Genetic variation within and relatedness among wood and plains bison populations

Genome ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
G A Wilson ◽  
C Strobeck

There are two recognized subspecies of bison, wood (Bison bison athabascae) and plains (Bison bison bison) bison. The establishment of most bison populations from a small number of individuals has raised concerns about their genetic variation. To this end, 11 bison populations were surveyed with 11 microsatellite loci in order to calculate genetic variation and genetic distances. Mean number of alleles ranged between 3.18 at Antelope Island State Park (Utah) and 6.55 at Wood Buffalo National Park (Alberta and Northwest Territories). Mean heterozygosity ranged from 0.295 at Antelope Island State Park to 0.669 at Custer State Park (South Dakota). The amount of genetic variability present in the bison populations as measured by mean number of alleles and overall probability of identity was found to correlate with the number of founders for all sampled populations. The G-test for heterogeneity revealed some evidence for the existence of subpopulations at Wood Buffalo National Park, however very small genetic distances between these subpopulations suggest that nuclear material from the plains bison introduced into Wood Buffalo National Park has diffused throughout the park. Genetic distances between the sampled populations were generally larger between than within the two bison subspecies.Key words: Bison bison bison, Bison bison athabascae, DNA microsatellites, genetic variation, genetic relatedness.

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 1195-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Bradley ◽  
John Wilmshurst

Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain the decline of bison (Bison bison (L., 1758)) abundance in Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP). The "disease–predation" hypothesis proposes that tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis (Karlson and Lessel 1970)) and brucellosis (Brucella abortus (Schmidt 1901)) reduce bison survival and reproduction, resulting in a low-density, predator-regulated equilibrium. The "habitat dispersion hypothesis" proposes that bison in one area of WBNP, the Peace–Athabasca Delta (Delta), have an increased risk of predation because they are concentrated in large meadows with high temporal and spatial predictability. We incorporate bison census data, calf and yearling segregation counts, reproductive rates, adult survival rates, and adult disease incidence in a stochastic population model to show that the historical decline of bison in WBNP would have occurred regardless of disease prevalence. Our model shows that survival of juveniles, the age class that is least susceptible to disease effects, was likely an important determinant of historical changes in population size. We also demonstrate that the population decline was most pronounced in the Delta and that juvenile survival was lower in the Delta, despite evidence that disease incidence was lower in the Delta than in the rest of WBNP. Lastly, the current population trend in WBNP is one of rapid increase, even in the presence of disease.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2633
Author(s):  
Poh Chiang Chew ◽  
Annie Christianus ◽  
Jaapar M. Zudaidy ◽  
Md Yasin Ina-Salwany ◽  
Chou Min Chong ◽  
...  

In this study, a mixture of Tor tambra and T. tambroides with unknown genetic background were collected from 11 localities in Malaysia for broodstock development and sperm cryo-banking. This study aims to assess the microsatellite (simple sequence repeat, SSR) variation, genetic diversity, genetic differentiation, level of gene flow, population structure, genetic relatedness and their demographic aspects among these Tor populations, in addition to establishing their SSR profile by employing 22 SSR markers via fragment analysis. Total genomic DNA was extracted from 181 samples (91 cryopreserved milt samples and 90 scale samples of live broodfish). Results showed the Tor spp. collection retained their genetic variation but exhibited excessive homozygosity among individuals within population. Moderate genetic differentiation was shown among the populations, with highly significant (p < 0.001) fixation indices (FST, FIS and FIT). A low gene flow over all loci (Nm 1.548) indicates little genetic variation transfer between populations. The genetic structures of all the populations were successfully resolved into four main clusters by an unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram generated based on Nei’s genetic distances. The population structures based on principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and the Bayesian model also suggested four distinct clusters following geographical regions and eight closely related populations. This study provided a useful baseline reference for better genetic management and utilization of the Tor spp. stocks in their breeding and conservation programmes.


2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 569 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Holman ◽  
J. Playford

The Senna artemisioides species complex is characterised by extremely variable foliar morphology. This paper presents the results of an integrative study on reproductive biology, morphology and genetic variation to explore the evolutionary and systematic relationships within this species complex at Idalia National Park in central Queensland. Senna artemisioides showed discontinuous variation at both genetic and phenotypic level. At three sites, foliar morphology was discontinuous, being represented as discrete clusters. Analysis of isozyme variation indicated that many of the discrete morphological groups are distinguished by fixed genetic differences. Morphotypes were also characterised by widespread monomorphism. Most of the genetic variation was between morphotypes rather than within morphotypes. These fixed genetic differences indicate a lack of gene flow between morphotypes and therefore an absence of hybridisation. The two most distinct morphological groups (pyllodinous, pinnate) had high genetic distances of 0.5, a value beyond the usual distance between congeneric species. Forty-two percent of pairwise comparisons between other morphotypes yielded genetic distance values that were relatively high (0.21–0.42). Some phenotypically distinct morphotypes, however, showed little or no isozyme divergence. The combined evidence suggests that genetically distinct morphotypes are independent lineages originating from an ancestral sexual reproductive event that is perpetuated by apomictic reproduction.


1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 738-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renee O. Polziehn ◽  
Curtis Strobeck ◽  
Robin Beech ◽  
Jane Sheraton

North American bison are presently divided into two subspecies: wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) and plains bison (B. b. bison). A survey was undertaken to determine the distribution of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes among subspecies and populations. Twelve haplotypes were identified with sequence data from the control region of mitochondrial DNA from 32 bison. Mitochondrial haplotypes for 269 bison from nine populations were then determined using the polymerase chain reaction and analyzed for restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Haplotype frequencies suggest genetic distances among bison populations from 0.0715 to 0.362. The extent of differentiation varies considerably. Based on the composition and phylogeny of haplotypes in the bison herds, plains bison form a paraphyletic group and wood bison form a polyphyletic group. Because neither subspecies of bison is derived from one lineage, neither is a well-defined taxon.


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (9) ◽  
pp. 1537-1548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A Wilson ◽  
Wes Olson ◽  
Curtis Strobeck

In this study, we used 21 microsatellite loci to establish the reproductive success of the wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) population at Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Canada. Wood bison are considered threatened in Canada, and this population is currently used to found new populations. Despite the low levels of genetic variation in this population, we were able to establish paternity in 253 and maternity in 295 of the 317 calves born in Elk Island National Park over the 4-year study period. Roughly 40% of the mature males were reproductively successful each year. Mature males produced a mean of 3.8 offspring over the study period, with a range of 0–24. Each year, approximately 50–70% of the cows produced calves, with a mean of 2.7 over the study period. Multiple linear regressions were performed to determine the effects of age, mass, heterozygosity, prior success, and the year of conception on male and female reproductive success. Only mass and prior success were useful in predicting male reproductive success. Female reproductive success depended on age, mass, and prior success and was also affected by environmental differences between years. No evidence was found for inbreeding avoidance in wood bison.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 226 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Palomino ◽  
R. B. McCorkell ◽  
M. Anzar ◽  
M. R. Woodbury ◽  
N. Hawkins ◽  
...  

