用4个微卫星标记分析7个绵羊群体之间的遗传关系

分析了4个微卫星基因座BM143、OarHH35、OarAE101、BMS2508在7个绵羊群体(小尾寒羊、湖羊、乌珠穆沁羊、萨福克羊、多赛特羊、夏洛来羊、多赛特公羊×小尾寒羊母羊F1代杂种羊)286只绵羊中的遗传多态性。结果表明,这4个微卫星标记在7个绵羊群体中的等位基因数分别为9、11、14和9,其多态信息含量/有效等位基因数/杂合度分别为0 7073/3 7231/0 7314、0 8267/6 4399/0 8447、0 5743/2 5178/0 6028、0 6172/3 0712/0 6744,其中OarHH35的遗传变异最大,OarAE101最小。7个绵羊群体中小尾寒羊的遗传变异最大,湖羊的最小。基于Nei氏DA距离和DS标准遗传距离,采用UPGMA方法构建了系统发生树。该发生树将中国地方品种(小尾寒羊、乌珠穆沁羊、湖羊)和法国的夏洛来羊归为一类,将F1杂种羊、英国品种(萨福克羊和多赛特羊)归为另一类。绵羊微卫星基因分型技术为检查品种(群体)之间的遗传关系提供了一个有用的工具。     

A microsatellite‐based method for genotyping diploid and triploid water frogs of the Rana esculenta hybrid complex

Rana esculenta is a hybrid between Rana lessonae (LL) and Rana ridibunda (RR), and hybrids may be diploid (LR) or triploid (LLR or LRR). Genotypes can be roughly determined from erythrocyte size and morphometry in adult frogs, but accurate genotyping requires more labourious methods. Here I demonstrate that both the L and R genomes have specific microsatellite alleles, and that genotype and ploidy can be accurately inferred from the quantitative ratio of PCR‐amplified (polymerase chain reaction‐amplified) genome‐specific alleles. This method greatly facilitates genotyping in DNA studies of the R. esculenta complex and allows analysis of badly preserved samples and embryos.     

Microsatellite markers for the heavily exploited canary (Sebastes pinniger) and other rockfish species

The isolation and characterization of nine polymorphic microsatellite loci (eight tetranucleotide and one dinucleotide) from the canary rockfish Sebastes pinniger are described. Polymorphism at these loci revealed from six to 28 alleles, with expected heterozygosities ranging between 0.42 and 0.88, enabling high‐resolution genetic population structure investigation for this overfished species in the northeastern Pacific. They also amplify in 13 other congeneric species, providing highly variable loci for research on other rockfishes.     

Extreme genetic diversity in asexual grass thrips populations

The continuous generation of genetic variation has been proposed as one of the main factors explaining the maintenance of sexual reproduction in nature. However, populations of asexual individuals may attain high levels of genetic diversity through within‐lineage diversification, replicate transitions to asexuality from sexual ancestors and migration. How these mechanisms affect genetic variation in populations of closely related sexual and asexual taxa can therefore provide insights into the role of genetic diversity for the maintenance of sexual reproduction. Here, we evaluate patterns of intra‐ and interpopulation genetic diversity in sexual and asexual populations of Aptinothrips rufus grass thrips. Asexual A. rufus populations are found throughout the world, whereas sexual populations appear to be confined to few locations in the Mediterranean region. We found that asexual A. rufus populations are characterized by extremely high levels of genetic diversity, both in comparison with their sexual relatives and in comparison with other asexual species. Migration is extensive among asexual populations over large geographic distances, whereas close sexual populations are strongly isolated from each other. The combination of extensive migration with replicate evolution of asexual lineages, and a past demographic expansion in at least one of them, generated high local clone diversities in A. rufus. These high clone diversities in asexual populations may mimic certain benefits conferred by sex via genetic diversity and could help explain the extreme success of asexual A. rufus populations.     

A re-evaluation of management units based on gene flow of a rare waterbird in the Americas

The maintenance of gene flow in species that have experienced population contractions and are geographically fragmented is important to the maintenance of genetic variation and evolutionary potential; thus, gene flow is also important to conservation and management of these species. For example, the Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) has recovered after severe population reductions during the 19th and 20th centuries, but population numbers remain below historical levels. In this study, we characterized gene flow among management units of the Reddish Egret by using ten nuclear microsatellite markers and part of the mitochondrial (mtDNA) control region from 176 nestlings captured at eight localities in Mexico (Baja California, Chiapas, Tamaulipas, and Yucatan), the USA (Texas, Louisiana, and Florida), and the Bahamas. We found evidence of population structure and that males disperse more often and across longer distances compared with females, which is congruent with previous banding and telemetry data. The maternally inherited mtDNA and biparentally inherited microsatellite data supported slightly different MU models; however, when interpreted together, a four MU model that considered population structure and geographic proximity was most optimal. Namely, MU 1 (Baja California); MU 2 (Chiapas); MU 3 (Yucatan, Tamaulipas, Texas, and Louisiana); and MU 4 (Florida and the Bahamas). Regions outside our sampled localities (e.g., the Greater Antilles and South America) require additional sampling to fully understand gene flow and movement of individuals across the species’ entire range. However, the four MUs we have defined group nesting localities into genetically similar subpopulations, which can guide future management plans.     

