Unburying the secrets of the American burying beetle

The American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), is the largest burying beetle in North America. The American burying beetle (ABB) has lost nearly 90% of its original habitat range and now only resides in three populations (Rhode Island, Nebraska extending into South Dakota, and Oklahoma extending into Kansas and Arkansas). ABB was listed as endangered in 1989 but, in 2020, was reclassified as threatened. These beetles are important decomposers, and as the largest species in their subfamily, are able handle larger vertebrate carcasses than other related species. ABB are also unique in the fact that they practice biparental care, which is not found in many other species.

Photo: American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus), Photo credits: Samantha Hittson (Oklahoma State University)

Today, we generate the chromosome-length genome assembly for the American burying beetle, see https://www.dnazoo.org/assemblies/nicrophorus_americanus. The HiFi draft for this work was generated by Samantha Hittson, Manpreet Kohli, Ethan Tolman, Paul Frandsen, Jessica Ware, and W. Wyatt Hoback, which was upgraded using Hi-C data generated by the DNA Zoo Consortium. Funding for the draft was from Ware Lab start-up funding from American Museum of Natural History. Funding was also provided by grant # 0259007642 to WW Hoback from the U.S. Army, with additional support from Hatch Project accession No. 1019561 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Work was conducted under permit # # TE045150-3 held by Hoback.

Explore the interactive Hi-C contact map for ABB below, and visit the assembly page for more details.

Wing of change

In Western Australia's remote heathlands, there exists a creature so rare and elusive, that very few people have ever had the good fortune to see it. The Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus flaviventris), also affectionately known as 'Kyloring', is a bird of remarkable beauty and secrecy, revealing itself only briefly at dawn and dusk with its melodious calls. But beyond its ethereal presence lies a stark reality - this enigmatic avian is teetering on the brink of extinction.

Photo: The Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus flaviventris), Photo credits: Perth Zoo

The Western Ground Parrot has become emblematic of conservation efforts in Australia, standing as one of 22 bird species prioritized for recovery by the government. With a population dwindling to a mere 150 individuals, their survival hangs precariously on a delicate balance of habitat preservation and targeted intervention.

In 2003, the Western Ground Parrot Recovery Project was initiated, marking a concerted effort to understand and safeguard this cryptic species. Field monitoring, radio tracking, and captive management programs, led by DBCA and supported by numerous partners, have provided invaluable insights into their behaviour and needs. However, the road to recovery has been fraught with challenges, from habitat loss to predation by invasive species like feral cats. Intensive management of invasive predators has given the recovery team the confidence to attempt the first-ever wild to wild translocation with birds reintroduced into an area of former habitat.

Amidst the struggle for survival, a crucial lifeline emerges from Perth Zoo, where a select few Western Ground Parrots have found sanctuary. Here, under the watchful eye of conservationists, specialised aviaries serve as a haven for these birds, allowing for meticulous observation and research into their biology and behaviour.

Through painstaking efforts, unique behaviours, calls, and social requirements have been identified, paving the way for tailored husbandry practices aimed at fostering breeding success.

Yet, the journey is far from over. Challenges abound, from issues with egg viability to calcium metabolism. Undeterred, researchers and veterinarians are tirelessly working to overcome these obstacles, collaborating with international specialists to explore innovative solutions, including assisted reproduction methods.

To help with the ongoing conservation efforts, today we release the first 3D genome assembly for the species. The assembly was generated using a sample from a wild bird that had been captured as part of an ambitious translocation program being carried out by the recovery team and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions with assistance from the Perth Zoo (Western Australia). A draft genome assembly for the species was generated from PacBio Revio HiFi long reads with support from the Threatened Species Initiative (TSI) funded through Bioplatforms Australia. The draft was scaffolded to chromosome length by the WA Genome Atlas team using in situ Hi-C data. The interactive contact map of the resulting assembly is included below.

Our sincere thanks to the Lotterywest for their ongoing support through funding the WA Genome Atlas initiative and to the collective expertise and support of our partners.

We hope that this resource will open new avenues for conservation, offering insights into genetic diversity, population dynamics, and potential avenues for intervention. Working with critically endangered species is challenging, But with each discovery, we inch closer to securing a future for the Western Ground Parrot.

As the sun sets over the heathlands, casting a golden glow upon the dwindling habitat of the Western Ground Parrot, hope lingers on the horizon. Through unwavering dedication and scientific ingenuity, we stand poised to turn the tide and ensure that the melodious call of 'Kyloring' continues to echo through the wild for generations to come.

The wingless flight club

We have some exciting news to share with you. Our paper, in collaboration with a team at Princeton University led by Ricardo Mallarino and Jorge Moreno, is out today in Nature!

In this work, we harness the power of comparative analysis across 15 marsupial genomes coupled with some excellent forward genomics to figure out how marsupials develop patagia - a skin flap between for front and hind paws that allows them to glide. Turns out it is not a superpower from a fallen meteorite (@SugarGliderJM) but from a gene called Emx2! Check out excellent summaries on the research on the Baylor website and on Scientific American. Check out also Ricardo's X writeup.

Thank you to all the excellent collaborators spanning Princeton, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Melbourne, SeaWorld, Houston Zoo, UC Irvine, Cornell and the University of Western Australia. And a special thank you to the museum community of Australia and the Australian Biological Tissue Collection at the South Australian Museum for providing tissue samples.

Visit the assembly pages for the chromosome-length genomes published as part of the work for the common wombat, the ground cuscus, the Eastern grey kangaroo, the Western grey kangaroo, the greater glider, common ringtail possum, golden ringtail possum, green ringtail possum, feathertail glider, Western ringtail possum, feather-tailed possum, coppery ringtail possum and the sugar glider to browse the corresponding interactive contact maps!

Citation:

Moreno, J.A., Dudchenko, O., Feigin, C.Y. et al. Emx2 underlies the development and evolution of marsupial gliding membranes. Nature (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07305-3