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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Recent Evolutionary History of Tigers Highlights Contrasting Roles of Genetic Drift and Selection
Molecular Biology and Evolution, Volume 38, No. 6, Year 2021
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Description
Species conservation can be improved by knowledge of evolutionary and genetic history. Tigers are among the most charismatic of endangered species and garner significant conservation attention. However, their evolutionary history and genomic variation remain poorly known, especially for Indian tigers. With 70% of the world's wild tigers living in India, such knowledge is critical. We re-sequenced 65 individual tiger genomes representing most extant subspecies with a specific focus on tigers from India. As suggested by earlier studies, we found strong genetic differentiation between the putative tiger subspecies. Despite high total genomic diversity in India, individual tigers host longer runs of homozygosity, potentially suggesting recent inbreeding or founding events, possibly due to small and fragmented protected areas. We suggest the impacts of ongoing connectivity loss on inbreeding and persistence of Indian tigers be closely monitored. Surprisingly, demographic models suggest recent divergence (within the last 20,000 years) between subspecies and strong population bottlenecks. Amur tiger genomes revealed the strongest signals of selection related to metabolic adaptation to cold, whereas Sumatran tigers show evidence of weak selection for genes involved in body size regulation. We recommend detailed investigation of local adaptation in Amur and Sumatran tigers prior to initiating genetic rescue. © 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Authors & Co-Authors
Armstrong, Ellie E.
United States, Palo Alto
Stanford University
Khan, Anubhab
India, Mumbai
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Taylor, Ryan W.
United States, Palo Alto
Stanford University
Greenbaum, Gili
United States, Palo Alto
Stanford University
Israel, Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Prost, Stefan
United States, Palo Alto
Stanford University
Barsh, Gregory S.
United States, Huntsville
Hudsonalpha Institute for Biotechnology
United States, Palo Alto
Stanford University
Kaelin, Christopher B.
United States, Palo Alto
Stanford University
Chugani, Anup N.
Unknown Affiliation
Gilbert, Martin
United States, New York
Wildlife Conservation Society
United States, Ithaca
Cornell University
Miquelle, Dale G.
United States, New York
Wildlife Conservation Society
Ryder, Oliver A.
United States, Escondido
San Diego Zoo
Jhala, Yadvendradev Vikramsinh
India, Dehradun
Wildlife Institute of India
Petrov, Dmitri A.
United States, Palo Alto
Stanford University
Excoffier, Laurent
Switzerland, Bern
University of Bern
Switzerland, Lausanne
Sib Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Hadly, Elizabeth Anne
United States, New York
Wildlife Conservation Society
Ramakrishnan, Uma
India, Mumbai
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Statistics
Citations: 26
Authors: 16
Affiliations: 12
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/molbev/msab032
ISSN:
07374038
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study