Population genetics of Sambar (Rusa unicolor) from the Western Himalayas: preliminary findings

Singh, Vinaya Kumar; Joshi, Bheem Dutt; Bhat, Gul Jabin; Singh, Sujeet Kumar; Chandra, Kailash; Sharma, Lalit Kumar; Thakur, Mukesh

doi:10.1007/s11033-021-06845-5

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This contrasts with our expectations based on the species' similar habitat requirements. A previous study on sambar in the western Himalayas, also reported similar genetic diversity using mitochondrial and microsatellite datasets (Singh et al, 2021) Both species showed a weak but significant correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance (Fig 2c and 3c). The spatial autocorrelation relationship broke down at distances beyond ~65 km for gaur and ~30 km for sambar, which is in agreement with dispersal abilities of these species.…”

Section: Population Genetic Structuresupporting

confidence: 73%

“…This contrasts with our expectations based on the species' similar habitat requirements. A previous study on sambar in the western Himalayas, also reported similar genetic diversity using mitochondrial and microsatellite datasets (Singh et al, 2021). The population in Bor Tiger Reserve, which is close to cities and separated by national highways (Fig 1 ), displays the highest Fst value and the least genetic diversity (Fig 3b & 3e; Table 1), highlighting limited animal movement.…”

Section: Population Genetic Structuresupporting

confidence: 68%

“…Both species have similar habitat association and prefer habitats with high tree and shrub densities, and generally avoid anthropogenic disturbances (Sankar et al, 2013; Singh et al, 2021). Both species face threats like habitat fragmentation, habitat loss, illegal poaching and other anthropogenic impacts responsible for population decline and local extirpation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On the road to losing connectivity: Fecal samples provide genome-wide insights into anthropogenic impacts on two large herbivore species in central India

Tyagi,

Yadav,

Pandit

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Humans have impacted most of the planet, and the ensuing fragmentation results in small, isolated habitat patches posing a risk of genetic diversity loss, inbreeding and genetic load. Understanding how natural and anthropogenic landscape features affect gene flow among habitat patches is critical for maintaining connectivity. Genome-wide data is required to comprehend the impacts of recent fragmentation, which can be challenging for which only non-invasive samples are available. Here, we build upon advancements in conservation genomics to address connectivity of two large herbivores, gaur (Bos gaurus) and sambar (Rusa unicolor) in central India. Given their habitat associations, we expected these species to respond similarly to habitat fragmentation. We used fecal-DNA and methylation-based host-DNA enrichment with modified ddRAD protocol to generate genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 124 Gaur and 99 Sambar individuals. Our findings reveal that gaur populations in central India are fragmented, displaying high genetic differentiation, with drift significantly affecting small populations like Umred-Karhandala Wildlife Sanctuary. Although Sambar shows low genetic structure, another small population, Bor Tiger Reserve is genetically differentiated. Our results suggest that although landcover change and roads restrict animal movement, the extent of this impact varies across the two species. We show that different species, respond differently to landscape features, even with similar habitat associations. We highlight small and isolated populations requiring urgent conservation intervention. Such multi-species approaches enhance our understanding of cross-species connectivity patterns. We suggest shifting from single-species to multi-species holistic conservation approach in rapidly developing landscapes to better manage co-occurring endangered species.

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Section: Population Genetic Structuresupporting

confidence: 73%

“…This contrasts with our expectations based on the species' similar habitat requirements. A previous study on sambar in the western Himalayas, also reported similar genetic diversity using mitochondrial and microsatellite datasets (Singh et al, 2021). The population in Bor Tiger Reserve, which is close to cities and separated by national highways (Fig 1 ), displays the highest Fst value and the least genetic diversity (Fig 3b & 3e; Table 1), highlighting limited animal movement.…”

Section: Population Genetic Structuresupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

On the road to losing connectivity: Fecal samples provide genome-wide insights into anthropogenic impacts on two large herbivore species in central India

