scholarly journals A reference genome for the critically endangered woylie, Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi

Gigabyte ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Emma Peel ◽  
Luke Silver ◽  
Parice Brandies ◽  
Carolyn J. Hogg ◽  
Katherine Belov
Keyword(s):  
Reference Genome ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata

scholarly journals A reference genome for the critically endangered woylie, Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Peel ◽  
Luke Silver ◽  
Parice Brandies ◽  
Carolyn J Hogg ◽  
Katherine Belov
Keyword(s):  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Reference Genome ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Australian Species ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata ◽  
Long Reads

Biodiversity is declining globally, and Australia has one of the worst extinction records for mammals. The development of sequencing technologies means that genomic approaches are now available as important tools for wildlife conservation and management. Despite this, genome sequences are available for only 5% of threatened Australian species. Here we report the first reference genome for the woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi), a critically endangered marsupial from Western Australia, and the first genome within the Potoroidae family. The woylie reference genome was generated using Pacific Biosciences HiFi long-reads, resulting in a 3.39 Gbp assembly with a scaffold N50 of 6.49 Mbp and 86.5% complete mammalian BUSCOs. Assembly of a global transcriptome from pouch skin, tongue, heart and blood RNA-seq reads was used to guide annotation with Fgenesh++, resulting in the annotation of 24,655 genes. The woylie reference genome is a valuable resource for conservation, management and investigations into disease-induced decline of this critically endangered marsupial.

The responses of a critically endangered mycophagous marsupial ( Bettongia penicillata ) to timber harvesting in a native eucalypt forest

2016 ◽  
Vol 363 ◽  
pp. 190-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian F. Wayne ◽  
Marika A. Maxwell ◽  
Colin G. Ward ◽  
Christos V. Vellios ◽  
Matthew R. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata

scholarly journals The genome of the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), a Critically Endangered seabird: a valuable resource for evolutionary and conservation genomics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Cuevas Caballe ◽  
Joan Ferrer Obiol ◽  
Joel Vizueta ◽  
Meritxell Genovart ◽  
Jacob Gonzalez-Solis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reference Genome ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
Night Vision ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Conservation Genomics ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Long Read ◽  
Longline Fisheries

The Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is the most threatened seabird in Europe. The fossil record suggests that human colonisation of the Balearic Islands resulted in a sharp decrease of the population size. Currently, populations continue to be decimated mainly due to predation by introduced mammals and bycatch in longline fisheries, and some studies predict their extinction by 2070. We present the first high-quality reference genome for the species which was obtained by a combination of short and long-read sequencing. Our hybrid assembly includes 4,169 scaffolds, with a scaffold N50 of 2.1 Mbp, a genome length of 1.2 Gbp, and BUSCO completeness of 96%, which is amongst the highest across sequenced avian species. This reference genome allowed us to study critical aspects relevant to the conservation status of the species, such as an evaluation of overall heterozygosity levels and the reconstruction of its historical demography. Our phylogenetic analysis using whole-genome information resolves current uncertainties in the order Procellariiformes systematics. Comparative genomics analyses uncover a set of candidate genes that may have played an important role into the adaptation to a pelagic lifestyle of Procellariiformes, including those for the enhancement of fishing capabilities, night vision and the development of natriuresis. This reference genome will be the keystone for future developments of genetic tools in conservation efforts for this Critically Endangered species.

scholarly journals Evaluating Stress Physiology and Parasite Infection Parameters in the Translocation of Critically Endangered Woylies (Bettongia penicillata)

EcoHealth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (S1) ◽  
pp. 128-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hing ◽  
Amy S. Northover ◽  
Edward J. Narayan ◽  
Adrian F. Wayne ◽  
Krista L. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Infection ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata ◽  
Infection Parameters

scholarly journals Wildlife in the line of fire: evaluating the stress physiology of a critically endangered Australian marsupial after bushfire

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hing ◽  
Krista L. Jones ◽  
Christine Rafferty ◽  
R. C. Andrew Thompson ◽  
Edward J. Narayan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Australian Marsupial

Australian native fauna are thought to be well adapted to fire-prone landscapes, but bushfires may still pose considerable challenges or stressors to wildlife. We investigated the impact of bushfire on the stress physiology of the woylie (brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata) a critically endangered Australian marsupial, and assessed whether fitness indices (body condition and parasite load) influenced stress physiology before and after the fire. We hypothesised that there would be a significant change in stress physiology indicators (in the form of faecal cortisol metabolites, FCM) following the fire, compared with the months previous. We trapped woylies (n = 19) at Whiteman Park Reserve in Perth, Western Australia, two days after a major bushfire and measured FCM concentration by enzyme immunoassay. Population-level comparisons of FCM were made between these samples and those collected in previous months (n = 58). While mean FCM varied by month of sample collection, it was not higher after the fire. We suggest that woylies may be able to maintain homeostasis through change (allostasis), at least in the period immediately after the fire. This is supported by our finding that FCM did not relate significantly to body condition or parasite load. Our results potentially highlight the physiological and behavioural adaptations of woylies to fire, which could be further explored in future studies.

Diet of the critically endangered woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi) in south-western Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry L. Zosky ◽  
Adrian F. Wayne ◽  
Kate A. Bryant ◽  
Michael C. Calver ◽  
Fiona R. Scarff
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Fungal Spore ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Dietary Composition ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Close Match ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Bettongia Penicillata ◽  
One Year ◽  
Free Ranging

To assist the management of the critically endangered woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi), a quantitative study of its diet was conducted across five of the larger subpopulations in south-western Australia. There was a close match between dietary composition established from foregut contents and faecal pellets. Woylies were predominantly mycophagous in all subpopulations, but consumed a broad diet including invertebrates, seeds and other plant material. Individuals in a high-density, fenced subpopulation ate significantly less fungi than free-ranging animals from lower-density subpopulations. Dietary composition did not vary significantly amongst subpopulations in the Upper Warren region, where a range of population densities was observed. Altogether, 79 fungal spore classes were identified, including at least 15 genera from 14 families. Sampling across one year showed that fungi made up a larger fraction of the diet in autumn or winter, and greater diversities of fungi were consumed at these times than at other times of year. This information is essential to provide valuable ecological context for effective population management of woylies, as well as identification and conservation of important habitats.

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