scholarly journals Genomic time-series data show that gene flow maintains high genetic diversity despite substantial genetic drift in a butterfly species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachariah Gompert ◽  
Amy Springer ◽  
Megan Brady ◽  
Samridhi Chaturvedi ◽  
Lauren K. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Population Sizes

AbstractEffective population size affects the efficacy of selection, rate of evolution by drift, and neutral diversity levels. When species are subdivided into multiple populations connected by gene flow, evolutionary processes can depend on global or local effective population sizes. Theory predicts that high levels of diversity might be maintained by gene flow, even very low levels of gene flow, consistent with species long-term effective population size, but tests of this idea are mostly lacking. Here, we show thatLycaeidesbutterfly populations maintain low contemporary (variance) effective population sizes (e.g., ∼200 individuals) and thus evolve rapidly by genetic drift. Contemporary effective sizes were consistent with local census populations sizes. In contrast, populations harbored high levels of genetic diversity consistent with an effective population size several orders of magnitude larger. We hypothesized that the differences in the magnitude and variability of contemporary versus long-term effective population sizes were caused by gene flow of sufficient magnitude to maintain diversity but only subtly affect evolution on generational time scales. Consistent with this hypothesis, we detected low but non-trivial gene flow among populations. Furthermore, using population-genomic time-series data, we documented patterns consistent with predictions from this hypothesis, including a weak but detectable excess of evolutionary change in the direction of the mean (migrant gene pool) allele frequencies across populations, and consistency in the direction of allele frequency change over time. The documented decoupling of diversity levels and short-term change by drift inLycaeideshas implications for our understanding of contemporary evolution and the maintenance of genetic variation in the wild.

scholarly journals Genetic Resilience of a Once Endangered Species, Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Shi ◽  
Jiarui Chen ◽  
Jianping Su ◽  
Tongzuo Zhang ◽  
Samuel K. Wasser
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Genetic Bottleneck ◽  
Migration Routes ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Population Reduction ◽  
Tibetan Antelope

AbstractPopulation reduction is generally assumed to reduce the population’s genetic diversity and hence its ability to adapt to environmental change. However, if life history traits that promote gene flow buffer populations from such impacts, conservation efforts should aim to maintain those traits in vulnerable species. Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) has experienced population reduction by 95% due to poaching during the 20th century. We hypothesize that opportunities for gene flow provided by their sex-specific migration buffered their genetic diversity from the poaching impacts. We measured the mtDNA (control region, CR) and nuDNA (microsatellites or STRs) diversity, population differentiation, along with the change in effective population size (pre-poaching era vs. post-poaching era) and tested for a genetic bottleneck. Our results showed that Tibetan antelope maintained considerable genetic diversity in both mtDNA CR and STR markers (Hd = 0.9970 and Hobs = 0.8446, respectively), despite a marked reduction in post-poaching effective population size 368.9 (95% CI of 249.3 - 660.6) compared to the pre-poaching average (4.93×103 - 4.17×104). Post-poached populations also had low population structure and showed no evidence of a genetic bottleneck. Pairwise Fst values using CR haplotype frequencies were higher than those using STR allele frequencies, suggesting different degrees of gene flow mediated by females and males. This study suggests that the Tibetan antelope’s sex-specific migration buffered their loss of genetic diversity in the face of severe demographic decline. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing the traits likely to maintain genetic diversity and promoting conservation efforts that allow them to be exercised. For Tibetan antelope, this requires assuring that their migration routes remain unobstructed by growing human disturbances while continuing to enforce anti-poaching law enforcement efforts.

scholarly journals Coalescent models at small effective population sizes and population declines are positively misleading

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Elise Lauterbur
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Analytical Approximations ◽  
Population Sizes

AbstractPopulation genetics employs two major models for conceptualizing genetic relationships among individuals – outcome-driven (coalescent) and process-driven (forward). These models are complementary, but the basic Kingman coalescent and its extensions make fundamental assumptions to allow analytical approximations: a constant effective population size much larger than the sample size. These make the probability of multiple coalescent events per generation negligible. Although these assumptions are often violated in species of conservation concern, conservation genetics often uses coalescent models of effective population sizes and trajectories in endangered species. Despite this, the effect of very small effective population sizes, and their interaction with bottlenecks and sample sizes, on such analyses of genetic diversity remains unexplored. Here, I use simulations to analyze the influence of small effective population size, population decline, and their relationship with sample size, on coalescent-based estimates of genetic diversity. Compared to forward process-based estimates, coalescent models significantly overestimate genetic diversity in oversampled populations with very small effective sizes. When sampled soon after a decline, coalescent models overestimate genetic diversity in small populations regardless of sample size. Such overestimates artificially inflate estimates of both bottleneck and population split times. For conservation applications with small effective population sizes, forward simulations that do not make population size assumptions are computationally tractable and should be considered instead of coalescent-based models. These findings underscore the importance of the theoretical basis of analytical techniques as applied to conservation questions.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Romosinuano cattle population structure in Mexico using pedigree analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-59
Author(s):  
Rafael Núñez-Domínguez ◽  
Ricardo E Martínez-Rocha ◽  
Jorge A Hidalgo-Moreno ◽  
Rodolfo Ramírez-Valverde ◽  
José G García-Muñiz
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Genetic Drift ◽  
Pedigree Analysis ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Genetic Management ◽  
Generation Interval

