggests that this population indeed represents a deeply nested lineage within the F. darlingi clade. The karyotype of the Nsanje mole-rats also corresponds to that of the nominate form, being 2n = 54. While both nuclear and mitochondrial data agree about the assignment of the Nsanje mole-rats to F. darlingi, our analyses revealed substantial mitonuclear discordance for other branches within the Fukomys phylogenetic tree. Nsanje mole-rats are significantly larger than nominate F. darlingi and their ontogeny and reproduction closely resemble similar-sized congeneric species rather than the nominate population. The somatic growth of the Nsanje form is the slowest of all African mole-rats. The maximum life span of F. darlingi is at least 19 years. The observed differences between nominate F. darlingi and mole-rats from Nsanje may be attributed mainly to their different body mass. Our study highlights the advantages of an integrative approach for understanding the diversity of African mole-rats and emphasizes the great intraspecific variability that may be encountered in these underground-dwelling rodents.
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Vavrušková Z, Okrouhlík J, Šumbera R. Together or alone? Huddling energetic savings in three social mole-rat species of genus Fukomys. A dispersal perspective. J Therm Biol 2022; 110:103385. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103385] [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] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Dammann P, Šaffa G, Šumbera R. Longevity of a solitary mole-rat species and its implications for the assumed link between sociality and longevity in African mole-rats (Bathyergidae). Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220243. [PMID: 36416033 PMCID: PMC9682431 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sociality and cooperative breeding are associated with enhanced longevity in insects and birds, but whether this is also true for mammals is still subject to debate. African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) have recently been claimed to be the only mammalian family in which such an association may exist because cooperatively breeding bathyergids seem to be substantially longer lived than solitary bathyergids. However, although ample longevity data are available for several social bathyergids, almost nothing is known about mortality distribution and lifespan in solitary bathyergids. Here we present robust long-term data on the longevity of a solitary African mole-rat, the silvery mole-rat Heliophobius argenteocinereus. Our findings show that this species is much longer-lived than previously believed. Nonetheless, our comparative analysis suggests that sociality has indeed a positive effect on longevity in this family. We argue that the extreme longevity seen particularly in social bathyergids is probably caused by a combination of subterranean lifestyle and cooperative breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Dammann
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
- Central Animal Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - G. Šaffa
- Faculty of Science, University of Southern Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - R. Šumbera
- Faculty of Science, University of Southern Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Montoya-Sanhueza G, Bennett NC, Chinsamy A, Šumbera R. Functional anatomy and disparity of the postcranial skeleton of African mole-rats (Bathyergidae). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.857474] [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: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The burrowing adaptations of the appendicular system of African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) have been comparatively less investigated than their cranial adaptations. Because bathyergids exhibit different digging modes (scratch-digging and chisel-tooth digging) and social systems (from solitary to highly social), they are a unique group to assess the effects of distinct biomechanical regimes and social organization on morphology. We investigated the morphological diversity and intraspecific variation of the appendicular system of a large dataset of mole-rats (n = 244) including seven species and all six bathyergid genera. Seventeen morpho-functional indices from stylopodial (femur, humerus) and zeugopodial (ulna, tibia-fibula) elements were analyzed with multivariate analysis. We hypothesized that scratch-diggers (i.e., Bathyergus) would exhibit a more specialized skeletal phenotype favoring powerful forelimb digging as compared to the chisel-tooth diggers, and that among chisel-tooth diggers, the social taxa will exhibit decreased limb bone specializations as compared to solitary taxa due to colony members sharing the costs of digging. Our results show that most bathyergids have highly specialized fossorial traits, although such specializations were not more developed in Bathyergus (or solitary species), as predicted. Most chisel tooth-diggers are equally, or more specialized than scratch-diggers. Heterocephalus glaber contrasted significantly from other bathyergids, presenting a surprisingly less specialized fossorial morphology. Our data suggests that despite our expectations, chisel-tooth diggers have a suite of appendicular adaptations that have allowed them to maximize different aspects of burrowing, including shoulder and neck support for forward force production, transport and removal of soils out of the burrow, and bidirectional locomotion. It is probably that both postcranial and cranial adaptations in bathyergids have played an important role in the successful colonization of a wide range of habitats and soil conditions within their present distribution.
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Lövy M, Boratyński Z, Okrouhlík J, Svačinová L, Meheretu Y, Šumbera R. Alternative highland adaptations: organ masses and fur insulation in Afroalpine rodents. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Z. Boratyński
- BIOPOLIS, CIBIO/InBio, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources University of Porto Vairão Portugal
| | - J. Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - L. Svačinová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Y. Meheretu
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research & Development Mekelle University Mekelle Ethiopia
- Department of Wildlife, Fish & Environmental Studies Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
| | - R. Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
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9
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Kraus A, Lövy M, Mikula O, Okrouhlík J, Bennett NC, Herrel A, Šumbera R. Bite force in the strictly subterranean rodent family of African mole‐rats (Bathyergidae): the role of digging mode, social organisation, and ecology. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kraus
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant UMR 7179 MECADEV C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée Paris France
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
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Montoya-Sanhueza G, Šaffa G, Šumbera R, Chinsamy A, Jarvis JUM, Bennett NC. Fossorial adaptations in African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) and the unique appendicular phenotype of naked mole-rats. Commun Biol 2022; 5:526. [PMID: 35650336 PMCID: PMC9159980 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Life underground has constrained the evolution of subterranean mammals to maximize digging performance. However, the mechanisms modulating morphological change and development of fossorial adaptations in such taxa are still poorly known. We assessed the morpho-functional diversity and early postnatal development of fossorial adaptations (bone superstructures) in the appendicular system of the African mole-rats (Bathyergidae), a highly specialized subterranean rodent family. Although bathyergids can use claws or incisors for digging, all genera presented highly specialized bone superstructures associated with scratch-digging behavior. Surprisingly, Heterocephalus glaber differed substantially from other bathyergids, and from fossorial mammals by possessing a less specialized humerus, tibia and fibula. Our data suggest strong functional and developmental constraints driving the selection of limb specializations in most bathyergids, but more relaxed pressures acting on the limbs of H. glaber. A combination of historical, developmental and ecological factors in Heterocephalus are hypothesized to have played important roles in shaping its appendicular phenotype. Morphological and developmental analyses demonstrated that the naked mole-rats are the least anatomically specialized bathyergid for scratch-digging. Developmental, ecological and historical factors may be involved in such peculiar phenotype
