Microsatellite DNA analysis reveals lower than expected genetic diversity in the threatened leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in South Korea

Abstract

To optimize conservation efforts, it is necessary to determine the risk of extinction by collecting reliable population information for a given species. We developed eight novel, polymorphic microsatellite markers and used these markers in conjunction with twelve existing markers to measure genetic diversity of South Korean populations of leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a species for which population size and habitat area data are unknown in the country, to assess its conservation status. The average number of alleles and the observed heterozygosity of the species were 3.8 and 0.41, respectively, and microsatellite diversity was lower than the average genetic diversity of 57 populations of 12 other felid species, and lower than that of other mammal populations occurring in South Korea, including the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), water deer (Hydropotes inermis), and endangered long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus). Furthermore, analysis of genetic structure in the national leopard cat population showed no clear genetic differentiation, suggesting that it is not necessary to divide the South Korean leopard cat population into multiple management units for the purposes of conservation. These results indicate that the genetic diversity of the leopard cat in South Korea is unexpectedly low, and that the risk of local extinction is, as a result, substantial. Thus, it is necessary to begin appropriate conservation efforts at a national level to conserve the leopard cat population in South Korea.

Genetic structure analysis on leopard cat reveals the effects of habitat fragmentation on subpopulation differentiation in Beijing

“…In our study the average PIC at all six microsatellite loci was above 0.4 (Table 2), which indicates moderate diversification of alleles according to the standards of Botstein [62] . In this study, the average effective number of alleles (Ne = 2.29) was lower than the index for leopard cat in Korea (Na = 3.8) [29] but higher than that of the Iriomote leopard cat population in Japan (Na = 1.33) [26] . Moreover, the average observed heterozygosity was lower than in Korea (Ho = He = 0.41) [29] , but the average expected heterozygosity was higher (Table 2), and compared to the Tsushima leopard cat population in Japan (Ho = 0.77, He = 0.66) [26] our parameters were much lower.…”

“…In this study, the average effective number of alleles (Ne = 2.29) was lower than the index for leopard cat in Korea (Na = 3.8) [29] but higher than that of the Iriomote leopard cat population in Japan (Na = 1.33) [26] . Moreover, the average observed heterozygosity was lower than in Korea (Ho = He = 0.41) [29] , but the average expected heterozygosity was higher (Table 2), and compared to the Tsushima leopard cat population in Japan (Ho = 0.77, He = 0.66) [26] our parameters were much lower. Thus, total genetic diversity was moderate in this study.…”

“…We tried several reaction conditions and annealing temperatures repeatedly with fecal DNA samples based on 20 pairs of microsatellite loci for leopard cat from muscle samples [28][29] , and six suitable microsatellite loci (Pbe03, Pbe05, Pbe13, Pbe28, Pbe32, Pbe33) were selected. The conditions for the PCR reaction system were from Ko [29] . We genotyped the samples using the ABI 3730xl DNA analyzer supplied by TsingKe Biotech.…”

“…Studies of leopard cats from Korea using microsatellite markers showed that this species had lower genetic diversity than 12 other feline species in the world [28] and other mammalian species in Korea [29] . However, there has been little such research on species in China.…”

The Tsushima leopard cat exhibits extremely low genetic diversity compared with the Korean Amur leopard cat: Implications for conservation

“…The Korean population had many private alleles and appeared to show high genetic diversity. However, the Korean Amur leopard cat population has been reported to have low genetic diversity compared with other feline and endangered species (Ko et al, 2018). Therefore, the relatively high number of private alleles observed in the Korean population may be due to comparison with the Tsushima leopard cat, which has very low genetic diversity.…”