Background: Romosinuano cattle breed in Mexico has endured isolation and it is necessary to characterize it in order to facilitate sustainable genetic management. Objective: To assess the evolution of the structure and genetic diversity of the Romosinuano breed in Mexico, through pedigree analysis. Methods: Pedigree data was obtained from Asociación Mexicana de Criadores de Ganado Romosinuano y Lechero Tropical (AMCROLET). The ENDOG program (4.8 version) was used to analyze two datasets, one that includes upgrading from F1 animals (UP) and the other with only straight-bred cattle (SP). For both datasets, three reference populations were defined: 1998-2003 (RP1), 2004-2009 (RP2), and 2010-2017 (RP3). The pedigree included 3,432 animals in UP and 1,518 in SP. Demographic parameters were: Generation interval (GI), equivalent number of generations (EG), pedigree completeness index (PCI), and gene flow among herds. Genetic parameters were: Inbreeding (F) and average relatedness (AR) coefficients, effective population size (Nec), effective number of founders and ancestors, and number of founder genome equivalents. Results: The GI varied from 6.10 to 6.54 for UP, and from 6.47 to 7.16 yr for SP. The EG of the UP and SP improved >63% from RP1 to RP3. The PCI increased over time. No nucleus or isolated herds were found. For RP3, F and AR reached 2.08 and 5.12% in the UP, and 2.55 and 5.94% in the SP. For RP3, Nec was 57 in the UP and 45 in the SP. Genetic diversity losses were attributed mainly (>66%) to genetic drift, except for RP3 in the SP (44%). Conclusions: A reduction of the genetic diversity has been occurring after the Romosinuano breed association was established in Mexico, and this is mainly due to random loss of genes.Keywords: effective population size; gene flow; genetic diversity; genetic drift; generation interval; inbreeding; pedigree; population structure; probability of gene origin; Romosinuano cattle. Resumen Antecedentes: La raza bovina Romosinuano ha estado prácticamente aislada en México y requiere ser caracterizada para un manejo genético sostenible. Objetivo: Evaluar la evolución de la estructura y diversidad genética de la raza Romosinuano en México, mediante el análisis del pedigrí. Métodos: Los datos genealógicos provinieron de la Asociación Mexicana de Criadores de Ganado Romosinuano y Lechero Tropical (AMCROLET). Los análisis se realizaron con el programa ENDOG (versión 4.8) para dos bases de datos, una que incluyó animales en cruzamiento absorbente (UP) a partir de F1 y la otra con sólo animales puros (SP). Para ambas bases de datos se definieron tres poblaciones de referencia: 1998-2003 (RP1), 2004- 2009 (RP2), y 2010-2017 (RP3). El pedigrí incluyó 3.432 animales en la UP y 1.518 en la SP. Los parámetros demográficos fueron: intervalo generacional (GI), número de generaciones equivalentes (EG), índice de completitud del pedigrí (PCI), y flujo de genes entre hatos. Los parámetros genéticos fueron: coeficientes de consanguinidad (F) y de relación genética aditiva (AR), tamaño efectivo de la población (Nec), número efectivo de fundadores y ancestros, y número equivalente de genomas fundadores. Resultados: El GI varió de 6,10 a 6,54 para la UP, y de 6,47 a 7,16 años para la SP. El EG de la UP y la SP mejoró >63%, de RP1 a RP3. El PCI aumentó a través de los años, pero más para la SP que para la UP. No se encontraron hatos núcleo o aislados. Para RP3, F y AR alcanzaron 2,08 y 5,12% en la UP, y 2,55 y 5,94% en la SP. Para RP3, Nec fue 57 en la UP y 45 en la SP. Más de 66% de las pérdidas en diversidad genética se debieron a deriva genética, excepto para RP3 en la UP (44%). Conclusiones: una reducción de la diversidad genética ha estado ocurriendo después de que se formó la asociación de criadores de ganado Romosinuano en México, y es debida principalmente a pérdidas aleatorias de genes.Palabras clave: consanguinidad; deriva genética; diversidad genética; estructura poblacional; flujo de genes; ganado Romosinuano; intervalo generacional; pedigrí; probabilidad de origen del gen; tamaño efectivo de población. Resumo Antecedentes: A raça bovina Romosinuano tem estado praticamente isolada no México e precisa ser caracterizada para um manejo genético sustentável. Objetivo: Avaliar a evolução da estrutura e diversidade genética da raça Romosinuano no México, através da análise de pedigree. Métodos: Os dados genealógicos vieram da Asociación Mexicana de Criadores de Ganado Romosinuano y Lechero Tropical (AMCROLET). As análises foram feitas com o programa ENDOG (versão 4.8) para duas bases de dados, uma que incluiu animais em cruzamento absorvente (UP) a partir da F1 e a outra base de dados somente com animais puros (SP). Para ambas bases de dados foram definidas três populações de referência: 1998-2003 (RP1), 2004-2009 (RP2) e 2010-2017 (RP3). O pedigree incluiu 3.432 animais na UP e 1.518 na SP. Os parâmetros demográficos foram: intervalo entre gerações (GI), número de gerações equivalentes (EG), índice de completude do pedigree (PCI), e fluxo de genes entre rebanhos. Os parâmetros genéticos foram: coeficiente de consanguinidade (F) e da relação genética aditiva (AR), tamanho efetivo da população (Nec), número efetivo de fundadores e ancestrais, e número equivalente de genomas fundadores. Resultados: O GI variou de 6,10 a 6,54 para a UP, e de 6,47 a 7,16 anos para a SP. EG da UP e a SP melhorou >63%, de RP1 a RP3. O PCI aumentou ao longo dos anos, mas mais para a SP do que para o UP. Não se encontraram rebanhos núcleo ou isolados. Para RP3, F e AR alcançaram 2,08 e 5,12% na UP, e 2,55 e 5,94% na SP. Para RP3, Nec foi 57 na UP e 45 na SP. Mais de 66% das perdas em diversidade genética foram ocasionadas pela deriva genética, exceto para RP3 no UP (44%). Conclusões: Depois que a associação da raça Romosinuano foi estabelecida no México, tem ocorrido uma redução da diversidade genética, principalmente devido a perdas aleatórias de genes.Palavras-chave: consanguinidade; deriva genética; diversidade genética, estrutura populacional; fluxo de genes; intervalo entre gerações; pedigree; probabilidade de origem do gene; Romosinuano; tamanho efetivo da população.

