Intensive demographic and genetic management through European Endangered Species Programmes (EEPs) can make a difference: Cherry‐crowned mangabey Cercocebus torquatus European studbook and White‐naped mangabey Cercocebus atys lunulatus EEP results

Abstract

Many species of wildlife are threatened by destruction of their natural habitat and overhunting. Breeding programmes at zoological facilities can be used to prevent the extinction of some of these species, while contributing to the maintenance of an ex situ gene pool. Two species of primates of the family Cercopithecidae, the Cherry‐crowned mangabey Cercocebus torquatus and the White‐naped mangabey Cercocebus atys lunulatus, are at risk of disappearing in their natural habitat. Populations of both species are maintained at European zoos and have been managed as European studbooks since 1994. In the case of C. a. lunulatus, a European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) was established in 2000 to provide more intensive management. A series of demographic and genetic analyses have been carried out for both European populations using data as at the end of 2012. The results of the present study show that both populations are growing slowly. However, the Cherry‐crowned mangabey population shows high inbreeding and low genetic diversity, while the White‐naped mangabey population has better genetic health that could retain 90% of genetic diversity over the next 100 years, which is one of the main goals of breeding programmes carried out by zoological facilities.

White-naped mangabeys’ viable insurance population within European Zoo Network

“…Supported by the West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire since 2010, the first research outcomes obtained consisted of a population viability analysis (PVA) simulating different scenarios combining deterministic and stochastic factors potentially affecting white-naped mangabey wild populations’ dynamics. The study concluded genetic diversity may remain high under all assumptions (> 90%) 19 , which suggested European captive mangabeys may act as an insurance population to accomplish in-situ conservation goals.…”

“…This information can be used to formulate recommendations to maintain a genetically-healthy population 17 with reliable reproduction and increasing group growth rates 18 . Such recommendations may involve translocations among zoological nuclei, and the objective selection of most appropriate individuals for reproduction and/or identification of related animals 19 .…”

“…In this context, budget limitations 28 , 29 may frequently compromise the routinely application of genomic tools and restrict their utility to small-sized threatened populations, with limited or missing genealogical background, in which the proportion of polymorphic loci is commonly small 19 , 30 , 31 . Otherwise the use of large numbers of genomic markers may be needed 32 .…”

“…Among other genus and families, EAZA institutions host the largest captive population of white-naped mangabeys ( Cercocebus atys lunulatus ), a West African endemic non-human primate from (Ghana, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso) 37 currently classified as ‘Endangered’ by The Red List of IUCN due to habitat fragmentation and bushmeat 38 . The genealogical information (ESB, European Studbook) of captive white-naped mangabeys 19 has been monitored in different European zoos since 1994.…”

“…Since 2000, a European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) was implemented to respond to the classification of the species as ‘Critically Endangered’ by IUCN 19 . Supported by the West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire since 2010, the first research outcomes obtained consisted of a population viability analysis (PVA) simulating different scenarios combining deterministic and stochastic factors potentially affecting white-naped mangabey wild populations’ dynamics.…”