Pragmatic Perspective on Conservation Genetics and Demographic History of the Last Surviving Population of Kashmir Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hanglu) in India

Abstract

The hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) is of great conservation concern because it represents the easternmost and only hope for an Asiatic survivor of the red deer species in the Indian subcontinent. Despite the rigorous conservation efforts of the Department of Wildlife Protection in Jammu & Kashmir, the hangul population has experienced a severe decline in numbers and range contraction in the past few decades. The hangul population once abundant in the past has largely become confined to the Dachigam landscape, with a recent population estimate of 218 individuals. We investigated the genetic variability and demographic history of the hangul population and found that it has shown a relatively low diversity estimates when compared to other red deer populations of the world. Neutrality tests, which are used to evaluate demographic effects, did not support population expansion, and the multimodal pattern of mismatch distribution indicated that the hangul population is under demographic equilibrium. Furthermore, the hangul population did not exhibit any signature of bottleneck footprints in the past, and Coalescent Bayesian Skyline plot analysis revealed that the population had not experienced any dramatic changes in the effective population size over the last several thousand years. We observed a strong evidence of sub-structuring in the population, wherein the majority of individuals were assigned to different clusters in Bayesian cluster analysis. Population viability analysis demonstrated insignificant changes in the mean population size, with a positive growth rate projected for the next hundred years. We discuss the phylogenetic status of hangul for the first time among the other red deer subspecies of the world and strongly recommend to upgrade hangul conservation status under IUCN that should be discrete from the other red deer subspecies of the world to draw more conservation attention from national and international bodies.

Species identification and molecular sexing from feces of Kashmir stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu)

“…Thus, all samples of known or unknown sexes were correctly assigned to their respective sexes. This study has been a successful pilot attempt in assigning the sexes of hangul deer through a simple PCR where the same reaction was also processed for species identification and assessing molecular genetic variation (Mukesh et al 2015). We also found a positive amplification and applicability of these sets of primers in identifying sexes of several other cervids like chital, sambhar and hog deer (samples of known sexes were used).…”

“…However, no deer species other than hangul exist in Dachigam national park, all generated sequences has verified the samples of hangul origin. These sequences were further utilized in assessing genetic variability and understanding demography history of hangul population (Mukesh et al 2015). The sequences of D-loop region were deposited in the NCBI/GenBank database (Accession no.…”

“…Among 22 subspecies of red deer (Randi et al 2001;Ludt et al 2004;Pitra et al 2004) that are widely distributed across the world, Kashmir stag or hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) is of great conservation concern because it represents the easternmost and only Asiatic survivor of the red deer species in the Indian subcontinent (Schaller 1969;Mukesh et al 2015). Despite the rigorous conservation efforts of the Department of Wildlife Protection in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), the hangul population has experienced a severe decline in numbers and range contraction in the past few decades (Charoo et al 2010;Mukesh et al 2013b).…”

Spatial and temporal genetic dynamics of the grasshopper Oedaleus decorus revealed by museum genomics

“…Understanding processes shaping the genetic variation in species through space and time is crucial in various fields of biology, ranging from informing conservation decisions (e.g., Inoue, Lang, & Berg, ; Mukesh, Sharma, Shukla, & Sathyakumar, ) and unraveling the demographic history of species (e.g., Gong et al., ; Tsuda, Nakao, Ide, & Tsumura, ; Vera Escalona, Habit, & Ruzzante, ) to disentangling key evolutionary processes (e.g., Capblancq, Després, Rioux, & Mavárez, ). Investigating genetic variation through space has proven valuable to unravel the role of environment in genetic divergence (Björklund, Alonso, & Edelaar, ; D'Amen, Zimmermann, & Pearman, ).…”

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“…2 Historically, the hangul was commonly found in the mountains of Kashmir Himalayas, Chenab valley and some parts of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. 3,4 Over time,the hangul deer lost its habitat due to environmental and anthropogenic pressures particularly because of deforestation, degradation and encroachment. 3,5 Maharaja Hari sing prepared a Kashmir's shikar map which depicts that Hangul was distributed in a radius of 40km spreading from Karen in Kishenganga catchmentsover to Dorus in Lolab valley, Erin catchments in Bandipora to Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh through Baltal to Aru, Tral, and Kashtwar.…”