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Whole genomes reveal subpopulations and isolation-by-distance patterns in the Norwegian lemming
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2866-5533
Stockholm University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Archaeological Research Laboratory. Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2660-7081
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Number of Authors: 182026 (English)In: BMC Biology, E-ISSN 1741-7007, Vol. 24, no 1, article id 93Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

BACKGROUND: The Norwegian lemming (Lemmus lemmus) is a small rodent endemic to the Fennoscandian alpine and arctic tundra. The species is known for cyclic population outbreaks and mass movements during peak years. Previous research based on microsatellites revealed high genetic variation but a weak population structure in the Norwegian lemming. RESULTS: In this study, we revisit the population structure of the species using genome-wide data. To do this, we generated a high-quality de novo reference genome for Lemmus lemmus, and resequenced genomes to 2.5-5 × coverage, from 86 lemmings sampled across the species' entire geographic distribution. Our results reveal that the population is geographically structured into distinct subpopulations, with an overall pattern characterised by isolation-by-distance among subpopulations. Furthermore, our results are consistent with earlier work suggesting that the species survived the last ice age within a northern refugium. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings provide a genome-wide perspective on today's population structure of the Norwegian lemming. In addition, we provide a de novo reference genome, which we believe will be a valuable resource to the research community.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. Vol. 24, no 1, article id 93
Keywords [en]
Fennoscandia, Isolation by distance, Norwegian lemming, Population genomics, Population structure, Whole genomes
National Category
Zoology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-254435DOI: 10.1186/s12915-026-02568-wISI: 001736583900001PubMedID: 41787358Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105035505364OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-254435DiVA, id: diva2:2054989
Available from: 2026-04-22 Created: 2026-04-22 Last updated: 2026-04-23Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Genomic consequences of postglacial recolonisation of Scandinavian mammals
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Genomic consequences of postglacial recolonisation of Scandinavian mammals
2026 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The range contractions and expansions due to climate fluctuations during the Quaternary have profoundly shaped the evolutionary history of species and populations. In this thesis, I used ancient, historical, and modern mitochondrial and whole genomes to study the postglacial population history of Scandinavian mammals in the context of past climate changes and human actions. In Chapter I, I analysed 41 ancient, historical, and modern mitogenomes of Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos), to gain further insights into the Holocene history of the species. I found that southern Scandinavia was likely recolonised by several female lineages, whereas northern Scandinavia was recolonised by only a single lineage after the last glaciation. Moreover, a recent population bottleneck resulted in a severe loss of mitochondrial genetic diversity, with only a single haplotype remaining in southern Scandinavia today. In Chapter II, I used seven historical and 21 modern high-coverage nuclear genomes of Scandinavian brown bears to study the genome-wide effect of the population decline ca. 100 years ago. The results suggested that while the individual genomic diversity and inbreeding levels were maintained, the population structure was reshaped as a consequence of the bottleneck, where our analyses suggest that male-biased gene flow resulted in a mitochondrial-nuclear discordance. Additionally, the overall population diversity likely declined as the unique genetic variation of southern Scandinavia mostly was lost. In Chapter III, I generated 86 modern Norwegian lemming (Lemmus lemmus) genomes, and investigated the present-day population structure of this small rodent endemic to Fennoscandia. Here I found geographically structured subpopulations which are characterised by an isolation-by-distance pattern, with the highest genetic diversity in lemmings in the northern part of Sweden. Finally, in Chapter IV, I studied the Late Quaternary population dynamics and biogeographic history of Lemmus in western Eurasia, using ancient and modern high-coverage genomes. The results suggest a complex population history of Lemmus sp. over the last 50,000 years, involving hybridisation among divergent lineages and genomic patterns that open new questions about the postglacial recolonisation of Fennoscandia.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 2026. p. 37
Keywords
Ancient DNA, palaeogenomics, postglacial recolonisation, Scandinavia, Brown bear, Norwegian lemming, population structure, genome erosion, phylogenetics
National Category
Genetics and Genomics
Research subject
Systematic Zoology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-254598 (URN)978-91-8107-652-3 (ISBN)978-91-8107-653-0 (ISBN)
Public defence
2026-06-12, Vivi Täckholmsalen (Q-salen), NPQ-huset, Svante Arrhenius väg 20, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
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Available from: 2026-05-20 Created: 2026-04-23 Last updated: 2026-05-06Bibliographically approved

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Ravasini, FrancescoKempe Lagerholm, VendelaMåsviken, JohannesNorén, KarinAngerbjörn, AndersDalén, Love

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