Blue Turns to Gray: Paleogenomic Insights into the Evolutionary History and Extinction of the Blue Antelope (Hippotragus leucophaeus)

Author:

Hempel Elisabeth12ORCID,Bibi Faysal2ORCID,Faith J Tyler345ORCID,Koepfli Klaus-Peter67ORCID,Klittich Achim M1,Duchêne David A89ORCID,Brink James S1011,Kalthoff Daniela C12ORCID,Dalén Love131415ORCID,Hofreiter Michael1ORCID,Westbury Michael V8ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Evolutionary Adaptive Genomics, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Potsdam , Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam , Germany

2. Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science , Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin , Germany

3. Natural History Museum of Utah, University of Utah , 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

4. Department of Anthropology, University of Utah , 260 South Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112

5. Origins Centre, University of the Witwatersrand , Johannesburg , Republic of South Africa

6. Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University , Front Royal, VA 22630

7. Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute , Washington, DC, 20008 , USA

8. Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen , Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen , Denmark

9. Centre for Evolutionary Hologenomics, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen 1352 , Denmark

10. National Museum Bloemfontein, Florisbad Quaternary Research Station and Department , PO Box 266, Bloemfontein 9031 , Republic of South Africa

11. Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State , PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300 , Republic of South Africa

12. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Zoology , Box 50007, 10405 Stockholm , Sweden

13. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics , Box 50007, 10405 Stockholm , Sweden

14. Centre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius väg 20c , 10691 Stockholm , Sweden

15. Department of Zoology, Stockholm University , 10691 Stockholm , Sweden

Abstract

Abstract The blue antelope (Hippotragus leucophaeus) is the only large African mammal species to have become extinct in historical times, yet no nuclear genomic information is available for this species. A recent study showed that many alleged blue antelope museum specimens are either roan (Hippotragus equinus) or sable (Hippotragus niger) antelopes, further reducing the possibilities for obtaining genomic information for this extinct species. While the blue antelope has a rich fossil record from South Africa, climatic conditions in the region are generally unfavorable to the preservation of ancient DNA. Nevertheless, we recovered two blue antelope draft genomes, one at 3.4× mean coverage from a historical specimen (∼200 years old) and one at 2.1× mean coverage from a fossil specimen dating to 9,800–9,300 cal years BP, making it currently the oldest paleogenome from Africa. Phylogenomic analyses show that blue and sable antelope are sister species, confirming previous mitogenomic results, and demonstrate ancient gene flow from roan into blue antelope. We show that blue antelope genomic diversity was much lower than in roan and sable antelope, indicative of a low population size since at least the early Holocene. This supports observations from the fossil record documenting major decreases in the abundance of blue antelope after the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. Finally, the persistence of this species throughout the Holocene despite low population size suggests that colonial-era human impact was likely the decisive factor in the blue antelope's extinction.

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Genetics,Molecular Biology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3