@article{HagemannConejeroStillfriedetal.2022,
  author    = {Hagemann, Justus and Conejero, Carles and Stillfried, Milena and Mentaberre, Gregorio and Castillo-Contreras, Raquel and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Lopez-Olvera, Jorge Ram{\´o}n},
  title     = {Genetic population structure defines wild boar as an urban exploiter species in Barcelona, Spain},
  series = {The science of the total environment : an international journal for scientific research into the environment and its relationship with man},
  volume    = {833},
  journal   = {The science of the total environment : an international journal for scientific research into the environment and its relationship with man},
  publisher = {Elsevier Science},
  address   = {Amsterdam [u.a.]},
  issn      = {0048-9697},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155126},
  pages     = {10},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Urban wildlife ecology is gaining relevance as metropolitan areas grow throughout the world, reducing natural habitats and creating new ecological niches. However, knowledge is still scarce about the colonisation processes of such urban niches, the establishment of new communities, populations and/or species, and the related changes in behaviour and life histories of urban wildlife. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) has successfully colonised urban niches throughout Europe. The aim of this study is to unveil the processes driving the establishment and maintenance of an urban wild boar population by analysing its genetic structure. A set of 19 microsatellite loci was used to test whether urban wild boars in Barcelona, Spain, are an isolated population or if gene flow prevents genetic differentiation between rural and urban wild boars. This knowledge will contribute to the understanding of the effects of synurbisation and the associated management measures on the genetic change of large mammals in urban ecosystems. Despite the unidirectional gene flow from rural to urban areas, the urban wild boars in Barcelona form an island population genotypically differentiated from the surrounding rural ones. The comparison with previous genetic studies of urban wild boar populations suggests that forest patches act as suitable islands for wild boar genetic differentiation. Previous results and the genetic structure of the urban wild boar population in Barcelona classify wild boar as an urban exploiter species. These wild boar peri-urban island populations are responsible for conflict with humans and thus should be managed by reducing the attractiveness of urban areas. The management of peri-urban wild boar populations should aim at reducing migration into urban areas and preventing phenotypic changes (either genetic or plastic) causing habituation of wild boars to humans and urban environments.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PalmaVeraReyerLanghammeretal.2022,
  author    = {Palma-Vera, Sergio E. and Reyer, Henry and Langhammer, Martina and Reinsch, Norbert and Derezanin, Lorena and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Qanbari, Saber and Weitzel, Joachim M. and Franzenburg, Soeren and Hemmrich-Stanisak, Georg and Sch{\"o}n, Jennifer},
  title     = {Genomic characterization of the world's longest selection experiment in mouse reveals the complexity of polygenic traits},
  series = {BMC Biology},
  volume    = {20},
  journal   = {BMC Biology},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {BMC},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1741-7007},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12915-022-01248-9},
  pages     = {20},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Background Long-term selection experiments are a powerful tool to understand the genetic background of complex traits. The longest of such experiments has been conducted in the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), generating extreme mouse lines with increased fertility, body mass, protein mass and endurance. For >140 generations, these lines have been maintained alongside an unselected control line, representing a valuable resource for understanding the genetic basis of polygenic traits. However, their history and genomes have not been reported in a comprehensive manner yet. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide a summary of the breeding history and phenotypic traits of these lines along with their genomic characteristics. We further attempt to decipher the effects of the observed line-specific patterns of genetic variation on each of the selected traits. Results Over the course of >140 generations, selection on the control line has given rise to two extremely fertile lines (>20 pups per litter each), two giant growth lines (one lean, one obese) and one long-distance running line. Whole genome sequencing analysis on 25 animals per line revealed line-specific patterns of genetic variation among lines, as well as high levels of homozygosity within lines. This high degree of distinctiveness results from the combined effects of long-term continuous selection, genetic drift, population bottleneck and isolation. Detection of line-specific patterns of genetic differentiation and structural variation revealed multiple candidate genes behind the improvement of the selected traits. Conclusions The genomes of the Dummerstorf trait-selected mouse lines display distinct patterns of genomic variation harbouring multiple trait-relevant genes. Low levels of within-line genetic diversity indicate that many of the beneficial alleles have arrived to fixation alongside with neutral alleles. This study represents the first step in deciphering the influence of selection and neutral evolutionary forces on the genomes of these extreme mouse lines and depicts the genetic complexity underlying polygenic traits.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{JesusSchmidtFickeletal.2022,
