Genetic diversity of the Nubian ibex in Oman as revealed by mitochondrial DNA

Al-Ghafri, Mataab K.; White, P. J.; Briers, Robert A.; Dicks, Kara; Ball, Alex D.; Ghazālī, Muḥammad; Ross, Stephen M.; Al-Said, Taimur; Al-Amri, Haitham; Al-Umairi, Mudhafar; Al-Saadi, Hani; Aka'ak, Ali; Hardan, Ahmed; Zabanoot, Nasser; Craig, Mark; Senn, Helen

doi:10.1098/rsos.210125

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 44 publications

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“…The genetic diversity estimates of the Himalayan ibex were in the range of other similar ungulates such as the Nubian ibex ( Capra nubiana ), Korean goral ( Naemorhedus caudatus ), Hangul ( Cervus hanglu hanglu ) and blue sheep ( Pseudois nayaur ) [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. The neutrality tests were negative and supported population expansion in the past.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lahaul–Zanskar–Sham Valley Corridor in Indian Trans Himalayan Region Facilitates Dispersal and Gene Flow in Himalayan Ibex

Jabin

Dolker

Joshi

et al. 2023

Biology

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Wildlife corridors that connect mosaic habitats in heterogeneous mountainous landscapes can be of high significance as they facilitate the genetic and demographic stability of free-ranging populations. Peripheral populations of widespread species are usually ignored in conservation planning. However, these populations retain locally common alleles and are genetic reservoir under the changing climatic conditions. Capra sibirica has widespread distribution, and its southern peripheral population is distributed in the Indian trans-Himalayan region (ITR). In the present study, we studied the spatial distribution and genetic make-up of Himalayan ibex from the ITR following the landscape genetics approach. We obtained 16 haplotypes at the mitochondrial d-loop region and found a stable demography in the past with a recent decline. With 10 nuclear microsatellites, we ascertained 111 unique individuals assigned into two clusters following Bayesian and non-Bayesian clustering analysis with several admixed individuals. We also recorded 25 first-generation migrants that reflected relatively high dispersal and gene-flow across the range. We identified a 19,835 sq.km suitable area with 13,311 sq.km in Ladakh and 6524 sq.km in Lahaul-Spiti. We identified a novel movement corridor for Himalayan ibex across the Lahaul–Zanskar–Sham valley (L–Z–SV) that displayed a fairly good conductance with low genetic divergence among the samples collected on the L–Z–SV corridor. We propose declaring a protected area in the Lahaul and Kargil districts to prioritize dedicated conservation efforts for the Himalayan ibex and other sympatric ungulates that impart a major role in the diet of large carnivore and balancing ecosystem services in the trans-Himalayan region.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lahaul–Zanskar–Sham Valley Corridor in Indian Trans Himalayan Region Facilitates Dispersal and Gene Flow in Himalayan Ibex

Jabin

Dolker

Joshi

et al. 2023

Biology

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Implications of newly developed SNPs for conservation programmes for the threatened Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) in Oman

Al-Ghafri,

White,

Briers

et al. 2024

Conservation Genet Resour

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Conservation of elusive species affected by habitat degradation, population fragmentation and poaching is challenging. The remaining wild populations of a desert-adapted ungulate, Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), within Oman are small and fragmented. The appropriateness of captive insurance populations for reinforcing existing, or establishing new, wild populations remains uncertain for Oman due to ambiguity regarding their genetic provenance. For effective management of this threatened species, it is essential to assess the genetic relationships between the wild and captive populations, and to investigate hybridisation with domestic goats (Capra hircus). We identified 5,775 high-quality SNPs using double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD), to assess genetic structure, gene flow and divergence between Oman’s wild populations of Nubian ibex and in captivity, which are likely of North African provenance. We detected hybridisation with goats in captivity and recommend that genetic assessments of captive individuals are routinely used to evaluate their suitability for conservation programs. Building on previous mitochondrial evidence, substantial nuclear divergence (FST = 0.540) was found between wild Oman and captive populations, providing further evidence that Nubian ibex may be composed of multiple species and urgently needs a taxonomic review. Additionally, an appropriate insurance population should be established for Oman’s threatened wild population. The data provided here will be invaluable for developing marker systems to assess wild populations using low-quality DNA from non-invasive sampling. Consequently, it will support further research into Nubian ibex throughout their range and highlights the need to integrate genetic information for effective conservation management of Nubian ibex.

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Conservation assessment of the vulnerable species Capra nubiana under changing precipitation: a decision- support tool for conservation planning

Khayat,

Dakhil

2024

Mamm Biol

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Genetic diversity of the Nubian ibex in Oman as revealed by mitochondrial DNA

Cited by 4 publications

References 44 publications

Lahaul–Zanskar–Sham Valley Corridor in Indian Trans Himalayan Region Facilitates Dispersal and Gene Flow in Himalayan Ibex

Lahaul–Zanskar–Sham Valley Corridor in Indian Trans Himalayan Region Facilitates Dispersal and Gene Flow in Himalayan Ibex

Implications of newly developed SNPs for conservation programmes for the threatened Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) in Oman

Conservation assessment of the vulnerable species Capra nubiana under changing precipitation: a decision- support tool for conservation planning

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