Genomic Evidence for Two Phylogenetic Species and Long-term Population Bottlenecks in Red Pandas

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2020 Mar 6

PMID 32133395

Citations 40

Authors

Yibo Hu

Arjun Thapa

Huizhong Fan

Tianxiao Ma

Qi Wu

Shuai Ma

Dongling Zhang

Bing Wang

Min Li

Li Yan

Fuwen Wei

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The red panda (), an endangered Himalaya-endemic mammal, has been classified as two subspecies or even two species - the Himalayan red panda () and the Chinese red panda () - based on differences in morphology and biogeography. However, this classification has remained controversial largely due to lack of genetic evidence, directly impairing scientific conservation management. Data from 65 whole genomes, 49 Y-chromosomes, and 49 mitochondrial genomes provide the first comprehensive genetic evidence for species divergence in red pandas, demonstrating substantial inter-species genetic divergence for all three markers and correcting species-distribution boundaries. Combined with morphological evidence, these data thus clearly define two phylogenetic species in red pandas. We also demonstrate different demographic trajectories in the two species: has experienced two population bottlenecks and one large population expansion over time, whereas has experienced three bottlenecks and one very small expansion, resulting in very low genetic diversity, high linkage disequilibrium, and high genetic load.

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