Doctoral Dissertation Research: Landscape Mitogenomics and High Altitude Adaptation in Primates

博士论文研究：景观丝裂基因组学和灵长类动物的高海拔适应

• 批准号: 2216667
• 负责人: Christopher Schmitt
• 金额: $ 2.27万
• 依托单位: Trustees of Boston University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-08-15 至 2024-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2216667&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Landscape; Mitogenomics

Genetic diversity is important to the survival of endangered species and depends on a species’ ability to disperse across landscapes to share genetic variation between groups. This doctoral dissertation project uses transformative genomic methods to examine the population genetics and dispersal ability of a critically endangered primate, to better understand the influence of human activities on population structure, the status of geographically isolated groups, and potential genetic adaptations to high-elevation environments. While conducting field work, the doctoral student works with international research collaborators who will also aid in initiating conservation educational programming in communities near sampled primate habitats. The doctoral student also records video blogs during lab and field work, to be shared as part of educational programming focused on conservation genetics for high school students. The project examines dispersal ability and overall conservation status of a rare primate using transformative genomics methods. Fecal samples collected from several groups of wild primates are processed in order to sequence the whole mitochondrial genome using portable genomics technologies. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity statistics along with phylogenomic methods are used to differentiate between populations and are combined with GIS-based landscape quantification to assess population connectivity and the impact of human-induced habitat fragmentation. Genome-based assessments of selection on mitochondrial loci related to oxygen use efficiency are used to assess potential physiological limitations to dispersal based on altitude in this species. This project can validate the process of using non-invasively collected fecal samples and local, portable field lab equipment to sequence whole mitochondrial genomes for the purpose of species-wide population genetics. The outcomes of this study may also reveal important factors of landscape, environment and migratory behavior that impact gene flow between populations, which can guide local conservation stakeholders regarding protected area formation, corridor formation or maintenance for migration and gene flow, and where community-based conservation programs may be most needed.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

遗传多样性对于濒危物种的生存至关重要，并取决于物种跨景观分散以共享群体之间遗传变异的能力。该博士学位论文项目使用变革性的基因组方法来检查严重濒临灭绝的灵长类动物的种群遗传学和分散能力，以更好地了解人类活动对种群结构的影响，地理上孤立的群体的状态以及潜在的遗传适应性对高级高度的适应性。在进行实地研究时，博士生与国际研究合作者合作，他们还将在采样的灵长类动物栖息地附近的社区中启动保护教育计划。博士生还记录了实验室和现场工作期间的视频博客，作为教育节目的一部分，重点是高中生的保护遗传学。使用变革性基因组学方法，该项目考试分散能力和罕见灵长类动物的总体保护状况。为了使用便携式基因组技术来对整个线粒体基因组进行测序，从几组野生原发质中收集的粪便样品进行了处理。单倍型和核肽多样性统计以及系统基础方法用于区分种群，并与基于GIS的景观量化量化与评估人群的连通性以及人类诱导的栖息地碎片的影响相结合。基于基因组对与氧使用效率相关的线粒体位置选择的评估用于评估基于该物种高度扩散的潜在生理局限性。该项目可以验证使用非侵入性收集的粪便样品和局部便携式现场实验室设备来对整个线粒体基因组进行测序，以实现整个物种种群遗传学的目的。这项研究的结果还可能揭示了影响人群之间基因流程的景观，环境和迁移行为的重要因素，这些因素可以指导当地的保护利益相关者在保护区的形成，走廊形成或迁移和基因流动以及基于社区的保护方案的情况下，这些奖项是最需要的，这些奖项通过NSF的法定任务和支持的支持，这些奖项是由NSF的法定委员所影响的，这些奖项是由社区的保护计划。 标准。