Microtus californicus (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Cudworth, Nichole L.; Koprowski, John L.

doi:10.1644/868.1

Cited by 36 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…For example, female‐biased dispersal may promote greater introgression of maternally inherited mitochondrial haplotypes (e.g., Ribeiro, Lloyd, Feldheim, & Bowie, ). Although dispersal in M. californicus is generally male‐biased (Cudworth & Koprowski, ), detailed consideration of dispersal dynamics suggests that at the leading edge of a population expansion, alleles moving from the established gene pool to the expanding gene pool are more likely to increase in frequency or to become fixed due to drift if gene flow within the expanding population is limited (Petit & Excoffier, ). As a result, mitochondrial haplotypes in the established gene pool will be more likely than nuclear alleles to increase in frequency because the greater movement of nuclear genes within the expanding pool reduces the potential for drift to act on these genes relative to mitochondrial loci (Petit & Excoffier, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mito‐nuclear discordance across a recent contact zone for California voles

Lin

Conroy

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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To examine the processes that maintain genetic diversity among closely related taxa, we investigated the dynamics of introgression across a contact zone between two lineages of California voles (Microtus californicus). We tested the prediction that introgression of nuclear loci would be greater than that for mitochondrial loci, assuming ongoing gene flow across the contact zone. We also predicted that genomic markers would show a mosaic pattern of differentiation across this zone, consistent with genomes that are semi‐permeable. Using mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences and genome‐wide loci developed via ddRAD‐seq, we analyzed genetic variation for 10 vole populations distributed along the central California coast; this transect included populations from within the distributions of both parental lineages as well as the putative contact zone. Our analyses revealed that (1) the two lineages examined are relatively young, having diverged ca. 8.5–54 kya, (2) voles from the contact zone in Santa Barbara County did not include F1 or early generation backcrossed individuals, and (3) there appeared to be little to no recurrent gene flow across the contact zone. Introgression patterns for mitochondrial and nuclear markers were not concordant; only mitochondrial markers revealed evidence of introgression, putatively due to historical hybridization. These differences in genetic signatures are intriguing given that the contact zone occurs in a region of continuous vole habitat, with no evidence of past or present physical barriers. Future studies that examine specific isolating mechanisms, such as microhabitat use and mate choice, will facilitate our understanding of how genetic boundaries are maintained in this system.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mito‐nuclear discordance across a recent contact zone for California voles

Lin

Conroy

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…The Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis) is a critically endangered subspecies of California vole (M. californicus), found only in the Amargosa River basin drainage of Inyo County, California (McClenaghan and Montgomery 1998;Cudworth and Koprowski 2010). Dependent on accessible water, which is extremely limited in the Amargosa River basin, the appropriate habitat for this species is rare and fragmented (Cudworth and Koprowski 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dependent on accessible water, which is extremely limited in the Amargosa River basin, the appropriate habitat for this species is rare and fragmented (Cudworth and Koprowski 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogen Infection and Exposure, and Ectoparasites of the Federally Endangered Amargosa Vole (Microtus Californicus Scirpensis), California, Usa

Ott-Conn

Clifford

Branston

et al. 2014

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:We surveyed pathogens and ectoparasites among federally endangered Amargosa voles (Microtus californicus scirpensis) and sympatric rodents in Tecopa Hot Springs, Inyo County, California, December 2011-November 2012. We aimed to assess disease and detect possible spillover from or connectivity with other hosts within and outside the Amargosa ecosystem. We assessed 71 individual voles and 38 individual sympatric rodents for current infection with seven vector-borne zoonotic pathogens and past exposure to five pathogens. Thirteen percent of Amargosa voles were PCR positive for Toxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic protozoan that may alter host behavior or cause mortality. Additionally, we found antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (SL) spp. in 21% of voles, against Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 2.6%, Rickettsia spp. in 13%, relapsing fever Borrelia (3.9%), and T. gondii (7.9%). Sympatric rodents also had active infections with Borrelia SL spp. (15%). Of the ectoparasites collected, the tick Ixodes minor is of particular interest because the study area is well outside of the species' reported range and because I. minor ticks infest migratory birds as well as rodents, showing a potential mechanism for pathogens to be imported from outside the Amargosa ecosystem.

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“…The Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis) is one of the most endangered vertebrates in North America and is restricted to unique, rare wetlands in the central Mojave Desert in the Amargosa River basin (Cudworth and Koprowski 2010). Among multiple stressors that contribute to the profound endangerment of this rodent, disease may serve to reduce individual and population health and remove needed individuals from the population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HISTOPATHOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NEOTROMBICULA MICROTI INFESTATION IN THE ENDANGERED AMARGOSA VOLE (MICROTUS CALIFORNICUS SCIRPENSIS)

Ott-Conn

Woods

Clifford

et al. 2015

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:The Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis) is a profoundly endangered rodent found only in the Central Mojave Desert, Inyo County, California, US. In 2010, severe cases of trombiculiasis, caused by larval Neotrombicula microti mites, were discovered among voles and sympatric small mammals. We evaluated Amargosa voles and sympatric rodents for infestation with N. microti December 2011-November 2012 and evaluated histopathology of ear tissue from 13 actively N. microti-infested Amargosa voles and 10 Amargosa voles with no gross evidence of current or past infestation. Rodents with current infestation had mites visible on tissue, typically ear pinnae, whereas mites were not seen on rodents with presumptive past infestation, but some of these animals had gross tissue scarring and loss consistent with healing from infestation. Ears from infested voles had severe granulocytic and necrotizing dermatitis, most associated with stylostome fragments, whereas few lesions were present in grossly uninfested voles. There was no association between body condition and infestation or severity of lesions. Significantly more voles were infested (37%) with N. microti than sympatric rodents (3%), suggesting that sympatric rodents do not serve as an important source of N. microti exposure to voles. Although this chigger infestation was common and induced severe localized pathology, we did not detect a fitness cost to infestation and recommend further evaluation of the disease to discern its significance in this conservation context.

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Microtus californicus (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Cited by 36 publications

References 88 publications

Mito‐nuclear discordance across a recent contact zone for California voles

Mito‐nuclear discordance across a recent contact zone for California voles

Pathogen Infection and Exposure, and Ectoparasites of the Federally Endangered Amargosa Vole (Microtus Californicus Scirpensis), California, Usa

HISTOPATHOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NEOTROMBICULA MICROTI INFESTATION IN THE ENDANGERED AMARGOSA VOLE (MICROTUS CALIFORNICUS SCIRPENSIS)

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