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Robin VV. Population genetics of animals in the wild to aid conservation: Uma Ramakrishnan-Recipient of the 2023 Molecular Ecology Prize. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17290. [PMID: 38339857 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- V V Robin
- IISER Tirupati, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
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Srivathsa A, Ramachandran V, Saravanan P, Sureshbabu A, Ganguly D, Ramakrishnan U. Topcats and underdogs: intraguild interactions among three apex carnivores across Asia's forestscapes. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:2114-2135. [PMID: 37449566 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Intraguild interactions among carnivores have long held the fascination of ecologists. Ranging from competition to facilitation and coexistence, these interactions and their complex interplay influence everything from species persistence to ecosystem functioning. Yet, the patterns and pathways of such interactions are far from understood in tropical forest systems, particularly across countries in the Global South. Here, we examined the determinants and consequences of competitive interactions between dholes Cuon alpinus and the two large felids (leopards Panthera pardus and tigers Panthera tigris) with which they most commonly co-occur across Asia. Using a combination of traditional and novel data sources (N = 118), we integrate information from spatial, temporal, and dietary niche dimensions. These three species have faced catastrophic declines in their extent of co-occurrence over the past century; most of their source populations are now confined to Protected Areas. Analysis of dyadic interactions between species pairs showed a clear social hierarchy. Tigers were dominant over dholes, although pack strength in dholes helped ameliorate some of these effects; leopards were subordinate to dholes. Population-level spatio-temporal interactions assessed at 25 locations across Asia did not show a clear pattern of overlap or avoidance between species pairs. Diet-profile assessments indicated that wild ungulate biomass consumption by tigers was highest, while leopards consumed more primate and livestock prey as compared to their co-predators. In terms of prey offtake (ratio of wild prey biomass consumed to biomass available), the three species together harvested 0.4-30.2% of available prey, with the highest offtake recorded from the location where the carnivores reach very high densities. When re-examined in the context of prey availability and offtake, locations with low wild prey availability showed spatial avoidance and temporal overlap among the carnivore pairs, and locations with high wild prey availability showed spatial overlap and temporal segregation. Based on these observations, we make predictions for 40 Protected Areas in India where temporally synchronous estimates of predator and prey densities are available. We expect that low prey availability will lead to higher competition, and in extreme cases, to the complete exclusion of one or more species. In Protected Areas with high prey availability, we expect intraguild coexistence and conspecific competition among carnivores, with spill-over to forest-edge habitats and subsequent prey-switching to livestock. We stress that dhole-leopard-tiger co-occurrence across their range is facilitated through an intricate yet fragile balance between prey availability, and intraguild and conspecific competition. Data gaps and limitations notwithstanding, our study shows how insights from fundamental ecology can be of immense utility for applied aspects like large predator conservation and management of human-carnivore interactions. Our findings also highlight potential avenues for future research on tropical carnivores that can broaden current understanding of intraguild competition in forest systems of Asia and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Srivathsa
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, 560065, India
- Wildlife Conservation Society-India, 551, 7th Main Road, 2nd Stage Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Kodigehalli, Bengaluru, 560097, India
| | - Vivek Ramachandran
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, 560065, India
- Wildlife Biology and Conservation Program, National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Pooja Saravanan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Abhijith Sureshbabu
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Divyajyoti Ganguly
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, 560065, India
- Wildlife Biology and Conservation Program, National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, 560065, India
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Prakash H, Kumar RS, Lahkar B, Sukumar R, Vanak AT, Thaker M. Animal movement ecology in India: insights from 2011-2021 and prospective for the future. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14401. [PMID: 36530402 PMCID: PMC9756863 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of animal movement ecology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the past few decades with the advent of sophisticated technology, advanced analytical tools, and multiple frameworks and paradigms to address key ecological problems. Unlike the longer history and faster growth of the field in North America, Europe, and Africa, movement ecology in Asia has only recently been gaining momentum. Here, we provide a review of the field from studies based in India over the last 11 years (2011-2021) curated from the database, Scopus, and search engine, Google Scholar. We identify current directions in the research objectives, taxa studied, tracking technology and the biogeographic regions in which animals were tracked, considering the years since the last systematic review of movement ecology research in the country. As an indication of the growing interest in this field, there has been a rapid increase in the number of publications over the last decade. Class Mammalia continues to dominate the taxa tracked, with tiger and leopard being the most common species studied across publications. Invertebrates and other small and medium-sized animals, as well as aquatic animals, in comparison, are understudied and remain among the important target taxa for tracking in future studies. As in the previous three decades, researchers have focussed on characterising home ranges and habitat use of animals. There is, however, a notable shift to examine the movement decision of animals in human-modified landscapes, although efforts to use movement ecology to understand impacts of climate change remain missing. Given the biogeographic and taxonomic diversity of India, and the fact that the interface between anthropogenic activity and wildlife interactions is increasing, we suggest ways in which the field of movement ecology can be expanded to facilitate ecological insights and conservation efforts. With the advancement of affordable technologies and the availability of analytical tools, the potential to expand the field of movement ecology, shift research foci, and gain new insights is now prime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Prakash
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - R Suresh Kumar
- Department of Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | - Raman Sukumar
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Abi T Vanak
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.,School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Maria Thaker
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Variar AS, Anoop N, Komire S, Vinayan P, Sujin N, Raj A, Prasadan P. Prey selection by the Indian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) outside protected areas in India's Western Ghats: implications for conservation. FOOD WEBS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2022.e00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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5
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Not all is black and white: phylogeography and population genetics of the endemic blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01479-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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6
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Hussain Z, Ghaskadbi P, Panchbhai P, Govekar R, Nigam P, Habib B. Long‐distance dispersal by a male sub‐adult tiger in a human‐dominated landscape. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9307. [PMID: 36188506 PMCID: PMC9514059 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Parag Nigam
- Wildlife Institute of India Chandrabani, Dehradun India
| | - Bilal Habib
- Wildlife Institute of India Chandrabani, Dehradun India
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7
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Assessing tiger corridor functionality with landscape genetics and modelling across Terai-Arc landscape, India. CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01460-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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8
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Habitat connectivity for conserving cervids in a multifunctional landscape. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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9
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Schoen JM, Neelakantan A, Cushman SA, Dutta T, Habib B, Jhala YV, Mondal I, Ramakrishnan U, Reddy PA, Saini S, Sharma S, Thatte P, Yumnam B, DeFries R. Synthesizing habitat connectivity analyses of a globally important human-dominated tiger-conservation landscape. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13909. [PMID: 35288989 PMCID: PMC9545158 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As ecological data and associated analyses become more widely available, synthesizing results for effective communication with stakeholders is essential. In the case of wildlife corridors, managers in human-dominated landscapes need to identify both the locations of corridors and multiple stakeholders for effective oversight. We synthesized 5 independent studies of tiger (Panthera tigris) connectivity in central India, a global priority landscape for tiger conservation, to quantify agreement on landscape permeability for tiger movement and potential movement pathways. We used the latter analysis to identify connectivity areas on which studies agreed and stakeholders associated with these areas to determine relevant participants in corridor management. Three or more of the 5 studies' resistance layers agreed in 63% of the study area. Areas in which all studies agree on resistance were of primarily low (66%, e.g., forest) and high (24%, e.g., urban) resistance. Agreement was lower in intermediate resistance areas (e.g., agriculture). Despite these differences, the studies largely agreed on areas with high levels of potential movement: >40% of high average (top 20%) current-flow pixels were also in the top 20% of current-flow agreement pixels (measured by low variation), indicating consensus connectivity areas (CCAs) as conservation priorities. Roughly 70% of the CCAs fell within village administrative boundaries, and 100% overlapped forest department management boundaries, suggesting that people live and use forests within these priority areas. Over 16% of total CCAs' area was within 1 km of linear infrastructure (437 road, 170 railway, 179 transmission line, and 339 canal crossings; 105 mines within 1 km of CCAs). In 2019, 78% of forest land diversions for infrastructure and mining in Madhya Pradesh (which comprises most of the study region) took place in districts with CCAs. Acute competition for land in this landscape with globally important wildlife corridors calls for an effective comanagement strategy involving local communities, forest departments, Appendix 1 and infrastructure planners. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay M. Schoen
- Department of EcologyEvolution and Environmental BiologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | | | - Trishna Dutta
- Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest EcologyUniversity of GoettingenGöttingenGermany
| | | | | | | | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- The Biodiversity Collaborative, National Center for Biological SciencesTata Institute of Fundamental ResearchBangaloreIndia
| | | | | | - Sandeep Sharma
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity ResearchHalle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
- Institute of BiologyMartin Luther University Halle‐WittenbergHalleGermany
| | | | | | - Ruth DeFries
- Department of EcologyEvolution and Environmental BiologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Network for Conserving Central IndiaGurgaonIndia
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Chowdhury S, Alam S, Labi MM, Khan N, Rokonuzzaman M, Biswas D, Tahea T, Mukul SA, Fuller RA. Protected areas in South Asia: Status and prospects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:152316. [PMID: 34915005 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural ecosystems globally have been disrupted by anthropogenic activities, and the current biodiversity extinction rate exceeds the natural extinction rate by 1,000-fold. Protected areas (PAs) help insulate samples of biodiversity from these human-induced threats; however, assessments of the factors threatening biodiversity in PAs are scarce in South Asia - one of the key global epicentres of human population growth. Here, by synthesizing published literature and analysing the current configuration of the PA estate, we discuss the trends and biases in existing knowledge, identify research gaps, measure the level of PA coverage and growth patterns, and discuss the threats to South Asian biodiversity inside PAs. We showed that published studies focused mainly on documenting species distributions in PAs, were heavily biased toward vertebrates, and had been mostly conducted in India. Nearly 70% of studies focused on the distribution of organisms, while only 9% performed conservation assessments or devised strategies to manage PAs; 70% of studies cover vertebrates, while only two studies focused on marine fauna; 50% of studies focused on India, with only a handful from Afghanistan. Only three (Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka) of the eight countries already meet a terrestrial PA representation target of 17%, while no country meets a marine representation target of 10%. Most PAs were very small, with nearly 80% below 100 km2, and 22% below 1 km2. We identified that South Asian PAs are facing a broad range of anthropogenic threats - about three in five studies reported threats inside protected areas. Due to extensive anthropogenic pressures, biodiversity in South Asia is facing an existential crisis, and society-wide collaborative efforts are needed to arrest and reverse the declines. We hope this review will stimulate efforts to capitalise on the opportunity for efficient PA growth in the region on the eve of the post-2020 global biodiversity targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawan Chowdhury
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, Australia.
| | - Shofiul Alam
- Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | | | - Nahla Khan
- Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rokonuzzaman
- Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Dipto Biswas
- Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Tasmia Tahea
- Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Sharif A Mukul
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, 4072, Australia
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11
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Puri M, Srivathsa A, Karanth KK, Patel I, Kumar NS. Links in a sink: Interplay between habitat structure, ecological constraints and interactions with humans can influence connectivity conservation for tigers in forest corridors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 809:151106. [PMID: 34688735 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Global land-use changes and rapid infrastructure development necessitate identification and conservation of wildlife corridors. Connectivity through corridors is shaped by species' structural, ecological and behavioral constraints. In multi-use landscapes, species' interactions with humans could additionally influence connectivity. Using the tiger Panthera tigris as a case study, we make simultaneous assessments of potential connectivity, habitat use and examine their links with the species' negative interactions with humans in central India. We assessed potential connectivity across 10, 000 sq. km of the Kanha-Pench forest corridor using graph-theoretic methods. Combining indirect sign surveys and occupancy models, we examined habitat use, and evaluated its congruence with potential connectivity. Next, we estimated spatial probabilities of livestock depredation through application of multi-state occupancy models to interview-based survey data from local residents. Habitat use by tigers was negatively associated with forest fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbance. Livestock depredation was positively associated with size of settlements and areas most frequented by tigers, and negatively with anthropogenic disturbance within forests. We found high congruence between connectivity and habitat use (r = 0.80); but the strong correlation did not hold in areas with very high levels of livestock depredation levels. Our results indicate that when areas of high use by tigers are constrained by limited connectivity, there are higher chances of human-tiger conflict, and these areas may be ecological traps for the species. Interactions with humans can be crucial in mediating connectivity for large carnivores in shared habitats. Our findings present an opportunity to consolidate areas where carnivore conservation and local livelihood needs can be balanced. Our framework also provides a foundation for spatial prioritization that incorporates a plurality of dimensions, with utility for connectivity conservation of other wide-ranging carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahi Puri
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bengaluru, India.
| | - Arjun Srivathsa
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Wildlife Conservation Society, India Program, Bengaluru, India; School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Krithi K Karanth
- Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bengaluru, India; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Imran Patel
- Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bengaluru, India
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12
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Kannan P, Salaria S, Khan S, Mark T, Baberwal N, Bhatnagar A, Shethia Y, Thatte P, Chanchani P. Assessing Carnivore Occurrence and Community Attitudes Towards Wildlife in a Multi-Use Arid Landscape Corridor. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.787431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Small population sizes, low densities, and large area requirements make large carnivores particularly sensitive to habitat degradation and land-use change. In fragmented landscapes, many protected areas cannot accommodate viable wildlife populations in themselves, which brings the surrounding human-dominated matrix that may extend wildlife habitats or serve as corridors into focus. Such areas are typically excluded from the conservation portfolio and are subject to rapid land -use change in many areas. This study investigates the occurrence of tigers, sloth bears, leopards and striped hyenas and assesses community use of natural resources and attitudes towards wildlife in a 3,384 km2 portion of semi-arid multiple-use landscape in Western India that also serves as an important wildlife corridor. This area abuts Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, a preeminent protected area in Western India. Sign surveys spanning 1,039.22 km of trails were conducted in 94, 36 km2 grids spanning agricultural land, forests and other land use types to collate information on wildlife occurrence and associated environmental and human factors. Analysis using occupancy models revealed that tiger and sloth bear occurrence probabilities (0.093 ± 0.05), and (0.13 ± 0.02) were considerably lower than those for leopards (0.72 ± 0.22) and striped hyenas (0.91 ± 0.08). Lack of sufficient cover and limited food availability renders these multiple-use habitats poorly suited for tigers and sloth bears, while leopards and hyenas are able to adapt better to multi-use areas. Concurrently, 66 villages were surveyed across the study landscape, where data on broad socio-economic attributes of communities and their attitudes towards wildlife were assessed through questionnaire surveys. More respondents expressed negative attitudes than positive attitudes which vary as a function of education levels, occupation and land holding sizes. Ongoing landscape transformation through mining, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and negative attitudes towards wildlife conservation among people living in the agricultural matrix threatens the long-term functionality of these corridors. Therefore, immediate measures are needed to develop and implement corridor conservation strategies and plans, with a focus on land use planning and human-wildlife conflict mitigation. In the absence of decisive and timely action, wildlife populations may increasingly get relegated to fragmented patches, jeopardising their persistence.
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Rodrigues RG, Srivathsa A, Vasudev D. Dog in the matrix: Envisioning countrywide connectivity conservation for an endangered carnivore. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan G. Rodrigues
- Wildlife Conservation Society–India Bengaluru India
- National Centre for Biological SciencesTIFR Bengaluru India
| | - Arjun Srivathsa
- Wildlife Conservation Society–India Bengaluru India
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Divya Vasudev
- Conservation Initiatives Guwahati India
- Centre for Wildlife Studies Bengaluru India
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14
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Sagar V, Kaelin CB, Natesh M, Reddy PA, Mohapatra RK, Chhattani H, Thatte P, Vaidyanathan S, Biswas S, Bhatt S, Paul S, Jhala YV, Verma MM, Pandav B, Mondol S, Barsh GS, Swain D, Ramakrishnan U. High frequency of an otherwise rare phenotype in a small and isolated tiger population. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2025273118. [PMID: 34518374 PMCID: PMC8488692 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025273118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Most endangered species exist today in small populations, many of which are isolated. Evolution in such populations is largely governed by genetic drift. Empirical evidence for drift affecting striking phenotypes based on substantial genetic data are rare. Approximately 37% of tigers (Panthera tigris) in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (in eastern India) are pseudomelanistic, characterized by wide, merged stripes. Camera trap data across the tiger range revealed the presence of pseudomelanistic tigers only in Similipal. We investigated the genetic basis for pseudomelanism and examined the role of drift in driving this phenotype's frequency. Whole-genome data and pedigree-based association analyses from captive tigers revealed that pseudomelanism cosegregates with a conserved and functionally important coding alteration in Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep), a gene responsible for similar traits in other felid species. Noninvasive sampling of tigers revealed a high frequency of the Taqpep p.H454Y mutation in Similipal (12 individuals, allele frequency = 0.58) and absence from all other tiger populations (395 individuals). Population genetic analyses confirmed few (minimal number) tigers in Similipal, and its genetic isolation, with poor geneflow. Pairwise FST (0.33) at the mutation site was high but not an outlier. Similipal tigers had low diversity at 81 single nucleotide polymorphisms (mean heterozygosity = 0.28, SD = 0.27). Simulations were consistent with founding events and drift as possible drivers for the observed stark difference of allele frequency. Our results highlight the role of stochastic processes in the evolution of rare phenotypes. We highlight an unusual evolutionary trajectory in a small and isolated population of an endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Sagar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India;
| | - Christopher B Kaelin
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94309
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806
| | - Meghana Natesh
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
- Biology Department, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati 411008, India
| | - P Anuradha Reddy
- Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species, Center for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad 500048, India
| | | | - Himanshu Chhattani
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Prachi Thatte
- World Wide Fund for Nature - India, New Delhi 110003 India
| | - Srinivas Vaidyanathan
- Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning, Auroville Post, Tamil Nadu 605101 India
| | | | | | - Shashi Paul
- Odisha Forest Department, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
| | - Yadavendradev V Jhala
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun 248001, India
- National Tiger Conservation Authority, Wildlife Institute of India Tiger Cell, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun 248001, India
| | | | | | | | - Gregory S Barsh
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94309
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806
| | - Debabrata Swain
- Former Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi 110003, India
- Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force, Indian Forest Service, Bhubaneswar 751023, India
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India;
- DBT - Wellcome Trust India Alliance, Hyderabad 500034, India
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16
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Armstrong EE, Khan A, Taylor RW, Gouy A, Greenbaum G, Thiéry A, Kang JT, Redondo SA, Prost S, Barsh G, Kaelin C, Phalke S, Chugani A, Gilbert M, Miquelle D, Zachariah A, Borthakur U, Reddy A, Louis E, Ryder OA, Jhala YV, Petrov D, Excoffier L, Hadly E, Ramakrishnan U. Recent Evolutionary History of Tigers Highlights Contrasting Roles of Genetic Drift and Selection. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:2366-2379. [PMID: 33592092 PMCID: PMC8136513 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Species conservation can be improved by knowledge of evolutionary and genetic history. Tigers are among the most charismatic of endangered species and garner significant conservation attention. However, their evolutionary history and genomic variation remain poorly known, especially for Indian tigers. With 70% of the world’s wild tigers living in India, such knowledge is critical. We re-sequenced 65 individual tiger genomes representing most extant subspecies with a specific focus on tigers from India. As suggested by earlier studies, we found strong genetic differentiation between the putative tiger subspecies. Despite high total genomic diversity in India, individual tigers host longer runs of homozygosity, potentially suggesting recent inbreeding or founding events, possibly due to small and fragmented protected areas. We suggest the impacts of ongoing connectivity loss on inbreeding and persistence of Indian tigers be closely monitored. Surprisingly, demographic models suggest recent divergence (within the last 20,000 years) between subspecies and strong population bottlenecks. Amur tiger genomes revealed the strongest signals of selection related to metabolic adaptation to cold, whereas Sumatran tigers show evidence of weak selection for genes involved in body size regulation. We recommend detailed investigation of local adaptation in Amur and Sumatran tigers prior to initiating genetic rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anubhab Khan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bangalore, India
| | - Ryan W Taylor
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,End2End Genomics, LLC, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Alexandre Gouy
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gili Greenbaum
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alexandre Thiéry
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan T Kang
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore
| | | | - Stefan Prost
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gregory Barsh
- Hudsonalpha Institute, Hunstville, AL, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Martin Gilbert
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia Program, New York, NY, USA.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Dale Miquelle
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia Program, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Anuradha Reddy
- Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species, CCMB, Hyderabad, India
| | - Edward Louis
- Department of Genetics, Omaha Zoo, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Oliver A Ryder
- San Diego Zoo, Institute for Conservation Research, Escondido, CA, USA
| | | | - Dmitri Petrov
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Laurent Excoffier
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth Hadly
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia Program, New York, NY, USA
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17
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Recent population expansion in wild gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) as revealed by microsatellite markers. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00145-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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18
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Considerations for Initiating a Wildlife Genomics Research Project in South and South-East Asia. J Indian Inst Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41745-021-00243-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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19
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Trends in Wildlife Connectivity Science from the Biodiverse and Human-Dominated South Asia. J Indian Inst Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41745-021-00240-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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20
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Chauhan K, Srivathsa A, Athreya V. Assessing spatio-temporal patterns of human-leopard interactions based on media reports in northwestern India. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2021. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.7244.13.6.18453-18478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Large carnivores in human-use areas make for sensational print media content. We used media reports to examine human-leopard interactions in Rajasthan, India. We extracted news reports on leopard-related incidents from January 2016 to December 2018. Incidents (n= 338) were categorized, mapped, and analysed to understand their nature and extent. We found leopard-related news from 26 of 33 districts; a majority of these were in the eastern region of the State. Most of the reported interactions appeared to be non-negative, despite losses to both leopards and people. Our results provide a synthesis of spatio-temporal patterns of leopard-related incidents, which could help wildlife managers in better addressing negative interactions. The study also demonstrates how news reports could be useful for examining human-wildlife interactions across large spatial scales.
