Non-invasive genomic sampling uncovers novel connectivities and origins of confiscated gorillas
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Gorillas are a group of African great apes with two species and four subspecies that are currently critically endangered or endangered. Previous studies analyzing the genetics of wild gorillas from non-invasive samples such as faeces or hair have analysed short mitochondrial or nuclear markers, which may not reflect the wider nuclear genome. Recent technical advances in target capture hybridisation, enrich the endogenous DNA content of non-invasive samples, allowing contiguous genomic regions to be sequenced. Results Here, we generate georeferenced genetic dataset from faecal and hair samples of 280 wild gorillas, sampled from three of the four gorilla subspecies, across large parts of their present-day distributions. With this expanded representation of gorilla genetic diversity in the wild, we detect three population clusters in western lowland gorillas, with the Sangha River and its affluents acting as significant barriers to gene flow. We reconstruct patterns of past population connectivity between western lowland gorillas in the north-eastern distribution range and Cross River gorillas, which may have been facilitated by a migration corridor also used by the Central and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee subspecies. Finally, we predict the geographic origins of wild-born gorillas, achieving a mean prediction error of 65 km, with a population-level resolution for mountain gorillas and some populations of western lowland gorillas. Conclusion Our work characterises fine-scale population structure in western lowland gorillas, which will be informative for future conservation strategies. This proof-of-concept in predicting geographic locations of wild gorillas, will be useful for future applications to geolocalise trafficked or rescued gorillas.
Source: Genome biology
Authors: Irune Ruiz-Gartzia, Harvinder Pawar, Marina Alvarez-Estape, Joseph D. Orkin, Pol Alentorn-Moron, Sandra Ruibal-Puertas, Harrison J. Ostridge, Claudia Fontsere, Sebastian Cuadros-Espinoza, Kirsten Gilardi, Julius Nziza, Richard Muvunyi, Ulrich Maloueki, Damien Caillaud, Neetha Iyer, Urban Ngobobo-As-Ibungu, Escobar Binyinyi, Etienne François Akomo-Okoue, Augustin K. Basabose, Kamungu Sebulimbwa, Alfred Ngomanda, Juichi Yamagiwa, Miho Inoue-Murayama, Yuji Takenoshita, Shiho Fujita, Barbora Pafco, Terence Fuh, Nikki Tagg, Donald Mbohli, Emmanuel Ayuk Ayimisin, Emma Bailey, Mattia Bessone, Tobias Deschner, Paula Dieguez, Emmanuel Dilambaka, Andrew Dunn, Anne-Celine Granjon, Josephine Head, Veerle Hermans, Inaoyom Imong, Kathryn J. Jeffery, Kevin Lee, Giovanna Maretti, David Morgan, Emily Neil, Christopher Orbell, Martha M. Robbins, Crickette Sanz, Nadege Wange Njomen, Jacob Willie, Ndelani Nkalla Lambi, Barthélémy Ngoubangoye, Larson Boundenga, Franck Prugnolle, Olivia Cheronet, Ron Pinhasi, Ivo Glynne Gut, Marta Gut, Karine A. Viaud-Martinez, Virginie Rougeron, Bethan Morgan, Christophe Boesch, Hjalmar S. Kühl, Mimi Arandjelovic, Eiji Inoue, Katerina Guschanski, Klara Petrzelkova, Martine Peeters, Germán Illera Basas, Magdalena Bermejo, Torsten Bohm, Tierra Smiley Evans, Javier Prado-Martinez, Martin Kuhlwilm, Esther Lizano, Tomas Marques-Bonet
Institutions: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, University of Copenhagen, Université de Montréal, University College London, Gorilla Doctors, University of California, Davis, Rwanda Development Board, University of Kinshasa, University of California, Berkeley, The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto University, Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Okayama University of Science, Kagoshima University, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, WWF Colombia, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Konstanz, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Osnabrück University, Hochschule Osnabrück, Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz, Wildlife Conservation Society, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Leipzig University, Arcus Foundation, University of Stirling, Université de Montpellier, UMR Botanique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations, Arizona State University, Makerere University, Lincoln Park Zoo, Panthera Corporation, Washington University in St. Louis, Wildlife Conservation Society Congo, WWF Cameroon, Ghent University, Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Lyon 1 Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Reconciling Ecological and Human Adaptations for a Biosphere-based Sustainability, Nelson Mandela University, University of Vienna, Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico, Universitat de Barcelona, Illumina (United States), Zoological Society of San Diego, Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, International University Institute (IHI) Zittau, Technische Universität Dresden, Toho University, Uppsala University, University of Edinburgh, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Inserm, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Berkeley Public Health Division, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,490
Award: G6590818625
OpenAlex ID: W7222363789
FWCI:
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