First evaluation of the population structure, genetic diversity and landscape connectivity of the Endangered Arabian tahr

Steven Ross,Helen Senn,Jean-Marc Costanzi,Muhammad Ghazali,Mansoor Al Jahdhami,Haitham Al Rawahi

doi:10.1007/s42991-020-00072-4

Steven Ross, Helen Senn + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-020-00072-4

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Abstract

The Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari) occurs only in the mountains of northern Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The species is classified as Endangered due to its small declining population. In this study, we combined genetic and landscape ecology techniques in order to inform landscape scale conservation and genetic management of Arabian tahr. Using 540 base pairs of mitochondrial control region in a dataset of 53 samples, we found eight haplotypes, which fell into two haplogroups. Population genetic analysis using a panel of 14 microsatellite loci also showed a weak, but significant division. Analyses of landscape connectivity supported the genetic results showing poor connectivity between populations in the far south of the study area and those in the north. The most likely location of corridors connecting Arabian tahr populations were identified. Many corridors between tahr populations are impeded by multi-lane highways and restoration of these connections is required to maintain population viability of Arabian tahr. Owing to limited genetic samples outside of Wadi Sareen, further sampling is needed to elucidate both mtDNA and the nuclear structure of Arabian tahr more fully. Our study provides a toolkit that may be used for future genetic and connectivity monitoring of the Arabian tahr population.

Highlights

Anthropogenic habitat loss and fragmentation is known to negatively affect biodiversity by reducing suitable habitat area, habitat quality and connectivity between populations, and is recognised as the greatest threat to global biodiversity (Sala et al 2000; Fahrig 2003; Baden et al 2019)
Allelic variants found within the total complement of genes, the genepool, drift to extinction resulting in an erosion of genetic diversity
This study provides useful molecular and landscape recommendations and tools that improve our understanding of population structure, genetic diversity and landscape management of the Arabian tahr

Summary

Introduction

Anthropogenic habitat loss and fragmentation is known to negatively affect biodiversity by reducing suitable habitat area, habitat quality and connectivity between populations, and is recognised as the greatest threat to global biodiversity (Sala et al 2000; Fahrig 2003; Baden et al 2019). Individual patches may be too small to maintain populations of area sensitive species, a well-connected network of habitat patches can provide sufficient area to maintain viable populations (Noss 2004). Over the long-term, reduced connectivity results in increased extinction risk, for Endangered species with small populations (Frankham 2015). Allelic variants found within the total complement of genes, the genepool, drift to extinction resulting in an erosion of genetic diversity. Loss of genetic diversity results in reduced evolutionary flexibility and inability to adapt to future threats such as disease and climate change (Reed and Frankham 2003; Frankham et al 2014). In the case of threatened species with small fragmented populations, such as the Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari), genetic management should be considered an important part of conservation management

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