Conservation genetics of native and European-introduced Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis)

Author(s):  
Rory Putman ◽  
Nicholas Dunn ◽  
Endi Zhang ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
Christian Miquel ◽  
...  

Abstract Sufficient genetic variation is vital for the long-term survival of a population. The adaptive potential and reproductive fitness of a population is generally enhanced by greater levels of genetic diversity, while loss of genetic variation in small populations may increase extinction risk due to disease susceptibility and decreased reproductive fitness. Determining levels of genetic diversity in threatened species can, therefore, help inform conservation strategies. The Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) is classified as Vulnerable in its native range on the IUCN Red List, and populations in Korea and mainland China have declined drastically in recent years. However, the species was introduced to Europe about a century ago and populations there now make up over 40% of global numbers. To infer the population genetic structure and genetic diversity of Chinese water deer both in their native China and in populations introduced to the UK and France, variation in mitochondrial DNA was investigated for over 100 individuals (92 cytochrome b and 106 control region sequences). Our results reveal lower levels of genetic diversity in the British populations, differentiation between native and introduced populations, and that the source population of British deer is likely to be extinct. Recommendations are made for the conservation of populations.

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 242-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong-Chao Li ◽  
Xiao-Lan Wang ◽  
Xue-Jun Ge

Abstract The genetic diversity and differentiation of five populations of Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata in mainland China were investigated using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR). In comparison with other coniferous species, T. cryptomerioides from mainland China possesses little genetic variation, particularly at the level of individual populations (the percentage of polymorphic loci, Nei’s gene diversity and Shannon’s indices of diversity at the species and population levels are 38.02%, 0.1326, 0.1986 and 9.27%, 0.035, 0.0518 respectively). In contrast, the level of population differentiation is much higher (GST: 0.7269; Shannon’s genetic differentiation: 0.7392; Hickory è B: 0.668; AMOVA genetic differentiation: 72.37%). The genetic divergence of pairs of populations was not significantly correlated with the geographical distance separating them. Current patterns of genetic variation were related to biogeographic history and the small population size. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the development of conservation strategies for this endangered species.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirella Pupo Santos ◽  
João V.S. Rabelo Araujo ◽  
Arthur V. Sant’anna Lopes ◽  
Julio Cesar Fiorio Vettorazzi ◽  
Marcela Santana Bastos Boechat ◽  
...  

Background Two endemic lycophyte species Isoetes cangae and Isoetes serracarajensis have been recently described in the State of Pará in the Amazon forest located in northern Brazil. Isoetes L. has survived through three mass extinctions. Plants are considered small-sized, heterosporous, and can display a great diversity of physiological adaptations to different environments. Thus, the current study aimed to estimate the genetic variation of the populations of I. cangae and I. serracarajensis to generate information about their different mechanisms for survival at the same geographical location that could point to different reproductive, adaptative and dispersal strategies and should be considered for effective conservation strategies. Methods The genetic diversity and population structure of I. cangae and I. serracarajensis were investigated using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Total genomic DNA was isolated, and the genetic diversity parameters were calculated. Results The sixteen primers produced 115 reproducible bands, 87% of which were polymorphic. A high level of polymorphic loci (81.74% and 68.48%) and a high Shannon index (Sh = 0.376 and 0.289) were observed for I. cangae and I. serracarajensis, respectively. The coefficient of genetic differentiation between population areas (GST) showed a higher value in I. serracarajensis (0.5440). Gene flow was higher in I. cangae (1.715) and lower in I. serracarajensis populations (0.419). Overall, the results further show that I. serracarajensis and I. cangae are two species with considerable genetic variation and that these differences may reflect their habitats and modes of reproduction. These results should be considered in the development of effective conservation strategies for both species.


Oryx ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Tejedor Garavito ◽  
Adrian C. Newton ◽  
Sara Oldfield

AbstractThe Tropical Andes are characterized by a high level of endemism and plant species richness but are under pressure from human activities. We present the first regional conservation assessment of upper montane tree species in this region. We identified 3,750 tree species as occurring in this region, of which 917 were excluded because of a lack of data on their distribution. We identified a subset of 129 taxa that were restricted to higher elevations (> 1,500 m) but occurred in more than one country, thus excluding local endemics evaluated in previous national assessments. Distribution maps were created for each of these selected species, and extinction risk was assessed according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria (version 3.1), drawing on expert knowledge elicited from a regional network of specialists. We assessed one species, Polylepis microphylla, as Critically Endangered, 47 species as Endangered and 28 as Vulnerable. Overall, 60% of the species evaluated were categorized as threatened, or 73% if national endemics are included. It is recommended that extinction risk assessments for tree species be used to inform the development of conservation strategies in the region, to avoid further loss of this important element of biodiversity.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanwen Deng ◽  
Tingting Liu ◽  
Yuqing Xie ◽  
Yaqing Wei ◽  
Zicai Xie ◽  
...  

Research Highlights: This study is the first to examine the genetic diversity of Michelia shiluensis (Magnoliaceae). High genetic diversity and low differentiation were detected in this species. Based on these results, we discuss feasible protection measures to provide a basis for the conservation and utilization of M. shiluensis. Background and Objectives: Michelia shiluensis is distributed in Hainan and Guangdong province, China. Due to human disturbance, the population has decreased sharply, and there is thus an urgent need to evaluate genetic variation within this species in order to identify an optimal conservation strategy. Materials and Methods: In this study, we used eight nuclear single sequence repeat (nSSR) markers and two chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers to assess the genetic diversity, population structure, and dynamics of 78 samples collected from six populations. Results: The results showed that the average observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) from nSSR markers in each population of M. shiluensis were 0.686, 0.718, and 97.92%, respectively. For cpDNA markers, the overall haplotype diversity (Hd) was 0.674, and the nucleotide diversity was 0.220. Analysis of markers showed that the genetic variation between populations was much lower based on nSSR than on cpDNA (10.18% and 77.56%, respectively, based on an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA)). Analysis of the population structure based on the two markers shows that one of the populations (DL) is very different from the other five. Conclusions: High genetic diversity and low population differentiation of M. shiluensis might be the result of rich ancestral genetic variation. The current decline in population may therefore be due to human disturbance rather than to inbreeding or genetic drift. Management and conservation strategies should focus on maintaining the genetic diversity in situ, and on the cultivation of seedlings ex-situ for transplanting back to their original habitat.


2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (5) ◽  
pp. 399-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Saoudi ◽  
M. Badri ◽  
M. Gandour ◽  
A. Smaoui ◽  
C. Abdelly ◽  
...  

AbstractHordeum marinum commonly known as sea barley is a salinity-tolerant species of grass. In the current study, 150 lines from ten populations of H. marinum ssp. marinum collected from five Tunisian bioclimatic sites were screened for polymorphism with 13 selected random amplified polymorphic DNA primers. Results exhibited a high level of polymorphism (160 polymorphic bands with an average of 12.46 per primer) and a high level of genetic diversity in all the studied populations (on average UHe = 0.247 and I = 0.358). High discrimination capacity was found for the 13 primers and a combination of three allowed assignation of a unique profile for each of the 150 lines. The partition of genetic diversity with Analysis of Molecular Variance suggested that the majority of genetic variation (67%) was within populations. The components between-populations within ecoregions and between-ecoregions explained 21 and 12%, respectively, of the total genetic variance. There was no significant association of population differentiation (ФPT) with geographical distance or altitudinal difference. Results also showed that the 150 lines grouped into three clusters with no respect to geographic origin. A sub-set of 13 lines was identified, which captured the maximum genetic diversity of the entire collection. The genetic variation found in this collection of H. marinum is deemed to be useful in formulating conservation strategies for this species.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Teresa Hornung-Leoni ◽  
Victoria Sosa ◽  
June Simpson ◽  
Katia Gil

Puya raimondii, the giant Peruvian and Bolivian terrestrial bromeliad, is an emblematic endemic Andean species well represented in Huascarán National Park in Peru. This park is the largest reserve of puna (high altitude plateau) vegetation. The objective of this study is to report on genetic variation in populations of P. raimondii from Huascarán and neighboring areas. AFLP profiles with four selective primer combinations were retrieved for 60 individuals from different zones. Genetic variability was estimated and a total of 172 bands were detected, of which 79.1% were polymorphic loci. The results showed genetic differentiation among populations, and gene flow. A cluster analysis showed that individuals of P. raimondii populations located in different mountain systems could be grouped together, suggesting long distance dispersal. Thus, conservation strategies for P. raimondii have to take into account exchange between populations located far apart in distance in order to preserve the genetic diversity of this showy species.


2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Wei Ni ◽  
Hai-Long Wu ◽  
Guo-Ping Zhu ◽  
Kai Meng

AbstractEleven high polymorphic across-species loci were used to test the usefulness in the individual identification and parentage determination of black muntjac and to detect the genetic variation in a captive population of the animal. Discrimination power for individual locus ranged from 0.845 to 0.949 with the cumulative discrimination power across the eleven loci being up to 1. The combined exclusion probability across the eleven polymorphic loci in the absence and presence of genetic information on the second parent was 0.999 and 1, respectively. These results indicated that the eleven microsatellites would be highly diagnostic in individual identification and parentage testing for the species. The application of these polymorphic loci to evaluate population genetic variation indicated that the genetic diversity of the captive population (5.4 and 0.68 for A and He, respectively; n = 14) was significantly lower than that of the source population (7 and 0.785 for A and He, respectively; n=16). This supported our previous results discovered by mtDNA d-loop, i.e., the genetic diversity of the captive population had obviously declined over less than 20 years due to the paucity of founders. However, difference of observation heterozygosity between the captive and the source populations was not significant. These results indicated that loss of nuclear diversity in the captive population was first evidenced by A but not Ho. In order to retard the potential inbreeding effect, we suggested that some more wild animals should be introduced into the captive population and that a pedigree-based breeding program should be established.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1471
Author(s):  
Hamed Yousefzadeh ◽  
Shahla Raeisi ◽  
Omid Esmailzadeh ◽  
Gholamali Jalali ◽  
Malek Nasiri ◽  
...  

