Genome of the endangered eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) reveals signatures of historical decline and pelage color evolution

Gabrielle A Hartley; Stephen R Frankenberg; Natasha M Robinson; Anna J MacDonald; Rodrigo K Hamede; Christopher P Burridge; Menna E Jones; Tim Faulkner; Hayley Shute; Karrie Rose; Rob Brewster; Rachel J O'Neill; Marilyn B Renfree; Andrew J Pask; Charles Y Feigin

doi:10.1038/s42003-024-06251-0

Genome of the endangered eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) reveals signatures of historical decline and pelage color evolution

Commun Biol. 2024 May 25;7(1):636. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06251-0.

Authors

Gabrielle A Hartley¹, Stephen R Frankenberg², Natasha M Robinson³, Anna J MacDonald^{4

5}, Rodrigo K Hamede⁶, Christopher P Burridge⁶, Menna E Jones⁶, Tim Faulkner⁷, Hayley Shute⁷, Karrie Rose⁸, Rob Brewster⁹, Rachel J O'Neill^{1

10}, Marilyn B Renfree², Andrew J Pask^{2

11}, Charles Y Feigin^{12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
² School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
³ Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
⁴ Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
⁵ Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia.
⁶ School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia.
⁷ Australian Reptile Park & Aussie Ark, Somersby, NSW, 2250, Australia.
⁸ Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia.
⁹ WWF-Australia, PO Box 528, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
¹¹ Department of Sciences, Museums Victoria, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia.
¹² School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia. [email protected].
¹³ Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia. [email protected].

Abstract

The eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) is an endangered marsupial native to Australia. Since the extirpation of its mainland populations in the 20th century, wild eastern quolls have been restricted to two islands at the southern end of their historical range. Eastern quolls are the subject of captive breeding programs and attempts have been made to re-establish a population in mainland Australia. However, few resources currently exist to guide the genetic management of this species. Here, we generated a reference genome for the eastern quoll with gene annotations supported by multi-tissue transcriptomes. Our assembly is among the most complete marsupial genomes currently available. Using this assembly, we infer the species' demographic history, identifying potential evidence of a long-term decline beginning in the late Pleistocene. Finally, we identify a deletion at the ASIP locus that likely underpins pelage color differences between the eastern quoll and the closely related Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).

MeSH terms

Animals
Australia
Biological Evolution
Endangered Species*
Genome*
Marsupialia* / genetics
Pigmentation / genetics
Transcriptome

Abstract

MeSH terms

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