Mountain hare transcriptome and diagnostic markers as resources to monitor hybridization with European hares

Marques, João Pedro; Ferreira, Mafalda S.; Farelo, Liliana; Callahan, Colin M.; Hackländer, Klaus; Jenny, Hannes; Montgomery, W. Ian; Reid, Neil; Good, Jeffrey M.; Alves, Paulo C.; Melo‐Ferreira, José

doi:10.1038/sdata.2017.178

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Second, immortalized cells can be preserved frozen for almost indefinite time and expanded to large scale at any time, providing a nearly infinite source of RNA and DNA. In fact, the RNA‐sequencing data provided with this study represents the most comprehensive transcriptome data profiling of mountain hares (Marques et al, 2020; Marques, Ferreira, et al, 2017) and brown hare (Amoutzias et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular phenotyping uncovers differences in basic housekeeping functions among closely related species of hares (Lepus spp., Lagomorpha: Leporidae)

et al. 2022

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Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process, which results in genetic differentiation of populations and manifests as discrete morphological, physiological and behavioural differences. Each species has travelled its own evolutionary trajectory, influenced by random drift and driven by various types of natural selection, making the association of genetic differences between the species with the phenotypic differences extremely complex to dissect. In the present study, we have used an in vitro model to analyse in depth the genetic and gene regulation differences between fibroblasts of two closely related mammals, the arctic/subarctic mountain hare (Lepus timidus Linnaeus) and the temperate steppe-climate adapted brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas). We discovered the existence of a species-specific expression pattern of 1623 genes, manifesting in differences in cell growth, cell cycle control, respiration, and metabolism. Interspecific differences in the housekeeping functions of fibroblast cells suggest that speciation acts on fundamental cellular processes, even in these two interfertile species. Our results help to understand the molecular constituents of a species difference on a cellular level, which could contribute to the maintenance of the species boundary.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular phenotyping uncovers differences in basic housekeeping functions among closely related species of hares (Lepus spp., Lagomorpha: Leporidae)

et al. 2022

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“…Introgression in hares may be selected for and is adaptive: for example, camouflage in snowshoe hares Lepus americanus (Jones et al 2018), coat colour variants (Giska et al 2019(Giska et al , 2022; structural and physicochemical properties of proteins encoded by the OXHPOS complex in Arctic lineages of Northern American hares (Melo-Ferreira et al 2014b); and genes associated with spermatogenesis, immunity and mitochondrial metabolism in northern populations of L. granatensis (Seixas et al 2018). Thus, hares are excellent models for research on the interplay of biogeography and evolution where there are marked discontinuities in global change due to climate change and anthropogenic introductions (Acevedo et al 2012;Marques 2017b;Reid et al 2021).…”

Section: Molecular Markers and Species Idmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bidirectional hybridisation and introgression between introduced European brown hare, Lepus europaeus and the endemic Irish hare, L. timidus hibernicus

et al. 2022

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Introduced non-native species can threaten native species through interspecific hybridisation and genetic introgression. We assessed the prevalence of hybridisation and introgression between introduced European brown hare, Lepus europaeus, and the endemic Irish hare, L. timidus hibernicus. Roadkill hares (n = 56) were sequenced for a 379bp section of the mitochondrial DNA D-loop and a 474bp segment of the nuclear transferrin (Tf) gene. A species-specific indel in the transferrin gene was present in L.t. hibernicus and absent in L. europaeus. Excluding three hares from which molecular data could not be recovered, 28 hares (53%) were native L.t. hibernicus, 7 (13%) were non-native L. europaeus and 18 (34%) were hybrids; of which 5 (28%) were first generation (F1) involving bidirectional crosses with mismatched nuclear and mtDNA (3 ♂ europaeus x ♀ hibernicus and 2 ♂ hibernicus x ♀ europaeus). Mixed nuclear transferrin sequences suggested 13 (72%) of hybrids were at least 2nd generation (F2) with 9 (69%) possessing L.t. hibernicus and 4 (31%) L. europaeus mtDNA (the latter indicative of hybrid backcrossing with the non-native). The prevalence of hybridisation at similar mountain-brown hare contact zones throughout Europe is notably lower (4–16%) and typically unidirectional (♂ europaeus x ♀ timidus). A high prevalence of bidirectional hybridisation and introgression (in association with projected climate change) may favour the introduced species over the native. Genetic surveillance and population monitoring are needed to further explore the potential conservation implications of European brown hare in Ireland.

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“…As well as spatial displacement, introgressive hybridisation poses a threat to the Alpine mountain hare by reducing its genetic integrity. Hybridisation has been confirmed in hares from Grisons (Marques et al, 2017;Zachos et al, 2010). In the Alps, it is expected that the distribution of the two lagomorph species and their hybrids proceeds along the elevation gradient with European hares inhabiting lower elevations than hybrids, and hybrids inhabiting lower elevations than Alpine mountain hares.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Coexistence of European hares and Alpine mountain hares in the Alps: what drives the occurrence and frequency of their hybrids?

et al. 2023

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As a glacial relict species, mountain hares are adapted to cold and snowy conditions. Conversely, European hares originate from the grasslands of the Middle East and spread from there throughout low‐lying agricultural areas of Europe. Mountain hares and European hares generally occur allopatrically, however, sympatry occurs in some areas. In sympatric areas, introgressive hybridisation poses a threat to the Alpine mountain hare by reducing its genetic integrity. Introgressed individuals can be found in both species but are far more frequent in European hares than in mountain hares. The ecology of hybrids is poorly known in these species. To examine the Alpine mountain hare and European hare populations in the Alps with a particular focus on the occurrence and ecology of their hybrids, we performed molecular genetic analysis of hare faecal samples collected in four study areas in the Alps in South Tyrol for three winters and compared habitat associations of the genotyped samples. We recorded 150 individuals (i.e. 14 hybrids, 25 European hares and 111 Alpine mountain hares). Four introgressed individuals were at levels consistent with F2 hybrids, whereas the others showed an older interspecific gene flow. We found that hybrid faeces tended to be at lower elevations compared to those of Alpine mountain hare but at higher elevations than those of the European hare. The frequency of Alpine mountain hares decreased as the proportion of Alpine grassland increased but was positively correlated with the proportion of dwarf shrub heaths. No effect of vegetation type was found for the frequency of European hares and hybrids. Our results support the widely raised concerns that the European hare, as a generalist, is a strong competitor with the Alpine mountain hare in the Alpine ecosystem in the time of global climate change.

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Mountain hare transcriptome and diagnostic markers as resources to monitor hybridization with European hares

Cited by 12 publications

References 49 publications

Molecular phenotyping uncovers differences in basic housekeeping functions among closely related species of hares (Lepus spp., Lagomorpha: Leporidae)

Molecular phenotyping uncovers differences in basic housekeeping functions among closely related species of hares (Lepus spp., Lagomorpha: Leporidae)

Bidirectional hybridisation and introgression between introduced European brown hare, Lepus europaeus and the endemic Irish hare, L. timidus hibernicus

Coexistence of European hares and Alpine mountain hares in the Alps: what drives the occurrence and frequency of their hybrids?

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