Investigating dispersal through molecular genomics: Sex-biased dispersal and phylogeography in aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) in Madagascar

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atmire.migration.oldid6078
dc.contributor.advisorJohnson, Steig
dc.contributor.authorAylward, Megan L.
dc.contributor.committeememberBender, Darren
dc.contributor.committeememberPavelka, Mary
dc.contributor.committeememberPerry, George (PJ)
dc.contributor.committeememberMassolo, Alessandro
dc.contributor.committeememberTing, Nelson
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-28T20:38:47Z
dc.date.available2017-09-28T20:38:47Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.date.submitted2017en
dc.description.abstractDispersal patterns within species have profound consequences for population dynamics and species’ evolutionary trajectories. Intraspecific interactions and habitat variability dictate dispersal trends. Given the rate at which habitat is altered globally by climatic and anthropogenic influences, it is important to understand historic dispersal trends to assess the impact these changes may have on biodiversity. Madagascar is of particular interest as it harbours unique biodiversity. The lemurs on Madagascar represent a distinct radiation of primates and make up 21% of the species in this order. Yet, the processes that have led to current species distributions across Madagascar remain unresolved. Aye-ayes have the widest geographic distribution of all lemurs and are found across multiple forest types on the island. However, their cryptic nature makes them especially elusive and therefore relatively little is known about their evolutionary history. I make use of innovations in the field of molecular genomics to sample genomic regions of this species to elucidate historic gene flow among populations. I developed a novel method of sampling mitochondrial DNA from aye-ayes’ distinct feeding traces to sample from two sites in south-east and west of Madagascar towards the extents of the aye-aye’s geographic distribution. These data supplemented sampling by Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership to provide the most geographically extensive genomic sampling of this species to date. I obtained genomic DNA to investigate the role of biogeographic processes and sex-biased dispersal in aye-ayes’ population genomic structure. I used different genomic markers to assess diversity and to resolve mechanisms that have led to aye-aye population genomic structure. I revealed matrilineal structure on the maternally inherited markers, whereas male-specific Y-chromosome marker systems showed weak structure, indicating male-mediated gene flow. Analysis of diversity in a phylogeographic context indicated that geographic distance drives genomic structure, yet I show some support for two biogeographic hypotheses which suggest that changes to riparian vegetation during the Pleistocene may have impacted connectivity among aye-aye populations. I provide interesting avenues for future research to better understand lemur biogeography and social organization, and findings can be integrated into conservation planning, particularly initiatives with focus on protecting genomic diversity in this species.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAylward, M. L. (2017). Investigating dispersal through molecular genomics: Sex-biased dispersal and phylogeography in aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) in Madagascar (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26630en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/26630
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/4155
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectAnthropology
dc.subject.otherGenomics
dc.subject.otherGenetics
dc.subject.otherAye-aye
dc.subject.otherLemur
dc.subject.otherMadagascar
dc.subject.otherDispersal
dc.subject.otherPhylogeography
dc.subject.othereDNA
dc.subject.othernext-generation
dc.titleInvestigating dispersal through molecular genomics: Sex-biased dispersal and phylogeography in aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) in Madagascar
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineAnthropology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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