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21
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Sarkar MS, Niyogi R, Masih RL, Hazra P, Maiorano L, John R. Long-distance dispersal and home range establishment by a female sub-adult tiger (Panthera tigris) in the Panna landscape, central India. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-021-01494-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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22
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Rather TA, Kumar S, Khan JA. Density estimation of tiger and leopard using spatially explicit capture-recapture framework. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10634. [PMID: 33643701 PMCID: PMC7896501 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The conservation of large carnivores often requires precise and accurate estimates of their populations. Being cryptic and occurring at low population densities, obtaining an unbiased population estimate is difficult in large carnivores. To overcome the uncertainties in the conventional capture–recapture (CR) methods used to estimate large carnivore densities, more robust methods such as spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) framework are now widely used. We modeled the CR data of tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) and leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) in the SECR framework with biotic and abiotic covariates likely believed to influence their densities. An effort of 2,211 trap nights resulted in the capture of 33 and 38 individual tigers and leopards. A total of 95 and 74 detections of tigers and leopards were achieved using 35 pairs of camera traps. Tiger and leopard density were estimated at 4.71 ± 1.20 (3.05–5.11) and 3.03 ± 0.78 (1.85–4.99) per 100 km2. Our results show that leopard density increased with high road density, high terrain ruggedness and habitats with high percentage of cropland and natural vegetation. The tiger density was positively influenced by the mosaic of cropland and natural vegetation. This study provides the first robust density estimates of tiger and leopard within the study area. Our results support the notion that large carnivores can attain moderate densities within human-dominated regions around protected areas relying on domestic livestock. Broader management strategies aimed at maintaining wild prey in the human-dominated areas around protected areas are necessary for large and endangered carnivores’ sustenance in the buffer zones around protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahir Ali Rather
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.,The Corbett Foundation, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sharad Kumar
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.,The Corbett Foundation, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Jamal Ahmad Khan
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
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23
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Warrier R, Noon BR, Bailey L. Agricultural lands offer seasonal habitats to tigers in a human‐dominated and fragmented landscape in India. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Warrier
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Graduate Degree Program in Ecology Colorado State University 1474 Campus delivery Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
| | - Barry R. Noon
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Graduate Degree Program in Ecology Colorado State University 1474 Campus delivery Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
| | - Larissa Bailey
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Graduate Degree Program in Ecology Colorado State University 1474 Campus delivery Fort Collins Colorado 80523 USA
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24
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Thatte P, Chandramouli A, Tyagi A, Patel K, Baro P, Chhattani H, Ramakrishnan U. Human footprint differentially impacts genetic connectivity of four wide‐ranging mammals in a fragmented landscape. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Prachi Thatte
- National Center for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
| | - Anuradha Chandramouli
- National Center for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
| | - Abhinav Tyagi
- National Center for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
| | - Kaushal Patel
- National Center for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
| | - Phulmani Baro
- National Center for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
| | - Himanshu Chhattani
- National Center for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- National Center for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Bangalore India
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25
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Genetic structure of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in India and its implications for conservation. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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26
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Tyagi A, Kumar V, Kittur S, Reddy M, Naidenko S, Ganswindt A, Umapathy G. Physiological stress responses of tigers due to anthropogenic disturbance especially tourism in two central Indian tiger reserves. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coz045. [PMID: 31321036 PMCID: PMC6626984 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Tigers continue to face unprecedented threats to their existence due to poaching, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances. The present study examines the physiological stress response of tigers due to anthropogenic activities including wildlife tourism in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Kanha Tiger Reserve using faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) measurement. We collected a total of 341 faecal samples from both reserves during tourism and non-tourism periods. Data on various anthropogenic disturbances including tourism activities like number of vehicles and visitors were also collected. We ascertained the species identity and sex of all the samples collected using genetic markers. fGCMs were extracted using a previously reported procedure, and fGCM concentrations were subsequently determined using an established enzyme immunoassay. There was no significant difference in overall mean fGCM concentrations between the two tiger reserves, but within each reserve, concentrations were significantly higher in tigers during the tourism period as compared to the non-tourism period. We also found that the number of tourist vehicles and disturbance level significantly correlated with fGCM concentrations. This study further supports the assumption that unbridled tourism associated with high anthropogenic disturbance can be related to perceived stress and consequently may have an impact on the reproductive fitness of tigers and long-term survival of isolated populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Tyagi
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sagar Kittur
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Mahender Reddy
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sergey Naidenko
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Leninsky, pr. 33, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andre Ganswindt
- Mammal Research Institute, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Govindhaswamy Umapathy
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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27
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Duangchatrasiri S, Jornburom P, Jinamoy S, Pattanvibool A, Hines JE, Arnold TW, Fieberg J, Smith JLD. Impact of prey occupancy and other ecological and anthropogenic factors on tiger distribution in Thailand's western forest complex. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:2449-2458. [PMID: 30891192 PMCID: PMC6405490 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite conservation efforts, large mammals such as tigers (Panthera tigris) and their main prey, gaur (Bos gaurus), banteng (Bos javanicus), and sambar (Rusa unicolor), are highly threatened and declining across their entire range. The only large viable source population of tigers in mainland Southeast Asia occurs in Thailand's Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM), an approximately 19,000 km2 landscape of 17 contiguous protected areas.We used an occupancy modeling framework, which accounts for imperfect detection, to identify the factors that affect tiger distribution at the approximate scale of a female tiger's home range, 64 km2, and site use at a scale of 1-km2. At the larger scale, we estimated the proportion of sites at WEFCOM that were occupied by tigers; at the finer scale, we identified the key variables that influence site-use and developed a predictive distribution map. At both scales, we examined key anthropogenic and ecological factors that help explain tiger distribution and habitat use, including probabilities of gaur, banteng, and sambar occurrence from a companion study.Occupancy estimated at the 64-km2 scale was primarily influenced by the combined presence of all three large prey species, and 37% or 5,858 km2 of the landscape was predicted to be occupied by tigers. In contrast, site use estimated at the scale of 1 km2 was most strongly influenced by the presence of sambar.By modeling occupancy while accounting for imperfect probability of detection, we established reliable benchmark data on the distribution of tigers in WEFCOM. This study also identified factors that limit tiger distributions; which managers can then target to expand tiger distribution and guide recovery elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somphot Duangchatrasiri
- Wildlife Research DivisionDepartment of National Parks, Plant, and Wildlife ConservationBangkokThailand
| | - Pornkamol Jornburom
- University of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesota
- Wildlife Conservation Society Thailand ProgramNonthaburiThailand
| | | | | | - James E. Hines
- Patuxent Wildlife Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyLaurelMaryland
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28
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Monteiro WP, Veiga JC, Silva AR, Carvalho CDS, Lanes ÉCM, Rico Y, Jaffé R. Everything you always wanted to know about gene flow in tropical landscapes (but were afraid to ask). PeerJ 2019; 7:e6446. [PMID: 30783576 PMCID: PMC6377592 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The bulk of the world’s biodiversity is found in tropical regions, which are increasingly threatened by the human-led degradation of natural habitats. Yet, little is known about tropical biodiversity responses to habitat loss and fragmentation. Here we review all available literature assessing landscape effects on gene flow in tropical species, aiming to help unravel the factors underpinning functional connectivity in the tropics. We map and classify studies by focus species, the molecular markers employed, statistical approaches to assess landscape effects on gene flow, and the evaluated landscape and environmental variables. We then compare qualitatively and quantitatively landscape effects on gene flow across species and units of analysis. We found 69 articles assessing landscape effects on gene flow in tropical organisms, most of which were published in the last five years, were concentrated in the Americas, and focused on amphibians or mammals. Most studies employed population-level approaches, microsatellites were the preferred type of markers, and Mantel and partial Mantel tests the most common statistical approaches used. While elevation, land cover and forest cover were the most common gene flow predictors assessed, habitat suitability was found to be a common predictor of gene flow. A third of all surveyed studies explicitly assessed the effect of habitat degradation, but only 14 of these detected a reduced gene flow with increasing habitat loss. Elevation was responsible for most significant microsatellite-based isolation by resistance effects and a single study reported significant isolation by non-forested areas in an ant. Our study reveals important knowledge gaps on the study of landscape effects on gene flow in tropical organisms, and provides useful guidelines on how to fill them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jamille Costa Veiga
