Aye-aye population genomic analyses highlight an important center of endemism in northern Madagascar

Abstract

We performed a population genomics study of the aye-aye, a highly specialized nocturnal lemur from Madagascar. Aye-ayes have low population densities and extensive range requirements that could make this flagship species particularly susceptible to extinction. Therefore, knowledge of genetic diversity and differentiation among aye-aye populations is critical for conservation planning. Such information may also advance our general understanding of Malagasy biogeography, as aye-ayes have the largest species distribution of any lemur. We generated and analyzed whole-genome sequence data for 12 aye-ayes from three regions of Madagascar (North, West, and East). We found that the North population is genetically distinct, with strong differentiation from other aye-ayes over relatively short geographic distances. For comparison, the average F ST value between the North and East aye-aye populations-separated by only 248 km-is over 2.1-times greater than that observed between human Africans and Europeans. This finding is consistent with prior watershed-and climate-based hypotheses of a center of endemism in northern Madagascar. Taken together, these results suggest a strong and long-term biogeographical barrier to gene flow. Thus, the specific attention that should be directed toward preserving large, contiguous aye-aye habitats in northern Madagascar may also benefit the conservation of other distinct taxonomic units. To help facilitate future ecological-and conservation-motivated population genomic analyses by noncomputational biologists, the analytical toolkit used in this study is available on the Galaxy Web site.conservation genomics | landscape species concept | genomics of non-model species

Genetic diversity in humans and non-human primates and its evolutionary consequences

“…Transcriptome data revealed relatively high genetic diversity in this group compared to Simian primates, with the exception of aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis; π ≈ 7.2 × 10 −4 ), whose genetic diversity was found to be similar to or lower than non-African humans (Perry et al, 2012). The estimate of genetic diversity in aye-ayes using transcriptome data is consistent with estimates obtained using data from whole-genome resequencing (Perry et al, 2013). The following estimates of π have been made for the other members of this group: 2.8 × 10 −3 in crowned lemur (Eulemur coronatus), 2.4 × 10 −3 in mongoose lemur (E. mongoz), 3.7 × 10 −3 in black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), 2.1 × 10 −3 in slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), 2.0 × 10 −3 in mohol bushbaby (Galago moholi), and 6.8 × 10 −3 in Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi coquereli) (Perry et al, 2012).…”

Impact of communicative and critical health literacy on understanding of diabetes care and self-efficacy in diabetes management: a cross-sectional study of primary care in Japan

“…These results indicate that half of the participants did not have access to the Internet, even with help from family members, when they wanted to collect information regarding diabetes care. This rate was much lower than the nationally reported rate of 78.2% of the population having access to the Internet at the end of 2010 [30]. …”

“…As the relationship becomes longer, the number of prescribed drugs, insulin use, and diabetes complications could affect the goal of diabetes education, and the communications could be tailored to these conditions. Some factors, such as social support [29], could be positively associated with the patient’s self-efficacy for diabetes management, while other factors, including the widening use of the Internet [30,31], could affect a patient’s HL and diabetes care. The Internet is frequently used to acquire health-related information in some populations [32-34], and patients may use the Internet to learn about their diseases and how to perform self-care [35].…”

The First Endogenous Herpesvirus, Identified in the Tarsier Genome, and Novel Sequences from Primate Rhadinoviruses and Lymphocryptoviruses

“…Nonetheless, neither set of sequences contains disruptive mutations in coding sequences, and can be easily aligned to closely related and well-characterised herpesvirus genomes. The exogenous status of DmRV1 is further supported by the lack of any detectable viral sequences in the recently released re-sequencing project of 12 aye-aye individuals [67]. Both BLAST and read-mapping techniques were employed to search for HVL sequences in the other genomes, with no reportable matches.…”