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Yuan J, Sun G, Xiao B, Hu J, Wang L, Taogetongqimuge, Bao L, Hou Y, Song S, Jiang S, Wu Y, Pan D, Liu Y, Westbury MV, Lai X, Sheng G. Ancient mitogenomes reveal a high maternal genetic diversity of Pleistocene woolly rhinoceros in Northern China. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:56. [PMID: 37752413 PMCID: PMC10521388 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02168-0] [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: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) is a typical indicator of cold-stage climate that was widely distributed in Northern Hemisphere during the Middle-Late Pleistocene. Although a plethora of fossils have been excavated from Northern China, their phylogenetic status, intraspecific diversity and phylogeographical structure are still vague. RESULTS In the present study, we generated four mitogenomes from Late Pleistocene woolly rhinoceros in Northern China and compared them with published data. Bayesian and network analyses indicate that the analyzed individuals contain at least four maternal haplogroups, and Chinese samples fall in three of them. One of our samples belongs to a previously unidentified early diverging clade (haplogroup D), which separated from other woolly rhinoceros around 0.57 Ma (95% CI: 0.76-0.41 Ma). The timing of this clade's origin coincides with the first occurrence of woolly rhinoceros, which are thought to have evolved in Europe. Our other three samples cluster in haplogroup C, previously only identified from one specimen from Wrangel Island (ND030) and initially considered to be an isolated clade. Herein, our findings suggest that ND030 is likely descended from a northward dispersal of the individuals carrying haplogroup C from Northern China. Additionally, Chinese woolly rhinoceros specimens exhibit higher nucleotide diversity than those from Siberia. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight Northern China as a possible refugium and a key evolution center of the Pleistocene woolly rhinoceros.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxia Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China.
- Bioarchaeology Laboratory, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China.
| | - Guojiang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
| | - Bo Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
- School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jiaming Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
- School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Linying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
- College of Earth and Environmental Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730099, China
| | | | - Lei Bao
- Ordos Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Ordos, 017010, China
| | - Yamei Hou
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Shiwen Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
| | - Shan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
| | - Yong Wu
- The Third Geological and Mineral Exploration Institute of Gansu Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Dong Pan
- Palaeontological Fossil Conservation Center, Qinggang County, Suihua, 151600, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Sociology & Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | | | - Xulong Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China
- School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Guilian Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China.
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China.
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