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Amanda Reis Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | | | - Yessica Rico
- CONACYT, Red de Diversidad Biológica del Occidente Mexicano, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Rodolfo Jaffé
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, PA, Brazil.,Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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29
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Thatte P, Patel K, Ramakrishnan U. Rapid species identification of sloth bears from non-invasive samples: a PCR-based assay. URSUS 2018. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-17-00024.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Prachi Thatte
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bellary Road, Bangalore, India 560065
| | - Kaushal Patel
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bellary Road, Bangalore, India 560065
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bellary Road, Bangalore, India 560065
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30
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Harihar A, Chanchani P, Borah J, Crouthers RJ, Darman Y, Gray TNE, Mohamad S, Rawson BM, Rayan MD, Roberts JL, Steinmetz R, Sunarto S, Widodo FA, Anwar M, Bhatta SR, Chakravarthi JPP, Chang Y, Congdon G, Dave C, Dey S, Durairaj B, Fomenko P, Guleria H, Gupta M, Gurung G, Ittira B, Jena J, Kostyria A, Kumar K, Kumar V, Lhendup P, Liu P, Malla S, Maurya K, Moktan V, Van NDN, Parakkasi K, Phoonjampa R, Phumanee W, Singh AK, Stengel C, Subba SA, Thapa K, Thomas TC, Wong C, Baltzer M, Ghose D, Worah S, Vattakaven J. Recovery planning towards doubling wild tiger Panthera tigris numbers: Detailing 18 recovery sites from across the range. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207114. [PMID: 30408090 PMCID: PMC6224104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With less than 3200 wild tigers in 2010, the heads of 13 tiger-range countries committed to doubling the global population of wild tigers by 2022. This goal represents the highest level of ambition and commitment required to turn the tide for tigers in the wild. Yet, ensuring efficient and targeted implementation of conservation actions alongside systematic monitoring of progress towards this goal requires that we set site-specific recovery targets and timelines that are ecologically realistic. In this study, we assess the recovery potential of 18 sites identified under WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative. We delineated recovery systems comprising a source, recovery site, and support region, which need to be managed synergistically to meet these targets. By using the best available data on tiger and prey numbers, and adapting existing species recovery frameworks, we show that these sites, which currently support 165 (118-277) tigers, have the potential to harbour 585 (454-739) individuals. This would constitute a 15% increase in the global population and represent over a three-fold increase within these specific sites, on an average. However, it may not be realistic to achieve this target by 2022, since tiger recovery in 15 of these 18 sites is contingent on the initial recovery of prey populations, which is a slow process. We conclude that while sustained conservation efforts can yield significant recoveries, it is critical that we commit our resources to achieving the biologically realistic targets for these sites even if the timelines are extended.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jimmy Borah
- WWF-India, Assam, India
- WWF-Greater Mekong Program, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | - Yury Darman
- WWF-Russia, Amur branch, Vladivostok, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Mark Darmaraj Rayan
- WWF-Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Meraj Anwar
- WWF-India, Terai Arc Landscape Office, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | | | - Youde Chang
- WWF-China, Changchun, Jilin Province, P. R. China
| | | | - Chittaranjan Dave
- WWF-India, Satpura Maikal Landscape Office, Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Soumen Dey
- WWF-India, Satpura Maikal Landscape Office, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Boominathan Durairaj
- WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Office, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Harish Guleria
- WWF-India, Terai Arc Landscape Office, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Mudit Gupta
- WWF-India Terai Arc Landscape Office, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Bopanna Ittira
- WWF-India, Programme Office, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Jyotirmay Jena
- WWF-India, Satpura Maikal Landscape Office, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | | | - Krishna Kumar
- WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Office, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Office, Bhavanisagar, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Peiqi Liu
- WWF-China, Changchun, Jilin Province, P. R. China
| | | | - Kamlesh Maurya
- WWF-India Terai Arc Landscape Office, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Carrie Stengel
- WWF-Tigers Alive Initiative, Washington-D.C., United States of America
| | | | | | - Tiju C. Thomas
- WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Office, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
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31
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Yang H, Han S, Xie B, Mou P, Kou X, Wang T, Ge J, Feng L. Do prey availability, human disturbance and habitat structure drive the daily activity patterns of Amur tigers (
Panthera tigris altaica
)? J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Yang
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
- College of Life Sciences Northwest University Xi'an China
| | - S. Han
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - B. Xie
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - P. Mou
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - X. Kou
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - T. Wang
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - J. Ge
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
| | - L. Feng
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Amur Tiger and Amur Leopard Monitoring and Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences College of Life Sciences Beijing Normal University Beijing China
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32
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33
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Thapa K, Manandhar S, Bista M, Shakya J, Sah G, Dhakal M, Sharma N, Llewellyn B, Wultsch C, Waits LP, Kelly MJ, Hero JM, Hughes J, Karmacharya D. Assessment of genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) across Nepal's Terai Arc Landscape. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193495. [PMID: 29561865 PMCID: PMC5862458 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With fewer than 200 tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) left in Nepal, that are generally confined to five protected areas across the Terai Arc Landscape, genetic studies are needed to provide crucial information on diversity and connectivity for devising an effective country-wide tiger conservation strategy. As part of the Nepal Tiger Genome Project, we studied landscape change, genetic variation, population structure, and gene flow of tigers across the Terai Arc Landscape by conducting Nepal’s first comprehensive and systematic scat-based, non-invasive genetic survey. Of the 770 scat samples collected opportunistically from five protected areas and six presumed corridors, 412 were tiger (57%). Out of ten microsatellite loci, we retain eight markers that were used in identifying 78 individual tigers. We used this dataset to examine population structure, genetic variation, contemporary gene flow, and potential population bottlenecks of tigers in Nepal. We detected three genetic clusters consistent with three demographic sub-populations and found moderate levels of genetic variation (He = 0.61, AR = 3.51) and genetic differentiation (FST = 0.14) across the landscape. We detected 3–7 migrants, confirming the potential for dispersal-mediated gene flow across the landscape. We found evidence of a bottleneck signature likely caused by large-scale land-use change documented in the last two centuries in the Terai forest. Securing tiger habitat including functional forest corridors is essential to enhance gene flow across the landscape and ensure long-term tiger survival. This requires cooperation among multiple stakeholders and careful conservation planning to prevent detrimental effects of anthropogenic activities on tigers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanchan Thapa
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | | | - Manisha Bista
- Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Jivan Shakya
- Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Govind Sah
- Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Maheshwar Dhakal
- Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Netra Sharma
- Environment Team, U.S. Agency for International Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Bronwyn Llewellyn
- Environment Team, U.S. Agency for International Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Claudia Wultsch
- American Natural History Museum, New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Lisette P. Waits
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Marcella J. Kelly
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jean-Marc Hero
- School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jane Hughes
- School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dibesh Karmacharya
- Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, Thapathali-11, Kathmandu, Nepal
- School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Losing time for the tiger Panthera tigris: delayed action puts a globally threatened species at risk of local extinction. ORYX 2017. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605317001156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractMeeting global and regional environmental targets is challenging, given the multiplicity of stakeholders and their diverse and often competing policy agendas and objectives. Relatively few studies have sought to systematically analyse the progress, or lack thereof, of institutionally complex and diffuse projects. Here we analyse one such project, which aims to protect and restore a critical landscape corridor for tigers Panthera tigris in north-western India, using a temporal–analytic framework that integrates ecological information on species population status and spatial connectivity modelling with a systematic examination of the decision-making process. We find that even with adequate ecological knowledge the tiger population is on the verge of local extinction because of weak institutional support, poor adaptive planning and ineffective leadership in a complex political arena, which has led to delays in conservation action. From the outset the conservation agencies and NGOs that were the primary drivers of the project lacked awareness of the political idiosyncrasies of coordinating the actions of disparate agencies within the decision-making process. To secure better future environmental outcomes we recommend the adoption of an improved project appraisal methodology that explicitly encompasses an evaluation of organizational incentives, to determine political buy-in, including alignment with organizational objectives and funding availability.
