Fig. 2

Comparison of transposable element dynamics. a Absolute number of species-specific SINE, LINE, and ERV insertions estimated for lynx, cat, and tiger. For SINEs and LINEs, the number of TE insertions was calculated based on pairwise comparisons between domestic cat and lynx and between domestic cat and tiger. The numbers shown represent the accumulation of insertions in each species since the last common ancestor of lynx, cat, and tiger (Additional file 1: Section 15). The number of TE insertions within genes and the percentage of insertions in sense with respect to the gene are shown on top of each bar. LTR long terminal repeat. b Phylogenetic tree depicts the number of LINE insertions mapped onto each branch (in blue above branch) and the number of insertions that are in sense (+) or antisense (-) orientation with respect to the genes (in green below branch). Relative proportions are shown as pie charts, with those significantly departing from the average genome-background frequency of 37% (Lynx) indicated by an asterisk. Branch lengths were set manually to reflect the number of LINE insertions on each branch