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Determinants of genetic variation across eco-evolutionary scales in pinnipeds

Authors :
Peart, Claire R.
Tusso, Sergio
Pophaly, Saurabh D.
Botero-Castro, Fidel
Wu, Chi-Chih
Aurioles-Gamboa, David
Baird, Amy B.
Bickham, John W.
Forcada, Jaume
Galimberti, Filippo
Gemmell, Neil J.
Hoffman, Joseph, I
Kovacs, Kit M.
Kunnasranta, Mervi
Lydersen, Christian
Nyman, Tommi
de Oliveira, Larissa Rosa
Orr, Anthony J.
Sanvito, Simona
Valtonen, Mia
Shafer, Aaron B. A.
Wolf, Jochen B. W.
Peart, Claire R.
Tusso, Sergio
Pophaly, Saurabh D.
Botero-Castro, Fidel
Wu, Chi-Chih
Aurioles-Gamboa, David
Baird, Amy B.
Bickham, John W.
Forcada, Jaume
Galimberti, Filippo
Gemmell, Neil J.
Hoffman, Joseph, I
Kovacs, Kit M.
Kunnasranta, Mervi
Lydersen, Christian
Nyman, Tommi
de Oliveira, Larissa Rosa
Orr, Anthony J.
Sanvito, Simona
Valtonen, Mia
Shafer, Aaron B. A.
Wolf, Jochen B. W.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

The effective size of a population (N-e), which determines its level of neutral variability, is a key evolutionary parameter. N-e can substantially depart from census sizes of present-day breeding populations (N-C) as a result of past demographic changes, variation in life-history traits and selection at linked sites. Using genome-wide data we estimated the long-term coalescent N-e for 17 pinniped species represented by 36 population samples (total n = 458 individuals). N-e estimates ranged from 8,936 to 91,178, were highly consistent within (sub)species and showed a strong positive correlation with N-C (R-adj(2) = 0.59; P = 0.0002). N-e/N-C ratios were low (mean, 0.31; median, 0.13) and co-varied strongly with demographic history and, to a lesser degree, with species' ecological and life-history variables such as breeding habitat. Residual variation in N-e/N-C, after controlling for past demographic fluctuations, contained information about recent population size changes during the Anthropocene. Specifically, species of conservation concern typically had positive residuals indicative of a smaller contemporary N-C than would be expected from their long-term N-e. This study highlights the value of comparative population genomic analyses for gauging the evolutionary processes governing genetic variation in natural populations, and provides a framework for identifying populations deserving closer conservation attention.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1235297648
Document Type :
Electronic Resource
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038.s41559-020-1215-5