Population genetics of animals in the wild to aid conservation: Uma Ramakrishnan—Recipient of the 2023 Molecular Ecology Prize DOI Open Access
V. V. Robin

Molecular Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 33(5)

Опубликована: Фев. 10, 2024

Uma Ramakrishnan grew up on an academic campus—the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)—where her father was a chemistry professor. Campus life provided early exposure to scientists, particularly the ecologists at Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), IISc, where she hoped, one day, be faculty member herself. As luck would have it, returned after training become campus next door, National Biological (NCBS), Bengaluru. During high school, various ideas from ecologist Madhav Gadgil and his then-student, Ranjith Daniels, captivated her. She exposed biodiversity analytical approaches ecology. Her interest further sustained by tagging along field trips Western Ghat mountains conducting small school projects. simulated herbivory quantified its impacts some plants IISc campus; meanwhile, continued exploring quantitative The biggest break when had just finished went sabbatical Princeton University. took gap year decided join Princeton, audited undergraduate courses interned with working experimental biology. fascinated work being carried out Adina Merenlender genetic structure lemurs, which Uma's first brush PCRs gel electrophoresis. how data informed our understanding biology wild animals, bringing closer molecular graduated bachelor's degree Bangalore University, choosing stream that involved mathematics fuel in Meanwhile, connections interning Dr Raghavendra Gadagkar, feeding behaviour wasps learning computer programming. It clear this time interested animals examining their data-driven patterns. master's Biotechnology Pune University; choice motivated presence good statistics department there. also Cellular Molecular Biology (CCMB), only places India genetics time. project elephants (Ramakrishnan et al., 1998), reproductive success tuskless males. Here, became recovering DNA dung—a technique significantly developed, it backbone research later career (Mondol, Navya, 2009; Natesh 2019). pursued interests through PhD population David Woodruff University California San Diego. doctoral focused diversity composition (Nievergelt 2000; 2004; Storz 2001, 2002). as postdoctoral fellow Stanford two years, mentors. Joanna L Mountain Elizabeth Hadly are both dynamic women scientists who substantial focus approach science. With Mountain, used skills study aspects human African populations (Mountain & Ramakrishnan, 2005; Tishkoff 2007) while developing new tools simulations (Belle 2006; 2005). well, but climate environmental change (Hadly van Tuinen 2004) anthropogenic contributed statistical packages like SerialSimCoal (Anderson 2005 young Bengaluru, looking find niche. At time, even best-studied animal is arguably tiger (Jhala Karanth 2004). significant funding Government India, much conservation country has been centred around species 2021). Many global developments techniques driven studies ecology (Ullas Nichols, 2017). What missing otherwise well-studied populations. started fruitful collaboration Ullas Karanth, bridging tools. arrival coincided increase number members institutions, several trained leading institutions abroad. There motivation conduct globally relevant, cutting-edge research. NCBS facilitated ambition bring grounded India. initial years were largely exploratory. On hand, trying figure fit ecosystem. In contrast, others headed seek any since very few labs conducted such included describing species—a muntjac (James 2008), primate (Chakraborty birds (Robin 2010). given challenges materials (Madhusudan 2006), developed methods obtain faecal samples. Identifying samples other co-occurring step (Mukherjee 2007), led identifying individual tigers 2009) leopards 2009). Subsequently, group characterised variation across This large, endangered trajectory, continues day. described broad patterns cats, jungle cat leopard 2010) occurrence fishing cats (Shomita 2012). idea multiple factors impact distribution variation. insights came central landscape (Joshi 2013), larger specific factors. Thatte al. (2018) combination empirical collected hundreds landscape, simulations, show features roads implicated restriction geneflow landscape. Recent habitat fragmentation impacted already isolated sky islands Ghats (Robin, Gupta, 2015). A majority these implications conservation. support creation world's largest underpasses Pench Tiger Reserve—a major story. Recognition body Parker-Gentry Award Field Museum (Chicago) Uma. Himalayas, sites team member. bats got fairly detailed, mating systems (Garg 2015) coming captures bats, disease appeared inevitable step. Stories large-scale (thousands) bat consumption emerged, did stories mortalities possibilities zoonosis (Dovih, surveys humans consumed traditionally. They found Lyssavirus (Mani 2017), later, they evidence zoonotic spillover Filovirus (Dovih 2021) into harvesters. Most perhaps relative isolation public, results may appear another outcome. However, outbreak Covid-19 pandemic. under significant, sloppy public scrutiny (Ghosh, regulatory agencies mixed cause effect coincidence jostled target Not persist intense pressures expanded. recently documented Bartonella mammal communities (Ansil explored possible driver (Ansil, Viswanathan, 2023). Similar (Gupta pandemic surged, joined collaborators develop sampling (Sanyal 2022) use saliva source screening SARS-CoV2 George, 2023), staying committed social relevance past 5 roots. But able integrate considerable natural history knowledge protocols built foundations over 15 years. lab identified mutation associated rare phenotype—a pseudomelanistic large black stripes, (Sagar whole genome pedigree-based analyses captive alleles phenotype. reported frequency allele Odisha. genomic most populations—Ranthambore indicated inbreeding probable purging deleterious (Khan contemporary highlight populations, including potential rescues. Clearly, lead-up long, establishing connectivity, assess those build collaborations partnerships stakeholders. One themes development Apart tools, arguably, pioneered poor quality DNA, faeces. While sources previously extract microsatellite (Thatte 2020) rapidly progressing world genomics (Natesh Their changing differing (Aylward 2022; Sagar These now genome-wide SNP landscapes taxa herbivores (Tyagi, Yadav, 2023) dogs (Srivathsa Shed hair tested 2020; 2019) demonstrate hybridsation between wolf dog Godbole, Twenty-five starting attempt elephants, species, using modern examine signatures implications, tigers, lions clear. generates feeds efforts—a challenge colleagues decades, (Bawa 2020, evident publication profile student circulated lab, prominent mentorship role was, male-dominated area. broke glass ceiling adding unique value incorporating invested energy outreach capacity building workshops. awarded Homi Bhabha Education 2020 Education. research, provided, inspired students, especially field. so far revolved understudied wild. Some created part world. contributing growth field, outputs key strategies. Information rescue, certainly ahead current paradigm Still, will helpful managers come.

