@article{PatelWutkeLenzetal.2017, author = {Patel, Riddhi P. and Wutke, Saskia and Lenz, Dorina and Mukherjee, Shomita and Ramakrishnan, Uma and Veron, Geraldine and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Wilting, Andreas and F{\"o}rster, Daniel W.}, title = {Genetic Structure and Phylogeography of the Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) Inferred from Mitochondrial Genomes}, series = {Journal of Heredity}, volume = {108}, journal = {Journal of Heredity}, number = {4}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Cary}, issn = {0022-1503}, doi = {10.1093/jhered/esx017}, pages = {349 -- 360}, year = {2017}, abstract = {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).}, language = {en} } @article{AmbarliMenguellueoğluFickeletal.2018, author = {Ambarli, H{\"u}seyin and Meng{\"u}ll{\"u}oğlu, Deniz and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and F{\"o}rster, Daniel W.}, title = {Hotel AMANO Grand Central of brown bears in southwest Asia}, series = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, journal = {PeerJ}, publisher = {PeerJ Inc.}, address = {London}, issn = {2167-8359}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.5660}, pages = {18}, year = {2018}, abstract = {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.}, 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{PatelFoersterKitcheneretal.2016, author = {Patel, Riddhi P. and F{\"o}rster, Daniel W. and Kitchener, Andrew C. and Rayan, Mark D. and Mohamed, Shariff W. and Werner, Laura and Lenz, Dorina and Pfestorf, Hans and Kramer-Schadt, Stephanie and Radchuk, Viktoriia and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Wilting, Andreas}, title = {Two species of Southeast Asian cats in the genus Catopuma with diverging histories: an island endemic forest specialist and a widespread habitat generalist}, series = {Royal Society Open Science}, volume = {3}, journal = {Royal Society Open Science}, publisher = {Royal Society}, address = {London}, issn = {2054-5703}, doi = {10.1098/rsos.160350}, pages = {741 -- 752}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Background. The bay cat Catopuma badia is endemic to Borneo, whereas its sister species the Asian golden cat Catopuma temminckii is distributed from the Himalayas and southern China through Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Based onmorphological data, up to five subspecies of the Asian golden cat have been recognized, but a taxonomic assessment, including molecular data and morphological characters, is still lacking. Results. We combined molecular data (whole mitochondrial genomes), morphological data (pelage) and species distribution projections (up to the Late Pleistocene) to infer how environmental changes may have influenced the distribution of these sister species over the past 120 000 years. The molecular analysis was based on sequenced mitogenomes of 3 bay cats and 40 Asian golden cats derived mainly from archival samples. Our molecular data suggested a time of split between the two species approximately 3.16 Ma and revealed very low nucleotide diversity within the Asian golden cat population, which supports recent expansion of the population. Discussion. The low nucleotide diversity suggested a population bottleneck in the Asian golden cat, possibly caused by the eruption of the Toba volcano in Northern Sumatra (approx. 74 kya), followed by a continuous population expansion in the Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene. Species distribution projections, the reconstruction of the demographic history, a genetic isolation-by-distance pattern and a gradual variation of pelage pattern support the hypothesis of a post-Toba population expansion of the Asian golden cat from south China/Indochina to PeninsularMalaysia and Sumatra. Our findings reject the current classification of five subspecies for the Asian golden cat, but instead support either a monotypic species or one comprising two subspecies: (i) the Sunda golden cat, distributed south of the Isthmus of Kra: C. t. temminckii and (ii) Indochinese, Indian, Himalayan and Chinese golden cats, occurring north of the Isthmus: C. t. moormensis.}, language = {en} } @article{BullHeurichSaveljevetal.2016, author = {Bull, James K. and Heurich, Marco and Saveljev, Alexander P. and Schmidt, Krzysztof and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and F{\"o}rster, Daniel W.}, title = {The effect of reintroductions on the genetic variability in Eurasian lynx populations: the cases of Bohemian-Bavarian and Vosges-Palatinian populations}, series = {Conservation genetics}, volume = {17}, journal = {Conservation genetics}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1566-0621}, doi = {10.1007/s10592-016-0839-0}, pages = {1229 -- 1234}, year = {2016}, 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{WeyrichJeschekSchrapersetal.2018, author = {Weyrich, Alexandra and Jeschek, Marie and Schrapers, Katharina T. and Lenz, Dorina and Chung, Tzu Hung and Ruebensam, Kathrin and Yasar, Sermin and Schneemann, Markus and Ortmann, Sylvia and Jewgenow, Katarina and Fickel, J{\"o}rns}, title = {Diet changes alter paternally inherited epigenetic pattern in male Wild guinea pigs}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {1065}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-46003}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-460031}, pages = {14}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Epigenetic modifications, of which DNA methylation is the most stable, are a mechanism conveying environmental information to subsequent generations via parental germ lines. The paternal contribution to adaptive processes in the offspring might be crucial, but has been widely neglected in comparison to the maternal one. To address the paternal impact on the offspring's adaptability to changes in diet composition, we investigated if low protein diet (LPD) in F0 males caused epigenetic alterations in their subsequently sired sons. We therefore fed F0 male Wild guinea pigs with a diet lowered in protein content (LPD) and investigated DNA methylation in sons sired before and after their father's LPD treatment in both, liver and testis tissues. Our results point to a 'heritable epigenetic response' of the sons to the fathers' dietary change. Because we detected methylation changes also in the testis tissue, they are likely to be transmitted to the F2 generation. Gene-network analyses of differentially methylated genes in liver identified main metabolic pathways indicating a metabolic reprogramming ('metabolic shift'). Epigenetic mechanisms, allowing an immediate and inherited adaptation may thus be important for the survival of species in the context of a persistently changing environment, such as climate change.}, 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{WeyrichJeschekSchrapersetal.2018, author = {Weyrich, Alexandra and Jeschek, Marie and Schrapers, Katharina T. and Lenz, Dorina and Chung, Tzu Hung and Ruebensam, Kathrin and Yasar, Sermin and Schneemann, Markus and Ortmann, Sylvia and Jewgenow, Katarina and Fickel, J{\"o}rns}, title = {Diet changes alter paternally inherited epigenetic pattern in male Wild guinea pigs}, series = {Environmental Epigenetics}, volume = {4}, journal = {Environmental Epigenetics}, number = {2}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {2058-5888}, doi = {10.1093/eep/dvy011}, pages = {12}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Epigenetic modifications, of which DNA methylation is the most stable, are a mechanism conveying environmental information to subsequent generations via parental germ lines. The paternal contribution to adaptive processes in the offspring might be crucial, but has been widely neglected in comparison to the maternal one. To address the paternal impact on the offspring's adaptability to changes in diet composition, we investigated if low protein diet (LPD) in F0 males caused epigenetic alterations in their subsequently sired sons. We therefore fed F0 male Wild guinea pigs with a diet lowered in protein content (LPD) and investigated DNA methylation in sons sired before and after their father's LPD treatment in both, liver and testis tissues. Our results point to a 'heritable epigenetic response' of the sons to the fathers' dietary change. Because we detected methylation changes also in the testis tissue, they are likely to be transmitted to the F2 generation. Gene-network analyses of differentially methylated genes in liver identified main metabolic pathways indicating a metabolic reprogramming ('metabolic shift'). Epigenetic mechanisms, allowing an immediate and inherited adaptation may thus be important for the survival of species in the context of a persistently changing environment, such as climate change.}, 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} }