Baseline gene expression levels in Falkland-Malvinas Island penguins: Towards a new monitoring paradigm
Life
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Abstract
Health diagnostics of wildlife have historically relied on the evaluation of select serum biomarkers and the identification of a contaminant or pathogen burden within specific tissues as an indicator of a level of insult. However, these approaches fail to measure the physiological reaction of the individual to stressors, thus limiting the scope of interpretation. Gene-based health diagnostics provide an opportunity for an alternate, whole-system, or holistic assessment of health, not only in individuals or populations but potentially in ecosystems. Seabirds are among the most threatened marine taxonomic groups in the world, with ~25% of this species currently listed as threatened or considered of special concern; among seabirds, the penguins (Family Spheniscidae) are the most threatened seabird Family. We used gene expression to develop baseline physiological indices for wild penguins in the Falkland-Malvinas Islands, and captive zoo penguins. We identified the almost complete statistical separation of penguin groups (gentoo Detroit Zoo, gentoo Falkland-Malvinas Islands, rockhopper Detroit Zoo, and rockhopper Falkland-Malvinas Islands) based on gene expression profiles. Implementation of long-term longitudinal studies would allow for the assessment of temporal increases or decreases of select transcripts and would facilitate interpretation of the drivers of change.
Suggested Citation
Bowen, L., Waters-Dynes, S.C., Stott, J., Duncan, A., Meyerson, R., Woodhouse, S., 2022, Baseline gene expression levels in Falkland-Malvinas Island penguins: Towards a new monitoring paradigm: Life, v. 12, no. 2, 258, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020258.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Baseline gene expression levels in Falkland-Malvinas Island penguins: Towards a new monitoring paradigm |
| Series title | Life |
| DOI | 10.3390/life12020258 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication Date | February 09, 2022 |
| Year Published | 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Contributing office(s) | Western Ecological Research Center |
| Description | 258, 15 p. |
| Other Geospatial | Falkland-Malvinas Island |