TY - JOUR A1 - Martins, Renata F. A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Minh Le, A1 - Thanh Van Nguyen, A1 - Nguyen, Ha M. A1 - Timmins, Robert A1 - Gan, Han Ming A1 - Rovie-Ryan, Jeffrine J. A1 - Lenz, Dorina A1 - Förster, Daniel W. A1 - Wilting, Andreas T1 - Phylogeography of red muntjacs reveals three distinct mitochondrial lineages JF - BMC evolutionary biology N2 - Background: The members of the genus Muntiacus are of particular interest to evolutionary biologists due to their extreme chromosomal rearrangements and the ongoing discussions about the number of living species. Red muntjacs have the largest distribution of all muntjacs and were formerly considered as one species. Karyotype differences led to the provisional split between the Southern Red Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) and the Northern Red Muntjac (M. vaginalis), but uncertainties remain as, so far, no phylogenetic study has been conducted. Here, we analysed whole mitochondrial genomes of 59 archival and 16 contemporaneous samples to resolve uncertainties about their taxonomy and used red muntjacs as model for understanding the evolutionary history of other species in Southeast Asia. Results: We found three distinct matrilineal groups of red muntjacs: Sri Lankan red muntjacs (including the Western Ghats) diverged first from other muntjacs about 1.5 Mya; later northern red muntjacs (including North India and Indochina) and southern red muntjacs (Sundaland) split around 1.12 Mya. The diversification of red muntjacs into these three main lineages was likely promoted by two Pleistocene barriers: one through the Indian subcontinent and one separating the Indochinese and Sundaic red muntjacs. Interestingly, we found a high level of gene flow within the populations of northern and southern red muntjacs, indicating gene flow between populations in Indochina and dispersal of red muntjacs over the exposed Sunda Shelf during the Last Glacial Maximum. Conclusions: Our results provide new insights into the evolution of species in South and Southeast Asia as we found clear genetic differentiation in a widespread and generalist species, corresponding to two known biogeographical barriers: The Isthmus of Kra and the central Indian dry zone. In addition, our molecular data support either the delineation of three monotypic species or three subspecies, but more importantly these data highlight the conservation importance of the Sri Lankan/South Indian red muntjac. KW - Phylogeography KW - Archival DNA KW - Muntjac KW - Southeast Asia KW - Species complex Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-017-0888-0 SN - 1471-2148 VL - 17 IS - 34 PB - BioMed Central CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Patel, Riddhi P. A1 - Wutke, Saskia A1 - Lenz, Dorina A1 - Mukherjee, Shomita A1 - Ramakrishnan, Uma A1 - Veron, Geraldine A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Wilting, Andreas A1 - Förster, Daniel W. T1 - Genetic Structure and Phylogeography of the Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) Inferred from Mitochondrial Genomes JF - Journal of Heredity N2 - The Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis is a habitat generalist that is widely distributed across Southeast Asia. Based on morphological traits, this species has been subdivided into 12 subspecies. Thus far, there have been few molecular studies investigating intraspecific variation, and those had been limited in geographic scope. For this reason, we aimed to study the genetic structure and evolutionary history of this species across its very large distribution range in Asia. We employed both PCR-based (short mtDNA fragments, 94 samples) and high throughput sequencing based methods (whole mitochondrial genomes, 52 samples) on archival, noninvasively collected and fresh samples to investigate the distribution of intraspecific genetic variation. Our comprehensive sampling coupled with the improved resolution of a mitochondrial genome analyses provided strong support for a deep split between Mainland and Sundaic Leopard cats. Although we identified multiple haplogroups within the species’ distribution, we found no matrilineal evidence for the distinction of 12 subspecies. In the context of Leopard cat biogeography, we cautiously recommend a revision of the Prionailurus bengalensis subspecific taxonomy: namely, a reduction to 4 subspecies (2 mainland and 2 Sundaic forms). KW - habitat generalist KW - hybrid capture KW - Leopard cat KW - mitogenome KW - mtDNA KW - Southeast Asia Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esx017 SN - 0022-1503 SN - 1465-7333 VL - 108 IS - 4 SP - 349 EP - 360 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Cary ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kunde, Miriam N. A1 - Martins, Renata Filipa A1 - Premier, Joe A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Förster, Daniel W. T1 - Population and landscape genetic analysis of the Malayan sun bear Helarctos malayanus JF - Conservation genetics N2 - Conservation genetics can provide data needed by conservation practitioners for their