Genomics Reveals Complex Population History and Unexpected Diversity of Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra) in Britain Relative to Genetic Methods.

ABSTRACT: Conservation genetic analyses of many endangered species have been based on genotyping of microsatellite loci and sequencing of short fragments of mtDNA. The increase in power and resolution afforded by whole genome approaches may challenge conclusions made on limited numbers of loci and maternally inherited haploid markers. Here, we provide a matched comparison of whole genome sequencing versus microsatellite and control region (CR) genotyping for Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra). Previous work identified four genetically differentiated "stronghold" populations of otter in Britain, derived from regional populations that survived the population crash of the 1950s-1980s. Using whole genome resequencing data from 45 samples from across the British stronghold populations, we confirmed some aspec

SUBMITTER: du Plessis SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10630326 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature