Population genomics of finless porpoises reveal an incipient cetacean species adapted to freshwater

Xuming Zhou, Xuanmin Guang, Di Sun, Shixia Xu, Mingzhou Li, Inge Seim, Wencai Jie, Linfeng Yang, Qianhua Zhu, Jiabao Xu, Qiang Gao, Alaattin Kaya, Qianhui Dou, Bingyao Chen, Wenhua Ren, Shuaicheng Li, Kaiya Zhou, Vadim N. Gladyshev, Rasmus Nielsen (), Xiaodong Fang () and Guang Yang ()
Additional contact information
Xuming Zhou: Nanjing Normal University
Xuanmin Guang: BGI-Shenzhen
Di Sun: Nanjing Normal University
Shixia Xu: Nanjing Normal University
Mingzhou Li: Sichuan Agricultural University
Inge Seim: Queensland University of Technology
Wencai Jie: BGI-Shenzhen
Linfeng Yang: BGI-Shenzhen
Qianhua Zhu: BGI-Shenzhen
Jiabao Xu: BGI-Shenzhen
Qiang Gao: BGI-Shenzhen
Alaattin Kaya: Harvard Medical School
Qianhui Dou: Harvard Medical School
Bingyao Chen: Nanjing Normal University
Wenhua Ren: Nanjing Normal University
Shuaicheng Li: City University of Hong Kong
Kaiya Zhou: Nanjing Normal University
Vadim N. Gladyshev: Harvard Medical School
Rasmus Nielsen: University of California
Xiaodong Fang: BGI-Shenzhen
Guang Yang: Nanjing Normal University

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are a group of mammals adapted to various aquatic habitats, from oceans to freshwater rivers. We report the sequencing, de novo assembly and analysis of a finless porpoise genome, and the re-sequencing of an additional 48 finless porpoise individuals. We use these data to reconstruct the demographic history of finless porpoises from their origin to the occupation into the Yangtze River. Analyses of selection between marine and freshwater porpoises identify genes associated with renal water homeostasis and urea cycle, such as urea transporter 2 and angiotensin I-converting enzyme 2, which are likely adaptations associated with the difference in osmotic stress between ocean and rivers. Our results strongly suggest that the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoises are reproductively isolated from other porpoise populations and harbor unique genetic adaptations, supporting that they should be considered a unique incipient species.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03722-x

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