scholarly journals Effects of landscape features on population genetic variation of a tropical stream fish, Stone lapping minnow, Garra cambodgiensis, in the upper Nan River drainage basin, northern Thailand

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaowalee Jaisuk ◽  
Wansuk Senanan

Spatial genetic variation of river-dwelling freshwater fishes is typically affected by the historical and contemporary river landscape as well as life-history traits. Tropical river and stream landscapes have endured extended geological change, shaping the existing pattern of genetic diversity, but were not directly affected by glaciation. Thus, spatial genetic variation of tropical fish populations should look very different from the pattern observed in temperate fish populations. These data are becoming important for designing appropriate management and conservation plans, as these aquatic systems are undergoing intense development and exploitation. This study evaluated the effects of landscape features on population genetic diversity of Garra cambodgiensis, a stream cyprinid, in eight tributary streams in the upper Nan River drainage basin (n = 30–100 individuals/location), Nan Province, Thailand. These populations are under intense fishing pressure from local communities. Based on 11 microsatellite loci, we detected moderate genetic diversity within eight population samples (average number of alleles per locus = 10.99 ± 3.00; allelic richness = 10.12 ± 2.44). Allelic richness within samples and stream order of the sampling location were negatively correlated (P < 0.05). We did not detect recent bottleneck events in these populations, but we did detect genetic divergence among populations (Global FST = 0.022, P < 0.01). The Bayesian clustering algorithms (TESS and STRUCTURE) suggested that four to five genetic clusters roughly coincide with sub-basins: (1) headwater streams/main stem of the Nan River, (2) a middle tributary, (3) a southeastern tributary and (4) a southwestern tributary. We observed positive correlation between geographic distance and linearized FST (P < 0.05), and the genetic differentiation pattern can be moderately explained by the contemporary stream network (STREAMTREE analysis, R2 = 0.75). The MEMGENE analysis suggested genetic division between northern (genetic clusters 1 and 2) and southern (clusters 3 and 4) sub-basins. We observed a high degree of genetic admixture in each location, highlighting the importance of natural flooding patterns and possible genetic impacts of supplementary stocking. Insights obtained from this research advance our knowledge of the complexity of a tropical stream system, and guide current conservation and restoration efforts for this species in Thailand.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicita Urzi ◽  
Nikica Šprem ◽  
Hubert Potočnik ◽  
Magda Sindičić ◽  
Dean Konjević ◽  
...  

Abstract Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia. We also investigated hybridisation between populations of wildcats and domestic cats in the area. One hundred and thirteen samples from free-leaving European wildcats and thirty-two samples from domestic cats were analysed. Allelic richness across populations ranged from 3.61 to 3.98. The observed Ho values ranged between 0.57 and 0.71. The global FST value for the four populations was 0.080 (95% CI 0.056–0.109) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.001). The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. We also found a signal for the existence of isolation by distance between populations. Our results showed that wildcats are divided in two genetic clusters largely consistent with a geographic division into a genetically diverse northern group (Slovenia, Croatia) and genetically eroded south-eastern group (Serbia, N. Macedonia). Hybridisation rate between wildcats and domestic cats varied between 13% and 52% across the regions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicita Urzi ◽  
Nikica Šprem ◽  
Hubert Potočnik ◽  
Magda Sindičić ◽  
Dean Konjević ◽  
...  

AbstractHabitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia. We also investigated hybridisation between populations of wildcats and domestic cats in the area. One hundred and thirteen samples from free-leaving European wildcats and thirty-two samples from domestic cats were analysed. Allelic richness across populations ranged from 3.61 to 3.98. The observed Ho values ranged between 0.57 and 0.71. The global FST value for the four populations was 0.080 (95% CI 0.056–0.109) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.001). The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. We also found a signal for the existence of isolation by distance between populations. Our results showed that wildcats are divided in two genetic clusters largely consistent with a geographic division into a genetically diverse northern group (Slovenia, Croatia) and genetically eroded south-eastern group (Serbia, N. Macedonia). Hybridisation rate between wildcats and domestic cats varied between 13% and 52% across the regions.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247586
Author(s):  
Christine E. Edwards ◽  
Brooke C. Tessier ◽  
Joel F. Swift ◽  
Burgund Bassüner ◽  
Alexander G. Linan ◽  
...  

