Find research datasets worth reusing

Song complexity is maintained during inter-population cultural transmission of humpback whale songs

Among animal species, the songs of male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a rare example of social learning between entire populations. Understanding fine-scale similarity in song patterns and structural features will better clarify how accurately songs are learned during inter-population transmission. Here, six distinct song types (2009–2015) transmitted from the east Australian to New Caledonian populations were quantitatively analysed using fine-scale song features. Results found that New Caledonian whales learned each song type with high accuracy regardless of the pattern's complexity. However, there were rare instances of themes (stereotyped patterns of sound units) only sung by a single population. These occurred more often in progressively changing 'evolutionary' songs compared to rapidly changing 'revolutionary' songs. Our results suggest that populations do not need to reduce complexity to accurately learn song patterns. Populations may also incorporate changes and embellishments into songs in the form of themes which are suggested to be learnt as distinct segments. Maintaining complex song patterns with such accuracy suggests significant acoustic contact, supporting the hypothesis that song learning may occur on shared feeding grounds or migration routes. This study improves the understanding of inter-population mechanisms for large-scale cultural transmission in animals.

Dataset to study the population genomics of introduced Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: repeated introductions since colonial times with multiple sources

During colonial times, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) was introduced in non-native parts of the Congo Basin (Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC) for the first time. Currently, it is the most farmed cichlid in the DRC, and is present throughout the Congo Basin. Although Nile tilapia has been reported as an invasive species, documentation of historical introductions into this basin and its consequences are scant. Here, we study the genetic consequences of these introductions by genotyping 213 Nile tilapia from native and introduced regions, focussing on the Congo Basin. Additionally, 48 specimens from 16 other tilapia species were included to test for hybridisation. Using RAD sequencing (27 611 SNPs), we discovered genetic admixture with other tilapia species in several morphologically identified Nile tilapia from the Congo Basin, stressing their ability to interbreed and the potential threat they cause to the genetic integrity of native tilapias. Populations from the Upper Congo and those from the Middle-Lower Congo are strongly differentiated. The former show genetic similarity with Nile tilapia from the White Nile, while specimens from the Benue Basin and Lake Kariba are similar to Nile tilapia from the Middle-Lower Congo, suggesting independent introductions using different sources. We conclude that the presence of Nile tilapia in the Congo Basin results from independent introductions, reflecting the dynamic aquaculture history, and that their introduction probably leads to genetic interactions with native tilapias, which could lower their fitness. We therefore urge to avoid introductions of Nile tilapia in non-native regions and to use native tilapias in future aquaculture efforts.

opencc-zeroDec 2020View details →

Population analysis of retrotransposons in giraffe genomes supports RTE decline and widespread LINE1 activity in Giraffidae

The majority of structural variation in genomes is caused by insertions of transposable elements (TEs). In mammalian genomes, the main TE fraction is made up of autonomous and non-autonomous non-LTR retrotransposons commonly known as LINEs and SINEs (Long and Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements). Here we present one of the first population-level analysis of TE insertions in a non-model organism, the giraffe. Giraffes are ruminant artiodactyls, one of the few mammalian groups with genomes that are colonized by putatively active LINEs of two different clades of non-LTR retrotransposons, namely the LINE1 and RTE/BovB LINEs as well as their associated SINEs. We analyzed TE insertions of both types, and their associated SINEs in three giraffe genome assemblies, as well as across a population level sampling of 48 individuals covering all extant giraffe species. Results The comparative genome screen identified 139,525 recent LINE1 and RTE insertions in the sampled giraffe population. The analysis revealed a drastically reduced RTE activity in giraffes, whereas LINE1 is still actively propagating in the genomes of extant (sub)-species. In concert with the extremely low activity of the giraffe RTE, we also found that RTE-dependent SINEs, namely Bov-tA and Bov-A2, have been virtually immobile in the last 2 million years. Despite the high current activity of the giraffe LINE1, we did not find evidence for the presence of currently active LINE1-dependent SINEs. TE insertion heterozygosity rates differ among the different (sub)-species, likely due to divergent population histories. Conclusions The horizontally transferred RTE/BovB and its derived SINEs appear to be close to inactivation and subsequent extinction in the genomes of extant giraffe species. This is the first time that the decline of a TE family has been meticulously analyzed from a population genetics perspective. Our study shows how detailed information about past and present TE activity can be obtained by analyzing large-scale population-level genomic data sets.

Characterization data for the EtNAM population and Ethiopian durum wheat landraces diversity panel

In smallholder, low-input farming systems diffused in the Global South, farmers select and propagate crop varieties based on their traditional knowledge and experience. A quantitative integration of their knowledge into breeding pipelines may support the sustainable intensification of local farming. This data entry combines genomics with socioeconomics to tap into traditional knowledge in smallholder farming systems, focusing on durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). Data refer to a large nested association mapping (EtNAM) population that we developed by recombining elite international breeding line with Ethiopian traditional varieties maintained by local farmers. This entry carries also molecular and phenotypic data produced on a diversity panel (DP) of Ethiopian landraces previously characterized in four year-location combinations and published in Mengistu et al 2016 (<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12538">https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12538</a>). EtNAM lines and DP genotypes were evaluated for agronomic performances and farmers' appreciation in multiple locations, reveailing that gender and location can influence farmers' preference and that women and men farmers can consistently identify the best durum wheat genotypes. We used this data to train a genomic selection (GS) model with farmer scores to show that their prediction accuracy over grain yield was higher than that of the benchmark GS model trained on grain yield. The data was also used in a genome wide association mapping (GWAS) and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to identify genetic determinants of agronomic traits and farmer scores. Our data shows that farmers' traditional knowledge can be integrated in a quantitative framework to increase genetic gain in pre-breeding programs, supporting genomics-driven breeding for local adaptation. The Rdata files contain phenotypic and molecular characterization data for 1,200 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) deriving from the EtNAM and phenotypic and molecular characterization data for 400 durum wheat genotypes in the Ethiopian DP.

Population structure and genetic variance among local populations of an non-native earthworm species in Minnesota, USA

A variety of human activities have been identified as driving factors for the release and spread of invasive earthworm species in North America. Population genetic markers can help to identify locally relevant anthropogenic vectors and provide insights into the processes of population dispersal and establishment. We sampled the invasive European earthworm species Lumbricus terrestris at nine sites and several bait shops within the metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul in Minnesota, USA. We used microsatellite markers to infer genetic diversity and population structure, and 16S rDNA to address multiple introduction events, including bait dumping, which is a common source of L. terrestris introductions into the wild. Our results indicate multiple introductions but not from current bait dumping. Overall, genetic structure was low and earthworms >5000 m apart were genetically differentiated, except for one sampling location, indicating jump-dispersal followed by population establishment. Further, earthworms at one location north of Minneapolis established from one or few founder individuals, suggesting that earthworm invasions are ongoing. We therefore encourage further monitoring of earthworm populations using molecular markers, in order to disentangle the different human-related vectors contributing to the spread of earthworms and their establishment, which is essential to develop adequate management strategies.

The importance of fine-scale predictors of wild boar habitat use in an isolated population

Predicting the likelihood of wildlife presence at potential wildlife-livestock interfaces is challenging. These interfaces are usually relatively small geographical areas where landscapes show large variation over small distances. Models of wildlife distribution based on coarse data over wide geographical ranges may not be representative of these interfaces. High-resolution data can help identify fine scale predictors of wildlife habitat use at a local scale and provide more accurate predictions of species habitat use. These data may be used to inform knowledge of interface risks, such as disease transmission between wildlife and livestock, or human-wildlife conflict. This study uses fine-scale habitat use data from wild boar (Sus scrofa) based on activity signs and direct field observations in and around the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. Spatial logistic regression models fitted using a variant of penalized quasi‐likelihood were used to identify habitat-based and anthropogenic predictors of wild boar signs. Our models showed that within the Forest of Dean, wild boar signs were more likely to be seen in spring, in forest-type habitats, closer to the centre of the forest and near litter bins. In the area surrounding the Forest of Dean, wild boar signs were more likely to be seen in forest-type habitats and near recreational parks and less likely to be seen near livestock. This approach shows that wild boar habitat use can be predicted using fine-scale data over comparatively small areas and in human-dominated landscapes, whilst taking account of the spatial correlation from other nearby fine-scale data-points. The methods we use could be applied to map habitat use of other wildlife species in similar landscapes, or of movement-restricted, isolated or fragmented wildlife populations.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2022View details →

zenodo36/100

Sexual coercion in a natural mandrill population

Each prediction (and the test for male aggression ~ rank) corresponds to a differrent table and R script. The legends of the tables are within the corresponding script.