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Montoya-Sanhueza
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic. .,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rhodes Gift 7701, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Gabriel Šaffa
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Anusuya Chinsamy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rhodes Gift 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jennifer U M Jarvis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rhodes Gift 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Krásová J, Mikula O, Lavrenchenko LA, Šumbera R, Meheretu Y, Bryja J. A new rodent species of the genus Mus (Rodentia: Muridae) confirms the biogeographical uniqueness of the isolated forests of southern Ethiopia. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-022-00539-x] [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: 10/19/2022]
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Cuypers LN, Sabuni C, Šumbera R, Aghová T, Lišková E, Leirs H, Baird SJE, Goüy de Bellocq J, Bryja J. Biogeographical Importance of the Livingstone Mountains in Southern Tanzania: Comparative Genetic Structure of Small Non-volant Mammals. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.742851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Livingstone Mountains (LM; also known as the Kipengere Range) found in south-western Tanzania at the northern end of Lake Nyasa are an important region for understanding the biogeography of Eastern Africa. The two branches of the East African Rift Valley meet here and the mountains might represent stepping stones for colonization and migration between different parts of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot (especially the link between the Eastern Arc Mountains, EAM, and the Southern Rift Mountains, SRM), as well as an efficient barrier to gene flow for taxa living in drier savannahs in lower elevations. Here we combine new mitochondrial sequence data from 610 recently sampled rodents and shrews with available georeferenced genetic data (3538 specimens) from southern Tanzania, northern Malawi/Zambia and northern Mozambique and compare the spatial genetic structure among different taxa. There is no universal phylogeographic pattern in taxa preferring humid montane habitats. For some of them, the Makambako Gap acts as a barrier between the SRM and the EAM, but other taxa can bridge this gap. Barriers within the EAM (frequently) and within the SRM (sometimes) appear more important. The Rukwa rift between the SRM and the ARM is an important barrier that perhaps can only be crossed by taxa that are not that strictly tied to humid montane environments. For mammals living in lower-elevation savannah-like habitats, the LM can act as a strict barrier to gene flow, and together with the Ufipa Plateau, Lake Nyasa and the EAM create a very similar phylogeographic pattern with three recognizable genetic groups in most savannah-dwellers. The Livingstone Mountains thus appear to be one of the most important biogeographic crossroads in Eastern Africa.
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Hánová A, Konečný A, Mikula O, Bryjová A, Šumbera R, Bryja J. Diversity, distribution, and evolutionary history of the most studied African rodents, multimammate mice of the genus
Mastomys
: An overview after a quarter of century of using DNA sequencing. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Hánová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Adam Konečný
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Brno Czech Republic
| | - Anna Bryjová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Brno Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
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Krásová J, Mikula O, Bryja J, Baptista NL, António T, Aghová T, Šumbera R. Biogeography of Angolan rodents: The first glimpse based on phylogenetic evidence. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jarmila Krásová
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Ninda L. Baptista
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação da Huíla (ISCED‐Huíla) Lubango Angola
- CIBIO‐InBIO Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos GenéticosUniversidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
| | - Telmo António
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação da Huíla (ISCED‐Huíla) Lubango Angola
| | - Tatiana Aghová
- Centre of OncocytogenomicsInstitute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory DiagnosticsGeneral University Hospital and First Faculty of MedicineCharles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
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15
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Uhrová M, Mikula O, Bennett NC, Van Daele P, Piálek L, Bryja J, Visser JH, Jansen van Vuuren B, Šumbera R. Species limits and phylogeographic structure in two genera of solitary African mole-rats Georychus and Heliophobius. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 167:107337. [PMID: 34757170 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107337] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) are an intensively studied family of subterranean rodents including three highly social and three solitary genera. Although their phylogenetic interrelations are clear, genetic diversity and the number of species within each genus is much less certain. Among the solitary genera, Heliophobius and Georychus were for a long time considered as monotypic, but molecular studies demonstrated strong phylogeographic structure within each genus and proposed that they represent complexes of cryptic species. The present study re-evaluates their internal genetic/phylogenetic structure using a combination of methodological approaches. We generated datasets of one mitochondrial and six specifically selected nuclear markers as well as of a large number of double digest restriction site associated (ddRAD) loci and then applied species delimitation analyses based on the multispecies coalescent model or clustering on co-ancestry matrices. The population structure was largely congruent across all analyses, but the methods differed in their resolution scale when determining distinct gene pools. While the multispecies coalescent model distinguished five Georychus and between eleven to thirteen Heliophobius gene pools in both Sanger sequenced and ddRAD loci, two clustering algorithms revealed significantly finer or coarser structure in ddRAD based co-ancestry matrices. Tens of clusters were distinguished by fineRADstructure and one (in Georychus) or two clusters (in Heliophobius) by Infomap. The divergence dating of the bathyergid phylogeny estimated that diversification within both genera coincided with the onset of the Pleistocene and was likely driven by repeated large-scale climatic changes. Based on this updated genetic evidence, we suggest recognizing one species of Georychus and two species of Heliophobius, corresponding to a northern and southern major lineage, separated by the Eastern Arc Mountains. Yet, the final taxonomic revision should await integrated evidence stemming from e.g.. morphological, ecological, or behavioral datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Uhrová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia
| | - O Mikula
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia; Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences
| | - N C Bennett
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - P Van Daele
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia
| | - L Piálek
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia
| | - J Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences
| | - J H Visser
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Conservation and Marine Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
| | - B Jansen van Vuuren
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - R Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia
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16
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Luna F, Okrouhlík J, McKechnie AE, Bennett NC, Šumbera R. Non‐shivering thermogenesis in four species of African mole‐rats differing in their sociality. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Luna
- Laboratorio de Ecología Fisiológica y del Comportamiento Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC) CONICET‐UNMdP Mar del Plata Argentina
| | - J. Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology and Entomology Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - A. E. McKechnie
- Department of Zoology and Entomology Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