Understanding genetic diversity and structure in a rare species is critical for prioritizing both in situ and ex situ conservation efforts. One such rare species is Physaria filiformis (Brassicaceae), a threatened, winter annual plant species. The species has a naturally fragmented distribution, occupying three different soil types spread across four disjunct geographical locations in Missouri and Arkansas. The goals of this study were to understand: (1) whether factors associated with fragmentation and small population size (i.e., inbreeding, genetic drift or genetic bottlenecks) have reduced levels of genetic diversity, (2) how genetic variation is structured and which factors have influenced genetic structure, and (3) how much extant genetic variation of P. filiformis is currently publicly protected and the implications for the development of conservation strategies to protect its genetic diversity. Using 16 microsatellite markers, we genotyped individuals from 20 populations of P. filiformis from across its geographical range and one population of Physaria gracilis for comparison and analyzed genetic diversity and structure. Populations of P. filiformis showed comparable levels of genetic diversity to its congener, except a single population in northwest Arkansas showed evidence of a genetic bottleneck and two populations in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas showed lower genetic variation, consistent with genetic drift. Populations showed isolation by distance, indicating that migration is geographically limited, and analyses of genetic structure grouped individuals into seven geographically structured genetic clusters, with geographic location/spatial separation showing a strong influence on genetic structure. At least one population is protected for all genetic clusters except one in north-central Arkansas, which should therefore be prioritized for protection. Populations in the Ouachita Mountains were genetically divergent from the rest of P. filiformis; future morphological analyses are needed to identify whether it merits recognition as a new, extremely rare species.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67
Author(s):  
Ryan A. Thum ◽  
Gregory M. Chorak ◽  
Raymond M. Newman ◽  
Jasmine A. Eltawely ◽  
Jo Latimore ◽  
...  

AbstractPopulation genetic studies of within- and among-population genetic variability are still lacking for managed submerged aquatic plant species, and such studies could provide important information for managers. For example, the extent of within-population genetic variation may influence the potential for managed populations to locally adapt to environmental conditions and control tactics. Similarly, among-population variation may influence whether specific control tactics work equally effectively in different locations. In the case of invasive Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.), including interspecific hybrids with native northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum Kom.), managers recognize that there is genetic variation for growth and herbicide response. However, it is unclear how much overall genetic variation there is, and how it is structured within and among populations. Here, we studied patterns of within- and among-lake genetic variation in 41 lakes in Michigan and 62 lakes in Minnesota using microsatellite markers. We found that within-lake genetic diversity was generally low, and among-lake genetic diversity was relatively high. However, some lakes were genetically diverse, and some genotypes were shared across multiple lakes. For genetically diverse lakes, managers should explicitly recognize the potential for genotypes to differ in control response and should account for this in monitoring and efficacy evaluation and using pretreatment herbicide screens to predict efficacy. Similarly, managers should consider differences in genetic composition among lakes as a source of variation in the growth and herbicide response of lakes with similar control tactics. Finally, laboratory or field information on control efficacy from one lake may be applied to other lakes where genotypes are shared among lakes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siegfried L. Krauss ◽  
Janet M. Anthony