Data from: Passive acoustic monitoring provides reliable under-estimates of population size and longevity in wild Savannah Sparrows

Many breeding birds produce conspicuous sounds, providing tremendous opportunities to study free-living birds through acoustic recordings. Traditional methods for studying population size and demographic features depend on labour-intensive field research. Passive acoustic monitoring provides an alternative method for quantifying population size and demographic parameters, but this approach requires careful validation. To determine the accuracy of passive acoustic monitoring for estimating population size and demographic parameters, we used autonomous recorders to sample an island-living population of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) over a six-year period. Using the individually distinctive songs of males, we estimated male population size as the number of unique songs detected in the recordings. We analyzed songs across six years to estimate birth year, death year, and longevity. We then compared the estimates to field data in a blind analysis. Estimates of male population size through passive acoustic monitoring were, on average, 72% of the true male population size, with higher accuracy in lower-density years. Estimates of demographic rates were lower than true values by 29% for birth year, 23% for death year, and 29% for longevity. This is the first investigation to estimate longevity with passive acoustic monitoring, and adds to a growing number of studies that have used passive acoustic monitoring to estimate population size. Although passive acoustic monitoring under-estimated true population parametersfeatures, likely due to the high similarity among many male songs, our findings suggest that autonomous recorders can provide reliable estimates of population size and demographic characteristicslongevity in a wild songbird.

Population and single dopamine neuron activity during classical conditioning

We trained naive or trained mice to associate odor cues with outcome (water, air puff or no outcome), and recorded dopamine cell body activity in the vetral tegmental area (VTA), dopamine axon activity in the ventral striatum (VS) or dopamine release in VS with optic fiber fluorometry (photometry). In different set of mice, single dopamine neuron activiy was recorded with 2-photon microscope. In some of these mice, we reversed odor-outcome contingency so that an odor that was associated with no outcome or air puff became associated with water reward. Licking pattern was also recorded.

Outcrossing rates in an experimentally admixed population of self-compatible and self-incompatible Arabidopsis lyrata

AbstractThe transition to self-compatibility from self-incompatibility is often associated with high rates of self-fertilization, which can restrict gene flow among populations and cause reproductive isolation of self-compatible (SC) lineages. Secondary contact between SC and self-incompatible (SI) lineages might re-establish gene flow if SC lineages remain capable of outcrossing. By contrast, intrinsic features of SC plants that reinforce high rates of self-fertilization could maintain evolutionary divergence between lineages. Arabidopsis lyrata subsp. lyrata is characterized by multiple origins of self-compatibility and high rates of self-fertilization in SC-dominated populations. It is unclear whether these high rates of selfing by SC plants have intrinsic or extrinsic causes. We estimated outcrossing rates and examined patterns of pollinator movement for 38 SC and 40 SI maternal parents sampled from an admixed array of 1509 plants sourced from six SC and six SI populations grown under uniform density. Although plants from SI populations had higher outcrossing rates (mean tm = 0.78 ± 0.05 SE) than plants from SC populations (mean tm = 0.56 ± 0.06 SE), outcrossing rates among SC plants were substantially higher than previous estimates from natural populations. Patterns of pollinator movement appeared to contribute to lower outcrossing rates for SC plants; we estimated that 40% of floral visits were geitonogamous (between flowers of the same plant). The relatively high rates of outcrossing for SC plants under standardized conditions indicate that selfing rates in natural SC populations of A. lyrata are facultative and driven by extrinsic features of A. lyrata, including patterns of pollinator movement.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2022View details →

zenodo36/100

Data for blog post on dfm.io: "An experiment in open science: exoplanet population inference"

The data set used be the blog post "An experiment in open science: exoplanet population inference" published at https://dfm.io/posts/exopop/

Assessing population structure and genetic diversity in U.S. Suffolk sheep to define a framework for genomic selection

Long-term sustainability of breeds depends on having sufficient genetic diversity for adaptability to change, whether driven by climatic conditions or by priorities in breeding programs. Genetic diversity in Suffolk sheep in the U.S. was evaluated in four ways: 1) using genetic relationships from pedigree data [(n=64,310 animals recorded in the U.S. National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)]; 2) using molecular data (n=304 Suffolk genotyped with the OvineHD BeadChip); 3) comparing Australian (n=109) and Irish (n=55) Suffolk sheep to those in the U.S. using molecular data; and 4) assessing genetic relationships (connectedness) among active Suffolk flocks (n=18) in NSIP. By characterizing genetic diversity, a goal was to define the structure of a reference population for use for genomic selection strategies in this breed. Pedigree-based mean inbreeding level for the most recent year of available data was 5.5%. Ten animals defined 22.8% of the current gene pool. The effective population size (Ne) ranged from 27.5 to 244.2 based on pedigree and was 79.5 based on molecular data. Expected (HE) and observed (HO) heterozygosity were 0.317 and 0.306, respectively. Model-based population structure included 7 subpopulations. From Principal Component Analysis, countries separated into distinct populations. Within the U.S. population, flocks formed genetically disconnected clusters. A decline in genetic diversity over time was observed from both pedigree and genomic-based derived measures with evidence of population substructure as measured by FST. Using these measures of genetic diversity, a framework for establishing a genomic reference population in U.S. Suffolk sheep engaged in NSIP was proposed.

