Genetic assessments and parentage analysis of captive Bolson tortoises (Gopherus flavomarginatus) inform their 'rewilding' in New Mexico
| Autor: | L. Scott Hillard, Elizabeth Canty Cox, Robert W. Murphy, Vanessa Buzzard, Christiane Wiese, Taylor Edwards |
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| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
| Předmět: |
Conservation of Natural Resources
Tortoise New Mexico Population Zoology Population genetics lcsh:Medicine Breeding DNA Mitochondrial Genetics Animals Gopherus flavomarginatus education lcsh:Science DNA Primers Conservation Science education.field_of_study Genetic diversity Evolutionary Biology Multidisciplinary biology lcsh:R Ecology and Environmental Sciences Endangered Species Genetic Variation Biology and Life Sciences Gene Pool biology.organism_classification Turtles Genetics Population Conservation Genetics Microsatellite lcsh:Q Animals Zoo Inbreeding human activities Population Genetics Founder effect Microsatellite Repeats Research Article |
| Zdroj: | PLoS ONE PLoS ONE, Vol 9, Iss 7, p e102787 (2014) |
| ISSN: | 1932-6203 |
| Popis: | The Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus) is the first species of extirpated megafauna to be repatriated into the United States. In September 2006, 30 individuals were translocated from Arizona to New Mexico with the long-term objective of restoring wild populations via captive propagation. We evaluated mtDNA sequences and allelic diversity among 11 microsatellite loci from the captive population and archived samples collected from wild individuals in Durango, Mexico (n = 28). Both populations exhibited very low genetic diversity and the captive population captured roughly 97.5% of the total wild diversity, making it a promising founder population. Genetic screening of other captive animals (n = 26) potentially suitable for reintroduction uncovered multiple hybrid G. flavomarginatus×G. polyphemus, which were ineligible for repatriation; only three of these individuals were verified as purebred G. flavomarginatus. We used these genetic data to inform mate pairing, reduce the potential for inbreeding and to monitor the maintenance of genetic diversity in the captive population. After six years of successful propagation, we analyzed the parentage of 241 hatchlings to assess the maintenance of genetic diversity. Not all adults contributed equally to successive generations. Most yearly cohorts of hatchlings failed to capture the diversity of the parental population. However, overlapping generations of tortoises helped to alleviate genetic loss because the entire six-year cohort of hatchlings contained the allelic diversity of the parental population. Polyandry and sperm storage occurred in the captives and future management strategies must consider such events. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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