Tetratheca erubescens is a narrowly endemic species including ~6300 plants restricted to a 2-km2 distribution on the south Koolyanobbing Range Banded Ironstone Formation (BIF) in Western Australia. A key objective of the present study was to characterise population genetic variation, and its spatial structuring across the entire distribution of T. erubescens, to enable a quantification of genetic variation that may be affected by proposed mining of the BIF. In total, 436 plants (~30 at each of 14 sites) from across the entire distribution were sampled, genotyped and scored for allelic variation at 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Fifty-nine alleles were detected (mean alleles per locus=5.36, range 2–10), and observed heterozygosity was low to moderate and typically lower than expected heterozygosity across all loci (mean observed heterozygosity (Ho)=0.41, mean expected heterozygosity (He)=0.48). Given the restricted distribution of T. erubescens, overall genetic structuring was surprisingly strong (overall FST=0.098). A range-wide spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated a significant positive genetic correlation at distances up to 450m, largely corresponding to the scale of more-or-less continuous distribution within each of two geographic clusters. In support, a STRUCTURE analysis identified an optimal number of genetic clusters as K=2, with assignment of individuals to one of two genetic clusters corresponding with the main geographic clusters. The genetic impact of proposed mining on T. erubescens was assessed on the basis of identifying plants within the proposed mine footprint (all plants from 4 of 14 sites). Repeating analyses of genetic variation after removal of these samples, and comparing to the complete dataset adjusted for sample size, resulted in the loss of one (very rare: overall frequency=0.001) allele (i.e. 58 of 59 alleles (98.3%) were recovered). All other parameters of genetic variation (mean Na, Ne, I, Ho, He, F) were unaffected. Consequently, although up to 22% of all plants fall within the mine footprint and, therefore, may be lost, &lt;2% of alleles detected will be lost, and other genetic parameters remained unaffected. Although these results suggest that the proposed mining will result in a negligible impact on the assessed genetic variation and its spatial structuring in T. erubescens, further research on impacts to, and management of, quantitative genetic variation and key population genetic processes is required.


Botany ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (10) ◽  
pp. 653-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anochar Kaewwongwal ◽  
Arunee Jetsadu ◽  
Prakit Somta ◽  
Sompong Chankaew ◽  
Peerasak Srinives

The objective of this research was to determine the genetic diversity and population structure of natural populations of two rare wild species of Asian Vigna (Phaseoleae, Fabaceae), Vigna exilis Tateishi & Maxted and Vigna grandiflora (Prain) Tateishi & Maxted, from Thailand. Employing 21 simple sequence repeat markers, 107 and 85 individuals from seven and five natural populations of V. exilis and V. grandiflora, respectively, were analyzed. In total, the markers detected 196 alleles for V. exilis and 219 alleles for V. grandiflora. Vigna exilis populations showed lower average values in number of alleles, allelic richness, observed heterozygosity, gene diversity, and outcrossing rate than V. grandiflora populations, namely 58.00% versus 114.60%, 51.96% versus 74.80%, 0.02% versus 0.18%, 0.40% versus 0.66%, and 3.24% versus 17.41%, respectively. Pairwise FST among populations demonstrated that V. exilis was much more differentiated than V. grandiflora. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 41.83% and 15.06% of total variation resided among the populations of V. exilis and V. grandiflora, respectively. Seven and two genetic clusters were detected for V. grandiflora and V. exilis by STRUCTURE analysis. Our findings suggest that different strategies are required for in situ conservation of the two species. All V. exilis populations, or as many as possible, should be conserved to protect genetic resources of this species, while a few V. grandiflora populations can capture the majority of its genetic variation.


1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Southgate ◽  
Mark Adams

The taxonomic status of and genetic diversity amongst extant populations of the greater bilby, Macrotis lagotis, were assessed using allozyme electrophoresis. A total of 47 bilbies sampled from three geographic areas and two captive colonies were screened for 42 loci, six of which were polymorphic. The results are consistent with the view that all extant populations represent a single biological species. All populations were genetically very similar (Nei D's 0.000 to 0.004) and overall levels of within-population genetic variability were low (Ho 0.004 � 0.004 to 0.0026 � 0.017). The allozyme data support the hypothesis that there has been no significant loss of variability in the captive colonies when compared to the species as a whole.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10710
Author(s):  
Robert S. Spaan ◽  
Clinton W. Epps ◽  
Rachel Crowhurst ◽  
Donald Whittaker ◽  
Mike Cox ◽  
...  

