Genetic diversity and extent of gene flow in the endangered Japanese population of Hodgson's hawk-eagle, Spizaetus nipalensis

The Japanese subspecies of Hodgson's Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus nipalensis orientalis, is considered threatened and has been designated as Endangered by the Japanese government. We determined the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of this species and designed a primer set to amplify a highly variable region of mtDNA, part of the control region (CR), based on this complete sequence. Using the primers, we amplified the CR and then determined the haplotypes of 178 samples collected at different sites in Japan. A nested cladistic analysis indicated that gene flow within some clades was restricted. The inference key implied that isolation by distance had caused the restriction of gene flow. Moreover, the ranges of the clades in which restricted gene flow was detected overlapped with the ranges of other clades. These results suggest that there is no fragmental population of Hodgson's Hawk-eagle in Japan and that this species has dispersed within short distances, at least in some lineages. Genetic diversity was high in comparison with other species. Therefore, at least in terms of genetic diversity, the Japanese population of Hodgson's Hawk-eagle is probably not in a critical situation.

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Broad-ranging low genetic diversity among populations of the yellow finger marsh crab Sesarma rectum Randall, 1840 (Sesarmidae) revealed by DNA barcode

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003680 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 90 (7-10) ◽

pp. 845-864

Author(s):

Raquel C. Buranelli ◽

Fernando L. Mantelatto

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Genetic Differentiation ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Dna Barcode ◽

Population Expansion ◽

Haplotype Network ◽

Sudden Expansion ◽

Restricted Gene Flow ◽

Western Atlantic

Population genetic studies on marine taxa, specifically in the field of phylogeography, have revealed distinct levels of genetic differentiation in widely distributed species, even though they present long planktonic larval development. A set of factors have been identified as acting on gene flow between marine populations, including physical or physiological barriers, isolation by distance, larval behaviour, and geological and demographic events. In this way, the aim of this study was to analyse the genetic variability among populations of the crab speciesSesarma rectumRandall, 1840 along the western Atlantic in order to check the levels of genetic diversity and differentiation among populations. To achieve this purpose, mtDNA cytochrome-coxidase subunit I (COI) (DNA-barcode marker) data were used to compute a haplotype network and a Bayesian analysis for genetic differentiation, to calculate an Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), and haplotype and nucleotide diversities. Neutrality tests (Tajima’sDand Fu’s ) were accessed, as well as pairwise mismatch distribution under the sudden expansion model. We found sharing of haplotypes among populations ofS. rectumalong its range of distribution and no significant indication for restricted gene flow between populations separately over 6000 km, supporting the hypothesis of a high dispersive capacity, and/or the absence of strong selective gradients along the distribution. Nevertheless, some results indicated population structure suggesting the presence of two genetic sources (i.e., groups or lineages), probably interpreted as a result of a very recent bottleneck effect due to habitat losses, followed by the beginning of a population expansion.

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Range reduction of the Oblong Rocksnail, Leptoxis compacta, shapes riverscape genetic patterns

10.1101/2020.05.12.090662 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aaliyah D. Wright ◽

Nicole L. Garrison ◽

Ashantye’ S. Williams ◽

Paul D. Johnson ◽

Nathan V. Whelan

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Human Impacts ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

River System ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Range Contraction ◽

Genetic Patterns ◽

Cahaba River

AbstractMany freshwater gastropod species face extinction, including 79% of species in the family Pleuroceridae. The Oblong Rocksnail, Leptoxis compacta, is a narrow range endemic pleurocerid from the Cahaba River basin in central Alabama that has seen rapid range contraction in the last 100 years. Such a decline is expected to negatively affect genetic diversity in the species. However, precise patterns of genetic variation and gene flow across the restricted range of L. compacta are unknown. This lack of information limits our understanding of human impacts on the Cahaba River system and Pleuroceridae. Here, we show that L. compacta has likely seen a species-wide decline in genetic diversity, but remaining populations have relatively high genetic diversity. We also report a contemporary range extension compared to the last published survey. Leptoxis compacta does not display an isolation by distance pattern, contrasting patterns seen in many riverine taxa. Our findings also indicate that historical range contraction has resulted in the absence of common genetic patterns seen in many riverine taxa like isolation by distance as the small distribution of L. compacta allows for relatively unrestricted gene flow across its remaining range despite limited dispersal abilities. Two collection sites had higher genetic diversity than others, and broodstock sites for future captive propagation and reintroduction efforts should utilize sites identified here as having the highest genetic diversity. Broadly, our results support the hypothesis that range contraction will result in the reduction of species-wide genetic diversity, and common riverscape genetic patterns cannot be assumed to be present in species facing extinction risk.

