The complete mtDNA sequence of the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus): Phylogenetic analysis and haplotype frequency variations after restocking in the Sardinian population

Pirastru

Barbato

et al. 2019

PeerJ

Self Cite

BackgroundEuropean mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) has been reintroduced in mainland Europe since the 18th-century sourcing from the Sardinian and Corsican autochthonous mouflon populations. The European mouflon is currently considered the feral descendent of the Asian mouflon (O. orientalis), and the result of first wave of sheep domestication occurred 11,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, and brought to Corsica and Sardinia ca. 6,000 years ago, where they still live as autochthonous populations. However, this phylogeny is based on mitogenome sequences of European mouflon individuals exclusively.MethodsWe sequenced the first complete mtDNA of the long-time isolated Sardinian mouflon and compared it with several ovine homologous sequences, including mouflon from mainland Europe and samples representative of the five known mitochondrial domestic sheep haplogroups. We applied Bayesian inference, Maximum Likelihood and Integer Neighbour-Joining network methods and provided a robust, fully-resolved phylogeny with strong statistical support for all nodes.ResultsWe identified an early split (110,000 years ago) of the Sardinian mouflon haplotype from both sheep and mainland European mouflon belonging to haplogroup B, the latter two sharing a more recent common ancestor (80,000 years ago). Further, the Sardinian mouflon sequence we generated had the largest genetic distance from domestic sheep haplogroups (0.0136 ± 0.004) among mouflon species. Our results suggest the Sardinian mouflon haplotype as the most ancestral in the HPG-B lineage, hence partially redrawing the known phylogeny of the genus Ovis.

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 56%

Identification of an ancestral haplotype in the mitochondrial phylogeny of the ovine haplogroup B

Pirastru

Barbato

et al. 2019

PeerJ

Self Cite

“…Specific mtDNA primers (GbCR1.L – GbCR2.H) designed by Johnson et al [18] were used to amplify approximately 400 base pairs (bp) from the 5′ end of the mtDNA control region which has been found to contains all of the nucleotide variability discriminating the G. fulvus haplotypes detected within the Sardinian griffon population [17].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Samples were then cooled and held at 4°C until sequencing. Direct sequencing of the PCR products and processing of raw sequencing data were performed as previously reported in Mereu et al [17].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, Arshad et al [16] reported similar findings in samples from Cyprus population. A recent study investigating the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variability in the Sardinian griffon vulture population detected a mild level of genetic diversity as confirmed by the discovery of three haplotypes on 66 individuals [17]. This result acquires value taking into account the low genetic diversity found in previous studies investigating the mtDNA sequence variability within the entire Gyps genus [18, 19], and is consistent with Le Gouar et al [15] which pointed out a higher genetic diversity level in G. fulvus than those detected in other vultures species such as G. barbatus and Neophron percnopterus .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mitochondrial D-loop Sequence Variability in Three Native Insular Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) Populations from the Mediterranean Basin

BioMed Research International

Pirastru

Satta

et al. 2019

Self Cite

The islands of Sardinia, Crete, and Cyprus are hosting the last native insular griffon populations in the Mediterranean basin. Their states have been evaluated from “vulnerable” to “critically endangered”. The sequence analysis of molecular markers, particularly the mtDNA D-loop region, provides useful information in studying the evolution of closely related taxa and the conservation of endangered species. Therefore, a study of D-loop region sequence was carried out to estimate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship within and among these three populations. Among 84 griffon specimens (44 Sardinian, 33 Cretan, and 7 Cypriot), we detected four haplotypes including a novel haplotype (HPT-D) that was exclusively found in the Cretan population with a frequency of 6.1%. When considered as a unique population, haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity (π) were high at 0.474 and 0.00176, respectively. A similar level of Hd and π was found in Sardinian and Cretan populations, both showing three haplotypes. The different haplotype frequencies and exclusivity detected were in accordance with the limited matrilineal gene flow (FST = 0.07097), probably related to the species reluctance to fly over sea masses. The genetic variability we observe today would therefore be the result of an evolutionary process strongly influenced by isolation leading to the appearance of island variants which deserve to be protected. Furthermore, since nesting sites and food availability are essential elements for colony settlement, we may infer that the island's colonization began when the first domestic animals were transferred by humans during the Neolithic. In conclusion, our research presents a first contribution to the genetic characterization of the griffon vulture populations in the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia, Crete and Cyprus and lays the foundation for conservation and restocking programs.

“…All griffon samples were derived from a small autochthonous colony (the only one in Italy) in north–western Sardinia near the town of Bosa. This colony comprises 40–42 nesting pairs with 25 fledglings (2017—updated data from our personal field monitoring) with genetic features showing interesting genetic differences from griffon vultures living in mainland Europe in terms of mtDNA haplotypes (Mereu et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural features of cross‐sectional wing bones in the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus)as a prediction of flight style

Frongia

Muzzeddu²,

et al. 2018

Journal of Morphology

Self Cite

Flight is an energetically costly form of transport imparting biomechanical stress that acts upon the wing bones. Previous studies have suggested that the cross-sectional and microstructural features of wing bones may be adapted to resist biomechanical loads. During flight, however, each wing bone potentially experiences a unique loading regime. To assess possible differences among wing bones, we analyzed the microstructural features of the humerus, radius, ulna, and carpometacarpus (CMC) in eight griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). Vascular canal orientation was evaluated in the diaphysis of the wing bones. Laminarity index (LI) was significantly different in the humerus versus CMC and ulna versus CMC. Results showed a lower proportion of circular vascular canals, due to resistance to torsional loads, in CMC than in humerus and ulna. The midshaft cross-section revealed an elliptical shape in the CMC compared to the circular shape observed in the other wing bones, with a maximum second moment of inertia (I max ) orientation which suggests a capacity to withstand bending loads in a dorsoventral direction. The volumetric bone mineral density in the diaphysis was statistically different in CMC compared to the other bones analyzed. Its lower mineral density may reflect an adaptation to a different type and load of stresses in CMC compared to the proximal wing bones. No significant difference was found in the relative cortical area (CA/TA) among the four elements, while the polar moment of area J (Length-standardized) revealed a higher resistance to torsional load in the humerus than in the other bones. Our results would seem to indicate that griffon wing bones are structured as an adaptation, represented by two segments that respond to force in two ways: the proximal segment is specially adapted to resist torsional loads, whereas the distal one is adapted to resist bending loads. K E Y W O R D Sbone mineral content, geometry, laminarity, soaring