scholarly journals The paradox of retained genetic diversity of Hippocampus guttulatus in the face of demographic decline

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupert Stacy ◽  
Jorge Palma ◽  
Miguel Correia ◽  
Anthony B. Wilson ◽  
José Pedro Andrade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Genetic Bottleneck ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
Hippocampus Guttulatus ◽  
Ria Formosa

AbstractGenetic diversity is the raw foundation for evolutionary potential. When genetic diversity is significantly reduced, the risk of extinction is heightened considerably. The long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) is one of two seahorse species occurring in the North-East Atlantic. The population living in the Ria Formosa (South Portugal) declined dramatically between 2001 and 2008, prompting fears of greatly reduced genetic diversity and reduced effective population size, hallmarks of a genetic bottleneck. This study tests these hypotheses using samples from eight microsatellite loci taken from 2001 and 2013, on either side of the 2008 decline. The data suggest that the population has not lost its genetic diversity, and a genetic bottleneck was not detectable. However, overall relatedness increased between 2001 to 2013, leading to questions of future inbreeding. The effective population size has seemingly increased close to the threshold necessary for the population to retain its evolutionary potential, but whether these results have been affected by sample size is not clear. Several explanations are discussed for these unexpected results, such as gene flow, local decline due to dispersal to other areas of the Ria Formosa, and the potential that the duration of the demographic decline too short to record changes in the genetic diversity. Given the results presented here and recent evidence of a second population decline, the precise estimation of both gene flow and effective population size via more extensive genetic screening will be critical to effective population management.

scholarly journals Differentiation with drift: a spatio-temporal genetic analysis of Galápagos mockingbird populations ( Mimus spp.)