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Using non-invasively collected genetic data to estimate density and population size of tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. Glob Ecol Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Natesh M, Atla G, Nigam P, Jhala YV, Zachariah A, Borthakur U, Ramakrishnan U. Conservation priorities for endangered Indian tigers through a genomic lens. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9614. [PMID: 28851952 PMCID: PMC5575265 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09748-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tigers have lost 93% of their historical range worldwide. India plays a vital role in the conservation of tigers since nearly 60% of all wild tigers are currently found here. However, as protected areas are small (<300 km2 on average), with only a few individuals in each, many of them may not be independently viable. It is thus important to identify and conserve genetically connected populations, as well as to maintain connectivity within them. We collected samples from wild tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) across India and used genome-wide SNPs to infer genetic connectivity. We genotyped 10,184 SNPs from 38 individuals across 17 protected areas and identified three genetically distinct clusters (corresponding to northwest, southern and central India). The northwest cluster was isolated with low variation and high relatedness. The geographically large central cluster included tigers from central, northeastern and northern India, and had the highest variation. Most genetic diversity (62%) was shared among clusters, while unique variation was highest in the central cluster (8.5%) and lowest in the northwestern one (2%). We did not detect signatures of differential selection or local adaptation. We highlight that the northwest population requires conservation attention to ensure persistence of these tigers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghana Natesh
- National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065, India. .,Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) University, Tirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur, 613401, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Goutham Atla
- National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Parag Nigam
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, 248001, India
| | | | - Arun Zachariah
- Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Lakkidi Post, Pookode, Kerala, 673576, India
| | - Udayan Borthakur
- Aaranyak, 12 Kanaklata Path in Lachit Path, Ajanta Path, Survey, Beltola, Guwahati, 781028, Assam, India
| | - Uma Ramakrishnan
- National Center for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, 560065, India.
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Thapa K, Wikramanayake E, Malla S, Acharya KP, Lamichhane BR, Subedi N, Pokharel CP, Thapa GJ, Dhakal M, Bista A, Borah J, Gupta M, Maurya KK, Gurung GS, Jnawali SR, Pradhan NMB, Bhata SR, Koirala S, Ghose D, Vattakaven J. Tigers in the Terai: Strong evidence for meta-population dynamics contributing to tiger recovery and conservation in the Terai Arc Landscape. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177548. [PMID: 28591175 PMCID: PMC5462344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The source populations of tigers are mostly confined to protected areas, which are now becoming isolated. A landscape scale conservation strategy should strive to facilitate dispersal and survival of dispersing tigers by managing habitat corridors that enable tigers to traverse the matrix with minimal conflict. We present evidence for tiger dispersal along transboundary protected areas complexes in the Terai Arc Landscape, a priority tiger landscape in Nepal and India, by comparing camera trap data, and through population models applied to the long term camera trap data sets. The former showed that 11 individual tigers used the corridors that connected the transboundary protected areas. The estimated population growth rates using the minimum observed population size in two protected areas in Nepal, Bardia National Park and Suklaphanta National Park showed that the increases were higher than expected from growth rates due to in situ reproduction alone. These lines of evidence suggests that tigers are recolonizing Nepal's protected areas from India, after a period of population decline, and that the tiger populations in the transboundary protected areas complexes may be maintained as meta-population. Our results demonstrate the importance of adopting a landscape-scale approach to tiger conservation, especially to improve population recovery and long term population persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Naresh Subedi
- National Trust for Nature Conservation, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | | | | | - Maheshwar Dhakal
- Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Leopard in a tea-cup: A study of leopard habitat-use and human-leopard interactions in north-eastern India. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177013. [PMID: 28493999 PMCID: PMC5426661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence of the importance of multi-use landscapes for the conservation of large carnivores. However, when carnivore ranges overlap with high density of humans, there are often serious conservation challenges. This is especially true in countries like India where loss of peoples' lives and property to large wildlife are not uncommon. The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large felid that is widespread in India, often sharing landscapes with high human densities. In order to understand the ecology of leopards in a human use landscape and the nature of human-leopard interactions, we studied (i) the spatial and temporal distribution and the characteristics of leopard attacks on people, (ii) the spatial variability in the pattern of habitat use by the leopard, and (iii) the spatial relationship between attack locations and habitat use by leopards. The study site, located in northern West Bengal, India, is a densely populated mixed-use landscape of 630 km2, comprising of forests, tea plantations, agriculture fields, and human settlements. A total of 171 leopard attacks on humans were reported between January 2009 and March 2016, most of which occurred within the tea-gardens. None of the attacks was fatal. We found significant spatial clustering of locations of leopard attacks on humans. However, most of the attacks were restricted to certain tea estates and occurred mostly between January and May. Analysis of habitat use by leopards showed that the probability of use of areas with more ground vegetation cover was high while that of areas with high density of buildings was low. However, locations of leopard attacks on people did not coincide with areas that showed a higher probability of use by leopards. This indicates that an increased use of an area by leopards, by itself, does not necessarily imply an increase in attacks on people. The spatial and temporal clustering of attack locations allowed us to use this information to prioritize areas to focus mitigation activities in order reduce negative encounters between people and leopards in this landscape which has had a long history of conflict.
