Retrospective Estimation of Genetic Diversity of an Extinct Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) Population in Japan Using Mounted Specimens and Implications for Reintroduction Programs

Take one step backward to move forward: Assessment of genetic diversity and population structure of captive Asian woolly-necked storks (Ciconia episcopus)

The fragmentation of habitats and hunting have impacted the Asian woolly-necked stork (Ciconia episcopus), leading to a serious risk of extinction in Thailand. Programs of active captive breeding, together with careful genetic monitoring, can play an important role in facilitating the creation of source populations with genetic variability to aid the recovery of endangered species. Here, the genetic diversity and population structure of 86 Asian woolly-necked storks from three captive breeding programs [Khao Kheow Open Zoo (KKOZ) comprising 68 individuals, Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo (NRZ) comprising 16 individuals, and Dusit Zoo (DSZ) comprising 2 individuals] were analyzed using 13 microsatellite loci, to aid effective conservation management. Inbreeding and an extremely low effective population size (N_e) were found in the KKOZ population, suggesting that deleterious genetic issues had resulted from multiple generations held in captivity. By contrast, a recent demographic bottleneck was observed in the population at NRZ, where the ratio of N_e to abundance (N) was greater than 1. Clustering analysis also showed that one subdivision of the KKOZ population shared allelic variability with the NRZ population. This suggests that genetic drift, with a possible recent and mixed origin, occurred in the initial NRZ population, indicating historical transfer between captivities. These captive stork populations require improved genetic variability and a greater population size, which could be achieved by choosing low-related individuals for future transfers to increase the adaptive potential of reintroduced populations. Forward-in-time simulations such as those described herein constitute the first step in establishing an appropriate source population using a scientifically managed perspective for an in situ and ex situ conservation program in Thailand.

Genetic structure of the oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana): implications for a breeding colony in a non-breeding area

The oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana) is a threatened species, and their numbers are still in decline due to habitat loss and poaching. China is a breeding and main wintering area for this animal and in recent years some individuals have been found breeding in wintering areas and at some stopover sites. These new breeding colonies are an exciting sign, however, little is understood of the genetic structure of this species. Based on the analysis of a 463-bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, we investigated the genetic structure and genetic diversity of 66 wild oriental white storks from a Chinese population. We analyzed the sequences of 66 storks obtained in this study and the data of 17 storks from a Japanese population. Thirty-seven different haplotypes were detected among the 83 samples. An analysis of molecular variance showed a significant population subdivision between the two populations (F(ST) = 0.316, P < 0.05). However, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the samples from the different populations did not form separate clusters and that there were genetic exchanges between the two populations. Compared with the Japanese population, the Chinese population had a relatively higher genetic diversity with a haplotype diversity (hπ SD) of 0.953 ± 0.013 and a nucleotide diversity (π± SD) of 0.013 ± 0.007. The high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity indicate that this population might be in a rapidly increasing period from a small effective population. A neighbor-joining tree analysis indicated that genetic exchange had occurred between the newly arisen southern breeding colony and the northern breeding colony wintering in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain. These results have important implications for the conservation of the oriental white stork population in China.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the yellow-spotted long-horned beetle Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and phylogenetic analysis among coleopteran insects

We have determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the yellow-spotted long horned beetle, Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endangered insect species in Korea. The 15,856-bp long P. hilaris mitogenome harbors gene content typical of the animal mitogenome and a gene arrangement identical to the most common type found in insect mitogenomes. As with all other sequenced coleopteran species, the 5-bp long TAGTA motif was also detected in the intergenic space sequence located between tRNA(Ser)(UCN) and ND1 of P. hilaris. The 1,190-bp long non-coding A+T-rich region harbors an unusual series of seven identical repeat sequences of 57-bp in length and several stretches of sequences with the potential to form stem-and-loop structures. Furthermore, it contains one tRNA(Arg)-like sequence and one tRNA(Lys)-like sequence. Phylogenetic analysis among available coleopteran mitogenomes using the concatenated amino acid sequences of PCGs appear to support the sister group relationship of the suborder Polyphaga to all remaining suborders, including Adephaga, Myxophaga, and Archostemata. Among the two available infraorders in Polyphaga, a monophyletic Cucujiformia was confirmed, with the placement of Cleroidea as the basal lineage for Cucujiformia. On the other hand, the infraorder Elateriformia was not identified as monophyletic, thereby indicating that Scirtoidea and Buprestoidea are the basal lineages for Cucujiformia and the remaining Elateriformia.