Abstract
Conservation genetics can provide data needed by conservation practitioners for their decisions regarding the management of vulnerable or endangered species, such as the sun bear Helarctos malayanus. Throughout its range, the sun bear is threatened by loss and fragmentation of its habitat and the illegal trade of both live bears and bear parts. Sharply declining population numbers and population sizes, and a lack of natural dispersal between populations all threaten the genetic diversity of the remaining populations of this species. In this first population genetics study of sun bears using microsatellite markers, we analyzed 68 sun bear samples from Cambodia to investigate population structure and genetic diversity. We found evidence for two genetically distinct populations in the West and East of Cambodia. Ongoing or recent gene flow between these populations does not appear sufficient to alleviate loss of diversity in these populations, one of which (West Cambodia) is characterized by significant inbreeding. We were able to assign 85% of sun bears of unknown origin to one of the two populations with high confidence (assignment probability ≥ 85%), providing valuable information for future bear reintroduction programs. Further, our results suggest that developed land (mostly agricultural mosaics) acts as a barrier to gene flow for sun bears in Cambodia. We highlight that regional sun bear conservation action plans should consider promoting population connectivity and enforcing wildlife protection of this threatened species.
Highlights
Determining the genetic status of wild animal populations using nuclear genetic markers can provide conservation practitioners with valuable information for ex situ and in situ conservation management (Arif et al 2011)
During the last decades microsatellite markers have become a powerful genetic tool to inform ex situ breeding programs (Witzenberger and Hochkirch 2011), they can be used for genetic fingerprinting (Mishra et al 2017) and they can be used in the development of forensic markers to combat illegal trade (Arif et al 2011)
Microsatellites provide in situ practitioners with valuable information about the genetic diversity of wild populations, the extent of gene flow between these populations, and help determine how viable wild populations are in fragmented and anthropogenic disturbed environments (Goossens et al 2013; Frankham 2015)
Summary
Determining the genetic status of wild animal populations (and captive stock) using nuclear genetic markers can provide conservation practitioners with valuable information for ex situ and in situ conservation management (Arif et al 2011). Inbreeding can have significant consequences for fitness, for example by reducing sperm quality and quantity (Fitzpatrick and Evans 2009), by reducing competitive abilities (Haag et al 2002), by compromising mating ability (Frankham 2005; Liberg et al 2005), by increasing developmental time (Fox and Reed 2010) and/or by reducing disease resistance and immune competence (Ilmonen et al 2008). These consequences endanger populations, in conjunction with the loss and disturbance of habitat (Frankham 2015). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) acknowledges the importance of understanding the genetic resources of a target species to optimize its conservation management plan (Reed and Frankham 2003) and to preserve genetic biodiversity worldwide
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