Author: Malgorzata Pilot

A new paper has been published in PLoS ONE:

Genetic Variability of the Grey Wolf Canis lupus in the Caucasus in Comparison with Europe and the Middle East: Distinct or Intermediary Population?

Małgorzata Pilot, Michał J. Dabrowski, Vahram Hayrapetyan, Eduard G. Yavruyan, Natia Kopaliani, Elena Tsingarska, Barbara Bujalska, Stanisław Kaminski, Wiesław Bogdanowicz

Abstract

Despite continuous historical distribution of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) throughout Eurasia, the species displays considerable morphological differentiation that resulted in delimitation of a number of subspecies. However, these morphological discontinuities are not always consistent with patterns of genetic differentiation. Here we assess genetic distinctiveness of grey wolves from the Caucasus (a region at the border between Europe and West Asia) that have been classified as a distinct subspecies C. l. cubanensis. We analysed their genetic variability based on mtDNA control region, microsatellite loci and genome-wide SNP genotypes (obtained for a subset of the samples), and found similar or higher levels of genetic diversity at all these types of loci as compared with other Eurasian populations. Although we found no evidence for a recent genetic bottleneck, genome-wide linkage disequilibrium patterns suggest a long-term demographic decline in the Caucasian population – a trend consistent with other Eurasian populations. Caucasian wolves share mtDNA haplotypes with both Eastern European and West Asian wolves, suggesting past or ongoing gene flow. Microsatellite data also suggest gene flow between the Caucasus and Eastern Europe. We found evidence for moderate admixture between the Caucasian wolves and domestic dogs, at a level comparable with other Eurasian populations. Taken together, our results show that Caucasian wolves are not genetically isolated from other Eurasian populations, share with them the same demographic trends, and are affected by similar conservation problems.

The University of Lincoln is offering a PhD studentship to work on a project on genetic relatedness and social complexity in the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), under the supervision of Drs Bonaventura Majolo (http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/bmajolo) and Malgorzata Pilot. This project aims to investigate the link between inter- and intra-group social behaviour and the modulating effect of kin relationships between individuals in a wild population of macaques in the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco.

This is a part of a longitudinal project on the socio-ecology of the Barbary macaque run by Dr Majolo that started in January 2008 (http://barbarymacaque.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk). Several groups of macaques are habituated for research purposes at the field site. The University of Lincoln is fully equipped for field work and DNA analysis. This project requires the student to spend approximately 13 months in Morocco and the rest of the time in Lincoln for lab work, data analysis and writing up of the PhD thesis.

The work at the field site is physically and mentally demanding. The field site is between 1,400 and 1,900m above sea level and weather conditions can vary dramatically across the year, with temperature ranging between 35ºC to -5ºC and snow in the winter months. The successful applicant will live in the town of Azrou in an apartment block with basic amenities including internet access.

Applicants should:

–       Have a background in animal behaviour, primatology, population genetics, anthropology or related fields;

–       Have a strong interest in social behaviour research and motivation to pursue a research career;

–       Have some knowledge and experience of behavioural data collection methods and fieldwork;

–       Have at least a basic knowledge of population genetics.

The ability to speak French and/or Arabic is desirable but not essential to this post.

 The fully-funded studentship (3.5 years) is open to UK and EU citizens. All Candidates must satisfy the University’s minimum doctoral entry criteria for studentships of an honours degree at Upper Second Class (2:1) or an appropriate Masters degree or equivalent. A minimum IELTS (Academic) score of 7 (or equivalent) is essential for candidates for whom English is not their first language. The expected start date is September 2014.

 To apply, please send a covering letter outlining your research interests and proposed approach (up to 1 page A4) with an accompanying CV to studentshipscss@lincoln.ac.uk by 5:00pm (UK time) on 18 April 2014.

Candidates will be notified w/c 5thMay of the outcome of the process and if invited to interview, these are anticipated to take place w/c 26thMay.

