ena-STUDY-ESTACION BIOLOGICA DE DONANA-21-09-2016-01:13:09:079-50
Long-term genetic vulnerability and recent erosion in the highly endangered Iberian lynx
By definition, endangered species have been in substantially better conditions in the past, both genetically and demographically. This often leads to the assumption that any low genetic diversity or high genetic structure observed at present are the result of recent events. Here, based on the analyses of microsatellite markers and whole mitochondrial genome sequences from contemporary (1991-2010), historical (1856-1990) and ancient samples (43500-2070 ybp), we show that the  documented decline of the Iberian lynx during the second half of the 20th century has indeed resulted in a prominent loss of overall genetic diversity and increased genetic structure. Interestingly, we show that such processes were already operating by the early-mid 20th century, suggesting that the genetic erosion could have started earlier than previously thought. Furthermore, ancient and historical whole mitochondrial genomic diversity, although higher than current, are still among the lowest reported among mammals. In fact, demographic reconstructions reveal an earlier bottleneck dated to around 400 years ago and a history of low population size during the last millennia. Our results therefore provide an example of ancient genetic vulnerability and show that the recent decline of the species occurred on a long-term genetically eroded population.
By definition, endangered species have been in substantially better conditions in the past, both genetically and demographically. This often leads to the assumption that any low genetic diversity or high genetic structure observed at present are the result of recent events. Here, based on the analyses of microsatellite markers and whole mitochondrial genome sequences from contemporary (1991-2010), historical (1856-1990) and ancient samples (43500-2070 ybp), we show that the  documented decline of the Iberian lynx during the second half of the 20th century has indeed resulted in a prominent loss of overall genetic diversity and increased genetic structure. Interestingly, we show that such processes were already operating by the early-mid 20th century, suggesting that the genetic erosion could have started earlier than previously thought. Furthermore, ancient and historical whole mitochondrial genomic diversity, although higher than current, are still among the lowest reported among mammals. In fact, demographic reconstructions reveal an earlier bottleneck dated to around 400 years ago and a history of low population size during the last millennia. Our results therefore provide an example of ancient genetic vulnerability and show that the recent decline of the species occurred on a long-term genetically eroded population.