Is MHC diversity a better marker for conservation than neutral genetic diversity? A case study of two contrasting dolphin populations

Ecology and Evolution
Oliver ManlikWilliam B Sherwin

Abstract

Genetic diversity is essential for populations to adapt to changing environments. Measures of genetic diversity are often based on selectively neutral markers, such as microsatellites. Genetic diversity to guide conservation management, however, is better reflected by adaptive markers, including genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Our aim was to assess MHC and neutral genetic diversity in two contrasting bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) populations in Western Australia-one apparently viable population with high reproductive output (Shark Bay) and one with lower reproductive output that was forecast to decline (Bunbury). We assessed genetic variation in the two populations by sequencing the MHC class II DQB, which encompasses the functionally important peptide binding regions (PBR). Neutral genetic diversity was assessed by genotyping twenty-three microsatellite loci. We confirmed that MHC is an adaptive marker in both populations. Overall, the Shark Bay population exhibited greater MHC diversity than the Bunbury population-for example, it displayed greater MHC nucleotide diversity. In contrast, the difference in microsatellite diversity between the two populations was comparatively low. Our findings are co...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 21, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·João C Teixeira, Christian D Huber
Feb 3, 2021·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Nicole M PatersonMatthew F Barber
Aug 6, 2021·Scientific Reports·Jaakko L O PohjoismäkiSteve Smith
Nov 14, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Marty KardosW Chris Funk

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
biopsy
electrophoresis
genotyping
PCR

Software Mentioned

clustalw
‐ Checker
genalex
DNASP
INEst
Genepop
MEGA
geneious
Dryad
Micro

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