Язык: Английский

Hallmarks of selection located in scaffold-level polar bear genome sheds light on genomic rhythmicity DOI

K K Kanaka,

Immanual Gilwax Prabhu,

Rangasai Chandra Goli

и другие.

Biological Rhythm Research, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 1 - 14

Опубликована: Май 22, 2025

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

0
Mountainous Environment in the Central Region of Mucajaí, Roraima, Brazil: Citizen Science and Geotouristic Approaches DOI
Ana Sibelônia Saldanha Veras, Waqas Ahmed, Nelson Barros

и другие.

World sustainability series, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 215 - 232

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

0
Citizen science facilitates first ever genetic detection of wolf‐dog hybridization in Indian savannahs DOI Creative Commons
Abhinav Tyagi,

Mihir Godbole,

Abi Tamim Vanak

и другие.

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(5)

Опубликована: Май 1, 2023

Abstract Human demographic expansion has confined wildlife to fragmented habitats, often in proximity human‐modified landscapes. Such interfaces facilitate increased interactions between feral or domesticated animals and wildlife, posing a high risk wild species. This is especially relevant for free‐ranging dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ) canids like gray wolves golden jackals aureus ). Wolf–dog hybridization may lead significant reduction of specific adaptations that could result the decline wolf populations. Detection genetic discrimination hybrids are challenging because their complex history close ancestry. Citizen scientists identified two phenotypically different‐looking individuals subsequently collected non‐invasive samples were used by geneticists test wolf‐dog hybridization. Genomic data from shed hair suspected hybrid using double‐digest restriction‐site‐associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing resulted 698 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. We investigated origin these analyzed with genetically known dogs, wolves, other canid species including dholes Cuon alpinus Our results provide first evidence one F2 individual be wolves. re‐iterate power next‐generation (NGS) as an efficient tool detecting hybrids. suggest need more robust monitoring populations highlight tremendous potential collaborative approaches citizens conservation detect monitor threats biodiversity.