High genetic diversity of the endangered Iberian three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) at the Mediterranean edge of its range

1. The three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on the Iberian Peninsula is only distributed in freshwater habitats and has completely disappeared from most of its range, mainly as a consequence of habitat degradation and invasive fish introductions. Genetic investigations have shown that Mediterranean‐Adriatic sticklebacks constitute an evolutionarily significant unit. Here, we present the first genetic data for Iberian populations living on the southern edge of the stickleback’s range. We used microsatellite markers to study gene diversity, population structure and genetic demography of stickleback populations. 2. High genetic differentiation among collections yielded a model of four genetically homogeneous units related to geography. The observed pattern of isolation by distance resulted mainly from the hydrographical pattern and limited gene flow among rivers. Moreover, low levels of gene diversity, high isolation and recent bottleneck events, which have led to small or even critical effective population sizes in several locations, could be explained by additional recent anthropogenic fragmentation. 3. We defined at least four evolutionarily significant units threatened by habitat fragmentation in north‐eastern Iberian sticklebacks. Because they retain long evolutionary histories, these populations should be considered of high conservation priority, and urgent management measures should be implemented.     

Microsatellite characterization of Cimarron Uruguayo dogs

Various genetic markers, including microsatellites, have been used to analyze the genetic polymorphism and heterozygosity in canine breeds. In this work, we used nine microsatellite markers to investigate the genetic variability in Cimarron Uruguayo dogs, the only officially recognized native canine breed in Uruguay. DNA from 30 Cimarron Uruguayo dogs from northeastern and southern Uruguay was analyzed. The allelic frequencies for each microsatellite, the genetic variability and the consanguinity were calculated, as were the polymorphic information content (PIC) and the probability of exclusion (PE). All of the microsatellites studied were polymorphic. FH 2361, FH 2305 and PEZ 03 were the most informative, with PIC values > 0.7, in agreement with results for other canine breeds. The PE values for the markers were within the ranges previously described and were generally greater for microsatellites with higher PIC values. The heterozygosity value (0.649) was considered high since only nine microsatellites were analyzed. Compared with data for other breeds, the results obtained here indicate that Cimarron Uruguayo dogs have high genetic diversity.     

Bayesian analysis of hybridization and introgression between the endangered european mink (Mustela lutreola) and the polecat (Mustela putorius)

Human-mediated global change will probably increase the rates of natural hybridization and genetic introgression between closely related species, and this will have major implications for conservation of the taxa involved. In this study, we analyse both mitochondrial and nuclear data to characterize ongoing hybridization and genetic introgression between two sympatric sister species of mustelids, the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) and the more abundant polecat (M. putorius). A total of 317 European mink, 114 polecats and 15 putative hybrid individuals were collected from different localities in Europe and genotyped with 13 microsatellite nuclear markers. Recently developed Bayesian methods for assigning individuals to populations and identifying admixture proportions were applied to the genetic data. To identify the direction of hybridization, we additionally sequenced mtDNA and Y chromosomes from 78 individuals and 29 males respectively. We found that both hybridization and genetic introgression occurred at low levels (3% and 0.9% respectively) and indicated that hybridization is asymmetric, as only pure polecat males mate with pure European mink females. Furthermore, backcrossing and genetic introgression was detected only from female first-generation (F1) hybrids of European mink to polecats. This latter result implies that Haldane's rule may apply. Our results suggest that hybridization and genetic introgression between the two species should be considered a rather uncommon event. However, the current low densities of European mink might be changing this trend.     

Effect of oceanographic barriers and overfishing on the population genetic structure of the European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas)

Defining population structure and genetic diversity levels is of the utmost importance for developing efficient conservation strategies. Overfishing has caused mean annual catches of the European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) to decrease alarmingly along its distribution area. In this context, there is a need for comprehensive studies aiming to evaluate the genetic health of the exploited populations. The present study is based on a set of ten nuclear markers amplified in 331 individuals from ten different localities covering most of P. elephas distribution area. Samples from Atlantic and Mediterranean basins showed small but significant differences, indicating that P. elephas populations do not behave as a single panmictic unit but form two partially‐overlapping groups. Despite intense overfishing, our dataset did not recover a recent bottleneck signal, and instead showed a large and stable historical effective size. This result could be accounted for by specific life‐history traits (reproduction and longevity) and the limitations of molecular markers in covering recent timescales for nontemporal samples. The findings of the present study emphasize the need to integrate information on effective population sizes and life‐history parameters when evaluating population connectivity levels from genetic data. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104 , 407–418.     

From global to local genetic structuring in the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata: the interplay between oceanographic conditions and limited larval dispersal

Defining the scale of connectivity among marine populations and identifying the barriers to gene flow are tasks of fundamental importance for understanding the genetic structure of populations and for the design of marine reserves. Here, we investigated the population genetic structure at three spatial scales of the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata (Cnidaria, Octocorallia), a key species dwelling in the coralligenous assemblages of the Mediterranean Sea. Colonies of P. clavata were collected from 39 locations across the Mediterranean Sea from Morocco to Turkey and analysed using microsatellite loci. Within three regions (Medes, Marseille and North Corsica), sampling was obtained from multiple locations and at different depths. Three different approaches (measures of genetic differentiation, Bayesian clustering and spatially explicit maximum‐difference algorithm) were used to determine the pattern of genetic structure. We identified genetic breaks in the spatial distribution of genetic diversity, which were concordant with oceanographic conditions in the Mediterranean Sea. We revealed a high level of genetic differentiation among populations and a pattern of isolation by distance across the studied area and within the three regions, underlining short effective larval dispersal in this species. We observed genetic differentiation among populations in the same locality dwelling at different depths, which may be explained by local oceanographic conditions and which may allow a process of local adaptation of the populations to their environment. We discuss the implications of our results for the conservation of the species, which is exposed to various threats.