- South African Research Chair in Conservation Physiology South African National Biodiversity Institute Pretoria South Africa
| | - N. C. Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - R. Šumbera
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
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17
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Reuber VM, Rey-Iglesia A, Westbury MV, Cabrera AA, Farwig N, Skovrind M, Šumbera R, Wube T, Opgenoorth L, Schabo DG, Lorenzen ED. Complete mitochondrial genome of the giant root-rat ( Tachyoryctes macrocephalus). Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2021; 6:2191-2193. [PMID: 34263047 PMCID: PMC8253177 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2021.1944388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The endangered giant root-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, also known as giant mole rat) is a fossorial rodent endemic to the afro-alpine grasslands of the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. The species is an important ecosystem engineer with the majority of the global population found within 1000 km2. Here, we present the first complete mitochondrial genome of the giant root-rat and the genus Tachyoryctes, recovered using shotgun sequencing and iterative mapping. A phylogenetic analysis including 15 other representatives of the family Spalacidae placed Tachyoryctes as sister genus to Rhizomys with high support. This position is in accordance with a recent study revealing the topology of the Spalacidae family. The full mitochondrial genome of the giant root-rat presents an important resource for further population genetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M. Reuber
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Alba Rey-Iglesia
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael V. Westbury
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrea A. Cabrera
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nina Farwig
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Mikkel Skovrind
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tilaye Wube
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lars Opgenoorth
- Department of Biology, Plant Ecology & Geobotany, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dana G. Schabo
- Department of Biology, Conservation Ecology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Eline D. Lorenzen
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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18
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Nicolas V, Mikula O, Lavrenchenko LA, Šumbera R, Bartáková V, Bryjová A, Meheretu Y, Verheyen E, Missoup AD, Lemmon AR, Moriarty Lemmon E, Bryja J. Phylogenomics of African radiation of Praomyini (Muridae: Murinae) rodents: First fully resolved phylogeny, evolutionary history and delimitation of extant genera. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 163:107263. [PMID: 34273505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The tribe Praomyini is a diversified group including 64 species and eight extant rodent genera. They live in a broad spectrum of habitats across whole sub-Saharan Africa. Members of this tribe are often very abundant, they have a key ecological role in ecosystems, they are hosts of many potentially pathogenic microorganisms and comprise numerous agricultural pests. Although this tribe is well supported by both molecular and morphological data, its intergeneric relationships and the species contents of several genera are not yet fully resolved. Recent molecular data suggest that at least three genera in current sense are paraphyletic. However, in these studies the species sampling was sparse and the resolution of relationships among genera was poor, probably due to a fast radiation of the tribe dated to the Miocene and insufficient amount of genetic data. Here we used genomic scale data (395 nuclear loci = 610,965 bp long alignment and mitogenomes = 14,745 bp) and produced the first fully resolved species tree containing most major lineages of the Praomyini tribe (i.e. all but one currently delimited genera and major intrageneric clades). Results of a fossil-based divergence dating analysis suggest that the radiation started during the Messinian stage (ca. 7 Ma) and was likely linked to a fragmentation of the pan-African Miocene forest. Some lineages remained in the rain forests, while many others adapted to a broad spectrum of new open lowland and montane habitats that appeared at the beginning of Pliocene. Our analyses clearly confirmed the presence of three polyphyletic genera (Praomys, Myomyscus and Mastomys). We review current knowledge of these three genera and suggest corresponding taxonomic changes. To keep genera monophyletic, we propose taxonomic re-arrangements and delimit four new genera. Furthermore, we discovered a new highly divergent genetic lineage of Praomyini in southwestern Ethiopia, which is described as a new species and genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violaine Nicolas
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP51, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Leonid A Lavrenchenko
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 33, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Bartáková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Bryjová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Yonas Meheretu
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research and Development, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia
| | - Erik Verheyen
- Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, Operational Direction Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; Evolutionary Ecology Group, Biology Department, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Alain Didier Missoup
- Zoology Unit, Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Alan R Lemmon
- Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, Dirac Science Library, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295, United States
| | - Emily Moriarty Lemmon
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, PO Box 3064295, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295, United States
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic.
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19
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Pleštilová L, Hrouzková E, Burda H, Meheretu Y, Šumbera R. Ear morphology in two root-rat species (genus Tachyoryctes) differing in the degree of fossoriality. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2021; 207:469-478. [PMID: 33956210 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-021-01489-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
It is supposed that the subterranean lifestyle in mammals is reflected in ear morphology and tuning of hearing to low frequencies. We studied two root-rat species to see if their ear morphology reflects the difference in the amount of their surface activity. Whereas the more subterranean Tachyoryctes splendens possesses shorter pinnae as expected, it has smaller bullae compared to the more epigeic Tachyoryctes macrocephalus. The ratio between the eardrum and the stapedial footplate area and the ratio between the mallear and the incudal lever were lower in T. splendens (19.3 ± 0.3 and 1.9 ± 0.0, respectively) than in T. macrocephalus (21.8 ± 0.6 and 2.1 ± 0.1), probably reflecting the latter's higher surface activity. The cochlea in both species has 3.5 coils, yet the basilar membrane is longer in the smaller T. splendens (13.0 ± 0.5 versus 11.4 ± 0.7 mm), which indicates its wider hearing range and/or higher sensitivity (to some frequencies). In both root-rat species, the highest density of outer hair cells (OHC) was in the apical part of the cochlea, while the highest density of inner hair cells (IHC) was in its middle part. This OHC density pattern corresponds with good low-frequency hearing, whereas the IHC pattern suggests sensitivity to higher frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Pleštilová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, 1760, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Ema Hrouzková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, 1760, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hynek Burda
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, 16521, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Mekelle, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, 1760, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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20