  author    = {Jesus, Sonia A. and Schmidt, Anke and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Doherr, Marcus G. and Boonprasert, Khajohnpat and Thitaram, Chatchote and Sariya, Ladawan and Ratanakron, Parntep and Hildebrandt, Thomas Bernd},
  title     = {Assessing coagulation parameters in healthy Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) from European and thai populations},
  series = {Animals},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Animals},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2076-2615},
  doi       = {10.3390/ani12030361},
  pages     = {16},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Simple Summary Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are considered endangered and their population is in continuous decline. Understanding their social interactions, health, and welfare status has been a topic of intense research in recent decades. Coagulation assessments have been underutilized in wildlife but can give valuable information on individual health. This study aims to increase the knowledge of the coagulation status in healthy Asian elephants from different backgrounds and age groups, using a fast point-of-care analyzer. This tool can be further used in either routine health check-ups performed by caretakers or in a clinical emergency, such as in cases of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease outbreaks. We have also investigated the presence of genomic mutations in one coagulation factor-factor VII-where a disorder was previously reported in an Asian elephant. Hereby, we report new reference values for coagulation parameters, such as coagulation times and fibrinogen concentration of Asian elephants assessed in Thailand and in Europe, as well as several single point mutations found in the exons of Elephas maximus coagulation F7 gene. We found the point-of-care analyzer used in this study to be very practical and user friendly for a zoo and field environment and hope that this project will incentivize further coagulation studies in Asian elephants and in other wildlife species. The Asian elephant population is continuously declining due to several extrinsic reasons in their range countries, but also due to diseases in captive populations worldwide. One of these diseases, the elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) hemorrhagic disease, is very impactful because it particularly affects Asian elephant calves. It is commonly fatal and presents as an acute and generalized hemorrhagic syndrome. Therefore, having reference values of coagulation parameters, and obtaining such values for diseased animals in a very short time, is of great importance. We analyzed prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and fibrinogen concentrations using a portable and fast point-of-care analyzer (VetScan Pro) in 127 Asian elephants from Thai camps and European captive herds. We found significantly different PT and aPTT coagulation times between elephants from the two regions, as well as clear differences in fibrinogen concentration. Nevertheless, these alterations were not expected to have biological or clinical implications. We have also sequenced the coagulation factor VII gene of 141 animals to assess the presence of a previously reported hereditary coagulation disorder in Asian elephants and to investigate the presence of other mutations. We did not find the previously reported mutation in our study population. Instead, we discovered the presence of several new single nucleotide polymorphisms, two of them being considered as deleterious by effect prediction software.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WeyrichGuerreroAltamiranoYasaretal.2022,
  author    = {Weyrich, Alexandra and Guerrero-Altamirano, Tania P. and Yasar, Selma and Czirjak, G{\´a}bor-{\´A}rp{\´a}d and Wachter, Bettina and Fickel, J{\"o}rns},
  title     = {First Steps towards the development of epigenetic biomarkers in female cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)},
  series = {Life : open access journal},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Life : open access journal},
  number    = {6},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2075-1729},
  doi       = {10.3390/life12060920},
