Cited by 42Genetic diversity and population structureForensic and Genetic ResearchGenetic and phenotypic traits in livestock

The Muskox Lost a Substantial Part of Its Genetic Diversity on Its Long Road to Greenland

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Hansen, Charles Christian Riis, Hvilsom, Christina, Schmidt, Niels Martin, Aastrup, Peter, Van Coeverden de Groot, Peter J., Siegismund, Hans Redlef, Heller, Rasmus·2018·Current Biology

Abstract

The muskox (Ovibos moschatus) is the largest terrestrial herbivore in the Arctic and plays a vital role in the tundra ecosystem [1-4]. Its range, abundance, and genetic diversity have declined dramatically over the past 30,000 years [5]. Two subspecies are recognized, but little is known about the genetic structure and how this relates to the species history. One unresolved question is how and when the species dispersed into its present range, notably the present strongholds in the Canadian archipelago and Greenland. We used genotyping by sequencing (GBS) data from 116 muskox individuals and genotype likelihood-based methods to infer the genetic diversity and distribution of genetic variation in the species. We identified a basal split separating the two recognized subspecies, in agreement with isolation of the muskox into several refugia in the Nearctic around 21,000 years ago [6], near the last glacial maximum (LGM). In addition, we found evidence of strong, successive founder effects inflicting a progressive loss of genetic diversity as the muskox colonized the insular High Arctic from an unknown Nearctic origin. These have resulted in exceptionally low genetic diversity in the Greenlandic populations, as well as extremely high genetic differentiation among regional populations. Our results highlight the need for further investigations of genetic erosion in Nearctic terrestrial mammals, of which several show similar colonization histories in the High Artic.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cub.2018.10.054

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Authors
Hansen, C. C. R., Hvilsom, C., Schmidt, N. M., Aastrup, P., Van Coeverden de Groot, P. J., Siegismund, H. R., & Heller, R.
Affiliations
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Copenhagen Zoo (DK)
  • Aarhus University (DK)
Corresponding author
Heller, Rasmus
Venue
Current Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-12
Volume
28
Issue
24
Pages
4022-4028.e5
ISSN
0960-9822 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2905411637
Cited by
42
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4
FWCI
2.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Villum Foundation Young Investigator (VKR023447)
  • Torben and Alice Frimodts Foundation
  • June 15th Foundation
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
Keywords
Ovibos moschatus, genetic diversity, founder effect, population structure, refugia, Last Glacial Maximum, colonization history, Nearctic origin, Arctic tundra, Greenland, subspecies differentiation, genetic erosion
MeSH terms
Animals, Arctic Regions, Greenland, Ruminants, Genetic Variation, Phylogeography, Animal Distribution

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