Using genetic tools to inform conservation of fragmented populations of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across their range in China  

作　　者：Ying CHEN Yakuan SUN Mei HUA 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 SAR,China [3]Institute of Agro-food Technology,Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Changchun,China [4]Eco-Bridge Continental,Beijing,China

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2023年第3期453-468,共16页整合动物学（英文版）

基　　金：funded by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China,through the“Second National Survey of Terrestrial Wildlife project”(Grant No.20080131).

摘　　要：A herd of 15 Chinese elephants attracted international attention during their 2021 northward trek,motivating the government to propose establishment of an Asian elephant national park.However,planning is hampered by a lack of genetic information on the remaining populations in China.We collected DNA from 497 dung samples from all 5 populations encompassing the entire range of elephants in China and used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate their genetic and demographic structure.We identified 237 unique genotypes(153 females,84 males),representing 81%of the known population.However,the effective population size was small(28,range 25–32).Historic demographic contraction appeared to account for low haplotype diversity(Hd=0.235),but mod-erate nucleotide and nuclear diversity(π=0.6%,He=0.55)was attributable to post-bottleneck recovery involving recent population expansion plus historical gene exchange with elephants in Myanmar,Lao PDR,and Vietnam.The 5 populations fell into 3 clusters,with Nangunhe elephants differing consistently from the other 4 populations(FST=0.23);elephants from Mengyang,Simao,and Jiangcheng belonged to a single population(henceforth,MSJ),and differed from the Shangyong population(FST=0.11).Interpopulation genetic variation reflected isola-tion by distance and female-biased dispersal.Chinese elephants should be managed as 2 distinct units:Nangunhe and another combining Shangyong and MSJ;their long-term viability will require restoring geneflow between Shangyong and MSJ,and between elephants in China and neighboring countries.Our results have the potential to inform conservation planning for an iconic megafaunal species.

关 键 词：DEMOGRAPHY elephas maximus genetic diversity interpopulation variation national park 

分 类 号：Q959[生物学—动物学]