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Komarova VA, Kostin DS, Bryja J, Mikula O, Bryjová A, Čížková D, Šumbera R, Meheretu Y, Lavrenchenko LA. Complex reticulate evolution of speckled brush-furred rats (Lophuromys) in the Ethiopian centre of endemism. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2349-2365. [PMID: 33738874 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The Ethiopian highlands represent a remarkable biodiversity 'hot spot' with a very high number of endemic species, even among vertebrates. Ethiopian representatives of a species complex of speckled brush-furred rats (Lophuromys flavopunctatus sensu lato) inhabit highland habitats ranging from low-elevation forests to Afroalpine grasslands. These may serve as a suitable model for understanding evolutionary processes leading to high genetic and ecological diversity in montane biodiversity hot spots. Here, we analyse the most comprehensive genetic data set of this group, comprising 315 specimens (all nine putative Ethiopian Lophuromys taxa sampled across most of their distribution ranges) genotyped at one mitochondrial and four nuclear markers, and thousands of SNPs from ddRAD sequencing. We performed phylogenetic analyses, delimited species and mapped their distribution and estimated divergence time between species (under the species-tree framework) and mitochondrial lineages. We found significant incongruence between mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies, most probably caused by multiple interspecific introgression events. We discuss alternative scenarios of Ethiopian Lophuromys evolution, from retention of ancestral polymorphism to hybridization upon secondary contact of partially reproductively isolated lineages leading to reticulate evolution. Finally, we use the diversity of the speckled brush-furred rats for the description of the main biogeographic patterns in the fauna of the Ethiopian highlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria A Komarova
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Danila S Kostin
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Bryjová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dagmar Čížková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research and Development, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia
| | - Leonid A Lavrenchenko
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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21
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Voelker G, Huntley JW, Bryja J, Denys C, Šumbera R, Demos TC, Lavrenchenko L, Nicolas V, Gnoske TP, Kerbis Peterhans JC. Molecular systematics and biogeographic history of the African climbing-mouse complex (Dendromus). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 161:107166. [PMID: 33798668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107166] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Climbing mice in the genus Dendromus (sensu lato) are widely distributed in Africa, south of the Saharan Desert. The 17 currently recognized species in the genus range from widespread taxa to single-mountain endemics, and there is considerable variation across species with respect to habitats occupied. These habitats range from arid grasslands and savannahs to sub-alpine and alpine vegetation. Using the most comprehensive geographic and genetic survey to date and after reviewing many type specimens, we assess the systematics and biogeography of Dendromus. Given the structure of our molecular phylogenetic hypotheses, in which we recover six major clades, we propose the recognition of three genera within the Dendromus group (sensu lato): in addition to Dendromus (26 lineages), we suggest the retention of Megadendromus (monotypic) and the resurrection of the genus Poemys (six lineages). From our model-based molecular phylogenetic results and morphological comparisons, we suggest that six formerly synonymized taxa should be resurrected, and we highlight 14 previously undescribed lineages. We also constructed time-calibrations on our phylogeny, and performed ancestral area reconstructions using BioGeoBEARS. Based on fossil evidence, Dendromus appears to have had a widespread African distribution dating back to the Late Miocene (8-10 Ma), and our basal ancestral area reconstruction (Ethiopians Highlands + Eastern African Mountains + Zambezian region) supports this. Divergence of the six major clades we recover (Poemys, Megadendromus and four within Dendromus) occurred prior to or at the Miocene-Pliocene boundary 5.3 Ma. Biogeographically, Megadendromus is restricted to the Ethiopian Highlands. The ancestral area for Poemys is reconstructed as the Zambezian region, with species distributions ranging from South Africa to Western Africa. The ancestral area for Dendromus is reconstructed as the Ethiopian Highlands, with the ancestral areas of the four major clades being reconstructed as Ethiopian Highlands, Albertine Rift, South Africa or Western Africa. None of the four Dendromus clades are reciprocally monophyletic with respect to distributional area.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Voelker
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States.
| | - J W Huntley
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - J Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - C Denys
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP51, 75005 Paris, France
| | - R Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - T C Demos
- Science and Education, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
| | - L Lavrenchenko
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - V Nicolas
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP51, 75005 Paris, France
| | - T P Gnoske
- Science and Education, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
| | - J C Kerbis Peterhans
- Science and Education, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, United States; College of Arts & Sciences, Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
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22
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Krásová J, Mikula O, Šumbera R, Horáková S, Robovský J, Kostin DS, Martynov AA, Lavrenchenko LA, Bryja J. The Rufous Sengi is not
Elephantulus
—Multilocus reconstruction of evolutionary history of sengis from the subfamily Macroscelidinae. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jarmila Krásová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Sylvie Horáková
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Jan Robovský
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Danila S. Kostin
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Aleksey A. Martynov
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Leonid A. Lavrenchenko
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
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23
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Vejmělka F, Okrouhlík J, Lövy M, Šaffa G, Nevo E, Bennett NC, Šumbera R. Heat dissipation in subterranean rodents: the role of body region and social organisation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2029. [PMID: 33479351 PMCID: PMC7820455 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81404-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The relatively warm and very humid environment of burrows presents a challenge for thermoregulation of its mammalian inhabitants. It was found that African mole-rats dissipate body heat mainly through their venter, and social mole-rats dissipate more body heat compared to solitary species at lower temperatures. In addition, the pattern of the ventral surface temperature was suggested to be homogeneous in social mole-rats compared to a heterogeneous pattern in solitary mole-rats. To investigate this for subterranean rodents generally, we measured the surface temperatures of seven species with different degrees of sociality, phylogeny, and climate using infrared thermography. In all species, heat dissipation occurred mainly through the venter and the feet. Whereas the feet dissipated body heat at higher ambient temperatures and conserved it at lower ambient temperatures, the ventral surface temperature was relatively high in all temperatures indicating that heat dissipation to the environment through this body region is regulated mainly by behavioural means. Solitary species dissipated less heat through their dorsum than social species, and a tendency for this pattern was observed for the venter. The pattern of heterogeneity of surface temperature through the venter was not related to sociality of the various species. Our results demonstrate a general pattern of body heat exchange through the three studied body regions in subterranean rodents. Besides, isolated individuals of social species are less able to defend themselves against low ambient temperatures, which may handicap them if staying alone for a longer period, such as during and after dispersal events.