Brucellosis and tuberculosis are endemic in Wood Buffalo National Park, the largest reserve of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in Canada. Our goal is to produce and preserve disease-free embryos for the purpose of wood bison repopulation. This study was designed to determine if embryo collection is feasible in wood bison during the anovulatory season (May–July) and to test if progesterone priming is required for superovulation. A 2-by-2 design was used to determine the effectiveness of LH (Lutropin) or hCG (Chorulon) for induction of ovulation with or without intravaginal progesterone releasing device (PRID) in 32 wood bison cows. Follicular wave emergence was synchronized among bison by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle ablation. Synchronized bison were assigned to 4 groups: PRID+LH (n = 12), PRID+hCG (n = 4), no-PRID+LH (n = 12) and no-PRID+hCG (n = 4). A PRID was inserted on the day of follicular ablation in the respective groups. A single SC dose of 400 mg FSH (Folltropin) in a slow-release formulation was given the day after follicular ablation (i.e. on the expected day of a new follicular wave emergence, Day 0). The PRID was removed on Day 4 and either 25 mg LH or 2000 IU hCG was given IM on Day 5. Artificial insemination was done at 24, 36 and 48 h after LH or hCG treatment. Embryos were collected nonsurgically on Day 13 using commercial bovine equipment. Transrectal ultrasonography was done on Days 0, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13 to record follicular and ovulatory responses. Count data (mean ± SEM) were analysed by two-way ANOVA and proportions by chi square. The number of ovulatory-sized follicles (≥10 mm) on Day 5 did not differ among groups (P = 0.33; Table 1). Ovulation rate (number of ovulations/number of follicles ≥10 mm) was greater in bison treated with hCG (P < 0.05; Table 1). The number of corpora lutea (CL) on Day 13 was greater in bison treated with hCG without a PRID (P < 0.05; Table 1). No differences in number of ova/embryos and transferable embryos were found among groups (P = 0.36 and P = 0.52, respectively; Table 1). In conclusion, progesterone priming (PRID) had no effect on ovarian superstimulation in wood bison in the anovulatory season. The ovulatory response was satisfactory only in bison treated with hCG. Embryo collection is feasible in wood bison, but the reasons for a low embryo collection rate in all groups remain unclear. Table 1.Response to superovulation and embryo collection in wood bison Funded by Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food and Agri-Food Innovation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 162
Author(s):  
J. M. Palomino ◽  
M. P. Cervantes ◽  
G. Mastromonaco ◽  
R. J. Mapletoft ◽  
B. Allan ◽  
...  

Endemic brucellosis threatens wild herds of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in and around Wood Buffalo National Park, the largest genetic reserve of wood bison in the world. The overall goal of our project was to produce and preserve disease-free embryos for the purpose of conserving the genetic diversity of this species. The aim of the present experiment was to determine the effectiveness of washing procedures for removing Brucella bacteria from in vivo-derived wood bison embryos exposed in vitro to the pathogen. Wood bison cows were given 300 mg im of Folltropin diluted in 0.5% hyaluronan on the day of follicle wave emergence (Day 0) and 100 mg im of hyaluronan on Day 2, and then given 2500 IU im of hCG on Day 5 and inseminated 12 and 24 h later. Embryos were collected on Day 13. The experiment was done in 6 replicates (n = 4 bison/replicate) and an average of 9 embryos/replicate were collected. Zona pellucida-intact embryos were kept in holding medium (PBS + 2% fetal calf serum) and transported to a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory at the International Vaccine Centre, University of Saskatchewan. Embryos were transferred through 5 aliquots of holding medium to remove any contaminant before exposure to Brucella. Embryos were divided equally into 2 Petri dishes (representing later wash groups with v. without antibiotics) containing 2.7 mL of holding medium (n = 2 to 7 embryos per dish/replicate). In a Class II biosafety cabinet, Brucella abortus biovar 1 (1 × 107 to 1 × 109 CFU mL–1 in 0.3 mL) was added to each Petri dish and incubated for 2 h at 37°C in 8% CO2. A sample of holding medium was taken before exposure and after incubation for culture as negative and positive controls, respectively. After incubation, embryos in each Petri dish were subjected to a 10-step washing procedure (according to the IETS Manual, 2010) using wash medium (PBS + 0.4% BSA) without antibiotics or with antibiotics (100 IU mL–1 of penicillin + 100 μg mL–1 of streptomycin). The embryo wash medium was cultured at wash steps 1, 3, 6, and 9. After the tenth wash, the zona pellucida of each embryo was ruptured mechanically using a glass pipette and embryos were cultured individually. Culturing of samples was done on sheep blood agar and specific identification of Brucella organisms was done by PCR. Brucella abortus was detected in 3 embryos from the group washed in medium without antibiotics (3/27), whereas all embryos washed in medium with antibiotics were culture negative (0/27). Brucella abortus was not detected in wash media after the third wash in either group (with or without antibiotics). In summary, Brucella abortus was removed from 89% of in vitro-exposed wood bison embryos using the washing procedure without antibiotics, and from 100% using the washing procedure with antibiotics. Results validate the embryo washing technique for producing Brucella-free wood bison embryos. Thanks to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for the field strain of Brucella abortus, Bioniche AH for Folltropin and embryo collection supplies, Merck AH for hCG (Chorulon), and Intervac/VIDO for technical and logistical support.