Population genetics reveals bidirectional fish movement across the Continental Divide via an interbasin water transfer

Interbasin water transfers are becoming an increasingly common tool to satisfy municipal and agricultural water demand, but their impacts on movement and gene flow of aquatic organisms are poorly understood. The Grand Ditch is an interbasin water transfer that diverts water from tributaries of the upper Colorado River on the west side of the Continental Divide to the upper Cache la Poudre River on the east side of the Continental Divide. We used single nucleotide polymorphisms to characterize population genetic structure in cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) and determine if fish utilize the Grand Ditch as a movement corridor. Samples were collected from two sites on the west side and three sites on the east side of the Continental Divide. We identified two or three genetic clusters, and relative migration rates and spatial distributions of admixed individuals indicated that the Grand Ditch facilitated bidirectional fish movement across the Continental Divide, a major biogeographic barrier. Previous studies have demonstrated ecological impacts of interbasin water transfers, but our study is one of the first to use genetics to understand how interbasin water transfers affect connectivity between previously isolated watersheds. We also discuss implications on native trout management and balancing water demand and biodiversity conservation.

Data from: Climate matching and anthropogenic factors contribute to the colonisation and extinction of local populations during avian invasions

Concern about the impacts of biological invasions has generated a great deal of interest in understanding factors that determine invasion success. Most of our current knowledge comes from static approaches that use spatial patterns as a proxy of temporal processes. These approaches assume that species are present in areas where environmental conditions are the most favourable. However, this assumption is problematic when applied to dynamic processes such as species expansions when equilibrium has not been reached. In our work, we analyse the roles played by human activities, climatic matching, and spatial connectivity on the two main underlying processes shaping the spread of invasive species (i.e., colonisation and extinction) using a dynamic modelling approach. For this, we used a large dataset that has recorded the occurrence of two invasive bird species -the ring-necked and the monk parakeets- in the Iberian Peninsula from 1991 to 2016.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2022View details →

zenodo36/100

Backward Population Synthesis: Mapping the Evolutionary History of Gravitational-Wave Progenitors dataset

Dataset release accompanying Backward Population Synthesis: Mapping the Evolutionary History of Gravitational-Wave Progenitors. Note that A22_02_rerun.hdf, A22_5_rerun.hdf, A22_rerun.hdf, KW_rerun.h5 are not directly used in generating the plots in the paper.

A new theoretical performance landscape for suction feeding reveals adaptive kinematics in a natural population of reef damselfish

Understanding how organismal traits determine performance and, ultimately, fitness is a fundamental goal of evolutionary ecomorphology. However, multiple traits can interact in non-linear and context-dependent ways to affect performance, hindering efforts to place natural populations with respect to performance peaks or valleys. Here, we used an established mechanistic model of suction-feeding performance (SIFF) derived from hydrodynamic principles to estimate a theoretical performance landscape for zooplankton prey capture. This performance space can be used to predict prey capture performance for any combination of six morphological and kinematic trait values. We then mapped in situ high-speed video observations of suction feeding in a natural population of a coral reef zooplanktivore, Chromis viridis, onto the performance space to estimate the population's location with respect to the topography of the performance landscape. Although the kinematics of the natural population closely matched regions of high performance in the landscape, the population was not located on a performance peak. Individuals were furthest from performance peaks on the peak gape, ram speed and mouth opening speed trait axes. Moreover, we found that the trait combinations in the observed population were associated with higher performance than expected by chance, suggesting that these combinations are under selection. Our results provide a framework for assessing whether natural populations occupy performance optima.

Population expansion, divergence, and persistence in western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) at the northern extreme of their distributional range

Population dynamics within species at the edge of their distributional range, including the formation of genetic structure during range expansion, are difficult to study when they have had limited time to evolve. Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) have a patchy distribution at the northern edge of their range around the Puget Sound, Washington, where they almost exclusively occur on imperiled coastal habitats. The entire region was covered by Pleistocene glaciation as recently as 16,000 years ago, suggesting that populations must have colonized these habitats relatively recently. We tested for population differentiation across this landscape using genome-wide SNPs and morphological data. A time-calibrated species tree supports the hypothesis of a post-glacial establishment and subsequent population expansion into the region. Despite a strong signal for fine-scale population genetic structure across the Puget Sound with as many as 8–10 distinct subpopulations supported by the SNP data, there is minimal evidence for morphological differentiation at this same spatiotemporal scale. Historical demographic analyses suggest that populations expanded and diverged across the region as the Cordilleran Ice Sheet receded. Population isolation, lack of dispersal corridors, and strict habitat requirements are the key drivers of population divergence in this system. These same factors may prove detrimental to the future persistence of populations as they cope with increasing shoreline development associated with urbanization.

