<div><strong>Background:&nbsp;</strong>Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP, <em>Neophocaena asiaeorientalis</em>), is the first class protected animal in China. In order to analyze the adaptive evolution of fecundity traits in YFP, the rapidly evolving gene families of YFP were obtained. At the same time, the major genes controlling ovulation, GDF9, BMP15, FSH&beta; and FSHR were also analyzed.<br />
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<strong>Methods:</strong> Orthofinder software was employed to search homologous genes based on protein sequence. CAF&Eacute; software was used to obtain the expansion and contraction gene families of YFP. Then, GO terms and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using TBtools software and Swissprot database. PAML package was used to calculate Ka/Ks (<em>i.e.</em>, &omega;). Evolution rate changes in the positive selected genes were examined using the GU99 process in Diverge (v3.0) program.<br />
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<strong>Result:</strong> In YFP, 501 rapid expansion gene families GO enrichment results showed that the reproductive activities related pathways were mainly three significant enrichment process, participation of germline stem cells maintain androgen receptors signaling pathways regulating and male reproductive tract stem cell population to maintain. The most significant GO terms of 220 rapidly contraction gene families associated with reproductive activities mainly consisted of biological processes which were involved in positive regulation of estrogen secretion, mating and estrogen metabolic process. GDF9 and BMP15 genes exhibited purifying selection. However, significant signs of positive selection were detected in FSHR and FSH&beta; genes, but only FSH&beta; showed specific changes in the YFP lineage.</div>


<p>​The Analysis of Reproduction-related Genes Provides Insights into the Adaptive Evolution of Fecundity Traits in Yangtze Finless Porpoise</p>


<div><strong>Background:</strong> China is paying more attention to ecological systems within the Yangtze River has provided great opportunities to the conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP). The rapid population decline of YFP in the main steam appears to have slowed, but the infrequent movement of porpoises represents a considerable threat to the long-term viability of this species in this region. We studied the population viability of YFP in the Yangtze main steam, based on published ecological and genetic information.<br />
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<strong>Methods:</strong> Vortex model was used to analyze the population viability of the YFP. The simulations were started from the year 2017 when the initial population size was 445 animals in baseline scenario. We examined the population viability for the species under demographic fluctuations and conservation scenarios.<br />
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<strong>Result:</strong> Baseline model showed the probability of extinction was 0.245; deterministic growth rate was -0.023; stochastic growth rate was -0.036. Sensitivity analysis showed differences in population trends between the baseline and each alternative scenario and the most sensitive parameters were the percentage of females breeding and mortality rates. Under different conservation scenarios, the population of the YFP in the main stream will increase by 11.0%-181.2% in 100 years.</div>


<div>Population Viability Analysis of Yangtze Finless Porpoise in the Yangtze Main Steam Suggesting that a Total Ban on Productive Fishing could be Decisive</div>


​The Analysis of Reproduction-related Genes Provides Insights into the Adaptive Evolution of Fecundity Traits in Yangtze Finless Porpoise

Population Viability Analysis of Yangtze Finless Porpoise in the Yangtze Main Steam Suggesting that a Total Ban on Productive Fishing could be Decisive

The Analysis of Reproduction-related Genes Provides Insights into the Adaptive Evolution of Fecundity Traits in Yangtze Finless Porpoise