TY - JOUR

T1 - Genomic insights into the conservation status of the world's last remaining Sumatran rhinoceros populations

AU - von Seth, Johanna

AU - Dussex, Nicolas

AU - Diez-del-Molino, David

AU - van der Valk, Tom

AU - Kutschera, Verena E.

AU - Kierczak, Marcin

AU - Steiner, Cynthia C.

AU - Liu, Shanlin

AU - Gilbert, M. Thomas P.

AU - Sinding, Mikkel-Holger S.

AU - Prost, Stefan

AU - Guschanski, Katerina

AU - Nathan, Senthilvel K. S. S.

AU - Brace, Selina

AU - Chan, Yvonne L.

AU - Wheat, Christopher W.

AU - Skoglund, Pontus

AU - Ryder, Oliver A.

AU - Goossens, Benoit

AU - Gotherstrom, Anders

AU - Dalen, Love

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Highly endangered species like the Sumatran rhinoceros are at risk from inbreeding. Five historical and 16 modern genomes from across the species range show mutational load, but little evidence for local adaptation, suggesting that future inbreeding depression could be mitigated by assisted gene flow among populations.Small populations are often exposed to high inbreeding and mutational load that can increase the risk of extinction. The Sumatran rhinoceros was widespread in Southeast Asia, but is now restricted to small and isolated populations on Sumatra and Borneo, and most likely extinct on the Malay Peninsula. Here, we analyse 5 historical and 16 modern genomes from these populations to investigate the genomic consequences of the recent decline, such as increased inbreeding and mutational load. We find that the Malay Peninsula population experienced increased inbreeding shortly before extirpation, which possibly was accompanied by purging. The populations on Sumatra and Borneo instead show low inbreeding, but high mutational load. The currently small population sizes may thus in the near future lead to inbreeding depression. Moreover, we find little evidence for differences in local adaptation among populations, suggesting that future inbreeding depression could potentially be mitigated by assisted gene flow among populations.

AB - Highly endangered species like the Sumatran rhinoceros are at risk from inbreeding. Five historical and 16 modern genomes from across the species range show mutational load, but little evidence for local adaptation, suggesting that future inbreeding depression could be mitigated by assisted gene flow among populations.Small populations are often exposed to high inbreeding and mutational load that can increase the risk of extinction. The Sumatran rhinoceros was widespread in Southeast Asia, but is now restricted to small and isolated populations on Sumatra and Borneo, and most likely extinct on the Malay Peninsula. Here, we analyse 5 historical and 16 modern genomes from these populations to investigate the genomic consequences of the recent decline, such as increased inbreeding and mutational load. We find that the Malay Peninsula population experienced increased inbreeding shortly before extirpation, which possibly was accompanied by purging. The populations on Sumatra and Borneo instead show low inbreeding, but high mutational load. The currently small population sizes may thus in the near future lead to inbreeding depression. Moreover, we find little evidence for differences in local adaptation among populations, suggesting that future inbreeding depression could potentially be mitigated by assisted gene flow among populations.

KW - GENETIC RESCUE

KW - INBREEDING DEPRESSION

KW - HOMOZYGOSITY

KW - RESTORATION

KW - UNITS

KW - RUNS

KW - ADAPTATION

KW - MANAGEMENT

KW - DIVERSITY

KW - INFERENCE

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-021-22386-8

DO - 10.1038/s41467-021-22386-8

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33896938

VL - 12

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

SN - 2041-1723

IS - 1

M1 - 2393

ER -