Road to Extinction? Past and Present Population Structure and Genomic Diversity in the Koala

作者：Binia De Cahsan, Marcela Sandoval‐Velasco, Michael V. Westbury, David A. Duchêne, Mikkel‐Holger S. Sinding, Hernán E. Morales, Daniela C. Kalthoff, Ian Barnes, Selina Brace, Roberto Portela Miguez, Alfred L. Roca, Alex D. Greenwood, Rebecca N. Johnson, Matthew J. Lott, M. Thomas P. Gilbert · 发表于：Molecular Biology and Evolution · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1093/molbev/msaf057 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Genetic diversity and population structure、Wildlife Ecology and Conservation、Forensic and Genetic Research

Koalas are arboreal herbivorous marsupials, endemic to Australia. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number of koalas declined dramatically due to hunting for their furs. In addition, anthropogenic activities have further decimated their available habitat, and decreased population numbers. Here, we utilize 37 historic and 25 modern genomes sampled from across their historic and present geographic range, to gain insights into how their population structure and genetic diversity have changed across time; assess the genetic consequences of the period of intense hunting, and the current genetic status of this iconic Australian species. Our analyses reveal how genome-wide heterozygosity has decreased through time and unveil previously uncharacterized mitochondrial haplotypes and nuclear genotypes in the historic dataset, which are absent from today's koala populations.