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Singh SK, Aspi J, Kvist L, Sharma R, Pandey P, Mishra S, Singh R, Agrawal M, Goyal SP. Fine-scale population genetic structure of the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in a human-dominated western Terai Arc Landscape, India. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174371. [PMID: 28445499 PMCID: PMC5405937 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite massive global conservation strategies, tiger populations continued to decline until recently, mainly due to habitat loss, human-animal conflicts, and poaching. These factors are known to affect the genetic characteristics of tiger populations and decrease local effective population sizes. The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) at the foothills of the Himalaya is one of the 42 source sites of tigers around the globe. Therefore, information on how landscape features and anthropogenic factors affect the fine-scale spatial genetic structure and variation of tigers in TAL is needed to develop proper management strategies for achieving long-term conservation goals. We document, for the first time, the genetic characteristics of this tiger population by genotyping 71 tiger samples using 13 microsatellite markers from the western region of TAL (WTAL) of 1800 km2. Specifically, we aimed to estimate the genetic variability, population structure, and gene flow. The microsatellite markers indicated that the levels of allelic diversity (MNA = 6.6) and genetic variation (Ho = 0.50, HE = 0.64) were slightly lower than those reported previously in other Bengal tiger populations. We observed moderate gene flow and significant genetic differentiation (FST= 0.060) and identified the presence of cryptic genetic structure using Bayesian and non-Bayesian approaches. There was low and significantly asymmetric migration between the two main subpopulations of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Corbett Tiger Reserve in WTAL. Sibship relationships indicated that the functionality of the corridor between these subpopulations may be retained if the quality of the habitat does not deteriorate. However, we found that gene flow is not adequate in view of changing land use matrices. We discuss the need to maintain connectivity by implementing the measures that have been suggested previously to minimize the level of human disturbance, including relocation of villages and industries, prevention of encroachment, and banning sand and boulder mining in the corridors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeet Kumar Singh
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, India
| | - Jouni Aspi
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Laura Kvist
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Reeta Sharma
- Population and Conservation Genetics, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Puneet Pandey
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, India
| | | | - Randeep Singh
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, Amity University, Noida, India
| | - Manoj Agrawal
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, India
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Vaz J, Narayan EJ, Dileep Kumar R, Thenmozhi K, Thiyagesan K, Baskaran N. Prevalence and determinants of stereotypic behaviours and physiological stress among tigers and leopards in Indian zoos. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174711. [PMID: 28414723 PMCID: PMC5393558 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
India's charismatic wildlife species are facing immense pressure from anthropogenic-induced environmental perturbations. Zoos play a major role in the conservation of threatened species, but their adaptation in captivity is posing a major challenge globally. Stress from inadequate adaptation could lead to suppression of cognitive functioning and increased display of stereotypic behaviour. It is thus necessary to measure biological traits like behaviour, stress physiology, and contextual factors driving the animals maintained at zoos. In this study, we assessed stereotypic behaviour and stress physiology employing standard behaviour scoring, non-invasive stress monitoring, and their contextual drivers in a sub-population of two large felid species managed in six Indian zoos. The prevalence and intensity of stereotypic behaviours and levels of faecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) were ascertained among 41 Royal Bengal tigers Panthera tigris tigris and 21 Indian leopards Panthera pardus fusca between April 2014 and March 2015. Behavioural observations showed that tigers spent more time stereotyping (12%) than leopards (7%) during daylight hours. Stress levels assessed using FCM revealed that tigers (23.6 ± 1.62 ng/g) had marginally lower level of corticosterone metabolites than leopards (27.2 ±1.36 ng/g). Stereotypic behaviour increased significantly with FCM level when the effect of heath status was controlled in tigers, and the effects tree cover, stone, den and keeper attitude controlled in leopards. Comparison of stereotypes of tigers with various biological and environmental factors using binary logistic regression revealed that stereotypic prevalence decreased with increased enclosure size, and enclosure enrichments like presence of pools and stones, when managed socially with conspecifics, and with positive keeper attitude, these factors accounting for 43% of variations in stereotypic prevalence among tigers. Stereotype among leopards was significantly absent when associated with increased tree cover and presence of pool, and den in the enclosure, age and among zoo-born than wild-born ones. These factors explain 81% of variations in stereotypic prevalence in them. A comparison of FCM levels with context-dependent factors revealed that stress levels among tigers decreased significantly with enclosure size and with individuals from nil to low, and severity of health issues. These factors explain 64% of variations in FCM levels. In leopards, the presence of stones in the enclosure and keepers with positive attitude resulted in significant decrease in FCM levels, these factors together accounting for 94% of variations. Multiple regressions on selected variables based on Factor Analysis of Mixed Data showed that in tigers the intensity of stereotype decreased significantly with enclosure size, sociality and positive keeper attitude and FCM level with health problems. Similarly, analyses in leopards revealed that intensity of stereotype decreased significantly with tree cover, age and FCM level with positive keeper attitude. Overall, our study suggests that to reduce stereotypes and stress level, tigers in captivity should be managed in larger enclosures enriched with pool, and stones, and in appropriate social conditions with adequate veterinary care. Leopards should be managed in enclosures with dense tree cover, pool, stones and den. Positive keeper attitude plays a crucial role in the welfare of both the species in captivity. Our study is promising and is comparable with their natural behaviour in the wild; for example, tigers require larger natural habitats, while leopards can manage even with smaller isolated patches but with dense vegetation cover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Vaz
- Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous), Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Edward J Narayan
- School of Science and Helath, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond NSW, Australia
| | - R Dileep Kumar
- Centre for Venom Informatics, Department of Computational Biology & Bio-informatics, Kariavattom North Campus, University of Kerala, Kerala, India
| | - K Thenmozhi
- Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous), Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Krishnamoorthy Thiyagesan
- Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous), Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Nagarajan Baskaran
- Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous), Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India
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41
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Padalia H, Bahuguna U. Spatial modelling of congruence of native biodiversity and potential hotspots of forest invasive species (FIS) in central Indian landscape. J Nat Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Habib B, Rajvanshi A, Mathur VB, Saxena A. Corridors at Crossroads: Linear Development-Induced Ecological Triage As a Conservation Opportunity. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Mondal I, Habib B, Talukdar G, Nigam P. Triage of Means: Options for Conserving Tiger Corridors beyond Designated Protected Lands in India. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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44
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Are corridors good for tigers Panthera tigris but bad for people? An assessment of the Khata corridor in lowland Nepal. ORYX 2016. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605316000661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAs part of a landscape-scale programme for conserving tigers Panthera tigris the Khata corridor was established between Bardia National Park in Nepal and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India in early 2000. We examined its functionality by comparing the status of tigers and prey in the corridor and in the adjacent National Park, using camera trapping, transect sampling and diet analysis of scats. Tiger movement was inferred from the photographs, and tiger–human conflict was assessed by means of questionnaires and interviews. The corridor harboured transient individuals as well as resident, breeding tigers. Tigers with core areas in the corridor were also recorded in the two protected areas, and vice versa. Wild prey was 3–4 times more abundant in the area of the National Park bordering the corridor than in the corridor itself, and domestic livestock constituted 12–15% of the tigers’ food in the corridor. Livestock losses and human fatalities or injuries were relatively low compared to within the buffer zones of the National Parks. Despite such problems and restrictions on grazing and extraction of natural resources, local residents were generally positive towards tigers and the corridor. The successful establishment of the corridor and the positive attitudes of local people were attributable to community development programmes initiated to compensate for the imposed restrictions, financed by the government and national and international organizations. By linking Bardia National Park and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary via the Khata corridor, a protected tiger landscape of c. 3,000 km2 was established in west-central Nepal and northern India.
