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Ahmed S, Ibrahim M, Nantasenamat C, Nisar MF, Malik AA, Waheed R, Ahmed MZ, Ojha SC, Alam MK, Khan S. Pragmatic Applications and Universality of DNA Barcoding for Substantial Organisms at Species Level: A Review to Explore a Way Forward. BioMed Research International 2022; 2022:1-19. [PMID: 35059459 PMCID: PMC8766189 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1846485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
DNA barcodes are regarded as hereditary succession codes that serve as a recognition marker to address several queries relating to the identification, classification, community ecology, and evolution of certain functional traits in organisms. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (CO1) gene as a DNA barcode is highly efficient for discriminating vertebrate and invertebrate animal species. Similarly, different specific markers are used for other organisms, including ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL), maturase kinase (matK), transfer RNA-H and photosystem II D1-ApbsArabidopsis thaliana (trnH-psbA), and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) for plant species; 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), elongation factor Tu gene (Tuf gene), and chaperonin for bacterial strains; and nuclear ITS for fungal strains. Nevertheless, the taxon coverage of reference sequences is far from complete for genus or species-level identification. Applying the next-generation sequencing approach to the parallel acquisition of DNA barcode sequences could greatly expand the potential for library preparation or accurate identification in biodiversity research. Overall, this review articulates on the DNA barcoding technology as applied to different organisms, its universality, applicability, and innovative approach to handling DNA-based species identification.
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Lokasola AL, Lotana CB, Tungaluna GCG, Akaibe BD, Jirků M, Gvoždík V. New distributional data and genetic variation of Panaspis breviceps (Squamata: Scincidae) indicate a biogeographic connection across the Congo Basin. African Zoology 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.2007418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Albert L Lokasola
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Cédric Botshuna Lotana
- Department of Waters & Forests, Djolu Technical College, Djolu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Benjamin Dudu Akaibe
- Biodiversity Monitoring Center, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Miloslav Jirků
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Gvoždík
- National Museum, Department of Zoology, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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Abstract
Ecotourism can fuel an important source of financial income for African countries and can therefore help biodiversity policies in the continent. Translocations can be a powerful tool to spread economic benefits among countries and communities; yet, to be positive for biodiversity conservation, they require a basic knowledge of conservation units through appropriate taxonomic research. This is not always the case, as taxonomy was considered an outdated discipline for almost a century, and some plurality in taxonomic approaches is incorrectly considered as a disadvantage for conservation work. As an example, diversity of the genus Giraffa and its recent taxonomic history illustrate the importance of such knowledge for a sound conservation policy that includes translocations. We argue that a fine-grained conservation perspective that prioritizes all remaining populations along the Nile Basin is needed. Translocations are important tools for giraffe diversity conservation, but more discussion is needed, especially for moving new giraffes to regions where the autochthonous taxa/populations are no longer existent. As the current discussion about the giraffe taxonomy is too focused on the number of giraffe species, we argue that the plurality of taxonomic and conservation approaches might be beneficial, i.e., for defining the number of units requiring separate management using a (majority) consensus across different concepts (e.g., MU—management unit, ESU—evolutionary significant unit, and ECU—elemental conservation unit). The taxonomically sensitive translocation policy/strategy would be important for the preservation of current diversity, while also supporting the ecological restoration of some regions within rewilding. A summary table of the main translocation operations of African mammals that have underlying problems is included. Therefore, we call for increased attention toward the taxonomy of African mammals not only as the basis for sound conservation but also as a further opportunity to enlarge the geographic scope of ecotourism in Africa.
