The Experts below are selected from a list of 63 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Shujin Luo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • genomic evidence for the chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific felis silvestris bieti and its introgression to domestic cats
    Science Advances, 2021
    Co-Authors: Yueting Xing, Carlos A Driscoll, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Stephen J Obrien, Hao Meng, Jianyou Zhao, Yan Zhuang, Shujin Luo
    Abstract:

    The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau endemic Chinese mountain cat has a controversial taxonomic status, whether it is a true species or a Wildcat (Felis silvestris) subspecies and whether it has contributed to cat (F. s. catus) domestication in East Asia. Here, we sampled F. silvestris lineages across China and sequenced 51 nuclear genomes, 55 mitogenomes, and multilocus regions from 270 modern or museum specimens. Genome-wide analyses classified the Chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific F. s. bieti, which was not involved in cat domestication of China, thus supporting a single domestication origin arising from the African Wildcat (F. s. lybica). A complex hybridization scenario including ancient introgression from the Asiatic Wildcat (F. s. ornata) to F. s. bieti, and contemporary gene flow between F. s. bieti and sympatric domestic cats that are likely recent Plateau arrivals, raises the prospect of disrupted Wildcat genetic integrity, an issue with profound conservation implications.

  • genomic evidence for the chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific felis silvestris bieti and its introgression to domestic cats
    bioRxiv, 2020
    Co-Authors: Yueting Xing, Stephen J Obrien, Hao Meng, Jianyou Zhao, Yan Zhuang, Shujin Luo
    Abstract:

    The enigmatic Chinese mountain cat, endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has a controversial taxonomic status, whether a true species or conspecific with the Wildcat (Felis silvestris) and whether it may have contributed to the domestication of cats (F. s. catus) in Asia. Here, we sampled 270 domestic and wild cats across China, sequenced 51 nuclear genomes, 55 mitogenomes, and multi-locus regions from modern and museum specimens. Genome-wide phylogenies supported taxonomic classification of the Chinese mountain cat as Wildcat subspecies, F. s. bieti. No involvement of F. s. bieti in cat domestication in East Asia was detected, confirming that domestic cats shared a single origin from the African Wildcat (F. s. lybica). A complex hybridization scenario including ancient introgression from the Asiatic Wildcat (F. s. ornata) to F. s. bieti, and contemporary gene flow between F. s. bieti and sympatric domestic cats in the Tibetan region, raises the prospect of disrupting the genetic integrity of F. s. bieti, an issue with profound conservation implications.

Carlos A Driscoll - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • genomic evidence for the chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific felis silvestris bieti and its introgression to domestic cats
    Science Advances, 2021
    Co-Authors: Yueting Xing, Carlos A Driscoll, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Stephen J Obrien, Hao Meng, Jianyou Zhao, Yan Zhuang, Shujin Luo
    Abstract:

    The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau endemic Chinese mountain cat has a controversial taxonomic status, whether it is a true species or a Wildcat (Felis silvestris) subspecies and whether it has contributed to cat (F. s. catus) domestication in East Asia. Here, we sampled F. silvestris lineages across China and sequenced 51 nuclear genomes, 55 mitogenomes, and multilocus regions from 270 modern or museum specimens. Genome-wide analyses classified the Chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific F. s. bieti, which was not involved in cat domestication of China, thus supporting a single domestication origin arising from the African Wildcat (F. s. lybica). A complex hybridization scenario including ancient introgression from the Asiatic Wildcat (F. s. ornata) to F. s. bieti, and contemporary gene flow between F. s. bieti and sympatric domestic cats that are likely recent Plateau arrivals, raises the prospect of disrupted Wildcat genetic integrity, an issue with profound conservation implications.

  • the near eastern origin of cat domestication
    Science, 2007
    Co-Authors: Carlos A Driscoll, Marilyn Menottiraymond, Alfred L Roca, Karsten Hupe, Warren E Johnson, Eli Geffen, Eric H Harley, Miguel Delibes, Dominique Pontier
    Abstract:

    The world9s domestic cats carry patterns of sequence variation in their genome that reflect a history of domestication and breed development. A genetic assessment of 979 domestic cats and their wild progenitors— Felis silvestris silvestris (European Wildcat), F. s. lybica (Near Eastern Wildcat), F. s. ornata (central Asian Wildcat), F. s. cafra (southern African Wildcat), and F. s. bieti (Chinese desert cat)—indicated that each wild group represents a distinctive subspecies of Felis silvestris. Further analysis revealed that cats were domesticated in the Near East, probably coincident with agricultural village development in the Fertile Crescent. Domestic cats derive from at least five founders from across this region, whose descendants were transported across the world by human assistance.

