Endangered species and nature conservation: science issues and challenges

Szaro, Robert C.

doi:10.1111/j.1749-4877.2008.00075.x

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…Phylogeography and population genetic studies can aid the identification of evolutionarily significant units and management units [38] and result in evidence-based conservation decision-making regarding endangered species [39]. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses based on our mtDNA data support the existence of two main and a minor (comprising only two individuals) clades.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Genetic Structure and Demographic History Should Inform Conservation: Chinese Cobras Currently Treated as Homogenous Show Population Divergence

et al. 2012

PLoS ONE

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An understanding of population structure and genetic diversity is crucial for wildlife conservation and for determining the integrity of wildlife populations. The vulnerable Chinese cobra (Naja atra) has a distribution from the mouth of the Yangtze River down to northern Vietnam and Laos, within which several large mountain ranges and water bodies may influence population structure. We combined 12 microsatellite loci and 1117 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to explore genetic structure and demographic history in this species, using 269 individuals from various localities in Mainland China and Vietnam. High levels of genetic variation were identified for both mtDNA and microsatellites. mtDNA data revealed two main (Vietnam + southern China + southwestern China; eastern + southeastern China) and one minor (comprising only two individuals from the westernmost site) clades. Microsatellite data divided the eastern + southeastern China clade further into two genetic clusters, which include individuals from the eastern and southeastern regions, respectively. The Luoxiao and Nanling Mountains may be important barriers affecting the diversification of lineages. In the haplotype network of cytchrome b, many haplotypes were represented within a “star” cluster and this and other tests suggest recent expansion. However, microsatellite analyses did not yield strong evidence for a recent bottleneck for any population or genetic cluster. The three main clusters identified here should be considered as independent management units for conservation purposes. The release of Chinese cobras into the wild should cease unless their origin can be determined, and this will avoid problems arising from unnatural homogenization.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Genetic Structure and Demographic History Should Inform Conservation: Chinese Cobras Currently Treated as Homogenous Show Population Divergence

et al. 2012

PLoS ONE

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“…Phylogeography and population genetic studies can aid the identification of evolutionarily significant units and management units (Moritz 1994) and make evidence‐based conservation decisions for endangered species (Szaro 2008). Our mtDNA data do not support the existence of major geographical partitions defining evolutionarily significant units; however, the microsatellite data clearly reveals three clusters: GLG‐TIB, XXL and QL‐LS, suggesting significant genetic differentiation and limited gene flow among clusters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic structuring and recent demographic history of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) inferred from microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA

Guo

et al. 2011

Molecular Ecology

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Clarification of the genetic structure and population history of a species can shed light on the impacts of landscapes, historical climate change and contemporary human activities and thus enables evidence-based conservation decisions for endangered organisms. The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an endangered species distributing at the edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and is currently subject to habitat loss, fragmentation and population decline, thus representing a good model to test the influences of the above-mentioned factors on a plateau edge species. We combined nine microsatellite loci and 551 bp of mitochondrial control region (mtDNA CR) to explore the genetic structure and demographic history of this species. A total of 123 individuals were sampled from 23 locations across five populations. High levels of genetic variation were identified for both mtDNA and microsatellites. Phylogeographic analyses indicated little geographic structure, suggesting historically wide gene flow. However, microsatellite-based Bayesian clustering clearly identified three groups (Qionglai-Liangshan, Xiaoxiangling and Gaoligong-Tibet). A significant isolation-by-distance pattern was detected only after removing Xiaoxiangling. For mtDNA data, there was no statistical support for a historical population expansion or contraction for the whole sample or any population except Xiaoxiangling where a signal of contraction was detected. However, Bayesian simulations of population history using microsatellite data did pinpoint population declines for Qionglai, Xiaoxiangling and Gaoligong, demonstrating significant influences of human activity on demography. The unique history of the Xiaoxiangling population plays a critical role in shaping the genetic structure of this species, and large-scale habitat loss and fragmentation is hampering gene flow among populations. The implications of our findings for the biogeography of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, subspecies classification and conservation of red pandas are discussed.

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“…Three articles present comprehensive assessments on managing species under threat. Szaro (2008) examines some general issues and challenges facing nature conservation, and some lessons learnt by the International Union of Forest Research Organization. Implications for the management of protected areas arising because of our changing climate are discussed by MacKinnon (2008) who uses several examples from China, while Neronov et al (2008) present their work on invasive mammals and the impact on ecosystems from studies of biosphere reserves in Russia.…”

Section: In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Celebrating three years of Integrative Zoology and looking ahead to the XX International Congress of Zoology

Buckeridge

2008

Integrative Zoology

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Endangered species and nature conservation: science issues and challenges

Cited by 6 publications

References 31 publications

Genetic Structure and Demographic History Should Inform Conservation: Chinese Cobras Currently Treated as Homogenous Show Population Divergence

Genetic Structure and Demographic History Should Inform Conservation: Chinese Cobras Currently Treated as Homogenous Show Population Divergence

Genetic structuring and recent demographic history of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) inferred from microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA

Celebrating three years of Integrative Zoology and looking ahead to the XX International Congress of Zoology

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