  pages     = {16},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are generally healthy, whereas cheetahs under human care, such as those in zoological gardens, suffer from ill-defined infectious and degenerative pathologies. These differences are only partially explained by husbandry management programs because both groups share low genetic diversity. However, mounting evidence suggests that physiological differences between populations in different environments can be tracked down to differences in epigenetic signatures. Here, we identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between free-ranging cheetahs and conspecifics in zoological gardens and prospect putative links to pathways relevant to immunity, energy balance and homeostasis. Comparing epigenomic DNA methylation profiles obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from eight free-ranging female cheetahs from Namibia and seven female cheetahs living in zoological gardens within Europe, we identified DMRs of which 22 were hypermethylated and 23 hypomethylated. Hypermethylated regions in cheetahs under human care were located in the promoter region of a gene involved in host-pathogen interactions (KLC1) and in an intron of a transcription factor relevant for the development of pancreatic beta-cells, liver, and kidney (GLIS3). The most canonical mechanism of DNA methylation in promoter regions is assumed to repress gene transcription. Taken together, this could indicate that hypermethylation at the promoter region of KLC1 is involved in the reduced immunity in cheetahs under human care. This approach can be generalized to characterize DNA methylation profiles in larger cheetah populations under human care with a more granular longitudinal data collection, which, in the future, could be used to monitor the early onset of pathologies, and ultimately translate into the development of biomarkers with prophylactic and/or therapeutic potential.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GuerreroFickelBenhaiemetal.2020,
  author    = {Guerrero, Tania P. and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Benhaiem, Sarah and Weyrich, Alexandra},
  title     = {Epigenomics and gene regulation in mammalian social systems},
  series = {Current zoology},
  volume    = {66},
  journal   = {Current zoology},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {1674-5507},
  doi       = {10.1093/cz/zoaa005},
  pages     = {307 -- 319},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Social epigenomics is a new field of research that studies how the social environment shapes the epigenome and how in turn the epigenome modulates behavior. We focus on describing known gene-environment interactions (GEIs) and epigenetic mechanisms in different mammalian social systems. To illustrate how epigenetic mechanisms integrate GEls, we highlight examples where epigenetic mechanisms are associated with social behaviors and with their maintenance through neuroendocrine, locomotor, and metabolic responses. We discuss future research trajectories and open questions for the emerging field of social epigenomics in nonmodel and naturally occurring social systems. Finally, we outline the technological advances that aid the study of epigenetic mechanisms in the establishment of GEIs and vice versa.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WeyrichYasarLenzetal.2020,
  author    = {Weyrich, Alexandra and Yasar, Selma and Lenz, Dorina and Fickel, J{\"o}rns},
  title     = {Tissue-specific epigenetic inheritance after paternal heat exposure in male wild guinea pigs},
  series = {Mammalian genome},
  volume    = {31},
  journal   = {Mammalian genome},
  number    = {5-6},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {0938-8990},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00335-020-09832-6},
  pages     = {157 -- 169},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {External temperature change has been shown to modify epigenetic patterns, such as DNA methylation, which regulates gene expression. DNA methylation is heritable, and as such provides a mechanism to convey environmental information to subsequent generations. Studies on epigenetic response to temperature increase are still scarce in wild mammals, even more so studies that compare tissue-specific epigenetic responses. Here, we aim to address differential epigenetic responses on a gene and gene pathway level in two organs, liver and testis. We chose these organs, because the liver is the main metabolic and thermoregulation organ, and epigenetic modifications in testis are potentially transmitted to the F2 generation. We focused on the transmission of DNA methylation changes to naive male offspring after paternal exposure to an ambient temperature increase of 10 degrees C, and investigated differential methylated regions of sons sired before and after the paternal exposure using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. We detected both a highly tissue-specific epigenetic response, reflected in genes involved in organ-specific metabolic pathways, and a more general regulation of single genes epigenetically modified in both organs. We conclude that genomes are context-specifically differentially epigenetically regulated in response to temperature increase. These findings emphasize the epigenetic relevance in cell differentiation, which is essential for the specific function(s) of complex organs, and is represented in a diverse molecular regulation of genes and gene pathways. The results also emphasize the paternal contribution to adaptive processes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{WeyrichYasarLenzetal.2020,
  author    = {Weyrich, Alexandra and Yasar, Selma and Lenz, Dorina and Fickel, J{\"o}rns},