Stephen J Obrien - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • genomic evidence for the chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific felis silvestris bieti and its introgression to domestic cats
    Science Advances, 2021
    Co-Authors: Yueting Xing, Carlos A Driscoll, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Stephen J Obrien, Hao Meng, Jianyou Zhao, Yan Zhuang, Shujin Luo
    Abstract:

    The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau endemic Chinese mountain cat has a controversial taxonomic status, whether it is a true species or a Wildcat (Felis silvestris) subspecies and whether it has contributed to cat (F. s. catus) domestication in East Asia. Here, we sampled F. silvestris lineages across China and sequenced 51 nuclear genomes, 55 mitogenomes, and multilocus regions from 270 modern or museum specimens. Genome-wide analyses classified the Chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific F. s. bieti, which was not involved in cat domestication of China, thus supporting a single domestication origin arising from the African Wildcat (F. s. lybica). A complex hybridization scenario including ancient introgression from the Asiatic Wildcat (F. s. ornata) to F. s. bieti, and contemporary gene flow between F. s. bieti and sympatric domestic cats that are likely recent Plateau arrivals, raises the prospect of disrupted Wildcat genetic integrity, an issue with profound conservation implications.

  • genomic evidence for the chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific felis silvestris bieti and its introgression to domestic cats
    bioRxiv, 2020
    Co-Authors: Yueting Xing, Stephen J Obrien, Hao Meng, Jianyou Zhao, Yan Zhuang, Shujin Luo
    Abstract:

    The enigmatic Chinese mountain cat, endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has a controversial taxonomic status, whether a true species or conspecific with the Wildcat (Felis silvestris) and whether it may have contributed to the domestication of cats (F. s. catus) in Asia. Here, we sampled 270 domestic and wild cats across China, sequenced 51 nuclear genomes, 55 mitogenomes, and multi-locus regions from modern and museum specimens. Genome-wide phylogenies supported taxonomic classification of the Chinese mountain cat as Wildcat subspecies, F. s. bieti. No involvement of F. s. bieti in cat domestication in East Asia was detected, confirming that domestic cats shared a single origin from the African Wildcat (F. s. lybica). A complex hybridization scenario including ancient introgression from the Asiatic Wildcat (F. s. ornata) to F. s. bieti, and contemporary gene flow between F. s. bieti and sympatric domestic cats in the Tibetan region, raises the prospect of disrupting the genetic integrity of F. s. bieti, an issue with profound conservation implications.

Yueting Xing - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • genomic evidence for the chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific felis silvestris bieti and its introgression to domestic cats
    Science Advances, 2021
    Co-Authors: Yueting Xing, Carlos A Driscoll, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Stephen J Obrien, Hao Meng, Jianyou Zhao, Yan Zhuang, Shujin Luo
    Abstract:

    The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau endemic Chinese mountain cat has a controversial taxonomic status, whether it is a true species or a Wildcat (Felis silvestris) subspecies and whether it has contributed to cat (F. s. catus) domestication in East Asia. Here, we sampled F. silvestris lineages across China and sequenced 51 nuclear genomes, 55 mitogenomes, and multilocus regions from 270 modern or museum specimens. Genome-wide analyses classified the Chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific F. s. bieti, which was not involved in cat domestication of China, thus supporting a single domestication origin arising from the African Wildcat (F. s. lybica). A complex hybridization scenario including ancient introgression from the Asiatic Wildcat (F. s. ornata) to F. s. bieti, and contemporary gene flow between F. s. bieti and sympatric domestic cats that are likely recent Plateau arrivals, raises the prospect of disrupted Wildcat genetic integrity, an issue with profound conservation implications.

  • genomic evidence for the chinese mountain cat as a Wildcat conspecific felis silvestris bieti and its introgression to domestic cats
    bioRxiv, 2020
    Co-Authors: Yueting Xing, Stephen J Obrien, Hao Meng, Jianyou Zhao, Yan Zhuang, Shujin Luo
    Abstract:

    The enigmatic Chinese mountain cat, endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has a controversial taxonomic status, whether a true species or conspecific with the Wildcat (Felis silvestris) and whether it may have contributed to the domestication of cats (F. s. catus) in Asia. Here, we sampled 270 domestic and wild cats across China, sequenced 51 nuclear genomes, 55 mitogenomes, and multi-locus regions from modern and museum specimens. Genome-wide phylogenies supported taxonomic classification of the Chinese mountain cat as Wildcat subspecies, F. s. bieti. No involvement of F. s. bieti in cat domestication in East Asia was detected, confirming that domestic cats shared a single origin from the African Wildcat (F. s. lybica). A complex hybridization scenario including ancient introgression from the Asiatic Wildcat (F. s. ornata) to F. s. bieti, and contemporary gene flow between F. s. bieti and sympatric domestic cats in the Tibetan region, raises the prospect of disrupting the genetic integrity of F. s. bieti, an issue with profound conservation implications.

