ORCID Profile
0000-0002-3445-0355
Current Organisation
IT University of Copenhagen
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-08-2021
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 24-08-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.23.553838
Abstract: Several African mammals exhibit a phylogeographic pattern where closely related taxa are split between West/Central and East/Southern Africa, but their evolutionary relationships and histories remain controversial. Bushpigs ( Potamochoerus larvatus ) and red river hogs ( P. porcus ) are recognised as separate species due to morphological distinctions, a perceived lack of interbreeding at contact, and putatively old ergence times, but historically, they were considered conspecific. Moreover, the presence of Malagasy bushpigs as the sole large terrestrial mammal shared with the African mainland raises intriguing questions about its origin and arrival in Madagascar. Analyses of 67 whole genomes revealed a genetic continuum between the two species, with putative signatures of historical gene flow, variable F ST values, and a recent ergence time ( ,000 years). Thus, our study challenges key arguments for splitting Potamochoerus into two species and suggests their speciation might be incomplete. Our findings also indicate that Malagasy bushpigs erged from southern African populations and underwent a limited bottleneck 1,000-5,000 years ago, concurrent with human arrival in Madagascar. These results shed new light on the evolutionary history of an iconic and widespread African genus and provide insight into the longstanding biogeographic puzzle surrounding the bushpig’s presence in Madagascar.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/ELE.13732
Publisher: California Digital Library (CDL)
Date: 05-02-2023
DOI: 10.31223/X57Q16
Abstract: Although over 180 freshwater fish species have been reported from Nepal, little is known of their ecology and distribution. This information is needed because their ersity may be threatened by developments like hydropower constructions. We conducted Nepal& rsquor s first environmental DNA (eDNA) based fish bio ersity assessment in two major river systems- Karnali River (KR), which is still pristine and Trishuli River (TR) with numerous hydropower plants. The eDNA was concentrated by filtering (0.45 & mu m pore size) two liters of water collected at different s ling points in each study site. A total of 224 eDNA s les (KR=162 and TR= 62) were collected, from which fish species was identified by 12S rRNA metabarcording approach utilizing Illumina sequencing platform. Alpha and beta ersity of species between two sites were compared. Also, in KR site, fish (N=795) were caught, and identified using COI based DNA barcoding- building Nepal& rsquor s first fish DNA reference database. Field s ling identified 21 species through morphology and DNA barcoding, where Barilius spp. and Schizothorax spp. were the most abundant. From 244 eDNA s les, 24 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) were identified in TR and 46 in KR with 19 being common to both sites, 27 being unique in KR, and five in TR only. Most fishes were of Cypriniformes and Siluriformes orders, with Barilius spp. and Schizothorax spp. being the most abundant. Long distance migratory fish (Tor spp, Neolissochilus hexagonolepis) and non-native fish (Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Gymnocorymbuster netzi, Ctenopharyngo donidella, Clarias gariepinus) were identified in eDNA s les as well. Alpha ersity in TR was significantly lower than in KR. High beta ersity between the two sites indicated low similarity in fish ersity between the TR and KR. This study demonstrated the utility of eDNA as a non-invasive technique for bio ersity assessment which is particularly useful in areas like Nepal with scarce data on fish species distribution.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-06-2023
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PWAT.0000099
Abstract: Although over 180 freshwater fish species have been reported from Nepal, little is known of their ecology and distribution. This information is needed because their ersity may be threatened by developments like hydropower constructions. We conducted Nepal’s first environmental DNA (eDNA) based fish bio ersity assessment in two major river systems- Karnali River (KR), which is still pristine and Trishuli River (TR) with numerous hydropower plants. The eDNA was concentrated by filtering (0.45 μm pore size) two liters of water collected at different s ling points in each study site. A total of 224 eDNA s les (KR = 162 and TR = 62) were collected, from which fish species were identified by 12S rRNA metabarcording approach utilizing Illumina sequencing platform. Alpha and beta ersity of species between two river basins were compared. Also, in KR site, fish (N = 795) were caught, and identified using COI gene based DNA barcoding method- building Nepal’s first fish DNA reference database. Field s ling identified 21 species through morphology and DNA barcoding, where Barilius spp. and Schizothorax spp. were the most abundant. From 244 eDNA s les, 24 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) were identified in TR and 46 in KR with 19 being common to both sites, 27 being unique in KR, and five in TR only. Most fishes were of Cypriniformes and Siluriformes orders, with Barilius spp. and Schizothorax spp. being the most abundant. Long distance migratory fish ( Tor spp, Neolissochilus hexagonolepis ) and non-native fishes were identified in eDNA s les as well. Alpha ersity in TR was significantly lower than in KR. High beta ersity between the two sites indicated low similarity in fish ersity between the TR and KR. This study demonstrated the utility of eDNA as a non-invasive technique for bio ersity assessment which is particularly useful in areas like Nepal with scarce data on fish species distribution.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 25-03-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.24.533448
Abstract: Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. Genetic ersity has been largely neglected in bio ersity monitoring, and when addressed is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat alteration due to climate change. Genetic monitoring supports the conservation and management of fisheries, game, and threatened populations. It also can contribute to the assessment of predicted and realized impacts of climate change, and their management. We report the first accounting of genetic monitoring efforts among countries in Europe (their ‘genetic monitoring capacity’, GMC) to determine where GMC suggests the combination of national infrastructure, political support and resources for continued and expanded monitoring. Overlaying GMC with areas where species ranges approach current and future climate niche limits (i.e., niche marginality) helps identify whether GMC coincides with anticipated climate change effects on bio ersity. Our analysis suggests that country area extent, financial resources, and conservation policy influence GMC, high values of which inconsistently match joint species patterns of climate niche marginality. Populations at niche margins likely hold genetic ersity that is important to adaptation to changing climate, and our results illuminate the need in Europe for expanded genetic monitoring across the climate gradients occupied by species, a need arguably greatest in southeastern European countries.
No related grants have been discovered for Laura Bertola.