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van der Valk T, Gonda CM, Silegowa H, Almanza S, Sifuentes-Romero I, Hart TB, Hart JA, Detwiler KM, Guschanski K. The Genome of the Endangered Dryas Monkey Provides New Insights into the Evolutionary History of the Vervets. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:183-194. [PMID: 31529046 PMCID: PMC6984364 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic data can be a powerful tool for inferring ecology, behavior, and conservation needs of highly elusive species, particularly, when other sources of information are hard to come by. Here, we focus on the Dryas monkey (Cercopithecus dryas), an endangered primate endemic to the Congo Basin with cryptic behavior and possibly <250 remaining adult individuals. Using whole-genome sequencing data, we show that the Dryas monkey represents a sister lineage to the vervets (Chlorocebus sp.) and has diverged from them ∼1.4 Ma with additional bidirectional gene flow ∼750,000–∼500,000 years ago that has likely involved the crossing of the Congo River. Together with evidence of gene flow across the Congo River in bonobos and okapis, our results suggest that the fluvial topology of the Congo River might have been more dynamic than previously recognized. Despite the presence of several homozygous loss-of-function mutations in genes associated with sperm mobility and immunity, we find high genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding and genetic load in the studied Dryas monkey individual. This suggests that the current population carries sufficient genetic variability for long-term survival and might be larger than currently recognized. We thus provide an example of how genomic data can directly improve our understanding of highly elusive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom van der Valk
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Catalina M Gonda
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Henri Silegowa
- Frankfurt Zoological Society, TL2 Project, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Sandra Almanza
- Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
| | | | - Terese B Hart
- Frankfurt Zoological Society, TL2 Project, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - John A Hart
- Frankfurt Zoological Society, TL2 Project, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Kate M Detwiler
- Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL.,Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
| | - Katerina Guschanski
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Ramsauer AS, Kubacki J, Welle M, Bachofen C, Fraefel C, Hoby S, Tobler K, Wenker C. Detection and Characterization of Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)-specific Papillomavirus type 1 (OjPV1). Vet Microbiol 2018; 223:113-118. [PMID: 30173736 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Papillomavirus-specific DNA was detected in skin lesions collected from an okapi (Okapia johnstoni) in the Zoo Basel. According to the nucleotide sequence analysis, the virus belongs to the genus Deltapapillomavirus. Based on bioinformatics analysis, we propose to designate the newly identified virus as Okapia johnstoni Papillomavirus type 1 (OjPV1). OjPV1 is genetically most closely related to a recently described giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) -specific papillomavirus (GcPV1). Of note, the putative oncogenic E5 proteins from OjPV1 and GcPV1 are more conserved than the L1 proteins. This indicates, that the selection pressure on E5 may be more pronounced than that on the otherwise most conserved major capsid protein L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sophie Ramsauer
- Virologisches Institut, Vetsuisse Fakultät, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Jakub Kubacki
- Virologisches Institut, Vetsuisse Fakultät, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Monika Welle
- Institut für Tierpathologie, Dermfocus, Vetsuisse Fakultät, Universität Bern, Postfach, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Bachofen
- Virologisches Institut, Vetsuisse Fakultät, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Cornel Fraefel
- Virologisches Institut, Vetsuisse Fakultät, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Hoby
- Zoo Basel, Binningerstrasse 40, CH-4054, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kurt Tobler
- Virologisches Institut, Vetsuisse Fakultät, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
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Šumbera R, Krásová J, Lavrenchenko LA, Mengistu S, Bekele A, Mikula O, Bryja J. Ethiopian highlands as a cradle of the African fossorial root-rats (genus Tachyoryctes), the genetic evidence. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 126:105-115. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Takemoto H, Kawamoto Y, Higuchi S, Makinose E, Hart JA, Hart TB, Sakamaki T, Tokuyama N, Reinartz GE, Guislain P, Dupain J, Cobden AK, Mulavwa MN, Yangozene K, Darroze S, Devos C, Furuichi T. The mitochondrial ancestor of bonobos and the origin of their major haplogroups. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174851. [PMID: 28467422 PMCID: PMC5414932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We report here where the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of bonobos (Pan paniscus) ranged and how they dispersed throughout their current habitat. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecular dating to analyze the time to MRCA (TMRCA) and the major mtDNA haplogroups of wild bonobos were performed using new estimations of divergence time of bonobos from other Pan species to investigate the dispersal routes of bonobos over the forest area of the Congo River’s left bank. The TMRCA of bonobos was estimated to be 0.64 or 0.95 million years ago (Ma). Six major haplogroups had very old origins of 0.38 Ma or older. The reconstruction of the ancestral area revealed the mitochondrial ancestor of the bonobo populations ranged in the eastern area of the current bonobos’ habitat. The haplogroups may have been formed from either the riparian forests along the Congo River or the center of the southern Congo Basin. Fragmentation of the forest refugia during the cooler periods may have greatly affected the formation of the genetic structure of bonobo populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Takemoto
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- * E-mail: (HT); (TF)
| | - Yoshi Kawamoto
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Shoko Higuchi
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Emiko Makinose
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - John A. Hart
- Lukuru Foundation, Projet Tshuapa-Lomami-Lualaba (TL2), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Térese B. Hart
- Lukuru Foundation, Projet Tshuapa-Lomami-Lualaba (TL2), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | | | - Nahoko Tokuyama
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Gay E. Reinartz
- Bonobo and Congo Biodiversity Initiative, Zoological Society of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Patrick Guislain
- Bonobo and Congo Biodiversity Initiative, Zoological Society of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Jef Dupain
- African Wildlife Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Amy K. Cobden
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mbangi N. Mulavwa
- Research Center for Ecology and Forestry, Ministry of high Education and Scientific Research, Mabali, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Kumugo Yangozene
- Research Center for Ecology and Forestry, Ministry of high Education and Scientific Research, Mabali, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Serge Darroze
