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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Gryseels S, Goüy de Bellocq J, Makundi R, Vanmechelen K, Broeckhove J, Mazoch V, Šumbera R, Zima J, Leirs H, Baird SJE. Genetic distinction between contiguous urban and rural multimammate mice in Tanzania despite gene flow. J Evol Biol 2016; 29:1952-1967. [PMID: 27306876 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Special conditions are required for genetic differentiation to arise at a local geographical scale in the face of gene flow. The Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, is the most widely distributed and abundant rodent in sub-Saharan Africa. A notorious agricultural pest and a natural host for many zoonotic diseases, it can live in close proximity to humans and appears to compete with other rodents for the synanthropic niche. We surveyed its population genetic structure across a 180-km transect in central Tanzania along which the landscape varied between agricultural land in a rural setting and natural woody vegetation, rivers, roads and a city (Morogoro). We sampled M. natalensis across 10 localities and genotyped 15 microsatellite loci from 515 individuals. Hierarchical STRUCTURE analyses show a K-invariant pattern distinguishing Morogoro suburbs (located in the centre of the transect) from nine surrounding rural localities. Landscape connectivity analyses in Circuitscape and comparison of rainfall patterns suggest that neither geographical isolation nor natural breeding asynchrony could explain the genetic differentiation of the urban population. Using the isolation-with-migration model implemented in IMa2, we inferred that a split between suburban and rural populations would have occurred recently (<150 years ago) with higher urban effective population density consistent with an urban source to rural sink of effective migration. The observed genetic differentiation of urban multimammate mice is striking given the uninterrupted distribution of the animal throughout the landscape and the high estimates of effective migration (2Ne M = 3.0 and 29.7), suggesting a strong selection gradient across the urban boundary.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gryseels
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - J Goüy de Bellocq
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Research Facility Studenec, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - R Makundi
- Pest Management Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - K Vanmechelen
- Computational Modelling and Programming, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - J Broeckhove
- Computational Modelling and Programming, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - V Mazoch
- Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - R Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - J Zima
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Research Facility Studenec, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - H Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - S J E Baird
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Research Facility Studenec, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
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12
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Kott O, Moritz RE, Šumbera R, Burda H, Němec P. Light propagation in burrows of subterranean rodents: tunnel system architecture but not photoreceptor sensitivity limits light sensation range. J Zool (1987) 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- O. Kott
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - R. E. Moritz
- Department of General Zoology; Faculty of Biology; University of Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
| | - R. Šumbera
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - H. Burda
- Department of General Zoology; Faculty of Biology; University of Duisburg-Essen; Essen Germany
| | - P. Němec
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Prague Czech Republic
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Lövy M, Šklíba J, Burda H, Chitaukali WN, Šumbera R. Ecological characteristics in habitats of two African mole-rat species with different social systems in an area of sympatry: implications for the mole-rat social evolution. J Zool (1987) 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00860.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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
| | - H. Burda
- Faculty of Biology; University of Duisburg-Essen; Essen; Germany
| | - W. N. Chitaukali
- Biology Department; Chancellor College; University of Malawi; Zomba; Malawi
| | - R. Šumbera
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice; Czech Republic
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Zelová J, Šumbera R, Okrouhlík J. Cost of digging is not determined by different soil quality in two subterranean rodents. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.04.099] [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: 11/28/2022]
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Šumbera R, Šklíba J, Elichová M, Chitaukali WN, Burda H. Natural history and burrow system architecture of the silvery mole‐rat from
Brachystegia
woodland. J Zool (1987) 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00359.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - J. Šklíba
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - M. Elichová
- Department of Practical Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of South Bohemia, České Budeějovice, Czech Republic
| | - W. N. Chitaukali
- Biology Department, Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
| | - H. Burda
- Department of General Zoology, Institute of Biology, University of Duisburg‐Essen, Essen, Germany
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