decisions regarding the management of vulnerable or endangered species, such as the sun bear Helarctos malayanus. Throughout its range, the sun bear is threatened by loss and fragmentation of its habitat and the illegal trade of both live bears and bear parts. Sharply declining population numbers and population sizes, and a lack of natural dispersal between populations all threaten the genetic diversity of the remaining populations of this species. In this first population genetics study of sun bears using microsatellite markers, we analyzed 68 sun bear samples from Cambodia to investigate population structure and genetic diversity. We found evidence for two genetically distinct populations in the West and East of Cambodia. Ongoing or recent gene flow between these populations does not appear sufficient to alleviate loss of diversity in these populations, one of which (West Cambodia) is characterized by significant inbreeding. We were able to assign 85% of sun bears of unknown origin to one of the two populations with high confidence (assignment probability >= 85%), providing valuable information for future bear reintroduction programs. Further, our results suggest that developed land (mostly agricultural mosaics) acts as a barrier to gene flow for sun bears in Cambodia. We highlight that regional sun bear conservation action plans should consider promoting population connectivity and enforcing wildlife protection of this threatened species. KW - Sun bear KW - Helarctos malayanus KW - Microsatellite KW - Population genetics Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01233-w SN - 1566-0621 SN - 1572-9737 VL - 21 IS - 1 SP - 123 EP - 135 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ambarli, Hüseyin A1 - Mengüllüoğlu, Deniz A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Förster, Daniel W. T1 - Hotel AMANO Grand Central of brown bears in southwest Asia JF - PeerJ N2 - Genetic studies of the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos) have so far focused on populations from Europe and North America, although the largest distribution area of brown bears is in Asia. In this study, we reveal population genetic parameters for the brown bear population inhabiting the Grand Kackar Mountains (GKM) in the north east of Turkey, western Lesser Caucasus. Using both hair (N = 147) and tissue samples (N = 7) collected between 2008 and 2014, we found substantial levels of genetic variation (10 microsatellite loci). Bear samples (hair) taken from rubbing trees worked better for genotyping than those from power poles, regardless of the year collected. Genotyping also revealed that bears moved between habitat patches, despite ongoing massive habitat alterations and the creation of large water reservoirs. This population has the potential to serve as a genetic reserve for future reintroduction in the Middle East. Due to the importance of the GKM population for on-going and future conservation actions, the impacts of habitat alterations in the region ought to be minimized; e.g., by establishing green bridges or corridors over reservoirs and major roads to maintain habitat connectivity and gene flow among populations in the Lesser Caucasus. KW - Ursus arctos KW - Microsatellite KW - Conservation KW - Anatolia KW - Isolation KW - Source population KW - Noninvasive sampling KW - Rubbing tree KW - Turkey Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5660 SN - 2167-8359 VL - 6 PB - PeerJ Inc. CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Förster, Daniel W. A1 - Bull, James K. A1 - Lenz, Dorina A1 - Autenrieth, Marijke A1 - Paijmans, Johanna L. A. A1 - Kraus, Robert H. S. A1 - Nowak, Carsten A1 - Bayerl, Helmut A1 - Kühn, Ralph A1 - Saveljev, Alexander P. A1 - Sindicic, Magda A1 - Hofreiter, Michael A1 - Schmidt, Krzysztof A1 - Fickel, Jörns T1 - Targeted resequencing of coding DNA sequences for SNP discovery in nonmodel species JF - Molecular ecology resources N2 - Targeted capture coupled with high-throughput sequencing can be used to gain information about nuclear sequence variation at hundreds to thousands of loci. Divergent reference capture makes use of molecular data of one species to enrich target loci in other (related) species. This is particularly valuable for nonmodel organisms, for which often no a priori knowledge exists regarding these loci. Here, we have used targeted capture to obtain data for 809 nuclear coding DNA sequences (CDS) in a nonmodel organism, the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx, using baits designed with the help of the published genome of a related model organism (the domestic cat Felis catus). Using this approach, we were able to survey intraspecific variation at hundreds of nuclear loci in L. lynx across the species’ European range. A large set of biallelic candidate SNPs was then evaluated using a high-throughput SNP genotyping platform (Fluidigm), which we then reduced to a final 96 SNP-panel based on assay performance and reliability; validation was carried out with 100 additional Eurasian lynx samples not included in the SNP discovery phase. The 96 SNP-panel developed