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1543) ◽  
pp. 1127-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paquita E. A. Hoeck ◽  
Jennifer L. Bollmer ◽  
Patricia G. Parker ◽  
Lukas F. Keller
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Genetic Drift ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Island Size ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Small and isolated island populations provide ideal systems to study the effects of limited population size, genetic drift and gene flow on genetic diversity. We assessed genetic diversity within and differentiation among 19 mockingbird populations on 15 Galápagos islands, covering all four endemic species, using 16 microsatellite loci. We tested for signs of drift and gene flow, and used historic specimens to assess genetic change over the last century and to estimate effective population sizes. Within-population genetic diversity and effective population sizes varied substantially among island populations and correlated strongly with island size, suggesting that island size serves as a good predictor for effective population size. Genetic differentiation among populations was pronounced and increased with geographical distance. A century of genetic drift did not change genetic diversity on an archipelago-wide scale, but genetic drift led to loss of genetic diversity in small populations, especially in one of the two remaining populations of the endangered Floreana mockingbird. Unlike in other Galápagos bird species such as the Darwin's finches, gene flow among mockingbird populations was low. The clear pattern of genetically distinct populations reflects the effects of genetic drift and suggests that Galápagos mockingbirds are evolving in relative isolation.

scholarly journals Long-term isolation at a low effective population size greatly reduced genetic diversity in Gulf of California fin whales

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vania E. Rivera-León ◽  
Jorge Urbán ◽  
Sally Mizroch ◽  
Robert L. Brownell ◽  
Tom Oosting ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Fin Whales

scholarly journals Long-term ‘islands’ in the landscape: low gene flow, effective population size and genetic divergence in the shrubHakea oldfieldii(Proteaceae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 179 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane F. Sampson ◽  
Maggie Hankinson ◽  
Shelley McArthur ◽  
Sarah Tapper ◽  
Margaret Langley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Genetic Divergence ◽  
Effective Population

scholarly journals Comparison of genetic variation between rare and common congeners of Dipodomys with estimates of contemporary and historical effective population size

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Halsey ◽  
John Stuhler ◽  
Natalia J Bayona-Vasquez ◽  
Roy N Platt ◽  
Jim R Goetze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Demographic Dynamics ◽  
Population Sizes

Organisms with low effective population sizes are at greater risk of extinction because of reduced genetic diversity.   Dipodomys elator  is a kangaroo rat that is classified as threatened in Texas and field surveys from the past 50 years indicate that the distribution of this species has decreased. This suggests geographic range reductions that could have caused population fluctuations, potentially impacting effective population size. Conversely, the more common and widespread  D. ordii  is thought to exhibit relative geographic and demographic stability. Genetic variation between  D. elator  and  D. ordii  samples was assessed using 3RAD, a modified restriction site associated sequencing approach. It was hypothesized that  D. elator  would show lower levels of nucleotide diversity, observed heterozygosity, and effective population size when compared to  D. ordii . Also of interest was identifying population structure within contemporary samples of  D. elator  and detecting genetic variation between temporal samples that could indicate demographic dynamics. Up to 61,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed. It was determined that genetic variability and effective population size in contemporary  D. elator  populations were lower than that of  D. ordii, that there is only slight, if any, structure within contemporary  D. elator  populations, and there is little genetic differentiation between spatial or temporal historical samples suggesting little change in nuclear genetic diversity over 30 years. Results suggest that genetic diversity of  D. elator  has remained stable despite claims of reduced population size and/or abundance, which may indicate a metapopulation-like system, whose fluctuations might counteract any immediate decrease in fitness.

scholarly journals Fluctuating fortunes: genomes and habitat reconstructions reveal global climate-mediated changes in bats' genetic diversity

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1911) ◽  
pp. 20190304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaji Chattopadhyay ◽  
Kritika M. Garg ◽  
Rajasri Ray ◽  
Frank E. Rheindt
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Effective Population Size ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
The Impact

Over the last approximately 2.6 Myr, Earth's climate has been dominated by cyclical ice ages that have profoundly affected species' population sizes, but the impact of impending anthropogenic climate change on species’ extinction potential remains a worrying problem. We investigated 11 bat species from different taxonomic, ecological and geographical backgrounds using combined information from palaeoclimatic habitat reconstructions and genomes to analyse biotic impacts of historic climate change. We discover tightly correlated fluctuations between species' historic distribution and effective population size, identify frugivores as particularly susceptible to global warming, pinpoint large insectivores as having overall low effective population size and flag the onset of the Holocene (approx. 10–12 000 years ago) as the period with the generally lowest effective population sizes across the last approximately 1 Myr. Our study shows that combining genomic and palaeoclimatological approaches reveals effects of climatic shifts on genetic diversity and may help predict impacts of future climate change.

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