Analysis of coprolites from the extinct mountain goat Myotragus balearicus

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frido Welker ◽  
Elza Duijm ◽  
Kristiaan J. van der Gaag ◽  
Bas van Geel ◽  
Peter de Knijff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Ion Torrent ◽  
Local Distribution ◽  
Niche Modelling ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis ◽  
Mountain Goat ◽  
Roche 454

AbstractHumans colonized the Balearic Islands 5–4 ka ago. They arrived in a uniquely adapted ecosystem with the Balearic mountain goat Myotragus balearicus (Bovidae, Antilopinae, Caprini) as the only large mammal. This mammal went extinct rapidly after human arrival. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the extinction of M. balearicus. For the present study ancient DNA analysis (Sanger sequencing, Roche-454, Ion Torrent), and pollen and macrofossil analyses were performed on preserved coprolites from M. balearicus, providing information on its diet and paleo-environment. The information retrieved shows that M. balearicus was heavily dependent on the Balearic box species Buxus balearica during at least part of the year, and that it was most probably a browser. Hindcast ecological niche modelling of B. balearica shows that local distribution of this plant species was affected by climate changes. This suggests that the extinction of M. balearicus can be related to the decline and regional extinction of a plant species that formed a major component of its diet. The vegetation change is thought to be caused by increased aridity occurring throughout the Mediterranean. Previous hypotheses relating the extinction of M. balearicus directly to the arrival of humans on the islands must therefore be adjusted.

scholarly journals Genetic structure of the endemic Papaver occidentale indicates survival and immigration in the Western Prealps

Alpine Botany ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loïc Pittet ◽  
Yann Fragnière ◽  
Sandra Grünig ◽  
Sébastien Bétrisey ◽  
Benoît Clément ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Ecological Modelling ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Niche Modelling ◽  
Local Survival ◽  
History Of

Abstract Climatic oscillations of the Quaternary rapidly compelled plant species to shift their geographical range. How alpine plant species responded to climate change, however, remains elusive and remnants of the cold-adapted flora that currently strive in restricted ranges as small, isolated populations have been particularly overlooked. To address the evolutionary history of such a ‘glacial relict’, we here sampled and genotyped all known native populations of a narrow endemic species from the northwestern Alps, Papaver occidentale, as well as closely related taxa with double digest restriction-site Associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing. Spatial patterns of genetic variation across populations coupled with insights from climatic niche modelling through time address underpinings of the long-term persistence of the species in face of climate changes. Evidence from population genetics and ecological modelling indicates that P. occidentale likely persisted through the last glacial maximum outside of the Western Prealps and that a major lineage recolonized the area from lower elevation, external regions. Differentiated lineages at the Northern margins of the species distribution range highlight highly divergent and geographically restricted populations that include considerable share of private markers and may indicate local glacial survival in isolated conditions. Our data thus imply that processes having shaped intraspecific spatial genetic structure within the Alps can be complex and lead to mosaic of populations with a mixed-history of local survival and immigration. A better understanding of spatio-temporal aspects of range contraction–expansion is crucial to shed light on processes underlying the evolution of remnant populations of such endemic species and set conservation priorities considering current climate changes.

scholarly journals Ritual complexity in a past community revealed by ancient DNA analysis of pre-colonial terracotta items from Northern Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 10-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather A. Robinson ◽  
Timothy Insoll ◽  
Benjamin W. Kankpeyeng ◽  
Keri A. Brown ◽  
Terence A. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis

scholarly journals Combined hybridization capture and shotgun sequencing for ancient DNA analysis of extinct wild and domestic dromedary camel

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmira Mohandesan ◽  
Camilla F. Speller ◽  
Joris Peters ◽  
Hans-Peter Uerpmann ◽  
Margarethe Uerpmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Shotgun Sequencing ◽  
Dromedary Camel ◽  
Hybridization Capture ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis

scholarly journals Tusk or Bone? An Example of Ivory Substitute in the Wildlife Trade

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 40-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret E. Sims ◽  
Barry W. Baker ◽  
Robert M. Hoesch
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Wildlife Trade ◽  
Bone Tools ◽  
Wildlife Forensics ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis ◽  
Modern Context ◽  
Morphological Species ◽  
Ivory Trade

Bone carvings (and other ivory substitutes) are common in the modern-day lucrative international ivory trade.  Souvenirs for unknowing travelers and market shoppers can be made of non-biological material (plastic "ivory" beads) or skillfully crafted natural objects made to resemble something other than their true origin.  Many of these items are received at the U. S. National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory (NFWFL) for species identification as part of law enforcement investigations.  Morphologists at the Lab often receive uniquely carved ivory items that have been imported with little or no documentation.  In recent years, analysts examined several purported ivory tusks suspected to be walrus, a protected marine mammal.  After examination, the Lab determined their origin as carved leg bones of cattle using principles and methods of zooarchaeology and ancient DNA analysis.  The naturally long and straight ungulate metapodials had been cut, carved, filled, stained, and polished to closely resemble unmodified ivory tusks.  Morphological species identification of these bones proved to be a challenge since diagnostic characters of the bones had been altered and country of origin was unknown. Genetic analysis showed that the bones originated from cattle.  While bone is commonly used as a substitute for ivory, this style of artifact was not previously documented in the wildlife trade prior to our analysis.  Archaeological ethnobiologists commonly encounter bone tools and other forms of material culture from prehistoric and historic contexts; in this case bone tools come from a modern context, thus the application of methods common in zooarchaeology are situated in wildlife forensics.  In addition, results reported here pertain to cross-cultural ivory trade and conservation science.

Ancient DNA analysis of desiccated wheat grains excavated from a Bronze Age cemetery in Xinjiang

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunxiang Li ◽  
Diane L. Lister ◽  
Hongjie Li ◽  
Yue Xu ◽  
Yinqiu Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Wheat Grains ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis

scholarly journals Isolating the human cochlea to generate bone powder for ancient DNA analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1194-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Pinhasi ◽  
Daniel M. Fernandes ◽  
Kendra Sirak ◽  
Olivia Cheronet
Keyword(s):  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Bone Powder ◽  
Human Cochlea ◽  
Ancient Dna Analysis
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