Project description:Ecological niche divergence and adaptation to new environments are thought to play important roles in driving speciation. Whether recently evolved species show evidence for niche divergence or conservation is vital towards understanding the role of ecology in the process of speciation. The genus Procapra is an ancient, monophyletic lineage endemic to Asia that contains three extant species (P. gutturosa, P. przewalskii and P. picticaudata). These species mainly inhabit the Qinghai-Tibetan and Mongolian Plateaus, and today have primarily allopatric distributions. We applied a series of geographic information system-based analyses to test for environmental variation and niche divergence among these three species. We found substantial evidence for niche divergence in species' bioclimatic preferences, which supports the hypothesis that niche divergence accelerates diversification in Procapra. Our results provide important insight into the evolutionary history of ungulates in Asia and help to elucidate how environmental changes accelerate lineage diversification.
| S-EPMC4423425 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Enterococcus spp. from Procapra picticaudata
Project description:BackgroundTheileria and Anaplasma are especially important emerging tick-borne pathogens of animals and humans. Molecular surveys and identification of the infectious agents in Mongolian gazelle, Procapra gutturosa are not only crucial for the species' preservation, but also provide valuable information on parasite and bacterial epidemiology.FindingsA molecular surveillance study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of Theileria spp. and Anaplasma spp. in P. gutturosa by PCR in China. Theileria luwenshuni, A. bovis, A. phagocytophilum, and A. ovis were frequently found in P. gutturosa in China, at a prevalence of 97.8%, 78.3%, 65.2%, and 52.2%, respectively. The prevalence of each pathogens in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis was 80.0%, 66.7%, 76.7%, and 0%, respectively, and in the tick Dermacentor niveus was 88.2%, 35.3%, 88.2%, and 58.5%, respectively. No other Theileria or Anaplasma species was found in these samples. Rickettsia raoultii was detected for the first time in P. gutturosa in China.ConclusionsOur results extend our understanding of the epidemiology of theileriosis and anaplasmosis in P. gutturosa, and will facilitate the implementation of measures to control these tick-borne diseases in China.
Project description:BackgroundThe Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) population has shown a considerable range of contractions and local extinctions over the last century, owing to habitat fragmentation and poaching. A thorough understanding of the genetic diversity and structure of Mongolian gazelle populations in fragmented habitats is critical for planning effective conservation strategies.ResultIn this study, we used eight microsatellite loci and mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) to compare the levels of genetic diversity and genetic structure of Mongolian gazelle populations in the Hulun Lake National Nature Reserve (HLH) with those in the China-Mongolia border area (BJ). The results showed that the nucleotide diversity and observed heterozygosity of the HLH population were lower than those of the BJ population. Moreover, the HLH and BJ populations showed genetic differentiation. We concluded that the HLH population had lower genetic diversity and a distinct genetic structure compared with the BJ population.ConclusionThe genetic diversity of fragmented Mongolian gazelle populations, can be improved by protecting these populations while reinforcing their gene exchange with other populations. For example, attempts can be made to introduce new individuals with higher genetic diversity from other populations to reduce inbreeding.
Project description:The Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) is one of the most endangered ungulates in the world, with fewer than 2,000 individuals surviving in nine habitat fragments on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and isolated by human settlements and infrastructure. In particular, the Qinghai-Tibet railway, which crosses the largest part of the gazelle's distribution, remains a major concern because of its potential to intensify landscape genetic differentiation. Here, using mtDNA sequencing and microsatellite genotyping to analyze 275 Przewalski's gazelle samples collected throughout the range, we observed low level of genetic diversity (mtDNA π = 0.0033) and strong phylogeographic structure. Overall, the nine patches of gazelles can be further clustered into five populations, with a strong division between the eastern vs. western side of Qinghai Lake. Our study provides the first evidence of the genetic divergence between the Haergai North and Haergai South gazelle populations, corresponding to the recent construction of a wired enclosure along the Qinghai-Tibet railway less than ten years ago, an equivalent of five generations. Well-designed wildlife corridors across the railway along with long-term monitoring of the anthropogenic effects are therefore recommended to alleviate further habitat fragmentation and loss of genetic diversity in Przewalski's gazelle.
Project description:Gut microbiota of mammals participates in host nutrient metabolism and plays an important role in host adaptation to the environment. Herein, to understand the relationship between environment differences and the composition and abundance of the gut microbiota of Przewalski's gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) in almost all its habitats, high throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to compared the characteristics of the gut microbiota based on total 120 fecal samples. The results showed that Przewalski's gazelle exhibited different characteristics of microbiota diversity in different habitats. The Jiangxigou Rescue Station (JX), Nongchang (NC), and Ganzihe and Haergai townships (GH) groups had a relatively high microbiota diversity, while the Niaodao scenic area (ND) group had the lowest diversity. This finding seemed to follow a similar pattern of change in the population of Przewalski's gazelle. Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the phyla with significant differences, especially between the Wayu township (WY) and the other groups. The difference in the microbiota mainly included the Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and Bacteroidaceae and was enriched in the ND, WY, and other regions. We speculated that the difference in the gut microbiota was due to a difference in environmental characteristics, particularly the food resources that the host can obtain. We speculated that a similar microbiome has important functions for species survival and represents the evolutionary commonality of Przewalski's gazelle, while a different microbiome plays an important role in the adaptation of Przewalski's gazelle to a different environment. The results of this study illustrate how the same species adapts to different environments from the perspective of gut microbiota plasticity and therefore are of great significance for the protection and restoration of the population of this species.