  title     = {Tissue-specific epigenetic inheritance after paternal heat exposure in male wild guinea pigs},
  series = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {5-6},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-51652},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-516525},
  pages     = {15},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {External temperature change has been shown to modify epigenetic patterns, such as DNA methylation, which regulates gene expression. DNA methylation is heritable, and as such provides a mechanism to convey environmental information to subsequent generations. Studies on epigenetic response to temperature increase are still scarce in wild mammals, even more so studies that compare tissue-specific epigenetic responses. Here, we aim to address differential epigenetic responses on a gene and gene pathway level in two organs, liver and testis. We chose these organs, because the liver is the main metabolic and thermoregulation organ, and epigenetic modifications in testis are potentially transmitted to the F2 generation. We focused on the transmission of DNA methylation changes to naive male offspring after paternal exposure to an ambient temperature increase of 10 degrees C, and investigated differential methylated regions of sons sired before and after the paternal exposure using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. We detected both a highly tissue-specific epigenetic response, reflected in genes involved in organ-specific metabolic pathways, and a more general regulation of single genes epigenetically modified in both organs. We conclude that genomes are context-specifically differentially epigenetically regulated in response to temperature increase. These findings emphasize the epigenetic relevance in cell differentiation, which is essential for the specific function(s) of complex organs, and is represented in a diverse molecular regulation of genes and gene pathways. The results also emphasize the paternal contribution to adaptive processes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{PaijmansBarlowHennebergeretal.2020,
  author    = {Paijmans, Johanna L. A. and Barlow, Axel and Henneberger, Kirstin and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Hofreiter, Michael and Foerste, Daniel W. G.},
  title     = {Ancestral mitogenome capture of the Southeast Asian banded linsang},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {972},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-47444},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-474441},
  pages     = {14},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Utilising a reconstructed ancestral mitochondrial genome of a clade to design hybridisation capture baits can provide the opportunity for recovering mitochondrial sequences from all its descendent and even sister lineages. This approach is useful for taxa with no extant close relatives, as is often the case for rare or extinct species, and is a viable approach for the analysis of historical museum specimens. Asiatic linsangs (genus Prionodon) exemplify this situation, being rare Southeast Asian carnivores for which little molecular data is available. Using ancestral capture we recover partial mitochondrial genome sequences for seven banded linsangs (P. linsang) from historical specimens, representing the first intraspecific genetic dataset for this species. We additionally assemble a high quality mitogenome for the banded linsang using shotgun sequencing for time-calibrated phylogenetic analysis. This reveals a deep divergence between the two Asiatic linsang species (P. linsang, P. pardicolor), with an estimated divergence of ~12 million years (Ma). Although our sample size precludes any robust interpretation of the population structure of the banded linsang, we recover two distinct matrilines with an estimated tMRCA of ~1 Ma. Our results can be used as a basis for further investigation of the Asiatic linsangs, and further demonstrate the utility of ancestral capture for studying divergent taxa without close relatives.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BarnettWestburySandovalVelascoetal.2020,
  author    = {Barnett, Ross and Westbury, Michael V. and Sandoval-Velasco, Marcela and Vieira, Filipe Garrett and Jeon, Sungwon and Zazula, Grant and Martin, Michael D. and Ho, Simon Y. W. and Mather, Niklas and Gopalakrishnan, Shyam and Ramos-Madrigal, Jazmin and de Manuel, Marc and Zepeda-Mendoza, M. Lisandra and Antunes, Agostinho and Baez, Aldo Carmona and De Cahsan, Binia and Larson, Greger and O'Brien, Stephen J. and Eizirik, Eduardo and Johnson, Warren E. and Koepfli, Klaus-Peter and Wilting, Andreas and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Dalen, Love and Lorenzen, Eline D. and Marques-Bonet, Tomas and Hansen, Anders J. and Zhang, Guojie and Bhak, Jong and Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki and Gilbert, M. Thomas P.},
  title     = {Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat},
  series = {Current biology},
  volume    = {30},
  journal   = {Current biology},
  number    = {24},
  publisher = {Cell Press},
  address   = {Cambridge},
  issn      = {0960-9822},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.051},
