New DNA Research Unlocks Secrets of Native Rodents’ Rat Race to New Lands



More than 150 different native rodent species from Australia, New Guinea, and Melanesian islands have had their DNA sequenced in recent studies. It provides a fuller understanding of their connections and the circumstances surrounding their expansion throughout the Pacific.

The Australian National University's (ANU) Dr. Emily Roycroft, the study's lead author, said native rodents are an interesting but frequently underappreciated evolutionary group.

Dr. Roycroft noted that over 150 species in Australia and New Guinea are unique to those regions and include the rakali, sometimes known as the "water rat," which is frequently spotted swimming in the lakes near Canberra.

We now know relatively little about the history and development of native rodents, particularly those found in New Guinea.

In order to obtain DNA from museum specimens up to 180 years old, including several extinct and secretive species, the study team developed a novel technique.

"One Guadalcanal rat specimen was found in the Solomon Islands in the 1880s, and the species hasn't been seen since. It is categorized as critically endangered and may already be extinct. Dr. Roycroft stated, "We were curious to explore these ancient specimens with contemporary technology.

According to the findings, the region's native rodent population first began to spread five million years ago, when mountains began to emerge in New Guinea. Rodents had more places to adapt to as a result of New Guinea's geographic expansion, including its improved connectedness with Australia, the Solomon Islands, and the Maluku Islands.

"We've known for a while that Australia's native rodents are from Asia, and they likely traveled here on a piece of driftwood as a single pregnant animal. Now that we have a precise date for this, we can also explain why there are so many species in the modern world, according to Dr. Roycroft.

"Our study demonstrates that local rodents are exceptionally good at settling new regions. They adapted to a variety of new settings when they first arrived in Australia, including the dry desert.

Dr. Roycroft believes that knowing more about the past of native rodents will be essential to the survival of these species.

"Native rodents play a critical role in the health of our ecosystems. They're ecosystem architects; by burrowing and foraging, they aerate the soil and aid in the spread of seeds and fungus spores, she claimed.

In addition, they serve as a significant food source for local predators, which in turn let them to eat plants, fungus, and other smaller creatures.

But because of the severe habitat degradation and introduced predators, they also have the worst extinction rate of any group of Australian mammals. The equilibrium of an ecosystem might get off if we lose even one native species.

"Understanding the evolution and adaptation of our native rodents will enable us to protect those we have left," says the author.

The study was released in the Current Biology journal.

The National Collaborative Project Infrastructure Strategy of the Australian Government provided funding for the research through Bioplatforms Australia (NCRIS).

By AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 

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