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Range reduction of Oblong Rocksnail, Leptoxis compacta, shapes riverscape genetic patterns

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.9789 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e9789

Author(s):

Aaliyah D. Wright ◽

Nicole L. Garrison ◽

Ashantye’ S. Williams ◽

Paul D. Johnson ◽

Nathan V. Whelan

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Human Impacts ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

River System ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Range Contraction ◽

Genetic Patterns ◽

Cahaba River

Many freshwater gastropod species face extinction, including 79% of species in the family Pleuroceridae. The Oblong Rocksnail, Leptoxis compacta, is a narrow range endemic pleurocerid from the Cahaba River basin in central Alabama that has seen rapid range contraction in the last 100 years. Such a decline is expected to negatively affect genetic diversity in the species. However, precise patterns of genetic variation and gene flow across the restricted range of L. compacta are unknown. This lack of information limits our understanding of human impacts on the Cahaba River system and Pleuroceridae. Here, we show that L. compacta has likely seen a species-wide decline in genetic diversity, but remaining populations have relatively high genetic diversity. We also report a contemporary range extension compared to the last published survey. Our findings indicate that historical range contraction has resulted in the absence of common genetic patterns seen in many riverine taxa like isolation by distance as the small distribution of L. compacta allows for relatively unrestricted gene flow across its remaining range despite limited dispersal abilities. Two collection sites had higher genetic diversity than others, and broodstock sites for future captive propagation and reintroduction efforts should utilize sites identified here as having the highest genetic diversity. Broadly, our results support the hypothesis that range contraction will result in the reduction of species-wide genetic diversity, and common riverscape genetic patterns cannot be assumed to be present in species facing extinction risk.

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The Coalescent in a Continuous, Finite, Linear Population

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/161.2.873 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 161 (2) ◽

pp. 873-888

Author(s):

Jon F Wilkins ◽

John Wakeley

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Simulated Data ◽

Restricted Gene Flow ◽

Demographic Parameters ◽

Common Ancestry ◽

Linear Habitat ◽

Mean Time ◽

Finite Linear

Abstract In this article we present a model for analyzing patterns of genetic diversity in a continuous, finite, linear habitat with restricted gene flow. The distribution of coalescent times and locations is derived for a pair of sequences sampled from arbitrary locations along the habitat. The results for mean time to coalescence are compared to simulated data. As expected, mean time to common ancestry increases with the distance separating the two sequences. Additionally, this mean time is greater near the center of the habitat than near the ends. In the distant past, lineages that have not undergone coalescence are more likely to have been at opposite ends of the population range, whereas coalescent events in the distant past are biased toward the center. All of these effects are more pronounced when gene flow is more limited. The pattern of pairwise nucleotide differences predicted by the model is compared to data collected from sardine populations. The sardine data are used to illustrate how demographic parameters can be estimated using the model.

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Genetic Structure and Eco-Geographical Differentiation of Lancea tibetica in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes10020097 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 97 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xiaofeng Chi ◽

Faqi Zhang ◽

Qingbo Gao ◽

Rui Xing ◽

Shilong Chen

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Cluster Analysis ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Tibetan Plateau ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Restricted Gene Flow ◽

Principal Coordinates Analysis ◽

Principal Coordinates ◽

Genetic Diversity And Structure ◽

Tanggula Mountains

The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) had a profound impact on the plant speciation rate and genetic diversity. High genetic diversity ensures that species can survive and adapt in the face of geographical and environmental changes. The Tanggula Mountains, located in the central of the QTP, have unique geographical significance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Tanggula Mountains as a geographical barrier on plant genetic diversity and structure by using Lancea tibetica. A total of 456 individuals from 31 populations were analyzed using eight pairs of microsatellite makers. The total number of alleles was 55 and the number per locus ranged from 3 to 11 with an average of 6.875. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.2693 to 0.7761 with an average of 0.4378 indicating that the eight microsatellite makers were efficient for distinguishing genotypes. Furthermore, the observed heterozygosity (Ho), the expected heterozygosity (He), and the Shannon information index (I) were 0.5277, 0.4949, and 0.9394, respectively, which indicated a high level of genetic diversity. We detected high genetic differentiation among all sampling sites and restricted gene flow among populations. Bayesian-based cluster analysis (STRUCTURE), principal coordinates analysis (PCoA), and Neighbor-Joining (NJ) cluster analysis based on microsatellite markers grouped the populations into two clusters: the southern branch and the northern branch. The analysis also detected genetic barriers and restricted gene flow between the two groups separated by the Tanggula Mountains. This study indicates that the geographical isolation of the Tanggula Mountains restricted the genetic connection and the distinct niches on the two sides of the mountains increased the intraspecific divergence of the plants.

