The molecular ecology of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) are marine mesopredators facing threats from anthropogenic environmental change, habitat loss, fisheries pressure, pollution, direct disturbance at colonies, and introduced pathogens. These philopatric seabirds breed across the largest geographic and latitudinal ra...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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2020
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| _version_ | 1797110662883704832 |
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| author | Levy, H |
| author2 | Smith, A |
| author_facet | Smith, A Levy, H |
| author_sort | Levy, H |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) are marine mesopredators facing threats from
anthropogenic environmental change, habitat loss, fisheries pressure, pollution, direct
disturbance at colonies, and introduced pathogens. These philopatric seabirds breed across the
largest geographic and latitudinal range of any penguin taxon. Given the large biophysical range
of Gentoo Penguin habitats, evolutionary theory posits that localised biotic and abiotic
interactions would place differential pressures on distinct populations of the species, affecting
their genotypes and phenotypes. The host-pathogen interface is one such biotic interaction
known to shape evolutionary trajectories. This thesis employs molecular techniques to examine
the role of geographical variation on the genetic diversity of (I) the penguin as a host and (II) its
enteric viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic parasites. In this work, I uncovered strong host
phylogeographic and population genetic structure according to neutral, mitochondrial, and
immune gene (Toll-like receptor, TLR) markers. I also present experimentally-supported
evidence of positive selection on TLR5, which points to localised pathogen-driven adaptation.
Given the limited understanding of the pathogens circulating in modern Gentoo Penguin habitats,
I also undertook parallel sequencing-based screening surveys to report novel viral, bacterial,
protozoan and helminthic sequences associated with these seabirds and their sympatric species.
Alongside undescribed diversity, I found evidence of greater-than-expected connectivity among
the enteric microbes of spatially separate and genetically disparate Gentoo Penguins, as well as
Pygoscelid-wide microbe commonalities. This research demonstrates the importance of studying
species complexes and biotic interaction at the large scale, particularly in the face of emerging
threats and the challenges inherent to wildlife disease monitoring in these remote habitats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:57:59Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oxford-uuid:b9cbf2d5-add6-4a80-a4b3-58dd82e999ba |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:57:59Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:b9cbf2d5-add6-4a80-a4b3-58dd82e999ba2023-09-01T08:11:17ZThe molecular ecology of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua)Thesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:b9cbf2d5-add6-4a80-a4b3-58dd82e999baimmunologymicrobiologygeneticsconservation geneticsparasitologypopulation geneticsinfectious diseasepathogen identificationvirologyevolutionary biologymolecular ecologyEnglishHyrax Deposit2020Levy, HSmith, AHart, TRogers, AGentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) are marine mesopredators facing threats from anthropogenic environmental change, habitat loss, fisheries pressure, pollution, direct disturbance at colonies, and introduced pathogens. These philopatric seabirds breed across the largest geographic and latitudinal range of any penguin taxon. Given the large biophysical range of Gentoo Penguin habitats, evolutionary theory posits that localised biotic and abiotic interactions would place differential pressures on distinct populations of the species, affecting their genotypes and phenotypes. The host-pathogen interface is one such biotic interaction known to shape evolutionary trajectories. This thesis employs molecular techniques to examine the role of geographical variation on the genetic diversity of (I) the penguin as a host and (II) its enteric viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic parasites. In this work, I uncovered strong host phylogeographic and population genetic structure according to neutral, mitochondrial, and immune gene (Toll-like receptor, TLR) markers. I also present experimentally-supported evidence of positive selection on TLR5, which points to localised pathogen-driven adaptation. Given the limited understanding of the pathogens circulating in modern Gentoo Penguin habitats, I also undertook parallel sequencing-based screening surveys to report novel viral, bacterial, protozoan and helminthic sequences associated with these seabirds and their sympatric species. Alongside undescribed diversity, I found evidence of greater-than-expected connectivity among the enteric microbes of spatially separate and genetically disparate Gentoo Penguins, as well as Pygoscelid-wide microbe commonalities. This research demonstrates the importance of studying species complexes and biotic interaction at the large scale, particularly in the face of emerging threats and the challenges inherent to wildlife disease monitoring in these remote habitats. |
| spellingShingle | immunology microbiology genetics conservation genetics parasitology population genetics infectious disease pathogen identification virology evolutionary biology molecular ecology Levy, H The molecular ecology of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) |
| title | The molecular ecology of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) |
| title_full | The molecular ecology of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) |
| title_fullStr | The molecular ecology of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The molecular ecology of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) |
| title_short | The molecular ecology of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) |
| title_sort | molecular ecology of the gentoo penguin pygoscelis papua |
| topic | immunology microbiology genetics conservation genetics parasitology population genetics infectious disease pathogen identification virology evolutionary biology molecular ecology |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT levyh themolecularecologyofthegentoopenguinpygoscelispapua AT levyh molecularecologyofthegentoopenguinpygoscelispapua |