Macfadyen S. - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Genetic analysis shows low levels of hybridization between African Wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) and domestic cats (F. s. catus) in South Africa
    John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2015
    Co-Authors: Le Roux J.j, Foxcroft L.c., Herbst M., Macfadyen S.
    Abstract:

    Hybridization between domestic and wild animals is a major concern for biodiversity conservation, and as habitats become increasingly fragmented, conserving biodiversity at all levels, including genetic, becomes increasingly important. Except for tropical forests and true deserts, African Wildcats occur across the African continent; however, almost no work has been carried out to assess its genetic status and extent of hybridization with domestic cats. For example, in South Africa it has been argued that the long-term viability of maintaining pure Wildcat populations lies in large protected areas only, isolated from human populations. Two of the largest protected areas in Africa, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier and Kruger National Parks, as well as the size of South Africa and range of landscape uses, provide a model situation to assess how habitat fragmentation and heterogeneity influences the genetic purity of African Wildcats. Using population genetic and home range data, we examined the genetic purity of African Wildcats and their suspected hybrids across South Africa, including areas within and outside of protected areas. Overall, we found African Wildcat populations to be genetically relatively pure, but instances of hybridization and a significant relationship between the genetic distinctiveness (purity) of Wildcats and human population pressure were evident. The genetically purest African Wildcats were found in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, while samples from around Kruger National Park showed cause for concern, especially combined with the substantial human population density along the park’s boundary. While African Wildcat populations in South Africa generally appear to be genetically pure, with low levels of hybridization, our genetic data do suggest that protected areas may play an important role in maintaining genetic purity by reducing the likelihood of contact with domestic cats. We suggest that approaches such as corridors between protected areas are unlikely to remain effective for Wildcat conservation, as the proximity to human settlements around these areas is projected to increase the wild/domestic animal interface. Thus, large, isolated protected areas will become increasingly important for Wildcat conservation and efforts need to be made to prevent introduction of domestic cats into these areas

  • Genetic analysis shows low levels of hybridization between African Wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) and domestic cats (F. s. catus) in South Africa.
    Wiley Open Access, 2015
    Co-Authors: Jj ,le Roux, Herbst M., Lc Foxcroft, Macfadyen S.
    Abstract:

    Hybridization between domestic and wild animals is a major concern for biodiversity conservation, and as habitats become increasingly fragmented, conserving biodiversity at all levels, including genetic, becomes increasingly important. Except for tropical forests and true deserts, African Wildcats occur across the African continent; however, almost no work has been carried out to assess its genetic status and extent of hybridization with domestic cats. For example, in South Africa it has been argued that the long-term viability of maintaining pure Wildcat populations lies in large protected areas only, isolated from human populations. Two of the largest protected areas in Africa, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier and Kruger National Parks, as well as the size of South Africa and range of landscape uses, provide a model situation to assess how habitat fragmentation and heterogeneity influences the genetic purity of African Wildcats. Using population genetic and home range data, we examined the genetic purity of African Wildcats and their suspected hybrids across South Africa, including areas within and outside of protected areas. Overall, we found African Wildcat populations to be genetically relatively pure, but instances of hybridization and a significant relationship between the genetic distinctiveness (purity) of Wildcats and human population pressure were evident. The genetically purest African Wildcats were found in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, while samples from around Kruger National Park showed cause for concern, especially combined with the substantial human population density along the park's boundary. While African Wildcat populations in South Africa generally appear to be genetically pure, with low levels of hybridization, our genetic data do suggest that protected areas may play an important role in maintaining genetic purity by reducing the likelihood of contact with domestic cats. We suggest that approaches such as corridors between protected areas are unlikely to remain effective for Wildcat conservation, as the proximity to human settlements around these areas is projected to increase the wild/domestic animal interface. Thus, large, isolated protected areas will become increasingly important for Wildcat conservation and efforts need to be made to prevent introduction of domestic cats into these areas.National Research Foundation (South Africa