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

5
On the road to losing connectivity: Fecal samples provide genome-wide insights into anthropogenic impacts on two large herbivore species in central India DOI Creative Commons
Abhinav Tyagi, Nidhi Yadav, Awadhesh Pandit

и другие.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Окт. 30, 2023

Abstract Humans have impacted most of the planet, and ensuing fragmentation results in small, isolated habitat patches posing a risk genetic diversity loss, inbreeding load. Understanding how natural anthropogenic landscape features affect gene flow among is critical for maintaining connectivity. Genome-wide data required to comprehend impacts recent fragmentation, which can be challenging when only non-invasive samples are available. Here, we build upon advancements conservation genomics address connectivity two large herbivores, gaur ( Bos gaurus ) sambar Rusa unicolor central India. Given their associations, expected these species respond similarly fragmentation. We used fecal-DNA methylation-based host-DNA enrichment with modified ddRAD protocol generate genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 124 Gaur 99 Sambar individuals. Our findings reveal that populations India fragmented, displaying high differentiation, drift significantly affecting small like Umred-Karhandala Wildlife Sanctuary. Although shows low structure, another population, Bor Tiger Reserve genetically differentiated. suggest although landcover change roads restrict animal movement, extent this impact varies across species. show different species, differently features, even similar associations. highlight requiring urgent intervention. Such multi-species approaches enhance our understanding cross-species patterns. shifting from single-species holistic approach rapidly developing landscapes better manage co-occurring endangered

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

2
Population genetics of animals in the wild to aid conservation: Uma Ramakrishnan—Recipient of the 2023 Molecular Ecology Prize DOI Open Access
V. V. Robin

Molecular Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 33(5)