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Genetic diversity of the lichen-forming alga, Diplosphaera chodatii, in North America and Europe

The Lichenologist ◽

10.1017/s0024282913000510 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 799-813 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kyle M. FONTAINE ◽

Elfie STOCKER-WÖRGÖTTER ◽

Tom BOOTH ◽

Michele D. PIERCEY-NORMORE

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Gene Flow ◽

North America ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Water Level Fluctuations ◽

Free Living ◽

Climatic Zones ◽

Algal Symbiont ◽

Low Levels

AbstractDermatocarpon luridum is a subaquatic lichen which is distributed within temperate climatic zones around the world. It colonizes rock substrata along the shoreline of lakes and rivers of watersheds that regularly experience water level fluctuations. The mycobiont produces perithecia with small, simple spores that are thought to be wind dispersed. The photobiont, Diplosphaera chodatii, occurs both free-living and lichenized but little is known about its distribution and dispersal. The goal of this study was to compare the population structure of the photobiont from lakes and rivers in central North America with those of Europe. Specimens were collected in Manitoba, Canada and Austria. Population structure of the algal symbiont was assessed using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and actin gene sequences. Results showed that genetic diversity and gene flow was high within local populations, but gene flow was low between continental populations. Low levels of gene flow between the most distant populations support the isolation-by-distance theory. The photobiont on both continents is also reported to be the photobiont for other lichen species contributing to photobiont availability for D. luridum.

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Location and Species Matters: Variable Influence of the Environment on the Gene Flow of Imperiled, Native and Invasive Cottontails

Frontiers in Genetics ◽

10.3389/fgene.2021.708871 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Thomas J. McGreevy ◽

Sozos Michaelides ◽

Mihajla Djan ◽

Mary Sullivan ◽

Diana M. Beltrán ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

New England ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Genomic Variation ◽

Restricted Gene Flow ◽

New England Cottontail ◽

Eastern Cottontail ◽

Northeast Us

The environment plays an important role in the movement of individuals and their associated genes among populations, which facilitates gene flow. Gene flow can help maintain the genetic diversity both within and between populations and counter the negative impact of genetic drift, which can decrease the fitness of individuals. Sympatric species can have different habitat preferences, and thus can exhibit different patterns of genetic variability and population structure. The specialist-generalist variation hypothesis (SGVH) predicts that specialists will have lower genetic diversity, lower effective population sizes (Ne), and less gene flow among populations. In this study, we used spatially explicit, individual-based comparative approaches to test SGVH predictions in two sympatric cottontail species and identify environmental variables that influence their gene flow. New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is the only native cottontail in the Northeast US, an early successional habitat specialist, and a species of conservation concern. Eastern cottontail (S. floridanus) is an invasive species in the Northeast US and a habitat generalist. We characterized each species’ genomic variation by developing double-digest Restriction-site Associated DNA sequence single nucleotide polymorphism markers, quantified their habitat with Geographic Information System environmental variables, and conducted our analyses at multiple scales. Surprisingly, both species had similar levels of genetic diversity and eastern cottontail’s Ne was only higher than New England cottontail in one of three subregions. At a regional level, the population clusters of New England cottontail were more distinct than eastern cottontail, but the subregional levels showed more geographic areas of restricted gene flow for eastern cottontail than New England cottontail. In general, the environmental variables had the predicted effect on each species’ gene flow. However, the most important environmental variable varied by subregion and species, which shows that location and species matter. Our results provide partial support for the SGVH and the identification of environmental variables that facilitate or impede gene flow can be used to help inform management decisions to conserve New England cottontail.

