Dataset Information

Geological and Pleistocene glaciations explain the demography and disjunct distribution of red panda (A. fulgens) in eastern Himalayas.

ABSTRACT: Pleistocene glaciations facilitated climatic oscillations that caused for enormous heterogeneity in landscapes, and consequently affected demography and distribution patterns of the mountain endemic species. In this context, we investigated demographic history and population genetic structure of red panda, distributed along the geographical proximity in the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Bayesian based phylogeny demonstrated that red panda diverged about 0.30 million years ago (CI 0.23-0.39) into two phylogenetic (sub) species, that correspond to the middle-late Pleistocene transition. The observed intraspecific clades with respect to Himalayan and Chinese red panda indicated restricted gene flow resulting from the Pleistocene glaciations in the eastern and southern Tibetan Plateau. We found Himalayan red panda population at least in KL-India declined abruptly in last 5-10 thousand years after being under demographic equilibrium. We suggest revisiting the ongoing conservation activities through cross border collaboration by developing multi-nationals, and multi-lateral species-oriented conservation action plans to support the red panda populations in transboundary landscapes.

SUBMITTER: Dalui S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7794540 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Geological and Pleistocene glaciations explain the demography and disjunct distribution of red panda (A. fulgens) in eastern Himalayas.

Dalui Supriyo S Singh Sujeet Kumar SK Joshi Bheem Dutt BD Ghosh Avijit A Basu Shambadeb S Khatri Hiren H Sharma Lalit Kumar LK Chandra Kailash K Thakur Mukesh M

Scientific reports 20210108 1

Pleistocene glaciations facilitated climatic oscillations that caused for enormous heterogeneity in landscapes, and consequently affected demography and distribution patterns of the mountain endemic species. In this context, we investigated demographic history and population genetic structure of red panda, distributed along the geographical proximity in the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Bayesian based phylogeny demonstrated that red panda diverged about 0.30 million years ago (CI ...[more]

PMID: 33420314

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Project description:BackgroundPleistocene climate fluctuations have shaped the patterns of genetic diversity observed in many extant species. In montane habitats, species' ranges may have expanded and contracted along an altitudinal gradient in response to environmental fluctuations leading to alternating periods of genetic isolation and connectivity. Because species' responses to climate change are influenced by interactions between species-specific characteristics and local topography, diversification pattern differs between species and locations. The eastern Himalayas is one of the world's most prominent mountain ranges. Its complex topography and environmental heterogeneity present an ideal system in which to study how climatic changes during Pleistocene have influenced species distributions, genetic diversification, and demography. The Elliot's laughing thrush (Garrulax elliotii) is largely restricted to high-elevation shrublands in eastern Himalayas. We used mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites to investigate how genetic diversity in this species was affected by Pleistocene glaciations.ResultsMitochondrial data detected two partially sympatric north-eastern and southern lineages. Microsatellite data, however, identified three distinct lineages congruent with the geographically separated southern, northern and eastern eco-subregions of the eastern Himalayas. Geographic breaks occur in steep mountains and deep valleys of the Kangding-Muli-Baoxin Divide. Divergence time estimates and coalescent simulations indicate that lineage diversification occurred on two different geographic and temporal scales; recent divergence, associated with geographic isolation into individual subregions, and historical divergence, associated with displacement into multiple refugia. Despite long-term isolation, genetic admixture among these subregional populations was observed, indicating historic periods of connectivity. The demographic history of Garrulax elliotii shows continuous population growth since late Pleistocene (about 0.125 mya).ConclusionWhile altitude-associated isolation is typical of many species in other montane regions, our results suggest that eco-subregions in the eastern Himalayas exhibiting island-like characteristics appear to have determined the diversification of Garrulax elliotii. During the Pleistocene, these populations became isolated on subregions during interglacial periods but were connected when these expanded to low altitude during cooler periods. The resultant genetic admixture of lineages might obscure pattern of genetic variation. Our results provide new insights into sky island diversification in a previously unstudied region, and further demonstrate that Pleistocene climatic changes can have profound effects on lineage diversification and demography in montane species.

