Studbook and molecular analyses for the endangered black-lion-tamarin; an integrative approach for assessing genetic diversity and driving management in captivity

Paola Andrea Ayala-Burbano,Alcides Pissinatti,Mara Cristina Marques,Pedro Manoel Galetti Junior,Patrícia Domingues De Freitas,Dominic Wormell

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63542-2

Abstract

Breeding strategies based on molecular markers have been adopted by ex-situ conservation programs to assess alternative parameters for the genetic diversity estimates. In this work we evaluated molecular and studbook data for captive populations of black-lion-tamarin (BLT), an endangered primate endemic to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Pedigree analyses were performed using BLT studbook information collected from 1973 to 2018. We analyzed the whole captive population since its foundation; the current captive population (CCP); and all extant BLTs in the Brazilian captive population (BCP), separately. Microsatellite analyses were implemented on the BCP individuals from the eighth generation (BCP-F8) only to avoid generation overlap. The expected heterozygosity for BCP-F8, using molecular, data was 0.45, and the initial expected heterozygosity was 0.69. Kinship parameters showed high genetic relationships in both pedigree and molecular analyses. The genealogy-based endogamy evidenced a high inbreeding coefficient, while the molecular analyses suggested a non-inbreeding signature. The Mate Suitability Index showed detrimental values for the majority of potential pairs in the CCP. Nevertheless, some individuals evidenced high individual heterozygosity and allele representation, demonstrating good potential to be used as breeders. Thus, we propose the use of molecular data as a complementary parameter to evaluate mating-pairs and to aid management decision-making.

Highlights

Breeding strategies based on molecular markers have been adopted by ex-situ conservation programs to assess alternative parameters for the genetic diversity estimates
The whole captive population of BLTs consists of 517 animals (Supplementary Fig. S1), of which 466 have already died, including 35 wild founders and three individuals with unknown parents (Table 1)
The Brazilian captive population of BLTs includes 37 adults recorded in the 2014 studbook[30]

Summary

Introduction

Breeding strategies based on molecular markers have been adopted by ex-situ conservation programs to assess alternative parameters for the genetic diversity estimates. To most ex-situ breeding programs, the management of L. chrysopygus in captivity has been implemented based only on pedigree analyses[8], aiming to minimize population average kinship and preserve representative genetic diversity[19,20,21]. This strategy has been considered appropriate to avoid inbreeding[22], even if a pedigree has been properly scored for a captive group since its foundation, founder relationships are generally unknown, and for management purposes it is commonly assumed that the founders are unrelated[23]. Captive breeding programs often recruit few founders, in general from a single population, representing a small proportion of the total genetic diversity of a species[1]

Methods

Results

Conclusion