Recent genetic connectivity and clinal variation in chimpanzees

Jack D. Lester; Linda Vigilant; Paolo Gratton; Maureen S. McCarthy; Christopher D. Barratt; Paula Dieguez; Anthony Agbor; Paula Álvarez-Varona; Samuel Angedakin; Emmanuel Ayuk Ayimisin; Emma Bailey; Mattia Bessone; Gregory Brazzola; Rebecca Chancellor; Heather Cohen; Emmanuel Danquah; Tobias Deschner; Villard Ebot Egbe; Manasseh Eno-Nku; Annemarie Goedmakers; Anne-Céline Granjon; Josephine Head; Daniela Hedwig; R. Adriana Hernandez-Aguilar; Kathryn J. Jeffery; Sorrel Jones; Jessica Junker; Parag Kadam; Michael Kaiser; Ammie K. Kalan; Laura Kehoe; Ivonne Kienast; Kevin E. Langergraber; Juan Lapuente; Anne Laudisoit; Kevin Lee; Sergio Marrocoli; Vianet Mihindou; David Morgan; Geoffrey Muhanguzi; Emily Neil; Sonia Nicholl; Christopher Orbell; Lucy Jayne Ormsby; Liliana Pacheco; Alex Piel; Martha M. Robbins; Aaron Rundus; Crickette Sanz; Lilah Sciaky; Alhaji M. Siaka; Veronika Städele; Fiona Stewart; Nikki Tagg; Els Ton; Joost van Schijndel; Magloire Kambale Vyalengerera; Erin G. Wessling; Jacob Willie; Roman M. Wittig; Yisa Ginath Yuh; Kyle Yurkiw; Klaus Zuberbuehler; Christophe Boesch; Hjalmar S. Kühl; Mimi Arandjelovic

doi:10.1038/s42003-021-01806-x

Recent genetic connectivity and clinal variation in chimpanzees

Jack D. Lester, Linda Vigilant, Paolo Gratton, Maureen S. McCarthy, Christopher D. Barratt, Paula Dieguez, Anthony Agbor, Paula Álvarez-Varona, Samuel Angedakin, Emmanuel Ayuk Ayimisin, Emma Bailey, Mattia Bessone, Gregory Brazzola, Rebecca Chancellor, Heather Cohen, Emmanuel Danquah, Tobias Deschner, Villard Ebot Egbe, Manasseh Eno-Nku, Annemarie GoedmakersAnne-Céline Granjon, Josephine Head, Daniela Hedwig, R. Adriana Hernandez-Aguilar, Kathryn J. Jeffery, Sorrel Jones, Jessica Junker, Parag Kadam, Michael Kaiser, Ammie K. Kalan, Laura Kehoe, Ivonne Kienast, Kevin E. Langergraber, Juan Lapuente, Anne Laudisoit, Kevin Lee, Sergio Marrocoli, Vianet Mihindou, David Morgan, Geoffrey Muhanguzi, Emily Neil, Sonia Nicholl, Christopher Orbell, Lucy Jayne Ormsby, Liliana Pacheco, Alex Piel, Martha M. Robbins, Aaron Rundus, Crickette Sanz, Lilah Sciaky, Alhaji M. Siaka, Veronika Städele, Fiona Stewart, Nikki Tagg, Els Ton, Joost van Schijndel, Magloire Kambale Vyalengerera, Erin G. Wessling, Jacob Willie, Roman M. Wittig, Yisa Ginath Yuh, Kyle Yurkiw, Klaus Zuberbuehler, Christophe Boesch, Hjalmar S. Kühl, Mimi Arandjelovic

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Abstract

Much like humans, chimpanzees occupy diverse habitats and exhibit extensive behavioural variability. However, chimpanzees are recognized as a discontinuous species, with four subspecies separated by historical geographic barriers. Nevertheless, their range-wide degree of genetic connectivity remains poorly resolved, mainly due to sampling limitations. By analyzing a geographically comprehensive sample set amplified at microsatellite markers that inform recent population history, we found that isolation by distance explains most of the range-wide genetic structure of chimpanzees. Furthermore, we did not identify spatial discontinuities corresponding with the recognized subspecies, suggesting that some of the subspecies-delineating geographic barriers were recently permeable to gene flow. Substantial range-wide genetic connectivity is consistent with the hypothesis that behavioural flexibility is a salient driver of chimpanzee responses to changing environmental conditions. Finally, our observation of strong local differentiation associated with recent anthropogenic pressures portends future loss of critical genetic diversity if habitat fragmentation and population isolation continue unabated.