Sorbus aucuparia (Rosaceae) is a small tree species widely distributed in Eurasia. The Hyrcanian forest is the southernmost distribution limit of this species. Severe habitat degradation and inadequate human interventions have endangered the long-term survival of this species in this region, and it is necessary to develop and apply appropriate management methods to prevent the loss of its genetic diversity. In this study, we used 10 SSR markers in order to evaluate the genetic diversity of this taxon. Leaf samples were collected from five known populations of S. aucuparia throughout its distribution area in the Hyrcanian forest. Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.61 (ASH) to 0.73, and according to the M-ratio, all populations showed a significant reduction in effective population size, indicating a genetic bottleneck. Global FST was not statistically significant and attained the same values with and without excluding null alleles (ENA) correction (FST = 0.12). Bayesian analysis performed with STRUCTURE defined two genetic clusters among the five known populations, while the results of discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) identified three distinct groups. The average proportion of migrants was 22. In general, the gene flow was asymmetrical, with the biggest differences between immigration and emigration in Barzekoh and Asbehriseh. The Mantel test showed that there was no significant correlation between genetic distance (FST) and geographic distance in S. aucuparia. The best pathway for theoretical gene flow is located across the coast of the Caspian Sea and significant spatial autocorrelation was observed in only one population. In order to reduce the extinction risk of very small and scattered populations of S. aucuparia in the Hyrcanian forest, it is very important to establish and/or enhance the connectivity through habitat restoration or genetic exchange.


Oryx ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lilí Martínez-Domínguez ◽  
Fernando Nicolalde-Morejón ◽  
Dennis Wm. Stevenson ◽  
Quiyari J. Santiago-Jiménez ◽  
Octavio Rojas-Soto ◽  
...  

Abstract As an evolutionary lineage cycads are rare, and the extinction risk is high for many species. The genus Ceratozamia, one of the most diverse in Mexico, is experiencing drastic reductions of its habitat. Ceratozamia is widely distributed along the Sierra Madre Oriental, a complex mountain range, in a region characterized by high ecological and cultural diversity. Since 1990, various conservation and management strategies have been applied to this taxon in Mexico but evidence for the effectiveness of these measures is lacking. Ceratozamia in the Mexican Sierra Madre Oriental is highly diverse and endemic, offering a model for analysing geographical distribution patterns with ecological niche modelling. It also presents an opportunity for assessing the success of conservation and management strategies that have been implemented in this area. Here, we examined three aspects that are considered fundamental for the development and evaluation of conservation strategies: (1) taxonomy, (2) ecology and (3) sociocultural anthropology. Our findings suggest a pessimistic outlook for the long-term survival of Ceratozamia species in their natural environment, indicating the need to review the current IUCN Cycad Action Plan for the genus. To improve the protection of Ceratozamia and other taxonomic and/or ecological assemblages, we encourage a multidisciplinary approach, with increased collaboration between natural and social scientists.


Author(s):  
Chioma Adelieje ◽  
Edak Aniedi Uyoh ◽  
Valentine Otang Ntui ◽  
Daniel Ama-Abasi

Morphometric and genetic diversity studies were carried out on Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus sampled from middle and lower Cross River. The aim was to provide information on variations between these two populations and also augment the limited information currently available on genetic diversity in this species. A total of 79 fish samples were used for the morphometric analysis out of which 30 were used for the genetic study. Genomic DNA was extracted from caudal fin using a modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide method and amplified using microsatellite markers.Twenty-three morphological features were studied from each fish sample out of which 19 showed significant differences (P<0.05) between the two populations. Principal Component Analysis identified head length, head width, caudal peduncle depth, standard length, preventral distance, snout length and anal fin length as key contributors to variation. Genetic analyses indicated low variability in the populations studied as evidenced by low Shannon`s information index (mean of 0.944 – 1.034), and positive coefficients of inbreeding (FIS) across both populations suggesting the presence of greater homozygosity in this species. Gene flow of 3.507 was observed between the lower and middle Cross River indicating the possibility of free mating between the two populations. The low levels of genetic diversity call for urgent management and conservation strategies to ensure long term survival of the species.


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