Dataset Information

Genomic insights into the Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi), a Critically Endangered glacial relict.

ABSTRACT: The Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi), considered the most endangered amphibian in Europe, is a relict salamandrid species endemic to a small massif located in northeastern Spain. Although conservation efforts should always be guided by genomic studies, those are yet scarce among urodeles, hampered by the extreme sizes of their genomes. Here, we present the third available genome assembly for the order Caudata, and the first genomic study of the species and its sister taxon, the Pyrenean brook newt (Calotriton asper), combining whole-genome and ddRADseq data. Our results reveal significant demographic oscillations which accurately mirrored Europe's climatic history. Although severe bottlenecks have led to depauperate genomic diversity and long runs of homozygosity along a gigantic genome, inbreeding might have been avoided by assortative mating strategies. Other life history traits, however, seem to have been less advantageous, and the lack of land dispersal has driven to exceptional levels of population fragmentation.

SUBMITTER: Talavera A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10788218 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genomic insights into the Montseny brook newt (<i>Calotriton arnoldi</i>), a Critically Endangered glacial relict.

Talavera Adrián A Palmada-Flores Marc M Burriel-Carranza Bernat B Valbuena-Ureña Emilio E Mochales-Riaño Gabriel G Adams Dean C DC Tejero-Cicuéndez Héctor H Soler-Membrives Anna A Amat Fèlix F Guinart Daniel D Carbonell Francesc F Obon Elena E Marquès-Bonet Tomàs T Carranza Salvador S

iScience 20231212 1

The Montseny brook newt (<i>Calotriton arnoldi</i>), considered the most endangered amphibian in Europe, is a relict salamandrid species endemic to a small massif located in northeastern Spain. Although conservation efforts should always be guided by genomic studies, those are yet scarce among urodeles, hampered by the extreme sizes of their genomes. Here, we present the third available genome assembly for the order Caudata, and the first genomic study of the species and its sister taxon, the Py ...[more]

PMID: 38226169

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Project description:Ex situ management strategies play an important role in the conservation of threatened species when the wild survival of the species cannot be ensured. Molecular markers have become an outstanding tool for the evaluation and management of captive breeding programs. Two main genetic objectives should be prioritized when planning breeding programs: the maintenance of maximum neutral genetic diversity, and to obtain "self-sustaining" captive populations. In this study, we use 24 microsatellite loci to analyze and evaluate the genetic representativity of the initial phases of the captive breeding program of the Montseny brook newt, Calotriton arnoldi, an Iberian endemic listed as Critically Endangered. The results show that the initial captive stock has 74-78% of the alleles present in the wild populations, and captures roughly 93-95% of their total genetic diversity as observed in a previous study on wild newts, although it does not reach the desired 97.5%. Moreover, the percentage of unrelatedness among individuals does not exceed 95%. Therefore, we conclude that the genetic diversity of the captive stock should be improved by incorporating genetic material from unrelated wild newts. In recognition of the previously described significant genetic and morphological differentiation between eastern and western wild populations of C. arnoldi, we suggest maintaining two distinct breeding lines, and we do not recommend outbreeding between these lines. Our comparisons of genetic diversity estimates between real and distinct sample-sized simulated populations corroborated that a minimum of 20 individuals are needed for each captive population, in order to match the level of genetic diversity present in the wild populations. Thus, the current initial stock should be reinforced by adding wild specimens. The captive stock and subsequent cohorts should be monitored in order to preserve genetic variation. In order to avoid genetic adaptation to captivity, occasionally incorporating previously genotyped individuals from the wild into the captive populations is recommended.

Dataset Information

Genomic insights into the Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi), a Critically Endangered glacial relict.

Publications

Genomic insights into the Montseny brook newt (<i>Calotriton arnoldi</i>), a Critically Endangered glacial relict.

Similar Datasets

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