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Affiliation(s)
- František Vejmělka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriel Šaffa
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nigel Charles Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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24
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Mikula O, Nicolas V, Šumbera R, Konečný A, Denys C, Verheyen E, Bryjová A, Lemmon AR, Moriarty Lemmon E, Bryja J. Nuclear phylogenomics, but not mitogenomics, resolves the most successful Late Miocene radiation of African mammals (Rodentia: Muridae: Arvicanthini). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 157:107069. [PMID: 33421615 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The tribe Arvicanthini (Muridae: Murinae) is a highly diversified group of rodents (ca. 100 species) and with 18 African genera (plus one Asiatic) represents probably the most successful adaptive radiation of extant mammals in Africa. They colonized a broad spectrum of habitats (from rainforests to semi-deserts) in whole sub-Saharan Africa and their members often belong to most abundant parts of mammal communities. Despite intensive efforts, the phylogenetic relationships among major lineages (i.e. genera) remained obscured, which was likely caused by the intensive radiation of the group, dated to the Late Miocene. Here we used genomic scale data (377 nuclear loci; 581,030 bp) and produced the first fully resolved species tree containing all currently delimited genera of the tribe. Mitogenomes were also extracted, and while the results were largely congruent, there was less resolution at basal nodes of the mitochondrial phylogeny. Results of a fossil-based divergence dating analysis suggest that the African radiation started early after the colonization of Africa by a single arvicanthine ancestor from Asia during the Messinian stage (ca. 7 Ma), and was likely linked with a fragmentation of the pan-African Miocene forest. Some lineages remained in the rain forest, while many others successfully colonized broad spectrum of new open habitats (e.g. savannas, wetlands or montane moorlands) that appeared at the beginning of Pliocene. One lineage even evolved partially arboricolous life style in savanna woodlands, which allowed them to re-colonize equatorial forests. We also discuss delimitation of genera in Arvicanthini and propose corresponding taxonomic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Violaine Nicolas
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP51, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Adam Konečný
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Christiane Denys
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP51, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Erik Verheyen
- Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, Operational Direction Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; Evolutionary Ecology Group, Biology Department, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Anna Bryjová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alan R Lemmon
- Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, Dirac Science Library, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295, United States
| | - Emily Moriarty Lemmon
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, PO Box 3064295, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295, United States
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Okrouhlík J, Šumbera R, Gardner B, Schoemann K, Lövy M, Bennett NC. Are southern African solitary mole-rats homeothermic or heterothermic under natural field conditions? J Therm Biol 2020; 95:102810. [PMID: 33454040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Abandoning of a stable body temperature (Tb), a phenomenon known as heterothermy, is an adaptation to cope mainly with a lack of food and water, especially in species inhabiting daily or seasonally variable environments. There is increasing evidence that African mammals avoid adverse conditions by heterothermy and eventually by entering torpor. Members of subterranean rodent family, the African mole-rats (Bathyergidae), are suitable candidates to study both phenomena, because of the diversity of their strategies in respect of maintaining stable Tb ranging from homeothermic species to a mammal with the most labile Tb, the naked mole-rat. Currently, there are field data on daily and seasonal Tb in one social species only and such information are lacking for any solitary mole-rat. In our study, we recorded yearly Tb in two solitary bathyergids, the Cape mole-rat Georychus capensis and the Cape dune mole-rat Bathyergus suillus from South Africa using intraperitoneally implanted dataloggers. Since this region is characterised by changing ecological characteristics, we expected either decreases of Tb within 24 h indicating daily torpor and/or longer-term decreases of Tb, which would indicate multiday torpor. Although we found seasonally phase shifted low amplitude daily Tb cycles, we did not find any remarkable and regular daily and/or seasonal Tb deviations, likely showing an absence of torpor in both species. Due to absence of this energy saving mechanism, we may speculate that both species could be vulnerable to ongoing global climatic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Okrouhlík
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Brett Gardner
- Werribee Open Range Zoo, Veterinary Hospital, Zoos Victoria, K Road, Werribee, Victoria, 3029, Australia
| | - Keegan Schoemann
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Nigel Charles Bennett
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Hánová A, Konečný A, Nicolas V, Denys C, Granjon L, Lavrenchenko LA, Šumbera R, Mikula O, Bryja J. Multilocus phylogeny of African striped grass mice (Lemniscomys): Stripe pattern only partly reflects evolutionary relationships. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 155:107007. [PMID: 33160039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.107007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Murine rodents are one of the most evolutionary successful groups of extant mammals. They are also important for human as vectors and reservoirs of zoonoses and agricultural pests. Unfortunately, their fast and relatively recent diversification impedes our understanding of phylogenetic relationships and species limits of many murine taxa, including those with very conspicuous phenotype that has been frequently used for taxonomic purposes. One of such groups are the striped grass mice (genus Lemniscomys), distributed across sub-Saharan Africa in 11 currently recognized species. These are traditionally classified into three morphological groups according to different pelage colouration on the back: (a) L. barbarus group (three species) with several continuous pale longitudinal stripes; (b) L. striatus group (four species) with pale stripes diffused into short lines or dots; and (c) L. griselda group (four species) with a single mid-dorsal black stripe. Here we reconstructed the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the genus Lemniscomys to date, using the largest currently available multi-locus genetic dataset of all but two species. The results show four main lineages (=species complexes) with the distribution corresponding to the major biogeographical regions of Africa. Surprisingly, the four phylogenetic lineages are only in partial agreement with the morphological classification, suggesting that the single-stripe and/or multi-striped phenotypes evolved independently in multiple lineages. Divergence dating showed the split of Lemniscomys and Arvicanthis genera at the beginning of Pleistocene; most of subsequent speciation processes within Lemniscomys were affected by Pleistocene climate oscillations, with predominantly allopatric diversification in fragmented savanna biome. We propose taxonomic suggestions and directions for future research of this striking group of African rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Hánová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Adam Konečný
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Violaine Nicolas
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP51, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Christiane Denys
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP51, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Laurent Granjon
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier, 755 avenue du Campus Agropolis, CS 30016, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, France.
| | - Leonid A Lavrenchenko
- Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 33, Moscow 119071, Russia.