Determining the demographic impacts of wildlife disease is complex because extrinsic and intrinsic drivers of survival, reproduction, body condition, and other factors that may interact with disease vary widely. Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae infection has been linked to persistent mortality in juvenile bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), although mortality appears to vary widely across subspecies, populations, and outbreaks. Hypotheses for that variation range from interactions with nutrition, population density, genetic variation in the pathogen, genetic variation in the host, and other factors. We investigated factors related to survival of juvenile bighorn sheep in reestablished populations in the northern Basin and Range ecosystem, managed as the formerly-recognized California subspecies (hereafter, “California lineage”). We investigated whether survival probability of 4-month juveniles would vary by (1) presence of M. ovipneumoniae-infected or exposed individuals in populations, (2) population genetic diversity, and (3) an index of forage suitability. We monitored 121 juveniles across a 3-year period in 13 populations in southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada. We observed each juvenile and GPS-collared mother semi-monthly and established 4-month capture histories for the juvenile to estimate survival. All collared adult females were PCR-tested at least once for M. ovipneumoniae infection. The presence of M. ovipneumoniae-infected juveniles was determined by observing juvenile behavior and PCR-testing dead juveniles. We used a known-fate model with different time effects to determine if the probability of survival to 4 months varied temporally or was influenced by disease or other factors. We detected dead juveniles infected with M. ovipneumoniae in only two populations. Derived juvenile survival probability at four months in populations where infected juveniles were not detected was more than 20 times higher. Detection of infected adults or adults with antibody levels suggesting prior exposure was less predictive of juvenile survival. Survival varied temporally but was not strongly influenced by population genetic diversity or nutrition, although genetic diversity within most study area populations was very low. We conclude that the presence of M. ovipneumoniae can cause extremely low juvenile survival probability in translocated bighorn populations of the California lineage, but found little influence that genetic diversity or nutrition affect juvenile survival. Yet, after the PCR+ adult female in one population died, subsequent observations found 11 of 14 ( 79%) collared adult females had surviving juveniles at 4-months, suggesting that targeted removals of infected adults should be evaluated as a management strategy.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Eugenia Barrandeguy ◽  
María Victoria García

Genetic diversity comprises the total of genetic variability contained in a population and it represents the fundamental component of changes since it determines the microevolutionary potential of populations. There are several measures for quantifying the genetic diversity, most notably measures based on heterozygosity and measures based on allelic richness, i.e. the expected number of alleles in populations of same size. These measures differ in their theoretical background and, in consequence, they differ in their ecological and evolutionary interpretations. Therefore, in the present chapter these measures of genetic diversity were jointly analyzed, highlighting the changes expected as consequence of gene flow and genetic drift. To develop this analysis, computational simulations of extreme scenarios combining changes in the levels of gene flow and population size were performed.


1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Coates

There are 10 known populations of Acacia anomala occurring in two small disjunct groups some 30 km apart. The Chittering populations reproduce sexually whereas the Kalamunda populations appear to reproduce almost exclusively by vegetative multiplication. The level and distribution of genetic variation were studied at 15 allozyme loci. Two loci were monomorphic in all populations. In the Chittering populations the mean number of alleles per locus was 2.0 and the expected panmictic heterozygosity (genetic diversity) 0.209. In the Kalamunda populations the mean number of alleles per locus was 1.15 and the expected panmictic heterozygosity 0.079, although the observed heterozygosity of 0.150 was only marginally less than the Chittering populations (0.177). These data support the contention that the Chittering populations are primarily outcrossing whereas the Kalamunda populations are clonal, with each population consisting of individuals with identical and, in three of the four populations, heterozygous, multilocus genotypes. The level of genetic diversity within the Chittering populations is high for plants in general even though most populations are relatively smsll and isolated. It is proposed that either the length of time these populations have been reduced in size and isolated is insufficient for genetic diversity to be reduced or the genetic system of this species is adapted to small population conditions. Strategies for the adequate conservation of the genetic resources of Acacia anomala are discussed.


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