  pages     = {14},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Homotherium was a genus of large-bodied scimitar-toothed cats, morphologically distinct from any extant felid species, that went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene [1-4]. They possessed large, saber-form serrated canine teeth, powerful forelimbs, a sloping back, and an enlarged optic bulb, all of which were key characteristics for predation on Pleistocene megafauna [5]. Previous mitochondrial DNA phylogenies suggested that it was a highly divergent sister lineage to all extant cat species [6-8]. However, mitochondrial phylogenies can be misled by hybridization [9], incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), or sex-biased dispersal patterns [10], which might be especially relevant for Homotherium since widespread mito-nuclear discrepancies have been uncovered in modern cats [10]. To examine the evolutionary history of Homotherium, we generated a -7x nuclear genome and a similar to 38x exome from H. latidens using shotgun and target-capture sequencing approaches. Phylogenetic analyses reveal Homotherium as highly divergent (similar to 22.5 Ma) from living cat species, with no detectable signs of gene flow. Comparative genomic analyses found signatures of positive selection in several genes, including those involved in vision, cognitive function, and energy consumption, putatively consistent with diurnal activity, well-developed social behavior, and cursorial hunting [5]. Finally, we uncover relatively high levels of genetic diversity, suggesting that Homotherium may have been more abundant than the limited fossil record suggests [3, 4, 11-14]. Our findings complement and extend previous inferences from both the fossil record and initial molecular studies, enhancing our understanding of the evolution and ecology of this remarkable lineage.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PremierFickelHeurichetal.2020,
  author    = {Premier, Joseph and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Heurich, Marco and Kramer-Schadt, Stephanie},
  title     = {The boon and bane of boldness},
  series = {Movement Ecology},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {Movement Ecology},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {BioMed Central},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2051-3933},
  doi       = {10.1186/s40462-020-00204-y},
  pages     = {1 -- 17},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Background: Many felid species are of high conservation concern, and with increasing human disturbance the situation is worsening. Small isolated populations are at risk of genetic impoverishment decreasing within-species biodiversity. Movement is known to be a key behavioural trait that shapes both demographic and genetic dynamics and affects population survival. However, we have limited knowledge on how different manifestations of movement behaviour translate to population processes. In this study, we aimed to 1) understand the potential effects of movement behaviour on the genetic diversity of small felid populations in heterogeneous landscapes, while 2) presenting a simulation tool that can help inform conservation practitioners following, or considering, population management actions targeting the risk of genetic impoverishment. Methods: We developed a spatially explicit individual-based population model including neutral genetic markers for felids and applied this to the example of Eurasian lynx. Using a neutral landscape approach, we simulated reintroductions into a three-patch system, comprising two breeding patches separated by a larger patch of differing landscape heterogeneity, and tested for the effects of various behavioural movement syndromes and founder population sizes. We explored a range of movement syndromes by simulating populations with various movement model parametrisations that range from 'shy' to 'bold' movement behaviour. Results: We find that movement syndromes can lead to a higher loss of genetic diversity and an increase in between population genetic structure for both "bold" and "shy" movement behaviours, depending on landscape conditions, with larger decreases in genetic diversity and larger increases in genetic differentiation associated with bold movement syndromes, where the first colonisers quickly reproduce and subsequently dominate the gene pool. In addition, we underline the fact that a larger founder population can offset the genetic losses associated with subpopulation isolation and gene pool dominance. Conclusions We identified a movement syndrome trade-off for population genetic variation, whereby bold-explorers could be saviours - by connecting populations and promoting panmixia, or sinks - by increasing genetic losses via a 'founder takes all' effect, whereas shy-stayers maintain a more gradual genetic drift due to their more cautious behaviour. Simulations should incorporate movement behaviour to provide better projections of long-term population viability and within-species biodiversity, which includes genetic diversity. Simulations incorporating demographics and genetics have great potential for informing conservation management actions, such as population reintroductions or reinforcements. Here, we present such a simulation tool for solitary felids.},
  language  = {en}
}