Genomics reveals introgression and purging of deleterious mutations in the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr)
Mochales-Riaño, Gabriel (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
Fontsere, Claudia (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
de Manuel, Marc (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
Talavera, Adrián (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
Burriel-Carranza, Bernat (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
Tejero-Cicuéndez, Héctor (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
AlGethami, Raed Hamoud M. (National Center for Wildlife)
Shobrak, Mohammed (National Center for Wildlife)
Marques-Bonet, Tomas 1975- (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Carranza, Salvador (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))

Date:	2023
Abstract:	In endangered species, low-genetic variation and inbreeding result from recent population declines. Genetic screenings in endangered populations help to assess their vulnerability to extinction and to create informed management actions toward their conservation efforts. The leopard, Panthera pardus, is a highly generalist predator with currently eight different subspecies. Yet, genomic data are still lacking for the Critically Endangered Arabian leopard (P. p. nimr). Here, we sequenced the whole genome of two Arabian leopards and assembled the most complete genomic dataset for leopards to date. Our phylogenomic analyses show that leopards are divided into two deeply divergent clades: the African and the Asian. Conservation genomic analyses indicate a prolonged population decline, which has led to an increase in inbreeding and runs of homozygosity, with consequent purging of deleterious mutations in both Arabian individuals. Our study represents the first attempt to genetically inform captive breeding programmes for this Critically Endangered subspecies.
Grants:	European Commission 864203 Agencia Estatal de Investigación CEX2018-000792-M Agencia Estatal de Investigación PGC2018-098290-B-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2021-128901NB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PRE2019-088729 "la Caixa" Foundation LCF/BQ/DR20/11790007 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación FPU18/04742 Agencia Estatal de Investigación FJC2021-046832-I
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	iScience, Vol. 26, Issue 9 (September 2023) , art. 107481, ISSN 2589-0042

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107481
PMID: 37601769

20 p, 2.9 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles