Limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two African clawed frogs, Xenopus gilli and X. laevis (Anura: Pipidae)

Abstract The Cape platanna, Xenopus gilli, an endangered frog, hybridizes with the African clawed frog, X. laevis, in South Africa. Estimates of the extent of gene flow between these species range from pervasive to rare. Efforts have been made in the last 30 years to minimize hybridization between t...

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Main Authors: Benjamin L. S. Furman, Caroline M. S. Cauret, Graham A. Colby, G. John Measey, Ben J. Evans
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2017-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01104-9
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author Benjamin L. S. Furman
Caroline M. S. Cauret
Graham A. Colby
G. John Measey
Ben J. Evans
author_facet Benjamin L. S. Furman
Caroline M. S. Cauret
Graham A. Colby
G. John Measey
Ben J. Evans
author_sort Benjamin L. S. Furman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Cape platanna, Xenopus gilli, an endangered frog, hybridizes with the African clawed frog, X. laevis, in South Africa. Estimates of the extent of gene flow between these species range from pervasive to rare. Efforts have been made in the last 30 years to minimize hybridization between these two species in the west population of X. gilli, but not the east populations. To further explore the impact of hybridization and the efforts to minimize it, we examined molecular variation in one mitochondrial and 13 nuclear genes in genetic samples collected recently (2013) and also over two decades ago (1994). Despite the presence of F 1 hybrids, none of the genomic regions we surveyed had evidence of gene flow between these species, indicating a lack of extensive introgression. Additionally we found no significant effect of sampling time on genetic diversity of populations of each species. Thus, we speculate that F 1 hybrids have low fitness and are not backcrossing with the parental species to an appreciable degree. Within X. gilli, evidence for gene flow was recovered between eastern and western populations, a finding that has implications for conservation management of this species and its threatened habitat.
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spelling doaj.art-285b0c0350a5498395ae28fe00ba9c572022-12-21T20:36:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222017-04-017111110.1038/s41598-017-01104-9Limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two African clawed frogs, Xenopus gilli and X. laevis (Anura: Pipidae)Benjamin L. S. Furman0Caroline M. S. Cauret1Graham A. Colby2G. John Measey3Ben J. Evans4Biology Department, Life Sciences Building room 328, McMaster UniversityBiology Department, Life Sciences Building room 328, McMaster UniversityBiology Department, Life Sciences Building room 328, McMaster UniversityCentre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch UniversityBiology Department, Life Sciences Building room 328, McMaster UniversityAbstract The Cape platanna, Xenopus gilli, an endangered frog, hybridizes with the African clawed frog, X. laevis, in South Africa. Estimates of the extent of gene flow between these species range from pervasive to rare. Efforts have been made in the last 30 years to minimize hybridization between these two species in the west population of X. gilli, but not the east populations. To further explore the impact of hybridization and the efforts to minimize it, we examined molecular variation in one mitochondrial and 13 nuclear genes in genetic samples collected recently (2013) and also over two decades ago (1994). Despite the presence of F 1 hybrids, none of the genomic regions we surveyed had evidence of gene flow between these species, indicating a lack of extensive introgression. Additionally we found no significant effect of sampling time on genetic diversity of populations of each species. Thus, we speculate that F 1 hybrids have low fitness and are not backcrossing with the parental species to an appreciable degree. Within X. gilli, evidence for gene flow was recovered between eastern and western populations, a finding that has implications for conservation management of this species and its threatened habitat.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01104-9
spellingShingle Benjamin L. S. Furman
Caroline M. S. Cauret
Graham A. Colby
G. John Measey
Ben J. Evans
Limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two African clawed frogs, Xenopus gilli and X. laevis (Anura: Pipidae)
Scientific Reports
title Limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two African clawed frogs, Xenopus gilli and X. laevis (Anura: Pipidae)
title_full Limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two African clawed frogs, Xenopus gilli and X. laevis (Anura: Pipidae)
title_fullStr Limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two African clawed frogs, Xenopus gilli and X. laevis (Anura: Pipidae)
title_full_unstemmed Limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two African clawed frogs, Xenopus gilli and X. laevis (Anura: Pipidae)
title_short Limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two African clawed frogs, Xenopus gilli and X. laevis (Anura: Pipidae)
title_sort limited genomic consequences of hybridization between two african clawed frogs xenopus gilli and x laevis anura pipidae
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01104-9
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