The first whole genome and transcriptome of the cinereous vulture reveals adaptation in the gastric and immune defense systems and possible convergent evolution between the Old and New World vultures

Background: The cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus, is the largest bird of prey and plays a key role in the ecosystem by removing carcasses, thus preventing the spread of diseases. Its feeding habits force it to cope with constant exposure to pathogens, making this species an interesting target for discovering functionally selected genetic variants. Furthermore, the presence of two independently evolved vulture groups, Old World and New World vultures, provides a natural experiment in which to investigate convergent evolution due to obligate scavenging. Results: We sequenced the genome of a cinereous vulture, and mapped it to the bald eagle reference genome, a close relative with a divergence time of 18 million years. By comparing the cinereous vulture to other avian genomes, we find positively selected genetic variations in this species associated with respiration, likely linked to their ability of immune defense responses and gastric acid secretion, consistent with their ability to digest carcasses. Comparisons between the Old World and New World vulture groups suggest convergent gene evolution. We assemble the cinereous vulture blood transcriptome from a second individual, and annotate genes. Finally, we infer the demographic history of the cinereous vulture which shows marked fluctuations in effective population size during the late Pleistocene. Conclusions: We present the first genome and transcriptome analyses of the cinereous vulture compared to other avian genomes and transcriptomes, revealing genetic signatures of dietary and environmental adaptations accompanied by possible convergent evolution between the Old World and New World vulturesopen

Comparing the effects of release methods on survival of the Eurasian black vulture Aegypius monachus reintroduced in France

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Quels sont les prédateurs responsables de l’accumulation de la faune des niveaux du Pléistocène supérieur de la grotte d’El Harhoura 2 (Témara, Maroc) ?

International audienceEl Harhoura 2 cave (Témara, Morocco) has yielded Aterian and Iberomaurusian lithic arti-facts associated with faunal remains. Both humans and carnivores occupied this cave and non-human predator modifications occurred mainly at the end of the Late Pleistocene. Diverse faunal taxa have been identified, with a predominance of gazelles and various car-nivores, particularly canids. The location of the cave and of the excavation area, at the bottom of a cliff of low elevation and in the entrance of the cave, does not correspond to a protected area for large raptor nests or a natural trap. Considering the consumed species, the type of carnivore remains, the skeletal representation of prey, taphonomic alterations such as tooth marks, semi-digested bones and destruction sequences, large canids would be the main cause for faunal modifications. However, North African fossil data attributed to hyena activities present similar results. This paper highlights the difficulty of discriminating between potential accumulators/consumers due to a lack of taphonomic reference data. This study thus demonstrates the necessity of compiling fossil records and neotaphonomic reference data for North African medium-large predators in order to better understand the taphonomic history of North African archaeological and paleontological sites.La grotte d’El Harhoura 2 (Témara, Maroc) a livré des industries lithiques attribuées à l’Atérien et à l’Ibéromaurusien, associées à des restes de faune. Les Hommes et les carnivores ont occupé la cavité, mais les modifications dues aux prédateurs non humains sont présentes principalement à la fin de la séquence du Pléistocène terminal. De nombreux taxons ont été identifiés, avec une prédominance des gazelles et une variété de carnivores, particulièrement des canidés. La localisation de la grotte et de la zone de fouille, à la base d’une falaise de faible élévation et en porche de grotte, ne correspond, ni à une zone protégée privilégiée par les rapaces de grande taille pour nicher, ni à un piège naturel. En considérant les proies, les altérations taphonomiques comme les traces de dents, les restes semi-digérés et les séquences de destruction, nous émettons l’hypothèse que les grands canidés pourraient être les principaux responsables des modifications. Cependant, des assemblages nord-africains similaires sont attribués à l’activité de l’hyène. Cet article met en évidence les difficultés de discrimination des différents prédateurs accumulateurs/consommateurs du fait de lacunes de référentiels. Il montre également la nécessité de compiler les données issues des enregistrements fossiles et de référentiels néo-taphonomiques sur les prédateurs de moyenne à grande taille en Afrique du Nord, afin d’améliorer notre perception de l’histoire taphonomique des assemblages archéologiques et paléontologiques de cette région

vertebrate scavenging communities

A scavenger is an animal that feeds on the carcass or remains of any dead animal which it did not participate in its killing. Scavenging is pervasive across the animal kingdom and almost all predator species use carrion to a certain extent in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. There is a group of animals, the obligate scavengers, which rely (almost) entirely on carrion. Among vertebrates, only birds have evolved into obligate scavengers, namely vultures, which suggests that the costs of adaptation to obligate scavenging are high. Obligate and facultative scavengers exhibit a wide array of adaptations to locate and exploit carrion across systems, including inexpensive locomotion to find the unpredictable carrion on savannas, caching carrion in cold tundra or chemotaxis in aquatic systems. Traditionally viewed as an opportunistic process, particularly for facultative scavengers, carrion consumption by vertebrates often follows complex and structured patterns and is crucial in maintaining the stability and structure of food webs.Peer reviewe