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Exploring the Relationship between Remotely-Sensed Spectral Variables and Attributes of Tropical Forest Vegetation under the Influence of Local Forest Institutions. ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/ijgi5070117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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46
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Dou H, Yang H, Feng L, Mou P, Wang T, Ge J. Estimating the Population Size and Genetic Diversity of Amur Tigers in Northeast China. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154254. [PMID: 27100387 PMCID: PMC4839643 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past century, the endangered Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) has experienced a severe contraction in demography and geographic range because of habitat loss, poaching, and prey depletion. In its historical home in Northeast China, there appears to be a single tiger population that includes tigers in Southwest Primorye and Northeast China; however, the current demographic status of this population is uncertain. Information on the abundance, distribution and genetic diversity of this population for assessing the efficacy of conservation interventions are scarce. We used noninvasive genetic detection data from scats, capture-recapture models and an accumulation curve method to estimate the abundance of Amur tigers in Northeast China. We identified 11 individual tigers (6 females and 5 males) using 10 microsatellite loci in three nature reserves between April 2013 and May 2015. These tigers are confined primarily to a Hunchun Nature Reserve along the border with Russia, with an estimated population abundance of 9–11 tigers during the winter of 2014–2015. They showed a low level of genetic diversity. The mean number of alleles per locus was 2.60 and expected and observed heterozygosity were 0.42 and 0.49, respectively. We also documented long-distance dispersal (~270 km) of a male Amur tiger to Huangnihe Nature Reserve from the border, suggesting that the expansion of neighboring Russian populations may eventually help sustain Chinese populations. However, the small and isolated population recorded by this study demonstrate that there is an urgent need for more intensive regional management to create a tiger-permeable landscape and increased genetic connectivity with other populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Dou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Haitao Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Limin Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Pu Mou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Tianming Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Jianping Ge
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Engineering and College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Maroju PA, Yadav S, Kolipakam V, Singh S, Qureshi Q, Jhala Y. Schrodinger's scat: a critical review of the currently available tiger (Panthera Tigris) and leopard (Panthera pardus) specific primers in India, and a novel leopard specific primer. BMC Genet 2016; 17:37. [PMID: 26860950 PMCID: PMC4748499 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-016-0344-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Non-invasive sampling has opened avenues for the genetic study of elusive species, which has contributed significantly to their conservation. Where field based identity of non-invasive sample is ambiguous (e.g. carnivore scats), it is essential to establish identity of the species through molecular approaches. A cost effective procedure to ascertain species identity is to use species specific primers (SSP) for PCR amplification and subsequent resolution through agarose gel electrophoresis. However, SSPs if ill designed can often cross amplify non-target sympatric species. Herein we report the problem of cross amplification with currently published SSPs, which have been used in several recent scientific articles on tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus) in India. Since these papers form pioneering research on which future work will be based, an early rectification is required so as to not propagate this error further. Results We conclusively show cross amplification of three of the four SSPs, in sympatric non-target species like tiger SSP amplifying leopard and striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), and leopard SSP amplifying tiger, lion (Panthera leo persica) and clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), with the same product size. We develop and test a non-cross-amplifying leopard specific primer pair within the mitochondrial cytochrome b region. We also standardize a duplex PCR method to screen tiger and leopard samples simultaneously in one PCR reaction to reduce cost and time. Conclusions These findings suggest the importance of an often overlooked preliminary protocol of conclusive identification of species from non-invasive samples. The cross amplification of published primers in conspecifics suggests the need to revisit inferences drawn by earlier work. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-016-0344-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonu Yadav
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, 248001, India.
| | | | - Shweta Singh
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, 248001, India.
| | - Qamar Qureshi
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, 248001, India.
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Spotted in the News: Using Media Reports to Examine Leopard Distribution, Depredation, and Management Practices outside Protected Areas in Southern India. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142647. [PMID: 26556229 PMCID: PMC4640542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence of large carnivore presence outside protected areas, globally. Although this spells conservation success through population recoveries, it makes carnivore persistence in human-use landscapes tenuous. The widespread distribution of leopards in certain regions of India typifies this problem. We obtained information on leopard-human interactions at a regional scale in Karnataka State, India, based on systematic surveys of local media reports. We applied an innovative occupancy modelling approach to map their distribution patterns and identify hotspots of livestock/human depredation. We also evaluated management responses like removals of ‘problem’ leopards through capture and translocations. Leopards occupied around 84,000 km2 or 47% of the State’s geographic area, outside designated national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Their presence was facilitated by extent of vegetative cover- including irrigated croplands, rocky escarpments, and prey base in the form of feral and free-ranging dogs. Higher probabilities of livestock/human attacks by leopards were associated with similar ecological features as well as with capture/removals of leopards. Of the 56 cases of leopard removals reported, 91% did not involve human attacks, but followed livestock predation or only leopard sightings. The lack of knowledge on leopard ecology in human-use areas has resulted in unscientific interventions, which could aggravate the problem rather than mitigating it. Our results establish the presence of resident, breeding leopards in human-use areas. We therefore propose a shift in management focus, from current reactive practices like removal and translocation of leopards, to proactive measures that ensure safety of human lives and livelihoods.
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Diefenbach D, Hansen L, Bohling J, Miller‐Butterworth C. Population and genetic outcomes 20 years after reintroducing bobcats (Lynx rufus) to Cumberland Island, Georgia USA. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:4885-95. [PMID: 26640668 PMCID: PMC4662311 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In 1988-1989, 32 bobcats Lynx rufus were reintroduced to Cumberland Island (CUIS), Georgia, USA, from which they had previously been extirpated. They were monitored intensively for 3 years immediately post-reintroduction, but no estimation of the size or genetic diversity of the population had been conducted in over 20 years since reintroduction. We returned to CUIS in 2012 to estimate abundance and effective population size of the present-day population, as well as to quantify genetic diversity and inbreeding. We amplified 12 nuclear microsatellite loci from DNA isolated from scats to establish genetic profiles to identify individuals. We used spatially explicit capture-recapture population estimation to estimate abundance. From nine unique genetic profiles, we estimate a population size of 14.4 (SE = 3.052) bobcats, with an effective population size (N e) of 5-8 breeding individuals. This is consistent with predictions of a population viability analysis conducted at the time of reintroduction, which estimated the population would average 12-13 bobcats after 10 years. We identified several pairs of related bobcats (parent-offspring and full siblings), but ~75% of the pairwise comparisons were typical of unrelated individuals, and only one individual appeared inbred. Despite the small population size and other indications that it has likely experienced a genetic bottleneck, levels of genetic diversity in the CUIS bobcat population remain high compared to other mammalian carnivores. The reintroduction of bobcats to CUIS provides an opportunity to study changes in genetic diversity in an insular population without risk to this common species. Opportunities for natural immigration to the island are limited; therefore, continued monitoring and supplemental bobcat reintroductions could be used to evaluate the effect of different management strategies to maintain genetic diversity and population viability. The successful reintroduction and maintenance of a bobcat population on CUIS illustrates the suitability of translocation as a management tool for re-establishing felid populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duane Diefenbach
- U.S. Geological SurveyPennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania16802
| | - Leslie Hansen
- Los Alamos National LaboratoryMS M887P.O. Box 1663Los AlamosNew Mexico87545
| | - Justin Bohling
- Department of Ecosystem Science and ManagementThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania16802
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Roques S, Sollman R, Jácomo A, Tôrres N, Silveira L, Chávez C, Keller C, do Prado DM, Torres PC, dos Santos CJ, da Luz XBG, Magnusson WE, Godoy JA, Ceballos G, Palomares F. Effects of habitat deterioration on the population genetics and conservation of the jaguar. CONSERV GENET 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-015-0766-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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