Patterns and Processes of Genetic Diversification in Solitary and Social Subterranean Rodents

独居和群居地下啮齿动物遗传多样性的模式和过程

• 批准号: 0128857
• 负责人: Eileen Lacey
• 金额: $ 27万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-03-01 至 2006-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0128857&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Patterns; Processes; Genetic; Diversification; Solitary

Lacey0128857The PI will examine relationships among social behavior, demography, and genetic variation in two species of tuco-tucos (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) from southwestern Argentina. The presence of both the group-living colonial tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis) and the solitary Patagonian tuco-tuco (C. haigi) in Argentina's Limay Valley provides an unusual opportunity to explore the effects of sociality on genetic variation in closely related species that occur in similar habitats. Using DNA extracted from tissue samples collected from 10 populations per species, variation at both microsatellite and Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) loci will be quantified. These data will be used to determine how genetic variation is apportioned within and among populations of each species. Specifically, the PI will test the hypothesis that group living is associated with enhanced selection for diversity at MHC genes, which are the genes associated with the vertebrate immune response. To determine if selection on MHC genes is influenced by presumably greater pathogen exposure among members of group-living species, the prevalence of fleas and flea-borne bacteria of the genus Bartonella will be assessed for all populations of C. sociabilis and C. haigi sampled by the PI. The proposed research is important in that it is one of the first studies of natural populations of non-human vertebrates to (1) link behavioral and demographic variables to patterns of MHC variation and (2) explore the role of behaviorally-mediated differences in pathogen exposure in generating selection on MHC genes. Both aspects of the project will significantly improve our understanding of the processes underlying observed patterns of genetic variation in vertebrates. The project will also contribute significantly to our understanding of the biology of the endangered colonial tuco-tuco, which is endemic to the western Limay Valley and surrounding hills. Specifically, by engaging Argentine university students to assist with the project, the PI will facilitate involvement of local biologists in the study and management of this little-known species.

Lacey 0128857 PI将研究来自阿根廷西南部的两种tuco-tucos（啮齿目：Ctenomyidae）的社会行为，人口统计学和遗传变异之间的关系。 群体生活的殖民tuco-tuco（Ctenomys sociabilis）和孤独的巴塔哥尼亚tuco-tuco（C. haigi）在阿根廷的利迈谷提供了一个不寻常的机会，探索社会性对遗传变异的影响，在密切相关的物种，发生在类似的栖息地。使用从每个物种10个种群采集的组织样本中提取的DNA，将对微卫星和主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）基因座的变异进行定量。 这些数据将用于确定遗传变异如何在每个物种的种群内和种群间分配。 具体而言，PI将检验以下假设：群体生活与MHC基因多样性的增强选择相关，MHC基因是与脊椎动物免疫反应相关的基因。 为了确定MHC基因的选择是否受到群居物种成员中可能更大的病原体暴露的影响，将评估所有C. sociabilis和C. PI采样的Haigi。 拟议的研究是重要的，因为它是第一个研究自然种群的非人类脊椎动物（1）链接行为和人口统计变量的模式MHC的变化和（2）探索行为介导的差异在病原体暴露的作用，在产生选择MHC基因。 该项目的这两个方面将大大提高我们对脊椎动物遗传变异模式的基本过程的理解。 该项目还将大大有助于我们了解濒危的殖民地tuco-tuco的生物学，这是西部利迈山谷和周围山丘的特有物种。 具体而言，通过让阿根廷大学生协助该项目，PI将促进当地生物学家参与研究和管理这一鲜为人知的物种。