Tyagi,

Yadav,

Pandit

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, when we compared our study to research involving both wild and captive sambar deer populations, the results consistently demonstrate a reduced level of genetic diversity in captive populations of Formosan sambar deer. For example, in comparison to the wild populations in the Western Himalayas (A = 12.60, Ho = 0.499, and He = 0.742) [61], and the captive populations in Taiwan (A = 13.50, Ho = 0.310, and He = 0.911) [27], our study consistently revealed lower levels of genetic diversity.…”

Section: Reduced Genetic Diversity In Captive Populations Of Formosan...mentioning

confidence: 45%

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Captive Populations of Formosan Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor swinhoei)

Liang,

Yang,

Cheng

et al. 2023

Animals

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Formosan sambar deer (Rusa unicolor swinhoei) are of great economic significance in Taiwan, resulting in a substantial increase in deer farming to meet the high demand for velvet antlers. Inbreeding depression and reduced genetic variability can lead to the deterioration of captive populations. In this study, 239 Formosan sambar deer were genotyped using 13 microsatellites to analyze their genetic diversity and population genetic structure. Our results indicate a high-resolution power of these microsatellites in individual discrimination and parentage analysis. However, captive populations exhibit a low level of genetic diversity, likely because of inbreeding and bottleneck effects. Both principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and STRUCTURE analyses revealed two distinct and segregated genetic groups within the captive populations and indicated no clear population genetic structure among the captive populations. Introducing new genetic material from the wild through translocation offers a potential solution for mitigating the impact of inbreeding and enhancing genetic diversity. The comprehensive information obtained from these genetic analyses is crucial for the development of effective breeding strategies aimed at preserving and enhancing Formosan sambar deer populations.

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Section: Study Species and Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the road to losing connectivity: Faecal samples provide genome‐wide insights into anthropogenic impacts on two large herbivore species in central India

Tyagi,

Yadav,

Pandit

et al. 2024

Molecular Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Humans have impacted most of the planet, and the ensuing fragmentation results in small, isolated habitat patches posing a risk of genetic diversity loss, inbreeding, and genetic load. Understanding how natural and anthropogenic landscape features affect gene flow among habitat patches is critical for maintaining connectivity. Genome‐wide data are required to comprehend the impacts of recent fragmentation, which can be challenging when only non‐invasive samples are available. Here, we build upon advancements in conservation genomics to address connectivity of two large herbivores, gaur (Bos gaurus) and sambar (Rusa unicolor) in central India. Given their habitat associations, we expected these species to respond similarly to habitat fragmentation. We used faecal‐DNA and methylation‐based host‐DNA enrichment with modified ddRAD protocol to generate genome‐wide single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 124 gaur and 99 sambar individuals. Our findings reveal that gaur populations in central India are fragmented, displaying high genetic differentiation, with drift significantly affecting small populations like Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary. Although sambar shows low genetic structure, another small population, Bor Tiger Reserve is genetically differentiated. Our results suggest that although land cover change and roads restrict animal movement, the extent of this impact varies across the two species. We show that different species respond differently to landscape features, even with similar habitat associations. We highlight small and isolated populations requiring urgent conservation intervention. Such multi‐species approaches enhance our understanding of cross‐species connectivity patterns. We suggest shifting from single‐species to multi‐species holistic conservation approach in rapidly developing landscapes to better manage co‐occurring endangered species.

show abstract

Population genetics of Sambar (Rusa unicolor) from the Western Himalayas: preliminary findings

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

On the road to losing connectivity: Fecal samples provide genome-wide insights into anthropogenic impacts on two large herbivore species in central India

On the road to losing connectivity: Fecal samples provide genome-wide insights into anthropogenic impacts on two large herbivore species in central India

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Captive Populations of Formosan Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor swinhoei)

On the road to losing connectivity: Faecal samples provide genome‐wide insights into anthropogenic impacts on two large herbivore species in central India

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