For further details see: http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studyatlincoln/postgraduateprogrammes/postgraduate research/studentships/

A new paper has been published in Molecular Biology and Evolution:

Killer Whale Nuclear Genome and mtDNA Reveal Widespread Population Bottleneck During the Last Glacial Maximum

Andre E. Moura, Charlene Janse van Rensburg, Malgorzata Pilot, Arman Tehrani, Peter B. Best, Meredith Thornton, Stephanie Plön, P. J. Nico de Bruyn, Kim C. Worley, Richard A. Gibbs, Marilyn E. Dahlheim, A. Rus Hoelzel

Abstract

Ecosystem function and resilience is determined by the interactions and independent contributions of individual species. Apex predators play a disproportionately determinant role through their influence and dependence on the dynamics of prey species. Their demographic  fluctuations are thus likely to reflect changes in their respective ecological communities and habitat. Here we investigate the historical population dynamics of the killer whale based on draft nuclear genome data for the Northern Hemisphere and mtDNA data worldwide. We infer a relatively stable population size throughout most of the Pleistocene, followed by an order of magnitude decline and bottleneck during the Weichselian glacial period. Global mtDNA data indicates that while most populations declined, at least one population retained diversity in a stable, productive ecosystem off southern Africa. We conclude that environmental changes during the last glacial period promoted the decline of a top ocean predator, that these events contributed to the pattern of diversity among extant populations, and that the relatively high diversity of a population currently in productive, stable habitat off South Africa suggests a role for ocean productivity in the widespread decline.

A new paper has been published in Heredity: 

Genome-wide signatures of population bottlenecks and diversifying selection in European wolves

M Pilot, C Greco, B M vonHoldt, B Jędrzejewska, E Randi, W Jędrzejewski, V E Sidorovich, E A Ostrander and R K Wayne

Abstract:

Genomic resources developed for domesticated species provide powerful tools for studying the evolutionary history of their wild relatives. Here we use 61K single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) evenly spaced throughout the canine nuclear genome to analyse evolutionary relationships among the three largest European populations of grey wolves in comparison with other populations worldwide, and investigate genome-wide effects of demographic bottlenecks and signatures of selection. European wolves have a discontinuous range, with large and connected populations in Eastern Europe and relatively smaller, isolated populations in Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. Our results suggest a continuous decline in wolf numbers in Europe since the Late Pleistocene, and long-term isolation and bottlenecks in the Italian and Iberian populations following their divergence from the Eastern European population. The Italian and Iberian populations have low genetic variability and high linkage disequilibrium, but relatively few autozygous segments across the genome. This last characteristic clearly distinguishes them from populations that underwent recent drastic demographic declines or founder events, and implies long-term bottlenecks in these two populations. Although genetic drift due to spatial isolation and bottlenecks seems to be a major evolutionary force diversifying the European populations, we detected 35 loci that are putatively under diversifying selection. Two of these loci flank the canine platelet-derived growth factor gene, which affects bone growth and may influence differences in body size between wolf populations. This study demonstrates the power of population genomics for identifying genetic signals of demographic bottlenecks and detecting signatures of directional selection in bottlenecked populations, despite their low background variability.

A paper on Bulgarian wolves has been published online in Conservation Genetics:

Unregulated hunting and genetic recovery from a severe population decline: the cautionary case of Bulgarian wolves

Andre E. Moura • Elena Tsingarska •
Michał J. Da˛browski • Sylwia D. Czarnomska •
Bogumiła Je˛drzejewska • Małgorzata Pilot

Abstract

European wolf (Canis lupus) populations have suffered extensive decline and range contraction due to anthropogenic culling. In Bulgaria, although wolves are
still recovering from a severe demographic bottleneck in the 1970s, hunting is allowed with few constraints. A recent increase in hunting pressure has raised concerns regarding long-term viability. We thus carried out a comprehensive
conservation genetic analysis using microsatellite and mtDNA markers. Our results showed high heterozygosity levels (0.654, SE 0.031) and weak genetic
bottleneck signals, suggesting good recovery since the 1970s decline. However, we found high levels of inbreeding (FIS = 0.113, SE 0.019) and a Ne/N ratio lower
than expected for an undisturbed wolf population (0.11, 95 % CI 0.08–0.29). We also found evidence for hybridisation and introgression from feral dogs (C. familiaris) in 10 out of 92 wolves (9.8 %). Our results also suggest admixture between wolves and local populations of golden jackals (C. aureus), but less extensive as compared with the admixture with dogs. We detected local population structure that may be explained by fragmentation patterns during the 1970s decline and differences in local ecological characteristics, with more extensive sampling needed to assess further population substructure. We conclude that high levels of inbreeding and hybridisation with other canid species, which likely result from unregulated hunting, may compromise long-term viability of this population despite its current high genetic diversity. The existence of population subdivision warrants an assessment of whether separate management units are needed for different subpopulations. Our study highlights conservation threats for populations with growing numbers but subject to unregulated hunting.

The paper can be downloaded from the Conservation Genetics website:

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-013-0547-y