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Post-Disturbance Genetic Changes: The Impact of the 2010 Mega-Earthquake and Tsunami on Chilean Sandy Beach Fauna

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-50525-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Antonio Brante ◽

Garen Guzmán-Rendón ◽

Erwin M. Barría ◽

Marie-Laure Guillemin ◽

Iván Vera-Escalona ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Haplotype Diversity ◽

Population Expansion ◽

Adult Survival ◽

Genetic Changes ◽

Species Response ◽

Emerita Analoga ◽

Mtdna Sequence ◽

The Impact

Abstract Earthquake/tsunamis can have profound impacts on species and their genetic patterns. It is expected that the magnitude of this impact might depend on the species and the time since the disturbance occurs, nevertheless these assumptions remain mostly unexplored. Here we studied the genetic responses of the crustacean species Emerita analoga, Excirolana hirsuticauda, and Orchestoidea tuberculata to the 27F mega-earthquake/tsunami that occurred in Chile in February 2010. mtDNA sequence analyses revealed a lower haplotype diversity for E. analoga and E. hirsuticauda in impacted areas one month after the 27F, and the opposite for O. tuberculata. Three years after the 27F we observed a recovery in the genetic diversity of E. analoga and E. hirsuticauda and decrease in the genetic diversity in O. tuberculata in 2/3 of sampled areas. Emerita analoga displayed decrease of genetic differentiation and increase in gene flow explained by long-range population expansion. The other two species revealed slight increase in the number of genetic groups, little change in gene flow and no signal of population expansion associated to adult survival, rapid colonization, and capacity to burrow in the sand. Our results reveal that species response to a same disturbance event could be extremely diverse and depending on life-history traits and the magnitude of the effect.

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Genetic diversity and conservation of the endemic tuco-tuco Ctenomys ibicuiensis (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae)

Journal of Mammalogy ◽

10.1093/jmammal/gyaa119 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mayara Delagnelo Medeiros ◽

Daniel Galiano ◽

Bruno Busnello Kubiak ◽

Paula Angélica Roratto ◽

Thales Renato Ochotorena de Freitas

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Structured Populations ◽

Small Range ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Landscape Modification

Abstract Endemic, small range species are susceptible to environmental changes and landscape modification. Understanding genetic diversity and distributional patterns is important for implementation of effective conservation measures. In this context, genetic diversity was evaluated to update the conservation status of an endemic tuco-tuco, Ctenomys ibicuiensis. Phylogeographic and population genetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite loci were carried out using 46 individuals sampled across the species’ distribution. Ctenomys ibicuiensis presented moderate to high genetic diversity and highly structured populations with low levels of gene flow and isolation by distance. Anthropogenic landscape changes threaten this restricted-range tuco-tuco. Considering its limited geographic distribution and highly structured populations with low gene flow, we consider C. ibicuiensis to be at significant risk of extinction.

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Genetic diversity and gene flow patterns in two riverine plant species with contrasting life-history traits and distributions across a large inland floodplain

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt20074 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 68 (5) ◽

pp. 384

Author(s):

William Higgisson ◽

Dianne Gleeson ◽

Linda Broadhurst ◽

Fiona Dyer

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Genetic Structure ◽

Water Resource ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Spatial Genetic Structure ◽

Geographic Distance ◽

Resource Development ◽

Water Resource Development ◽

Floodplain River

Gene flow is a key evolutionary driver of spatial genetic structure, reflecting demographic processes and dispersal mechanisms. Understanding how genetic structure is maintained across a landscape can assist in setting conservation objectives. In Australia, floodplains naturally experience highly variable flooding regimes that structure the vegetation communities. Flooding plays an important role, connecting communities on floodplains and enabling dispersal via hydrochory. Water resource development has changed the lateral-connectivity of floodplain-river systems. One possible consequence of these changes is reduced physical and subsequent genetic connections. This study aimed to identify and compare the population structure and dispersal patterns of tangled lignum (Duma florulenta) and river cooba (Acacia stenophylla) across a large inland floodplain using a landscape genetics approach. Both species are widespread throughout flood prone areas of arid and semiarid Australia. Tangled lignum occurs on floodplains while river cooba occurs along rivers. Leaves were collected from 144 tangled lignum plants across 10 sites and 84 river cooba plants across 6 sites, on the floodplain of the lower and mid Lachlan River, and the Murrumbidgee River, NSW. DNA was extracted and genotyped using DArTseq platforms (double digest RADseq). Genetic diversity was compared with floodplain-river connection frequency, and genetic distance (FST) was compared with river distance, geographic distance and floodplain-river connection frequency between sites. Genetic similarity increased with increasing floodplain-river connection frequency in tangled lignum but not in river cooba. In tangled lignum, sites that experience more frequent flooding had greater genetic diversity and were more genetically homogenous. There was also an isolation by distance effect where increasing geographic distance correlated with increasing genetic differentiation in tangled lignum, but not in river cooba. The distribution of river cooba along rivers facilitates regular dispersal of seeds via hydrochory regardless of river level, while the dispersal of seeds of tangled lignum between patches is dependent on flooding events. The genetic impact of water resource development may be greater for species which occur on floodplains compared with species along river channels.

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