Koch K, Algar D, Searle J B, Pfenninger M, Schwenk K
Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) by Senckenberg Naturforschende Gesellschaft and Goethe-University, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Department of Parks and Wildlife, Science and Conservation Division, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, 6065, WA, Australia.
BMC Evol Biol. 2015 Dec 4;15:262. doi: 10.1186/s12862-015-0542-7.
Cats have been transported as human commensals worldwide giving rise to many feral populations. In Australia, feral cats have caused decline and extinction of native mammals, but their time of introduction and origin is unclear. Here, we investigate hypotheses of cat arrival pre- or post-European settlement, and the potential for admixture between cats of different invasion events. We analyse the genetic structure and diversity of feral cats from six locations on mainland Australia, seven Australian islands and samples from Southeast Asia and Europe using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA data.
Our results based on phylogeographic model selection are consistent with a European origin of cats in Australia. We find genetic distinctiveness of Australian mainland samples compared with Dirk Hartog Island, Flinders Island, Tasman Island and Cocos (Keeling) Island samples, and genetic similarities between some of the island populations. Historical records suggest that introduction of cats to these islands occurred at the time of European exploration and/or in connection with the pearling, whaling and sealing trades early in the 19th century. On-going influx of domestic cats into the feral cat population is apparently causing the Australian mainland populations to be genetically differentiated from those island populations, which likely are remnants of the historically introduced cat genotypes.
A mainly European origin of feral cats in Australia, with possible secondary introductions from Asia following the initial establishment of cats in Australia is reasonable. The islands surrounding Australia may represent founding populations and are of particular interest. The results of the study provide an important timeframe for the impact of feral cats on native species in Australia.
猫作为人类共生动物已在全球范围内被运输，导致了许多野生种群的出现。在澳大利亚，野猫已导致本土哺乳动物数量减少和灭绝，但其引入时间和起源尚不清楚。在此，我们研究猫在欧洲人定居之前或之后到达的假说，以及不同入侵事件的猫之间混合的可能性。我们使用微卫星和线粒体DNA数据，分析了来自澳大利亚大陆六个地点、七个澳大利亚岛屿以及东南亚和欧洲样本的野猫的遗传结构和多样性。
我们基于系统地理学模型选择的结果与澳大利亚的猫起源于欧洲一致。我们发现澳大利亚大陆样本与德克·哈托格岛、弗林德斯岛、塔斯曼岛和科科斯（基林）岛样本在遗传上具有独特性，并且一些岛屿种群之间存在遗传相似性。历史记录表明，这些岛屿上猫的引入发生在欧洲探险时期和/或与19世纪早期的珍珠采集、捕鲸和海豹捕猎贸易有关。家猫持续流入野猫种群显然导致澳大利亚大陆种群在遗传上与那些岛屿种群有所分化，而那些岛屿种群可能是历史上引入的猫基因型的残余。
澳大利亚野猫主要起源于欧洲，在澳大利亚最初引入猫之后可能有来自亚洲的二次引入，这是合理的。澳大利亚周围的岛屿可能代表了奠基种群，特别值得关注。该研究结果为野猫对澳大利亚本土物种的影响提供了一个重要的时间框架。