from CDS performed very successfully in the identification of individuals and in population genetic structure inference (including the assignment of individuals to their source population). In keeping with recent studies, our results show that genic SNPs can be valuable for genetic monitoring of wildlife species. KW - CDS KW - conservation genetics KW - Eurasian lynx KW - genetic monitoring KW - hybridization capture KW - single nucleotide polymorphism Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.12924 SN - 1755-098X SN - 1755-0998 VL - 18 IS - 6 SP - 1356 EP - 1373 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mengüllüoğlu, Deniz A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Hofer, Heribert A1 - Förster, Daniel W. T1 - Non-invasive faecal sampling reveals spatial organization and improves measures of genetic diversity for the conservation assessment of territorial species BT - Caucasian lynx as a case species JF - PLoS one N2 - The Caucasian lynx, Lynx lynx dinniki, has one of the southernmost distributions in the Eurasian lynx range, covering Anatolian Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran. Little is known about the biology and the genetic status of this subspecies. To collect baseline genetic, ecological and behavioural data and benefit future conservation of L. l. dinniki, we monitored 11 lynx territories (396 km(2)) in northwestern Anatolia. We assessed genetic diversity of this population by non-invasively collecting 171 faecal samples and trapped and sampled 12 lynx individuals using box traps. We observed high allelic variation at 11 nuclear microsatellite markers, and found no signs of inbreeding despite the potential isolation of this population. We obtained similar numbers of distinct genotypes from the two sampling sources. Our results indicated that first order female relatives occupy neighbouring territories (female philopatry) and that territorial male lynx were highly unrelated to each other and to female territorial lynx, suggesting long distance male dispersal. Particular male and female resident territorial lynx and their offspring (kittens and subadults) were more likely to be trapped than resident floaters or dispersing (unrelated) lynx. Conversely, we obtained more data for unrelated lynx and higher numbers of territorials using non-invasive sampling (faeces). When invasive and non-invasive samples were analysed separately, the spatial organisation of lynx (in terms of female philopatry and females and males occupying permanent ranges) affected measures of genetic diversity in such a way that estimates of genetic diversity were reduced if only invasive samples were considered. It appears that, at small spatial scales, invasive sampling using box traps may underestimate the genetic diversity in carnivores with permanent ranges and philopatry such as the Eurasian lynx. As non-invasive sampling can also provide additional data on diet and spatial organisation, we advocate the use of such samples for conservation genetic studies of vulnerable, endangered or data deficient territorial species. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216549 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 14 IS - 5 PB - PLoS CY - San Fransisco ER - TY - GEN A1 - Ribeiro Martins, Renata Filipa A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Le, Minh A1 - Nguyen, Thanh van A1 - Nguyen, Ha M. A1 - Timmins, Robert A1 - Gan, Han Ming A1 - Rovie-Ryan, Jeffrine J. A1 - Lenz, Dorina A1 - Förster, Daniel W. A1 - Wilting, Andreas T1 - Phylogeography of red muntjacs reveals three distinct mitochondrial lineages T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Background The members of the genus Muntiacus are of particular interest to evolutionary biologists due to their extreme chromosomal rearrangements and the ongoing discussions about the number of living species. Red muntjacs have the largest distribution of all muntjacs and were formerly considered as one species. Karyotype differences led to the provisional split between the Southern Red Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) and the Northern Red Muntjac (M. vaginalis), but uncertainties remain as, so far, no phylogenetic study has been conducted. Here, we analysed whole mitochondrial genomes of 59 archival and 16 contemporaneous samples to resolve uncertainties about their taxonomy and used red muntjacs as model for understanding the evolutionary history of other species in Southeast Asia. Results We found three distinct matrilineal groups of red muntjacs: Sri Lankan red muntjacs (including the Western Ghats) diverged first from other muntjacs about 1.5 Mya; later northern red muntjacs (including North India and Indochina) and southern red muntjacs (Sundaland) split around 1.12 Mya. The diversification of red muntjacs into these three main lineages was likely promoted by two Pleistocene barriers: one through the Indian subcontinent and one separating the Indochinese and Sundaic red muntjacs. Interestingly, we found a high level of gene flow within the populations of northern and southern red muntjacs, indicating gene flow between populations in Indochina and dispersal of red muntjacs over the exposed Sunda Shelf during the Last Glacial Maximum. Conclusions Our results provide new insights into the evolution of species in South and Southeast Asia as we found clear genetic differentiation in a widespread and generalist species, corresponding to two known biogeographical barriers: The Isthmus of Kra and the central Indian dry zone. In addition, our molecular data support either the delineation of three monotypic species or three subspecies, but more importantly these data highlight the conservation importance of the Sri Lankan/South Indian red muntjac. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 973 KW - phylogeography KW - archival DNA KW - Muntjac KW - Southeast Asia KW - species complex Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-430780 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 973 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Ambarlı, Hüseyin A1 - Mengüllüoğlu, Deniz A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Förster, Daniel W. T1 - Population genetics of the main population of brown bears in southwest Asia T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Genetic studies of the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos) have so far focused on populations from Europe and North America, although the largest distribution area of brown bears is in Asia. In this study, we reveal population genetic parameters for the brown bear population inhabiting the Grand Kaçkar Mountains (GKM) in the north east of Turkey, western Lesser Caucasus. Using both hair (N = 147) and tissue samples (N = 7) collected between 2008 and 2014, we found substantial levels of genetic variation (10 microsatellite loci). Bear samples (hair) taken from rubbing trees worked better for genotyping than those from power poles, regardless of the year collected. Genotyping also revealed that bears moved between habitat patches, despite ongoing massive habitat alterations and the creation of large water reservoirs. This population has the potential to serve as a genetic reserve for future reintroductions in the Middle East. Due to the importance of the GKM population for on-going and future conservation actions, the impacts of habitat alterations in the region ought to be minimized; e.g., by establishing green bridges or corridors over reservoirs and major roads to maintain habitat connectivity and gene flow among populations in the Lesser Caucasus. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 937 KW - Ursus arctos KW - microsatellite KW - conservation KW - Anatolia KW - isolation KW - source population KW - noninvasive sampling KW - rubbing tree KW - Turkey Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-459124 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 937 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Bull, James K. A1 - Heurich, Marco A1 - Saveljev, Alexander P. A1 - Schmidt, Krzysztof A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Förster, Daniel W. T1 - The effect of reintroductions on the genetic variability in Eurasian lynx populations BT - the cases of Bohemian–Bavarian and Vosges–Palatinian populations T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Over the past ~40 years, several attempts were made to reintroduce Eurasian lynx to suitable habitat within their former distribution range in Western Europe. In general, limited numbers of individuals have been released to establish new populations. To evaluate the effects of reintroductions on the genetic status of lynx populations we used 12 microsatellite loci to study lynx populations in the Bohemian–Bavarian and Vosges–Palatinian forests. Compared with autochthonous lynx populations, these two reintroduced populations displayed reduced genetic diversity, particularly the Vosges–Palatinian population. Our genetic data provide further evidence to support the status of ‘endangered’ and ‘critically endangered’ for the Bohemian–Bavarian and Vosges–Palatinian populations, respectively. Regarding conservation management, we highlight the need to limit poaching, and advocate additional translocations to bolster genetic variability. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 884 KW - lynx KW - microsatellites KW - population history KW - reintroduction Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-435117 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 884 SP - 1229 EP - 1234 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bull, James K. A1 - Heurich, Marco A1 - Saveljev, Alexander P. A1 - Schmidt, Krzysztof A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Förster, Daniel W. T1 - The effect of reintroductions on the genetic variability in Eurasian lynx populations: the cases of Bohemian-Bavarian and Vosges-Palatinian populations JF - Conservation genetics KW - Lynx KW - Microsatellites KW - Population history KW - Reintroduction Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-016-0839-0 SN - 1566-0621 SN - 1572-9737 VL - 17 SP - 1229 EP - 1234 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER -