scholarly journals Genetic Tools for the Conservation of Wild Asian Elephants

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Chalita Kongrit
Keyword(s):  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Asian Elephant ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Fragmented Populations ◽  
Genetic Method ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Low Genetic Diversity

The distribution of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) has been limited to the remaining discontinuous forests, mainly in the South and Southeast Asia. A global number of wild Asian elephants have been declining due to habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and anthropogenic disturbance. Acquiring information of wild populations is important for effective conservation and management plan. This article reviews the applications of noninvasive genetic method as a tool for studying wild Asian elephants. Noninvasive genetic method has been introduced to the field of wildlife conservation for more than two decades. The method provides reliable information of a population and facilitates investigation of genetic effects on small and fragmented populations. Various DNA markers for the Asian elephant, those include mitochondrial DNA, microsatellite DNA, and sex determination markers, have been developed and used to study wild elephant populations across the distribution range. Most of the studies revealed the issues of low genetic diversity in the small populations and interruption of gene flow among the fragmented populations. Tracking of ivory poaching has not yet been done in the Asian elephant. It could be carried out if a reference genetic database of the natural populations is available. Noninvasive genetic method has been proved to be a promising tool for conservation of the wild Asian elephants. Transboundary collaboration would give hope for a successful long-term conservation of this charismatic species in their natural habitats.

scholarly journals University campuses can contribute to wildlife conservation in urbanizing regions: a case study from Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 16736-16741
Author(s):  
Iliyasu Simon ◽  
Jennifer Che ◽  
Lynne Baker
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
University Campuses ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Cricetomys Gambianus

Globally, colleges and universities are increasingly mandating sustainability and environmental protection into their practices.  To date, such institutions have focused their efforts on recycling and energy-use reduction and less on the management and conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitats. However, in an increasingly urbanizing world, well-managed campuses can provide habitat and even refuge for wildlife species.  On the campus of a sustainability-minded university in Nigeria, we used camera traps to determine the presence of wildlife and used occupancy modeling to evaluate factors that influenced the detectability and habitat use of two mammals for which we had sufficient detections: White-tailed Mongoose Ichneumia albicauda and Gambian Rat Cricetomys gambianus.  Our intent was to gather baseline data on campus wildlife to inform future research and make recommendations for maintaining wildlife populations.  We detected wildlife primarily within less-disturbed areas that contained a designated nature area, and the presence of a nature area was the key predictor variable influencing habitat use.  No measured variables influenced detectability.  This study supports other research that highlights the importance of undisturbed or minimally disturbed natural habitats on university campuses for wildlife, especially in increasingly built-up and developed regions.  We recommend that institutions of higher education devote greater resources to making campuses wildlife-friendly and increase opportunities for students to engage in campus-based wildlife research and conservation and other sustainability-related programs. 

scholarly journals Micro-geographic variation of inversions in natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura

Genetika ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Salceda ◽  
José Espinoza-Velazquez
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Variation ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Polytene Chromosomes ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Chromosomal Polymorphism ◽  
Drosophila Pseudoobscura ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
San Luis ◽  
San Luis Potosi ◽  
San Luis Potosí

Chromosomal polymorphism for the third chromosome in Drosophila pseudoobscura has been widely studied for genetic variation in different environments or locations far apart. However, there is less information regarding sites geographically near one another. Targeting on possible micro-geographic variation in the species, a serial study was done on 12 Mexican populations grouped in four regions, including locations in Durango (DU), the border area of Guanajuato-San Luis Potosi states (GP), Chiapas (CH) and Saldilo (SA). Flies were trapped in their natural habitats using fermenting bananas as bait. They were individually cultivated in the laboratory for larvae production. In a given population sample several flies were cultivated together but only one larva per culture provided salivary tissue to observe polytene chromosomes. Gene arrangements or inversions were identified and frequencies were calculated. A total of 767 third chromosomes were studied and 11 different inversions detected. The type and relative frequencies of the arrangements varied among regions. From the 11 inversions observed, 10 were found in Durango, five in Guanajuato-San Luis Potosi and Chiapas, and eight in Saltillo. The inversion frequencies in the Durango locations varied in four cases, but only one in Chiapas, three cases in Guanajuato-San Luis Potosi, and five in Saltillo. It was also observed that there were geographical gradients for inversions within regions as follows: four arrangements in Saltillo and Durango, three in Guanajuato-San Luis Potos? and one in Chiapas. Moreover, all four regions studied showed evidences for micro-geographical variation. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to elucidate the relevance of the inversion frequencies changes in neighboring populations and also any seasonal-annual frequencies observed in the locations studied here.

scholarly journals Male and female reproductive success in natural and anthropogenic populations of Malaxis monophyllos (L.) Sw. (Orchidaceae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edyta Jermakowicz ◽  
Beata Ostrowiecka ◽  
Izabela Tałałaj ◽  
Artur Pliszko ◽  
Agata Kostro-Ambroziak
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Floral Display ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Female Reproductive Success ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Demographic Processes ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Effective Pollinators

Abstract In the presented study, male and female reproductive success was analyzed in relation to the population size, floral display and pollinators’ availability in natural and anthropogenic populations of the orchid Malaxis monophyllos (L.) Sw. Our results indicated significant differences between all investigated populations in parameters of floral display, including heights and number of flowers per inflorescence, as well the number of flowering individuals and their spatial structure. Additionally, populations differed both in male (pollinia removal) and female (fruit set) reproductive success, but only the fruit set clearly differentiated anthropogenic and natural populations. Despite the average flower number per plant being significantly higher in two of the anthropogenic populations, it was not related to the fruits set, which was significantly lower there. Moreover, our preliminary study concerning the potential pollinators of M. monophyllos showed a higher contribution of flies in natural habitats than in anthropogenic ones. Thus, we can suspect that the main factors influencing the level of female reproductive success in M. monophyllos populations are abundance of effective pollinators, as well as flower visitors, which may have resulted in a different level of pollen discounting in populations. Therefore, further studies concerning breeding system and pollination as important forces that shape demographic processes in M. monophyllos populations are necessary. Our results also indicate that suitable conservation methods in M. monophyllos should always include the preservation of potential pollinators, especially in these new, secondary habitats.

Cryptic Lineages and a Population Dammed to Incipient Extinction? Insights into the Genetic Structure of a Mekong River Catfish

2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (5) ◽  
pp. 535-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda S Ackiss ◽  
Binh T Dang ◽  
Christopher E Bird ◽  
Ellen E Biesack ◽  
Phen Chheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Flood Pulse ◽  
Mekong River ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Genetic Lineages ◽  
Low Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Size Estimates

Abstract An understanding of the genetic composition of populations across management boundaries is vital to developing successful strategies for sustaining biodiversity and food resources. This is especially important in ecosystems where habitat fragmentation has altered baseline patterns of gene flow, dividing natural populations into smaller subpopulations and increasing potential loss of genetic variation through genetic drift. River systems can be highly fragmented by dams built for flow regulation and hydropower. We used reduced-representation sequencing to examine genomic patterns in an exploited catfish, Hemibagrus spilopterus, in a hotspot of biodiversity and hydropower development—the Mekong River basin. Our results revealed the presence of 2 highly divergent coexisting genetic lineages which may be cryptic species. Within the lineage with the greatest sample sizes, pairwise FST values, principal component analysis, and a STRUCTURE analysis all suggest that long-distance migration is not common across the Lower Mekong Basin, even in areas where flood-pulse hydrology has limited genetic divergence. In tributaries, effective population size estimates were at least an order of magnitude lower than in the Mekong mainstream indicating these populations may be more vulnerable to perturbations such as human-induced fragmentation. Fish isolated upstream of several dams in one tributary exhibited particularly low genetic diversity, high amounts of relatedness, and a level of inbreeding (GIS = 0.51) that has been associated with inbreeding depression in other outcrossing species. Our results highlight the importance of assessing genetic structure and diversity in riverine fisheries populations across proposed dam development sites for the preservation of these critically important resources.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Reliability of Non-Specialist Observers in the Behavioural Assessment of Semi-Captive Asian Elephant Welfare

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Jonathan L. Webb ◽  
Jennie A. H. Crawley ◽  
Martin W. Seltmann ◽  
Océane Liehrmann ◽  
Nicola Hemmings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Asian Elephant ◽  
Observer Agreement ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Video Footage ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Reliable Monitoring ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
Working Populations

Recognising stress is an important component in maintaining the welfare of captive animal populations, and behavioural observation provides a rapid and non-invasive method to do this. Despite substantial testing in zoo elephants, there has been relatively little interest in the application of behavioural assessments to the much larger working populations of Asian elephants across Southeast Asia, which are managed by workers possessing a broad range of behavioural knowledge. Here, we developed a new ethogram of potential stress- and work-related behaviour for a semi-captive population of Asian elephants. We then used this to collect observations from video footage of over 100 elephants and evaluated the reliability of behavioural welfare assessments carried out by non-specialist observers. From observations carried out by different raters with no prior experience of elephant research or management, we tested the reliability of observations between-observers, to assess the general inter-observer agreement, and within-observers, to assess the consistency in behaviour identification. The majority of ethogram behaviours were highly reliable both between- and within-observers, suggesting that overall, behaviour was highly objective and could represent easily recognisable markers for behavioural assessments. Finally, we analysed the repeatability of individual elephant behaviour across behavioural contexts, demonstrating the importance of incorporating a personality element in welfare assessments. Our findings highlight the potential of non-expert observers to contribute to the reliable monitoring of Asian elephant welfare across large captive working populations, which may help to both improve elephant wellbeing and safeguard human workers.

scholarly journals Large ranches as conservation tools in the Venezuelan llanos

Oryx ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Hoogesteijn ◽  
Colin A. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Private Land ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Personal Involvement ◽  
Venezuelan Llanos ◽  
Seasonally Flooded

Traditionally, wildlife conservation efforts have concentrated on the establishment of national parks and reserves. Additional strategies are needed if we are to conserve more than a small proportion of the world's natural habitats and their wildlife. One such strategy is the application of wildlife conservation regulations by private land owners on their properties. This paper uses examples of ranches in the seasonally flooded llanos of Venezuela to evaluate if effective wildlife conservation can coexist with sustainable wildlife use and cattle production. Income estimates derived from cattle production data varied among ranches from $US7.1 to $US26.4 per ha, while estimates of potential additional income through regulated capybara Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris and caiman Caiman crocodilus exploitation ranged up to $US7.7 per ha. The economic benefits of capybara and caiman harvests can be realized only by protecting wildlife habitat. Thus, it is suggested that large ranches in the llanos can play a major role in wildlife conservation as well as provide economic gains for those involved. Common denominators for success are: personal involvement of owners, effective patrolling systems, co-operation of neighbouring ranchers in patrolling activities, and ranches being located far from densely populated areas. For the programmes to succeed in the long term, government and conservation agencies will need to give more support to landowners.

Low genetic diversity and high inbreeding of the endangered yews in Central Himalaya: implications for conservation of their highly fragmented populations

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 1270-1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram C. Poudel ◽  
Michael Möller ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Lian-Ming Gao ◽  
Sushim R. Baral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Central Himalaya ◽  
Fragmented Populations ◽  
Low Genetic Diversity

scholarly journals Assessing the Psychological Priorities for Optimising Captive Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Welfare

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake Stuart Veasey
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Asian Elephant ◽  
Evolutionary Significance ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Human Care ◽  
Species Specific

The welfare status of elephants under human care has been a contentious issue for two decades or more in numerous western countries. Much effort has gone into assessing the welfare of captive elephants at individual and population levels with little consensus having been achieved in relation to both the welfare requirements of captive elephants, or their absolute welfare status. A methodology capable of identifying the psychological priorities of elephants would greatly assist in both managing and assessing captive elephant welfare. Here, a Delphi-based Animal Welfare Priority Identification System© (APWIS©) is trialled to evaluate the reliability of the methodology and to determine the welfare significance of individual behaviours and cognitive processes for Asian elephants (Elaphus maximus). APWIS© examines the motivational characteristics, evolutionary significance and established welfare impacts of individual behaviours and cognitive processes of each species being assessed. The assessment carried out here indicates appetitive behaviours essential for survival in the wild, together species-specific social and cognitive opportunities are likely to be important to the welfare of Asian elephant in captivity. The output of this assessment, for the first time, provides comprehensive species-specific psychological/welfare priorities for Asian elephants that should be used to inform husbandry guidelines, habitat design and management strategies and can also provide a valuable reference tool for Asian elephant welfare assessment. The effective application of these insights could lead to substantive improvements in captive Asian elephant welfare.

Low genetic diversity at allozyme loci in Juglans cinerea

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
pp. 1238-1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Morin ◽  
Jean Beaulieu ◽  
Marie Deslauriers ◽  
Gaëtan Daoust ◽  
Jean Bousquet
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Polymorphic Locus ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Minor Component ◽  
Temperate Deciduous Forest ◽  
Juglans Cinerea ◽  
Low Genetic Diversity ◽  
Allozyme Loci

Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.) is a minor component of the temperate deciduous forest region of northeastern North America, but it is severely affected by the butternut canker (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum Nair, Kostichka, and Kuntz) in the southern part of its natural range. Genetic diversity and population structure in as-yet unaffected or only slightly affected natural populations were evaluated at 12 isozyme loci. The genetic diversity estimates were low with values much below those estimated in other species of the same genus or in boreal tree species, with 25 and 13.9% polymorphic loci at the species and population levels, respectively; 1.3 and 2.3 alleles per locus and per polymorphic locus, respectively, at the species level; and an average observed heterozygosity of 0.028. Population differentiation was low, with the exception of one unique population. The implications for advanced conservation are discussed.Key words: butternut, isozymes, Sirococcus, canker, population structure.

scholarly journals Asian Elephant T Cell Responses to Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Fuery ◽  
Ann M. Leen ◽  
Rongsheng Peng ◽  
Matthew C. Wong ◽  
Hao Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Asian Elephant ◽  
Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACTElephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) can cause lethal hemorrhagic disease in juvenile Asian elephants, an endangered species. One hypothesis to explain this vulnerability of some juvenile elephants is that they fail to mount an effective T cell response to the virus. To our knowledge, there have been no studies of Asian elephant T cell responses to EEHV. To address this deficiency, we validated the gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot assay for tracking antigen-directed T cell activity by monitoring rabies-specific responses in vaccinated elephants. In addition, we generated monoclonal antibodies to Asian elephant CD4 and CD8 to facilitate phenotypic T cell profiling. Using these tools, we screened healthy elephants with a history of EEHV infection for reactivity against nine EEHV proteins whose counterparts in other herpesviruses are known to induce T cell responses in their natural hosts. We identified glycoprotein B (gB) and the putative regulatory protein E40 as the most immunogenic T cell targets (IFN-γ responses in five of seven elephants), followed by the major capsid protein (IFN-γ responses in three of seven elephants). We also observed that IFN-γ responses were largely from CD4+T cells. We detected no activity against the predicted major immediate early (E44) and large tegument (E34) proteins, both immunodominant T cell targets in humans latently infected with cytomegalovirus. These studies identified EEHV-specific T cells in Asian elephants for the first time, lending insight into the T cell priming that might be required to protect against EEHV disease, and will guide the design of effective vaccine strategies.IMPORTANCEEndangered Asian elephants are facing many threats, including lethal hemorrhagic disease from elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). EEHV usually establishes chronic, benign infections in mature Asian elephants but can be lethal to juvenile elephants in captivity and the wild. It is the leading cause of death in captive Asian elephants in North America and Europe. Despite the availability of sensitive tests and protocols for treating EEHV-associated illness, these measures are not always effective. The best line of defense would be a preventative vaccine. We interrogated normal healthy elephants previously infected with EEHV for T cell responses to nine EEHV proteins predicted to induce cellular immune responses. Three proteins elicited IFN-γ responses, suggesting their potential usefulness as vaccine candidates. Our work is the first to describe T cell responses to a member of the proposed fourth subfamily of mammalian herpesviruses, theDeltaherpesvirinae, within a host species in the clade Afrotheria. An EEHV vaccine would greatly contribute to the health care of Asian and African elephants that are also susceptible to this disease.

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