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Ancient DNA reveals genetic admixture in China during tiger evolution
Xin Sun1,2, Yue-Chen Liu1,3,4, Mikhail P Tiunov5
1The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
|August 31, 2023
Summary
Ancient tiger genomes reveal evolutionary history and support nine modern subspecies. Analysis of Pleistocene-era DNA clarifies tiger population dynamics and taxonomic relationships, including the distinct South China tiger.
Area of Science:
- Paleogenomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Conservation Genetics
Background:
- Tigers (Panthera tigris), charismatic megafauna originating in Asia, likely faced population fluctuations during the Pleistocene, leading to reduced genetic diversity in modern populations.
- Understanding genomic diversity patterns in ancient tiger populations is crucial for reconstructing their evolutionary history and informing conservation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconstruct the evolutionary history and genomic diversity of ancient tiger populations using whole-genome sequencing.
- To resolve taxonomic controversies, particularly regarding the South China tiger, and identify key refugia and dispersal events.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome sequencing of ancient and historical tiger specimens (100-10,000 years old) from mainland Asia.
- Admixture analysis, phylogenomic analysis, and biogeographical modeling of generated genomic data.
- Comparison with modern tiger phylogroups and mitogenomes.
Main Results:
- Ancient specimens, including a 10,600-year-old Russian Far East individual, clustered within modern Northeast Asian phylogroups, with some basal lineages identified.
- Phylogenomic analyses suggest the Caspian tiger dispersed from Northeast Asia with gene flow from Bengal tigers; South China tigers are confirmed as a distinct subspecies.
- Southwest China identified as a Late Pleistocene refugium, with subsequent admixture in Eastern China contributing to the evolution of northern subspecies.
Conclusions:
- Analysis of ancient tiger genomes provides critical insights into their evolutionary trajectory, population dynamics, and diversification across Asia.
- The study supports the existence of nine distinct modern tiger subspecies, clarifying long-standing taxonomic debates.
- Findings underscore the importance of ancient DNA in understanding species evolution and informing conservation efforts for endangered megafauna.
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