Project description:In the light of recent molecular studies, there are two phylogenetic species of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens): Ailurus fulgens fulgens and Ailurus fulgens styani. The red panda belongs to the endangered species living in the wild only in Asia and is included in the CITES list. Although the biology and diet of this species has been extensively described, the histological structure of the tongue and lingual glands has not yet been characterized in detail in relation to the lifestyle of this mammal under specific conditions and as a basis for comparative anatomical studies of the biodiversity of endemic species. Study samples were collected from two adult males of Ailurus fulgens f. held in Wrocław Zoological Garden. Both tongues were examined macroscopically; moreover, samples with lingual papillae for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were collected from the apex, body and root of the tongue. Both tongues of the Ailurus fulgens f. males were approximately 9 cm long. The dorsal lingual surface was covered with mechanical and gustatory lingual papillae. Filiform papillae were observed on the apex and the body of the tongue, while small conical papillae were observed on the root of the tongue. An elongated, 1-1.5 cm long cylinder-shaped lyssa was observed in the ventral part of the apex. Moreover, most numerous and largest round in shape fungiform papillae were observed on the apex and on the border of the body and root of the tongue, located directly rostrally to 12-13 round and oval in shape vallate papillae. The SEM study showed that filiform papillae on the apex had several long secondary processes, while filiform papillae on the body of the tongue were taller and their secondary papillae were shorter than the equivalent structures on the apex of the tongue. The SEM study showed numerous taste pores on the surface of the fungiform papilla, while irregular surface of the vallate papillae, however some of them had smoother surface. Mixed glands (comprised of mucous acini and serous acini) were present within the vallum (within the connective tissue core) of the vallate papilla. Beneath the papillae more serous glands were observed, while the posterior lingual glands in the caudal part of the root of the tongue were mucoserous (mucous units were prevalent). A characteristic feature of the tongue of Ailurus fulgens f. was the presence of lyssa, which is comparable to other representatives of Carnivora, but the number of vallate papillae was individually variable. The lack of strongly developed mechanical conical papillae probably may be related to the type of plant food that is particularly dominant in red panda. Further differences between Ailurus fulgens f. and Ailurus fulgens s. cannot be excluded. The results of these studies may be useful especially for veterinarians specializing in working with exotic animals and people dealing with wildlife conservation.

Project description:Endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) are undifferentiated endometrial cells with self-renewal, multidirectional differentiation and high proliferation potential. Nowadays, eMSCs have been found in a few species, but it has never been reported in endangered wild animals, especially the red panda. In this study, we successfully isolated and characterized the eMSCs derived from red panda. Red panda eMSCs were fibroblast-like, had a strong proliferative potential and a stable chromosome number. Pluripotency genes including Klf4, Sox2 and Thy1 were highly expressed in eMSCs. Besides, cultured eMSCs were positive for MSC markers CD44, CD49f and CD105 and negative for endothelial cell marker CD31 and haematopoietic cell marker CD34. Moreover, no reference RNA-seq was used to analyse the eMSCs transcriptional expression profile and key pathways. Compared with skin fibroblast cell group, 9104 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, among which are 5034 genes upregulated, 4070 genes downregulated and the top 20 enrichment pathways of DEGs in Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes Genomes (KEGG) mainly associated with G-protein coupled receptor signalling pathway, carbohydrate derivative binding, nucleoside binding, ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle, DNA replication, Ras signalling pathway and purine metabolism. Among the DEGs, some representative genes about promoting MSCs differentiation and proliferation were upregulated and promoting fibroblasts proliferation were downregulated in eMSCs group. Red panda eMSCs also had multiple differentiation ability and could differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes and hepatocytes. In conclusion, we, for the first time, isolated and characterized the red panda eMSCs with ability of multiplication and multilineage differentiation in vitro. The new multipotential stem cell could be beneficial not only for the germ plasm resources conservation of red panda, but also for basic or pre-clinical studies in the future.

Dataset Information

Geological and Pleistocene glaciations explain the demography and disjunct distribution of red panda (A. fulgens) in eastern Himalayas.

Publications

Geological and Pleistocene glaciations explain the demography and disjunct distribution of red panda (A. fulgens) in eastern Himalayas.

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