Опубликована: Фев. 10, 2024

Uma Ramakrishnan grew up on an academic campus—the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)—where her father was a chemistry professor. Campus life provided early exposure to scientists, particularly the ecologists at Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), IISc, where she hoped, one day, be faculty member herself. As luck would have it, returned after training become campus next door, National Biological (NCBS), Bengaluru. During high school, various ideas from ecologist Madhav Gadgil and his then-student, Ranjith Daniels, captivated her. She exposed biodiversity analytical approaches ecology. Her interest further sustained by tagging along field trips Western Ghat mountains conducting small school projects. simulated herbivory quantified its impacts some plants IISc campus; meanwhile, continued exploring quantitative The biggest break when had just finished went sabbatical Princeton University. took gap year decided join Princeton, audited undergraduate courses interned with working experimental biology. fascinated work being carried out Adina Merenlender genetic structure lemurs, which Uma's first brush PCRs gel electrophoresis. how data informed our understanding biology wild animals, bringing closer molecular graduated bachelor's degree Bangalore University, choosing stream that involved mathematics fuel in Meanwhile, connections interning Dr Raghavendra Gadagkar, feeding behaviour wasps learning computer programming. It clear this time interested animals examining their data-driven patterns. master's Biotechnology Pune University; choice motivated presence good statistics department there. also Cellular Molecular Biology (CCMB), only places India genetics time. project elephants (Ramakrishnan et al., 1998), reproductive success tuskless males. Here, became recovering DNA dung—a technique significantly developed, it backbone research later career (Mondol, Navya, 2009; Natesh 2019). pursued interests through PhD population David Woodruff University California San Diego. doctoral focused diversity composition (Nievergelt 2000; 2004; Storz 2001, 2002). as postdoctoral fellow Stanford two years, mentors. Joanna L Mountain Elizabeth Hadly are both dynamic women scientists who substantial focus approach science. With Mountain, used skills study aspects human African populations (Mountain & Ramakrishnan, 2005; Tishkoff 2007) while developing new tools simulations (Belle 2006; 2005). well, but climate environmental change (Hadly van Tuinen 2004) anthropogenic contributed statistical packages like SerialSimCoal (Anderson 2005 young Bengaluru, looking find niche. At time, even best-studied animal is arguably tiger (Jhala Karanth 2004). significant funding Government India, much conservation country has been centred around species 2021). Many global developments techniques driven studies ecology (Ullas Nichols, 2017). What missing otherwise well-studied populations. started fruitful collaboration Ullas Karanth, bridging tools. arrival coincided increase number members institutions, several trained leading institutions abroad. There motivation conduct globally relevant, cutting-edge research. NCBS facilitated ambition bring grounded India. initial years were largely exploratory. On hand, trying figure fit ecosystem. In contrast, others headed seek any since very few labs conducted such included describing species—a muntjac (James 2008), primate (Chakraborty birds (Robin 2010). given challenges materials (Madhusudan 2006), developed methods obtain faecal samples. Identifying samples other co-occurring step (Mukherjee 2007), led identifying individual tigers 2009) leopards 2009). Subsequently, group characterised variation across This large, endangered trajectory, continues day. described broad patterns cats, jungle cat leopard 2010) occurrence fishing cats (Shomita 2012). idea multiple factors impact distribution variation. insights came central landscape (Joshi 2013), larger specific factors. Thatte al. (2018) combination empirical collected hundreds landscape, simulations, show features roads implicated restriction geneflow landscape. Recent habitat fragmentation impacted already isolated sky islands Ghats (Robin, Gupta, 2015). A majority these implications conservation. support creation world's largest underpasses Pench Tiger Reserve—a major story. Recognition body Parker-Gentry Award Field Museum (Chicago) Uma. Himalayas, sites team member. bats got fairly detailed, mating systems (Garg 2015) coming captures bats, disease appeared inevitable step. Stories large-scale (thousands) bat consumption emerged, did stories mortalities possibilities zoonosis (Dovih, surveys humans consumed traditionally. They found Lyssavirus (Mani 2017), later, they evidence zoonotic spillover Filovirus (Dovih 2021) into harvesters. Most perhaps relative isolation public, results may appear another outcome. However, outbreak Covid-19 pandemic. under significant, sloppy public scrutiny (Ghosh, regulatory agencies mixed cause effect coincidence jostled target Not persist intense pressures expanded. recently documented Bartonella mammal communities (Ansil explored possible driver (Ansil, Viswanathan, 2023). Similar (Gupta pandemic surged, joined collaborators develop sampling (Sanyal 2022) use saliva source screening SARS-CoV2 George, 2023), staying committed social relevance past 5 roots. But able integrate considerable natural history knowledge protocols built foundations over 15 years. lab identified mutation associated rare phenotype—a pseudomelanistic large black stripes, (Sagar whole genome pedigree-based analyses captive alleles phenotype. reported frequency allele Odisha. genomic most populations—Ranthambore indicated inbreeding probable purging deleterious (Khan contemporary highlight populations, including potential rescues. Clearly, lead-up long, establishing connectivity, assess those build collaborations partnerships stakeholders. One themes development Apart tools, arguably, pioneered poor quality DNA, faeces. While sources previously extract microsatellite (Thatte 2020) rapidly progressing world genomics (Natesh Their changing differing (Aylward 2022; Sagar These now genome-wide SNP landscapes taxa herbivores (Tyagi, Yadav, 2023) dogs (Srivathsa Shed hair tested 2020; 2019) demonstrate hybridsation between wolf dog Godbole, Twenty-five starting attempt elephants, species, using modern examine signatures implications, tigers, lions clear. generates feeds efforts—a challenge colleagues decades, (Bawa 2020, evident publication profile student circulated lab, prominent mentorship role was, male-dominated area. broke glass ceiling adding unique value incorporating invested energy outreach capacity building workshops. awarded Homi Bhabha Education 2020 Education. research, provided, inspired students, especially field. so far revolved understudied wild. Some created part world. contributing growth field, outputs key strategies. Information rescue, certainly ahead current paradigm Still, will helpful managers come.

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

0