Limited genetic differentiation among wild Oryctolagus cuniculus L. (rabbit) populations in arid eastern Australia

Fuller, Susan; Mather, Peter B.; Wilson, John C.

doi:10.1038/hdy.1996.118

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…When IBD statistics were reported for multiple subsets of loci within a single paper, we always selected those based on the maximum number of loci. All but one of the studies focused on systems established through natural colonization, with the exception involving an introduction by humans (rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus; Fuller et al 1996). Inclusion or exclusion of this study did not influence our conclusions.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Does time since colonization influence isolation by distance? A meta-analysis

Crispo

Hendry

2005

Conserv Genet

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Isolation by distance (IBD) is a phenomenon characterized by increasing genetic divergence and decreasing gene flow with increasing geographic distance. IBD is often used in conservation biology to infer the extent of gene flow among populations. An assumption inherent to this approach is equilibrium between genetic drift and gene flow, which may take thousands of years to achieve. This implies that empirical IBD studies of recently colonized areas, such as postglacial systems, should be concerned with whether or not equilibrium has been reached. Short of equilibrium, IBD should increase with the length of time since a geographical area was colonized. We test the prediction that IBD increases with increasing time since colonization through a meta-analysis based on a diverse range of empirical systems. P and r 2 values from published IBD studies were analyzed with respect to time since colonization (in generations and years), taking into account variation in sample sizes, molecular markers, divergence metrics (genetic distance, F st , Nm), and dispersal patterns (one or two dimensional). Overall, we found weak evidence for associations between time since colonization and IBD. Sample sizes, molecular markers, divergence metrics, and dispersal patterns did not appreciably influence IBD. We propose that the expected relationship between IBD and time since colonization is obscured by the influence of other factors, such as dispersal ability, geographical barriers, and proximity to glacial refugia. The possible effects of time since colonization should continue to be evaluated in empirical studies, but other potential factors should also be thoroughly explored.

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Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Does time since colonization influence isolation by distance? A meta-analysis

Crispo

Hendry

2005

Conserv Genet

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“…Indeed, our phylogeographic analysis clearly shows that viruses from geographically disjunct regions of Australia can still be remarkably closely related, indicative of frequent viral traffic. The success of MYXV and, subsequently, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) as biological controls, combined with changes in land management, means that modern rabbit populations are likely to be less connected than in 1950 (51,52). The key vectors for viral transmission are the mosquito, which is predominantly a spring to autumn vector and requires water for breeding, and rabbit fleas, Spilopsyllus cuniculi (in temperate Australia) and Xenopsylla cunicularis (in arid Australia), which were introduced into Australia in 1970 and 1994, respectively.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome Scale Evolution of Myxoma Virus Reveals Host-Pathogen Adaptation and Rapid Geographic Spread

Kerr

Rogers

Fitch

et al. 2013

J Virol

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The evolutionary interplay between myxoma virus (MYXV) and the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) following release of the virus in Australia in 1950 as a biological control is a classic example of host-pathogen coevolution. We present a detailed genomic and phylogeographic analysis of 30 strains of MYXV, including the Australian progenitor strain Standard Laboratory Strain (SLS), 24 Australian viruses isolated from 1951 to 1999, and three isolates from the early radiation in Britain from 1954 and 1955. We show that in Australia MYXV has spread rapidly on a spatial scale, with multiple lineages cocirculating within individual localities, and that both highly virulent and attenuated viruses were still present in the field through the 1990s. In addition, the detection of closely related virus lineages at sites 1,000 km apart suggests that MYXV moves freely in geographic space, with mosquitoes, fleas, and rabbit migration all providing means of transport. Strikingly, despite multiple introductions, all modern viruses appear to be ultimately derived from the original introductions of SLS. The rapidity of MYXV evolution was also apparent at the genomic scale, with gene duplications documented in a number of viruses. Duplication of potential virulence genes may be important in increasing the expression of virulence proteins and provides the basis for the evolution of novel functions. Mutations leading to loss of open reading frames were surprisingly frequent and in some cases may explain attenuation, but no common mutations that correlated with virulence or attenuation were identified.

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“…Localized control may be appropriate therefore in certain areas of south-eastern Australia. Conversely in arid western Queensland (Australia), Fuller et al (1996) [using allozyme and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers] demonstrated little genetic differentiation and high levels of gene flow among populations spread over 1600 km 2 . These data suggested that in arid western Queensland, rabbit population structure may occur at a different level of scale than that identified in previous research.…”

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confidence: 99%

Patterns of differentiation among wild rabbit populations Oryctolagus cuniculus L. in arid and semiarid ecosystems of north‐eastern Australia

1997

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Feral rabbit populations in Australia have generally been managed using localized control procedures. While these procedures may result in local extinctions, persistence of populations will depend on the probability of recolonization. Genetic markers developed using temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) combined with heteroduplex analysis (HA) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were used to characterize the degree of subdivision and extent of gene flow within and among rabbit populations distributed over large distances (up to 1000 km) in southern Queensland (QLD) and north-west New South Wales (NSW), Australia. TGGE analyses revealed significant heterogeneity in mtDNA control region haplotype frequencies. From heterogeneity chi 2 tests, it was evident that the differentiation observed was largely attributable to five sites which were located in the semiarid eastern region, whereas haplotype frequencies were homogeneous throughout the arid western region. These results suggest that there are independent population systems within the study area. The extent of gene flow among local populations within each system is related to the spatial configuration of acceptable habitat patches and the persistence of the populations is determined by the probability of recolonization following local extinction. These data suggest that to provide better overall control of rabbit populations, different management strategies may be necessary in arid and semiarid ecosystems. In arid south-west QLD and north-west NSW, where extensive gene flow occurs over large distances, rabbit populations should be managed at a regional level. In semiarid eastern QLD, where gene flow is restricted and populations are more isolated, localized control procedures may provide effective short-term relief. These results indicate that in nonequilibrium systems with patchy distribution of individuals, the interpretation of migration rate from estimates of gene flow obtained using existing genetic models must include an understanding of the spatial and temporal scales over which population processes operate.

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Limited genetic differentiation among wild Oryctolagus cuniculus L. (rabbit) populations in arid eastern Australia

Cited by 13 publications

References 35 publications

Does time since colonization influence isolation by distance? A meta-analysis

Does time since colonization influence isolation by distance? A meta-analysis

Genome Scale Evolution of Myxoma Virus Reveals Host-Pathogen Adaptation and Rapid Geographic Spread

Patterns of differentiation among wild rabbit populations Oryctolagus cuniculus L. in arid and semiarid ecosystems of north‐eastern Australia

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