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Braude S, Holtze S, Begall S, Brenmoehl J, Burda H, Dammann P, Marmol D, Gorshkova E, Henning Y, Hoeflich A, Höhn A, Jung T, Hamo D, Sahm A, Shebzukhov Y, Šumbera R, Miwa S, Vyssokikh MY, Zglinicki T, Averina O, Hildebrandt TB. Surprisingly long survival of premature conclusions about naked mole‐rat biology. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:376-393. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stan Braude
- Biology Department Washington University, One Brookings Drive St. Louis MO 63130 U.S.A
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Department of Reproduction Management Leibniz‐Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin 10315 Germany
| | - Sabine Begall
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology University of Duisburg‐Essen, Universitätsstr Essen 45147 Germany
| | - Julia Brenmoehl
- Institute for Genome Biology Leibniz‐Institute for Farm Animal Biology Dummerstorf 18196 Germany
| | - Hynek Burda
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Praha 16500 Czech Republic
| | - Philip Dammann
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology University of Duisburg‐Essen, Universitätsstr Essen 45147 Germany
- University Hospital Essen Hufelandstr Essen 45141 Germany
| | - Delphine Marmol
- Molecular Physiology Research Unit (URPhyM), NARILIS University of Namur Namur 5000 Belgium
| | - Ekaterina Gorshkova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova str. 32 Moscow 119991 Russia
- Faculty of Biology Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow 119991 Russia
| | - Yoshiyuki Henning
- University Hospital Essen Hufelandstr Essen 45141 Germany
- Institute of Physiology Department of General Zoology University of Duisburg Essen Germany
| | - Andreas Hoeflich
- Division Signal Transduction Institute for Genome Biology, Leibniz‐Institute for Farm Animal Biology, FBN Dummerstorf, Wilhelm‐Stahl‐Allee 2 Dummerstorf 18196 Germany
| | - Annika Höhn
- Department of Molecular Toxicology German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE) Potsdam‐Rehbrücke Nuthetal 14558 Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) München‐Neuherberg 85764 Germany
| | - Tobias Jung
- Department of Molecular Toxicology German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE) Potsdam‐Rehbrücke Nuthetal 14558 Germany
| | - Dania Hamo
- Charité ‐ Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) Berlin 13353 Germany
- German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin (DRFZ) Berlin 10117 Germany
| | - Arne Sahm
- Computational Biology Group Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute Jena 07745 Germany
| | - Yury Shebzukhov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova str. 32 Moscow 119991 Russia
- Charité ‐ Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) Berlin 13353 Germany
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice 37005 Czech Republic
| | - Satomi Miwa
- Biosciences Institute, Edwardson building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL U.K
| | - Mikhail Y. Vyssokikh
- Belozersky Institute of Physico‐Chemical Biology Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow 119991 Russia
| | - Thomas Zglinicki
- Biosciences Institute, Edwardson building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL U.K
| | - Olga Averina
- Belozersky Institute of Physico‐Chemical Biology Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow 119991 Russia
| | - Thomas B. Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management Leibniz‐Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin 10315 Germany
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Mizerovská D, Mikula O, Meheretu Y, Bartáková V, Bryjová A, Kostin DS, Šumbera R, Lavrenchenko LA, Bryja J. Integrative taxonomic revision of the Ethiopian endemic rodent genus Stenocephalemys (Muridae: Murinae: Praomyini) with the description of two new species. Journal of Vertebrate Biology 2020. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.20031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Mizerovská
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail: , , , ,
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail: , , , ,
| | - Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research and Development, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; e-mail:
| | - Veronika Bartáková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail: , , , ,
| | - Anna Bryjová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail: , , , ,
| | - Danila S. Kostin
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; e-mail: ,
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Leonid A. Lavrenchenko
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; e-mail: ,
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail: , , , ,
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Šumbera R, Lövy M, Marino J, Šimek M, Šklíba J. Gas composition and its daily changes within burrows and nests of an Afroalpine fossorial rodent, the giant root-rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus. ZOOLOGY 2020; 142:125819. [PMID: 32750648 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2020.125819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Fossorial mammals are supposed to face hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions, but such conditions have been rarely encountered in their natural burrow systems. Gas composition in burrows after heavy rains, deeper burrows and especially nest chambers, where animals usually spend most of the day, could be even more challenging than in shallow burrows. Such situations, however, have been rarely surveyed in the wild. In our study, we determined concentrations of O2, CO2 and CH4 in active burrows and nests of the giant root-rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, a large fossorial rodent endemic to the Afroalpine zone of the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. We were able to determine the precise location of nests by tracking individuals equipped with radio-collars. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that analyses air samples taken directly from the nests of actually occupied burrow systems in any free-living fossorial mammal. We found no evidence for environmental hypoxia in the examined burrows and nests (range 19.7-21.6% O2). Concentrations of CO2 in the burrows increased after the burrows were plugged in the evening, but did not reach physiologically problematic levels. The highest CO2 concentrations in burrows were detected in the evening during a wet period (up to 0.44%). In root-rat nest chambers, the highest (but still harmless) CO2 concentrations (up to 1.31%) were detected in the morning (measured in the late dry season only) together with an elevated concentration (up to 13.5ppm) of CH4. Regular surface activity of giant root-rats, combined with the relatively large dimensions of their nest chambers and tunnels, and the absence of heavy soils, may contribute to harmless atmospheres within their burrow systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radim Šumbera
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic.
