Anthropogenic pressures increase extinction risk of an isolated Asian elephant(Elephas maximus)population in southwestern China,as revealed by a combination of molecular-and landscape-scale approaches  

作　　者：Ying CHEN Yakuan SUN Luciano ATZENI Luke GIBSON Mei HUA Keyu LI Kun SHI David DUDGEON 

机构地区：[1]School of Ecology and Nature Conservation,Beijing Forestry University,Beijing,China [2]School of Biological Sciences,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong,China [3]Eco-Bridge Continental,Beijing,China [4]School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,China [5]Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Changchun,China [6]School of Earth Sciences,Yunnan University,Kunming,China

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2022年第6期1078-1094,共17页整合动物学（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the“Second National Survey of Terrestrial Wildlife Project”(grant number:20080131);funded by National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China.

摘　　要：Identification of the effect of anthropogenic threats on ecosystem is crucial.We used molecular tools and remote sensing to evaluate the population status of an isolated Asian elephant population in southwestern China in response to changes in habitat suitability between 1989 and 2019.A total of 22 unique genotypes were identified from 117 dung samples collected between March and June 2018 using microsatellite DNA analysis,including 13 males and 9 females.Based on the size of fecal boli,1 animal was a juvenile,9 were subadults,and 12 were adults,indicating that recruitment was limited.The effective population size was small(15.3)but there was no signature of a recent population bottleneck.We observed a low genetic diversity(He=0.46±0.05)and a high level of inbreeding(Fis of 0.43±0.11),suggesting low population viability and high risk of extinction.In total,these elephants lost nearly two thirds(62%)of their habitat in 3 decades.The expansion of agriculture and rubber plantations followed by an increase in human settlements after 1989 increased the isolation of this population.We recommend that resettlement of 800 inhabitants of 2 villages and the abandonment of associated farmland and rubber plantations would make an additional 20 km2 of suitable habitat available.This could allow a population increase of 14 elephants,possibly by translocating individuals from elsewhere in China.Ourfindings can be applied to the management and conservation of other fragmented populations in China or in other range countries of Asian elephants.

关 键 词：FRAGMENTATION INBREEDING isolation land-use change population viability 

分 类 号：Q95[生物学—动物学]