2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 773-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Campbell

Medicago ruthenica (L.) Ledebour is an allogamous diploid (2n = 2x = 16) perennial indigenous to Siberia, Mongolia and Manchuria with a remarkable ability to survive mechanical and physiological stress. The possibility of hybridizing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and M. ruthenica is being investigated. The objective of the current research was to conduct a molecular assessment of genetic relatedness and inter- and intra-specific genetic variation in cultivated alfalfa (2n = 4x = 32) and M. ruthenica. Seventeen alfalfa clones, selected randomly from the broad-based population W10- AC3, and 17 agronomically superior M. ruthenica clones, tracing to 17 collection sites in Inner Mongolia, were studied using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Anchored Microsatellite Priming (AMSP), and Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) analyses of genomic DNA. Mean genetic distances (GD) within M. ruthenica and alfalfa clones were 0.5 and 0.56, respectively, based on RAPD/AMSP data, and 0.29 and 0.40, respectively, based on SSR data. Alfalfa and M. ruthenica were genetically distant (RAPD/AMSP GD = 0.73); however, this difference does not necessarily preclude the possibility of interspecific hybridization, although the use of techniques such as bridge crossing, embryo culture rescue and/or protoplast fusion may be necessary. Key words: Alfalfa, genetic resources, Medicago ruthenica, Medicago sativa, microsatellite, simple sequence


2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 1165-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damien O Joly ◽  
François Messier

One hypothesis to explain the decline of bison (Bison bison (L., 1758)) abundance in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, is the "disease–predation" hypothesis where tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis Karlson and Lessel, 1970) and brucellosis (Brucella abortus (Schmidt, 1901)) reduce bison survival and reproduction, thus shifting bison abundance from a high-density, food-regulated equilibrium to a low-density, predator-regulated equilibrium. We use historical data on bison abundance and stochastic population simulation to examine this hypothesis. A decline in only one area of the park would discount disease as a factor, because exotic disease is present throughout the park; however, we found that decline rates were similar in the two main populations of bison. Using simulation, we found a high (68.5%) probability that a tuberculosis- and brucellosis-infected bison population experiencing predation by wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758) would stabilize at low densities (<0.83 bison/km2), which increased to 93.6% when anthrax and drowning were considered to be mortality sources. In the absence of tuberculosis and brucellosis, there was a low probability that bison would persist at this low density (<8%). These simulations suggest that an interaction between tuberculosis, brucellosis, and predation may account for the decline of bison abundance in Wood Buffalo National Park from 1970 to 1999.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 791-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Miyanishi ◽  
O. Eriksson ◽  
R. W. Wein

Potentilla anserina L., silverweed (Rosaceae), occurs in all provinces of Canada as well as in the two territories. Although generally found in wet sandy areas along rivers and on beaches, silverweed also occurs in waste areas, along roadsides, and in lawns. This shade-intolerant stoloniferous plant has recently become dominant in overgrazed sedge meadows of the Peace-Athabasca Delta, resulting in deterioration of portions of the primary range for wood bison in Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Alberta. This contribution presents both a review of the literature and some original data on the biology and ecology of the species. Key words: Silverweed, disturbance, ecology, herbaceous perennial, demography


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