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
| | - Jorgelina Marino
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology Department, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Miloslav Šimek
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Soil Biology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Šklíba
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
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Lövy M, Lavrenchenko LA, Kostin DS, Martynov AA, Šumbera R, Bryja J, Okrouhlík J. The effect of elevation on haematocrit in Ethiopian rodents. Journal of Vertebrate Biology 2020. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.20011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Leonid A. Lavrenchenko
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Danila S. Kostin
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey A. Martynov
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
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Pleštilová L, Okrouhlík J, Burda H, Sehadová H, Valesky EM, Šumbera R. Functional histology of the skin in the subterranean African giant mole-rat: thermal windows are determined solely by pelage characteristics. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8883. [PMID: 32296606 PMCID: PMC7150539 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Excavation of burrows is an extremely physically demanding activity producing a large amount of metabolic heat. Dissipation of its surplus is crucial to avoid the risk of overheating, but in subterranean mammals it is complicated due to the absence of notable body extremities and high humidity in their burrows. IR-thermography in a previous study on two species of African mole-rats revealed that body heat was dissipated mainly through the ventral body part, which is notably less furred. Here, we analyzed the dorsal and ventral skin morphology, to test if dermal characteristics could contribute to higher heat dissipation through the ventral body part. The thickness of the epidermis and dermis and the presence, extent and connectivity of fat tissue in the dermis were examined using routine histological methods, while vascular density was evaluated using fluorescent dye and confocal microscopy in the giant mole-rat Fukomys mechowii. As in other hitherto studied subterranean mammals, no subcutaneous adipose tissue was found. All examined skin characteristics were very similar for both dorsal and ventral regions: relative content of adipose tissue in the dermis (14.4 ± 3.7% dorsally and 11.0 ± 4.0% ventrally), connectivity of dermal fat (98.5 ± 2.8% and 95.5 ± 6.8%), vascular density (26.5 ± 3.3% and 22.7 ± 2.3%). Absence of large differences in measured characteristics between particular body regions indicates that the thermal windows are determined mainly by the pelage characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Pleštilová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hynek Burda
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Sehadová
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Eva M. Valesky
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Rosario Carotenuto A, Guarracino F, Šumbera R, Fraldi M. Burrowing below ground: interaction between soil mechanics and evolution of subterranean mammals. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20190521. [PMID: 31910769 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2019.0521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of species is governed by complex phenomena in which biological and environmental features may interact dynamically. Subterranean mammals dig tunnels whose diameter minimizes energetic costs during excavations and display anatomical adaptations in order to burrow structurally stable tunnels according to specific features of the soil. These animals weight from less than 50 g up to 1-2 kg, and dig tunnels with diameters from 3 to 15 cm. The use of allometric laws has enabled these data to be correlated. However, since tunnels need to be stable with respect to the geomechanical characteristics of the resident soils, a mathematical treatment linking the admissible dimensions of tunnels to the environment here suggests a mechanically grounded correlation between the body mass of subterranean mammals and the maximum dimensions of tunnels. Remarkably, such theoretical findings reflect very well the empirical allometric relationship and contribute to explain the wide differences observed in body sizes of subterranean mammals. In this respect, a far from ancillary role of environmental mechanics on the morphological evolution of subterranean mammals can be hypothesized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Rosario Carotenuto
- Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federico Guarracino
- Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Massimiliano Fraldi
- Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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Horáková S, Šumbera R, Sovová J, Robovský J. The penial and bacular morphology of the solitary silvery mole-rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus, Bathyergidae) from Malawi and evolutionary patterns across the African mole-rat family. Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2019.10.002] [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: 10/25/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research & Development, Mekelle University, Ethiopia; e-mail:
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Leonid A. Lavrenchenko
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; e-mail:
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Šklíba J, Vlasatá T, Lövy M, Hrouzková E, Meheretu Y, Sillero‐Zubiri C, Šumbera R. The giant that makes do with little: small and easy‐to‐leave home ranges found in the giant root‐rat. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Šklíba
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - T. Vlasatá
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - M. Lövy
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - E. Hrouzková
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Y. Meheretu
- Department of Biology College of Natural and Computational Sciences University of Mekelle Mekelle Ethiopia
| | - C. Sillero‐Zubiri
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Zoology Department University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Born Free Foundation Horsham UK
| | - R. Šumbera
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
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Affiliation(s)
- Matěj Lövy
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Giora Heth
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Bryja J, Colangelo P, Lavrenchenko LA, Meheretu Y, Šumbera R, Bryjová A, Verheyen E, Leirs H, Castiglia R. Diversity and evolution of African Grass Rats (Muridae:
Arvicanthis
)—From radiation in East Africa to repeated colonization of northwestern and southeastern savannas. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Paolo Colangelo
- National Research Council Institute of Agro‐environmental and Forest Biology (CNR‐IBAF) Rome Italy
| | - Leonid A. Lavrenchenko
- A.N.Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology, Institute of Mountain Research and Development Mekelle University Mekelle Ethiopia
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Anna Bryjová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Erik Verheyen
- Operational Direction Taxonomy and Phylogeny Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences Brussels Belgium
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Biology Department University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Biology Department University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium
| | - Riccardo Castiglia
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin” Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy
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Aghová T, Palupčíková K, Šumbera R, Frynta D, Lavrenchenko LA, Meheretu Y, Sádlová J, Votýpka J, Mbau JS, Modrý D, Bryja J. Multiple radiations of spiny mice (Rodentia: Acomys) in dry open habitats of Afro-Arabia: evidence from a multi-locus phylogeny. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:69. [PMID: 30832573 PMCID: PMC6399835 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1380-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Spiny mice of the genus Acomys are distributed mainly in dry open habitats in Africa and the Middle East, and they are widely used as model taxa for various biological disciplines (e.g. ecology, physiology and evolutionary biology). Despite their importance, large distribution and abundance in local communities, the phylogeny and the species limits in the genus are poorly resolved, and this is especially true for sub-Saharan taxa. The main aims of this study are (1) to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships of Acomys based on the largest available multilocus dataset (700 genotyped individuals from 282 localities), (2) to identify the main biogeographical divides in the distribution of Acomys diversity in dry open habitats in Afro-Arabia, (3) to reconstruct the historical biogeography of the genus, and finally (4) to estimate the species richness of the genus by application of the phylogenetic species concept. Results The multilocus phylogeny based on four genetic markers shows presence of five major groups of Acomys called here subspinosus, spinosissimus, russatus, wilsoni and cahirinus groups. Three of these major groups (spinosissimus, wilsoni and cahirinus) are further sub-structured to phylogenetic lineages with predominantly parapatric distributions. Combination of alternative species delimitation methods suggests the existence of 26 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), potentially corresponding to separate species. The highest genetic diversity was found in Eastern Africa. The origin of the genus Acomys is dated to late Miocene (ca. 8.7 Ma), when the first split occurred between spiny mice of eastern (Somali-Masai) and south-eastern (Zambezian) savannas. Further diversification, mostly in Plio-Pleistocene, and the current distribution of Acomys were influenced by the interplay of global climatic factors (e.g., Messinian salinity crisis, intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation) with local geomorphology (mountain chains, aridity belts, water bodies). Combination of divergence dating, species distribution modelling and historical biogeography analysis suggests repeated “out-of-East-Africa” dispersal events into western Africa, the Mediterranean region and Arabia. Conclusions The genus Acomys is very suitable model for historical phylogeographic and biogeographic reconstructions of dry non-forested environments in Afro-Arabia. We provide the most thorough phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus and identify major factors that influenced its evolutionary history since the late Miocene. We also highlight the urgent need of integrative taxonomic revision of east African taxa. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1380-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Aghová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Department of Zoology, National Museum, 115 79, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - K Palupčíková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - R Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - D Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - L A Lavrenchenko
- A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, 119071, Moscow, Russia
| | - Y Meheretu
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research and Development, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 3102, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia
| | - J Sádlová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J Votýpka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - J S Mbau
- Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - D Modrý
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - J Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic
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Van Daele PA, Desmet N, Šumbera R, Adriaens D. Work behaviour and biting performance in the cooperative breeding Micklem’s mole-rat Fukomys micklemi (Bathyergidae, Rodentia). Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Krásová J, Mikula O, Mazoch V, Bryja J, Říčan O, Šumbera R. Evolution of the Grey-bellied pygmy mouse group: Highly structured molecular diversity with predictable geographic ranges but morphological crypsis. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 130:143-155. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Šumbera R. Thermal biology of a strictly subterranean mammalian family, the African mole-rats (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) - a review. J Therm Biol 2019; 79:166-189. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Wiedenová P, Šumbera R, Jan Okrouhlík. Social thermoregulation and socio-physiological effect in the subterranean Mashona mole-rat (Fukomys darlingi). J Therm Biol 2018; 78:367-373. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Šumbera R, Krásová J, Lavrenchenko LA, Mengistu S, Bekele A, Mikula O, Bryja J. Ethiopian highlands as a cradle of the African fossorial root-rats (genus Tachyoryctes), the genetic evidence. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 126:105-115. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Sabuni C, Aghová T, Bryjová A, Šumbera R, Bryja J. Biogeographic implications of small mammals from Northern Highlands in Tanzania with first data from the volcanic Mount Kitumbeine. MAMMALIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2017-0069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSmall terrestrial mammals and their biogeographical affinities were studied on Mount Kitumbeine, one of the little known volcanoes in the Gregory Rift Valley (northern Tanzania). In June, 2015, a total of 10 species, two insectivores and eight rodents, were recorded during a short-time sampling in two high altitude habitats. Taxonomic identification was based on genetic data allowing zoogeographic interpretations. For most of the taxa, there was a clear link with fauna of the northern part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, but there were also species with their core distributions in the Albertine Rift Mountains (Crocidura montis) as well as taxa endemic to the volcanic Northern Highlands (e.g. Hanang or Ngorongoro), such asLophuromys makundiand probablyOtomys angoniensis. Comparison of genotyped small mammals from Kitumbeine and neighboring hills with previously collected data revealed the first genetically confirmed Tanzanian records of two species (C. montisandLophuromys stanleyi) and one species (Lophuromys sabunii) is reported for the first time from Zambia. The present study thus showed that, even in such well-studied areas like northern Tanzania, a basic faunistic survey of mammals can still bring interesting results stressing the need to study biota in small and poorly known areas.
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Mazoch V, Mikula O, Bryja J, Konvičková H, Russo IR, Verheyen E, Šumbera R. Phylogeography of a widespread sub-Saharan murid rodent Aethomys chrysophilus: the role of geographic barriers and paleoclimate in the Zambezian bioregion. MAMMALIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2017-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Murid rodents of the genus Aethomys are one of the most common rodents in drier habitats in sub-Saharan Africa. Among them, the red veld rat Aethomys chrysophilus is the most widespread species with the core distribution located in the Zambezian bioregion. In this study, we describe phylogeographic structure of the species and estimate its age from a time-calibrated phylogeny of the genus. Seven parapatric clades were identified in the mitochondrial cytochrome b phylogeny, where some of the distributions of these clades have been separated by previously described biogeographical divides (Zambezi-Kafue river system, Rukwa Rift and the Eastern Arc Mountains). One internal clade corresponded to populations previously described as a distinct species, Aethomys ineptus. The whole A. chrysophilus complex was estimated to be 1.3 (0.5–2.4) Mya old, with A. ineptus originating 0.7 (0.1–1.4) Mya before present. The internal position of A. ineptus was also recovered in phylogenetic reconstruction based on two nuclear genes and thus it is not a consequence of mitochondrial introgression. In addition, we analyzed skull form variation across the species’ distributional range and found no significant difference between A. ineptus and the rest of A. chrysophilus complex.
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Petružela J, Šumbera R, Aghová T, Bryjová A, Katakweba AS, Sabuni CA, Chitaukali WN, Bryja J. Spiny mice of the Zambezian bioregion – phylogeny, biogeography and ecological differentiation within the Acomys spinosissimus complex. Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Malewski S, Malkemper EP, Sedláček F, Šumbera R, Caspar KR, Burda H, Begall S. Attracted by a magnet: Exploration behaviour of rodents in the presence of magnetic objects. Behav Processes 2018; 151:11-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Bryja J, Kostin D, Meheretu Y, Šumbera R, Bryjová A, Kasso M, Mikula O, Lavrenchenko LA. Reticulate Pleistocene evolution of Ethiopian rodent genus along remarkable altitudinal gradient. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 118:75-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Lövy M, Šklíba J, Šumbera R, Nevo E. Soil preference in blind mole rats in an area of supposed sympatric speciation: do they choose the fertile or the familiar? J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Lövy
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - J. Šklíba
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - R. Šumbera
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - E. Nevo
- Institute of Evolution; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
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Vlasatá T, Šklíba J, Lövy M, Meheretu Y, Sillero-Zubiri C, Šumbera R. Daily activity patterns in the giant root rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus
), a fossorial rodent from the Afro-alpine zone of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Vlasatá
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - J. Šklíba
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology; Biology Centre CAS; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - M. Lövy
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Y. Meheretu
- Department of Biology; College of natural and computational sciences; University of Mekelle; Mekelle Ethiopia
| | - C. Sillero-Zubiri
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Zoology Department; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
| | - R. Šumbera
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
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