A genetically isolated dingo population in western Victoria, Australia, reveals greater structuring of the Australian dingo

The Australian dingo is a relatively recent anthropogenic addition to the Australian fauna, which spread rapidly across the continent and has since widely interbred with modern dogs. Genetic studies of dingoes have given rise to speculation about their entry to the continent and subsequent biogeographic effects, but few studies of their contemporary population structure have been conducted. Here we investigated the dingo ancestry and population structure of free-living dogs in western Victoria and contrasted it with a wider southern Australian sample. We wished to determine whether their geographic isolation was mirrored in genetic isolation. To address this question, we analysed genetic data using Bayesian clustering and discriminant analysis of principal components, and summarised genetic diversity at the population and individual levels. Upon finding low genetic diversity in western Victoria, we tested for a recent genetic bottleneck. The broader southern Australia sample (n=1,138) comprised mostly hybrid animals, with ~30% dingoes. All western Victorian individuals (n= 59) appeared to be hybrids with high dingo ancestry. The population showed no evidence of admixture with other populations and no recent bottleneck. Based upon our characterisation of this unusual mainland population, we sound caution for future studies assuming homogeneity of dingoes across the continent.

Stable dingo population structure and purity over 11 years of lethal management

Interactions between predators and humans are a key driver of human-wildlife conflicts and can underpin the management of predator populations. Management of the impacts of dingoes (Canis familiaris) on livestock and native species is a prime example of a persistent and contentious predator management issue with potential impacts on the integrity of dingo populations. To manage the potential impacts of dingoes and their control, it is imperative to understand the effects of control approaches on their populations in the short and long term. Hybridisation of dingoes with domestic dogs (C. familiaris) threatens the genetic integrity of pure dingoes. It has been hypothesised that lethal control of dingoes can facilitate hybridisation by disrupting pack social structures leading to increased dingo-domestic dog interactions. Here we use dingo genetic samples from three distinct sampling periods: 2009, 2014, and 2020, within the Murchison Regional Vermin Cell (MRVC) area in Western Australia (WA). At the time of the study, the MRVC was a large, partially-fenced area in which dingo control has been performed for many decades. We assess dingo purity, population clustering, gene flow, and individual relatedness in the context of ongoing control. We identified three genetically distinct populations in the study area, consistent with previous genetic studies of WA, but did not find any evidence of change in dingo purity or population characteristics, however barrier fencing may be influencing recent gene flow. Policy implications: The metapopulation of dingoes in the southern rangelands of WA appears to be stable over the 11 years assessed here and there is no evidence that lethal control to reduce losses to livestock production and for conservation of native wildlife is putting dingo purity at risk. Fencing appears to be an effective management tool as there is some evidence it is separating dingo populations in areas where the fences are well maintained.

Ecological and geographical marginality in rear edge populations of Palaearctic forest birds (data)

The centre–periphery hypothesis predicts that habitat suitability will decrease at the edge of a species' range, a pattern often questioned by empirical data. Here we explore if habitat suitability decreases southwards and shapes the abundance distribution of rear edge populations of forest birds within the restricted geographical setting of the south-western Palaearctic. We also test if birds endemic to the area fit more poorly to the latitudinal decrease of habitat suitability due to the putative effect of adaptations to regional conditions. Location: North-western Africa (Morocco) Time period: Present day Major taxa studied: Passerines (11 species) Methods: Bird occurrences were used to model species distribution and line transects were used to estimate bird abundance. Occurrence probabilities provided by species distribution models were used to display the spatial patterning of habitat suitability. Habitat suitability was employed to predict abundance after controlling for the effect of the distance to some regional source areas of forest birds (tree covered large areas). The species were classified as North African endemic according to an updated review of their taxonomic status. Results: Habitat suitability decreased southwards, supporting the predicted relationship between ecological and geographical marginality in most species. Abundance was positively correlated to habitat suitability and negatively correlated to distance to source areas. The taxonomic status of birds did not affect the patterns. Main conclusions: The southward decrease of habitat suitability predicted by the centre–periphery hypothesis shapes the distribution of rear edge populations of forest birds within the south-western Palaearctic. As most of these populations are endemic, the results suggest that they track the gradients in isolation within the geographical setting of north-western Africa. These results support the vulnerability of these isolated, peripheral populations of forest birds to large-scale environmental changes in a region under the effect of increasing drought and temperature.