Dataset Information

Aye-aye population genomic analyses highlight an important center of endemism in northern Madagascar.

ABSTRACT: We performed a population genomics study of the aye-aye, a highly specialized nocturnal lemur from Madagascar. Aye-ayes have low population densities and extensive range requirements that could make this flagship species particularly susceptible to extinction. Therefore, knowledge of genetic diversity and differentiation among aye-aye populations is critical for conservation planning. Such information may also advance our general understanding of Malagasy biogeography, as aye-ayes have the largest species distribution of any lemur. We generated and analyzed whole-genome sequence data for 12 aye-ayes from three regions of Madagascar (North, West, and East). We found that the North population is genetically distinct, with strong differentiation from other aye-ayes over relatively short geographic distances. For comparison, the average FST value between the North and East aye-aye populations--separated by only 248 km--is over 2.1-times greater than that observed between human Africans and Europeans. This finding is consistent with prior watershed- and climate-based hypotheses of a center of endemism in northern Madagascar. Taken together, these results suggest a strong and long-term biogeographical barrier to gene flow. Thus, the specific attention that should be directed toward preserving large, contiguous aye-aye habitats in northern Madagascar may also benefit the conservation of other distinct taxonomic units. To help facilitate future ecological- and conservation-motivated population genomic analyses by noncomputational biologists, the analytical toolkit used in this study is available on the Galaxy Web site.

SUBMITTER: Perry GH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3625347 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Aye-aye population genomic analyses highlight an important center of endemism in northern Madagascar.

Perry George H GH Louis Edward E EE Ratan Aakrosh A Bedoya-Reina Oscar C OC Burhans Richard C RC Lei Runhua R Johnson Steig E SE Schuster Stephan C SC Miller Webb W

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20130325 15

We performed a population genomics study of the aye-aye, a highly specialized nocturnal lemur from Madagascar. Aye-ayes have low population densities and extensive range requirements that could make this flagship species particularly susceptible to extinction. Therefore, knowledge of genetic diversity and differentiation among aye-aye populations is critical for conservation planning. Such information may also advance our general understanding of Malagasy biogeography, as aye-ayes have the large ...[more]

PMID: 23530231

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Dataset Information

Aye-aye population genomic analyses highlight an important center of endemism in northern Madagascar.

Publications

Aye-aye population genomic analyses highlight an important center of endemism in northern Madagascar.

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