Original language	English
Article number	283
Number of pages	11
Journal	Communications Biology
Volume	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-01806-x
Publication status	Published - 5 Mar 2021

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Lester, J. D., Vigilant, L., Gratton, P., McCarthy, M. S., Barratt, C. D., Dieguez, P., Agbor, A., Álvarez-Varona, P., Angedakin, S., Ayimisin, E. A., Bailey, E., Bessone, M., Brazzola, G., Chancellor, R., Cohen, H., Danquah, E., Deschner, T., Egbe, V. E., Eno-Nku, M., ... Arandjelovic, M. (2021). Recent genetic connectivity and clinal variation in chimpanzees. Communications Biology, 4, Article 283. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-01806-x

@article{b78265bd8d0f48f5b41b5d0a38eb24cb,

title = "Recent genetic connectivity and clinal variation in chimpanzees",

abstract = "Much like humans, chimpanzees occupy diverse habitats and exhibit extensive behavioural variability. However, chimpanzees are recognized as a discontinuous species, with four subspecies separated by historical geographic barriers. Nevertheless, their range-wide degree of genetic connectivity remains poorly resolved, mainly due to sampling limitations. By analyzing a geographically comprehensive sample set amplified at microsatellite markers that inform recent population history, we found that isolation by distance explains most of the range-wide genetic structure of chimpanzees. Furthermore, we did not identify spatial discontinuities corresponding with the recognized subspecies, suggesting that some of the subspecies-delineating geographic barriers were recently permeable to gene flow. Substantial range-wide genetic connectivity is consistent with the hypothesis that behavioural flexibility is a salient driver of chimpanzee responses to changing environmental conditions. Finally, our observation of strong local differentiation associated with recent anthropogenic pressures portends future loss of critical genetic diversity if habitat fragmentation and population isolation continue unabated.",

author = "Lester, {Jack D.} and Linda Vigilant and Paolo Gratton and McCarthy, {Maureen S.} and Barratt, {Christopher D.} and Paula Dieguez and Anthony Agbor and Paula {\'A}lvarez-Varona and Samuel Angedakin and Ayimisin, {Emmanuel Ayuk} and Emma Bailey and Mattia Bessone and Gregory Brazzola and Rebecca Chancellor and Heather Cohen and Emmanuel Danquah and Tobias Deschner and Egbe, {Villard Ebot} and Manasseh Eno-Nku and Annemarie Goedmakers and Anne-C{\'e}line Granjon and Josephine Head and Daniela Hedwig and Hernandez-Aguilar, {R. Adriana} and Jeffery, {Kathryn J.} and Sorrel Jones and Jessica Junker and Parag Kadam and Michael Kaiser and Kalan, {Ammie K.} and Laura Kehoe and Ivonne Kienast and Langergraber, {Kevin E.} and Juan Lapuente and Anne Laudisoit and Kevin Lee and Sergio Marrocoli and Vianet Mihindou and David Morgan and Geoffrey Muhanguzi and Emily Neil and Sonia Nicholl and Christopher Orbell and Ormsby, {Lucy Jayne} and Liliana Pacheco and Alex Piel and Robbins, {Martha M.} and Aaron Rundus and Crickette Sanz and Lilah Sciaky and Siaka, {Alhaji M.} and Veronika St{\"a}dele and Fiona Stewart and Nikki Tagg and Els Ton and {van Schijndel}, Joost and Vyalengerera, {Magloire Kambale} and Wessling, {Erin G.} and Jacob Willie and Wittig, {Roman M.} and Yuh, {Yisa Ginath} and Kyle Yurkiw and Klaus Zuberbuehler and Christophe Boesch and K{\"u}hl, {Hjalmar S.} and Mimi Arandjelovic",

note = "Authors thank the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Society Innovation Fund and the Heinz L. Krekeler Foundation for providing funding to the PanAf project.",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1038/s42003-021-01806-x",

language = "English",

volume = "4",

journal = "Communications Biology",

issn = "2399-3642",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

}

Lester, JD, Vigilant, L, Gratton, P, McCarthy, MS, Barratt, CD, Dieguez, P, Agbor, A, Álvarez-Varona, P, Angedakin, S, Ayimisin, EA, Bailey, E, Bessone, M, Brazzola, G, Chancellor, R, Cohen, H, Danquah, E, Deschner, T, Egbe, VE, Eno-Nku, M, Goedmakers, A, Granjon, A-C, Head, J, Hedwig, D, Hernandez-Aguilar, RA, Jeffery, KJ, Jones, S, Junker, J, Kadam, P, Kaiser, M, Kalan, AK, Kehoe, L, Kienast, I, Langergraber, KE, Lapuente, J, Laudisoit, A, Lee, K, Marrocoli, S, Mihindou, V, Morgan, D, Muhanguzi, G, Neil, E, Nicholl, S, Orbell, C, Ormsby, LJ, Pacheco, L, Piel, A, Robbins, MM, Rundus, A, Sanz, C, Sciaky, L, Siaka, AM, Städele, V, Stewart, F, Tagg, N, Ton, E, van Schijndel, J, Vyalengerera, MK, Wessling, EG, Willie, J, Wittig, RM, Yuh, YG, Yurkiw, K, Zuberbuehler, K, Boesch, C, Kühl, HS & Arandjelovic, M 2021, 'Recent genetic connectivity and clinal variation in chimpanzees', Communications Biology, vol. 4, 283. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-01806-x

TY - JOUR

T1 - Recent genetic connectivity and clinal variation in chimpanzees

AU - Lester, Jack D.

AU - Vigilant, Linda

AU - Gratton, Paolo

AU - McCarthy, Maureen S.

AU - Barratt, Christopher D.

AU - Dieguez, Paula

AU - Agbor, Anthony

AU - Álvarez-Varona, Paula

AU - Angedakin, Samuel

AU - Ayimisin, Emmanuel Ayuk

AU - Bailey, Emma

AU - Bessone, Mattia

AU - Brazzola, Gregory

AU - Chancellor, Rebecca

AU - Cohen, Heather

AU - Danquah, Emmanuel

AU - Deschner, Tobias

AU - Egbe, Villard Ebot

AU - Eno-Nku, Manasseh

AU - Goedmakers, Annemarie

AU - Granjon, Anne-Céline

AU - Head, Josephine

AU - Hedwig, Daniela

AU - Hernandez-Aguilar, R. Adriana

AU - Jeffery, Kathryn J.

AU - Jones, Sorrel

AU - Junker, Jessica

AU - Kadam, Parag

AU - Kaiser, Michael

AU - Kalan, Ammie K.

AU - Kehoe, Laura

AU - Kienast, Ivonne

AU - Langergraber, Kevin E.

AU - Lapuente, Juan

AU - Laudisoit, Anne

AU - Lee, Kevin

AU - Marrocoli, Sergio

AU - Mihindou, Vianet

AU - Morgan, David

AU - Muhanguzi, Geoffrey

AU - Neil, Emily

AU - Nicholl, Sonia

AU - Orbell, Christopher

AU - Ormsby, Lucy Jayne

AU - Pacheco, Liliana

AU - Piel, Alex

AU - Robbins, Martha M.

AU - Rundus, Aaron

AU - Sanz, Crickette

AU - Sciaky, Lilah

AU - Siaka, Alhaji M.

AU - Städele, Veronika

AU - Stewart, Fiona

AU - Tagg, Nikki

AU - Ton, Els

AU - van Schijndel, Joost

AU - Vyalengerera, Magloire Kambale

AU - Wessling, Erin G.

AU - Willie, Jacob

AU - Wittig, Roman M.

AU - Yuh, Yisa Ginath

AU - Yurkiw, Kyle

AU - Zuberbuehler, Klaus

AU - Boesch, Christophe

AU - Kühl, Hjalmar S.

AU - Arandjelovic, Mimi

N1 - Authors thank the Max Planck Society, Max Planck Society Innovation Fund and the Heinz L. Krekeler Foundation for providing funding to the PanAf project.

PY - 2021/3/5

Y1 - 2021/3/5

N2 - Much like humans, chimpanzees occupy diverse habitats and exhibit extensive behavioural variability. However, chimpanzees are recognized as a discontinuous species, with four subspecies separated by historical geographic barriers. Nevertheless, their range-wide degree of genetic connectivity remains poorly resolved, mainly due to sampling limitations. By analyzing a geographically comprehensive sample set amplified at microsatellite markers that inform recent population history, we found that isolation by distance explains most of the range-wide genetic structure of chimpanzees. Furthermore, we did not identify spatial discontinuities corresponding with the recognized subspecies, suggesting that some of the subspecies-delineating geographic barriers were recently permeable to gene flow. Substantial range-wide genetic connectivity is consistent with the hypothesis that behavioural flexibility is a salient driver of chimpanzee responses to changing environmental conditions. Finally, our observation of strong local differentiation associated with recent anthropogenic pressures portends future loss of critical genetic diversity if habitat fragmentation and population isolation continue unabated.

AB - Much like humans, chimpanzees occupy diverse habitats and exhibit extensive behavioural variability. However, chimpanzees are recognized as a discontinuous species, with four subspecies separated by historical geographic barriers. Nevertheless, their range-wide degree of genetic connectivity remains poorly resolved, mainly due to sampling limitations. By analyzing a geographically comprehensive sample set amplified at microsatellite markers that inform recent population history, we found that isolation by distance explains most of the range-wide genetic structure of chimpanzees. Furthermore, we did not identify spatial discontinuities corresponding with the recognized subspecies, suggesting that some of the subspecies-delineating geographic barriers were recently permeable to gene flow. Substantial range-wide genetic connectivity is consistent with the hypothesis that behavioural flexibility is a salient driver of chimpanzee responses to changing environmental conditions. Finally, our observation of strong local differentiation associated with recent anthropogenic pressures portends future loss of critical genetic diversity if habitat fragmentation and population isolation continue unabated.

U2 - 10.1038/s42003-021-01806-x

DO - 10.1038/s42003-021-01806-x

M3 - Article

SN - 2399-3642

VL - 4

JO - Communications Biology

JF - Communications Biology

M1 - 283

ER -

Recent genetic connectivity and clinal variation in chimpanzees

Abstract

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