Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26634827›Full record

ArticleBMC evolutionary biology2015

A voyage to Terra Australis: human-mediated dispersal of cats.

K Koch, D Algar, J B Searle, M Pfenninger, K Schwenk

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC evolutionary biology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

K KochBiodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) by Senckenberg Naturforschende Gesellschaft and Goethe-University, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Koch@bio.uni-frankfurt.de.
D AlgarDepartment of Parks and Wildlife, Science and Conservation Division, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, 6065, WA, Australia. Dave.Algar@DPaW.wa.gov.au.
J B SearleDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853-2701, USA. jeremy.searle@cornell.edu.
M PfenningerBiodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) by Senckenberg Naturforschende Gesellschaft and Goethe-University, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Pfenninger@bio.uni-frankfurt.de.
K SchwenkBiodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) by Senckenberg Naturforschende Gesellschaft and Goethe-University, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. schwenk@uni-landau.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCats 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.

resultsOur 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.

conclusionA 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.

Indexed as

PhylogeographyAnimalsAustraliaCatsDNA, MitochondrialGenotypeIntroduced SpeciesIslandsMicrosatellite RepeatsMitochondriaMolecular Sequence DataDNA, Mitochondrial

Identifiers

PMID26634827
PMCPMC4669658

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.