- Consultant Biodiversity, Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, Protected Areas Management and Adaptation to Climate Change, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Céline Devos
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Takeshi Furuichi
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- * E-mail: (HT); (TF)
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Gippoliti S, Cotterill FPD, Zinner D, Groves CP. Impacts of taxonomic inertia for the conservation of African ungulate diversity: an overview. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 93:115-130. [PMID: 28429851 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
We review the state of African ungulate taxonomy over the last 120 years, with an emphasis on the introduction of the polytypic species concept and the discipline's general neglect since the middle of the 20th century. We single out negative consequences of 'orthodox' taxonomy, highlighting numerous cases of neglect of threatened lineages, unsound translocations that led to lineage introgression, and cases of maladaptation to local conditions including parasitic infections. Additionally, several captive breeding programmes have been hampered by chromosome rearrangements caused by involuntary lineage mixing. We advocate that specimen-based taxonomy should regain its keystone role in mammal research and conservation biology, with its scientific values augmented with genomic evidence. While integration with molecular biology, ecology and behaviour is needed for a full understanding of ungulate alpha diversity, we stress that morphological diversity has been neglected despite its tremendous practical importance for some groups of 'utilizers' such as trophy hunters, wildlife tourists and conservationists. We conclude that there is no evidence that purported 'taxonomic inflation' has adverse effects on ungulate conservation: rather, it is taxonomic inertia that has such adverse effects. We stress that sound science, founded on robust taxonomy, should underpin effective sustainable management (hunting, ranching, captive breeding and reintroduction programmes) of this unique African natural resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spartaco Gippoliti
- Società Italiana di Storia della Fauna 'G. Altobello' Viale Liegi 48, 00198, Roma, Italy
| | - Fenton P D Cotterill
- Geoecodynamics Research Hub, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - Dietmar Zinner
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Colin P Groves
- School of Archaeology & Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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9
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Agaba M, Ishengoma E, Miller WC, McGrath BC, Hudson CN, Bedoya Reina OC, Ratan A, Burhans R, Chikhi R, Medvedev P, Praul CA, Wu-Cavener L, Wood B, Robertson H, Penfold L, Cavener DR. Giraffe genome sequence reveals clues to its unique morphology and physiology. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11519. [PMID: 27187213 PMCID: PMC4873664 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The origins of giraffe's imposing stature and associated cardiovascular adaptations are unknown. Okapi, which lacks these unique features, is giraffe's closest relative and provides a useful comparison, to identify genetic variation underlying giraffe's long neck and cardiovascular system. The genomes of giraffe and okapi were sequenced, and through comparative analyses genes and pathways were identified that exhibit unique genetic changes and likely contribute to giraffe's unique features. Some of these genes are in the HOX, NOTCH and FGF signalling pathways, which regulate both skeletal and cardiovascular development, suggesting that giraffe's stature and cardiovascular adaptations evolved in parallel through changes in a small number of genes. Mitochondrial metabolism and volatile fatty acids transport genes are also evolutionarily diverged in giraffe and may be related to its unusual diet that includes toxic plants. Unexpectedly, substantial evolutionary changes have occurred in giraffe and okapi in double-strand break repair and centrosome functions. Giraffe's unique anatomy and physiology include its stature and associated cardiovascular adaptation. Here, Douglas Cavener and colleagues provide de novo genome assemblies of giraffe and its closest relative okapi and provide comparative analyses to infer insights into evolution and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morris Agaba
- School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, African Institute of Science and Technology, Arusha 4222, Tanzania.,Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi GPO00100, Kenya.,Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Edson Ishengoma
- School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, African Institute of Science and Technology, Arusha 4222, Tanzania
| | - Webb C Miller
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Barbara C McGrath
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Chelsea N Hudson
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Oscar C Bedoya Reina
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.,MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Aakrosh Ratan
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.,Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Computer Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Rico Burhans
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Rayan Chikhi
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Paul Medvedev
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Craig A Praul
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Lan Wu-Cavener
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Brendan Wood
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | | | | | - Douglas R Cavener
- School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, African Institute of Science and Technology, Arusha 4222, Tanzania.,Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
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Stanton DWG, Helsen P, Shephard J, Leus K, Penfold L, Hart J, Kümpel NF, Ewen JG, Wang J, Galbusera P, Bruford MW. Genetic structure of captive and free-ranging okapi (Okapia johnstoni) with implications for management. CONSERV GENET 2015; 16:1115-26. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-015-0726-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Stanton DWG, Hart J, Kümpel NF, Vosper A, Nixon S, Bruford MW, Ewen JG, Wang J. Enhancing knowledge of an endangered and elusive species, the okapi, using non-invasive genetic techniques. J Zool (1987) 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - J. Hart
- Projet Tshuapa-Lomami-Lualaba (TL2); Lukuru Foundation; Kinshasa DRC
| | - N. F. Kümpel
- Conservation Programmes; Zoological Society of London; London UK
| | - A. Vosper
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); Great Ape and Human Impact Monitoring; Okapi Faunal Reserve; Ituri DRC
| | - S. Nixon
- Conservation Programmes; Zoological Society of London; London UK
| | - M. W. Bruford
- School of Biosciences; Cardiff University; Cardiff UK
| | - J. G. Ewen
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
| | - J. Wang
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London UK
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Stanton DWG, Hart J, Vosper A, Kümpel NF, Wang J, Ewen JG, Bruford MW. Non-invasive genetic identification confirms the presence of the Endangered okapi Okapia johnstoni south-west of the Congo River. ORYX 2016; 50:134-7. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605314000593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe okapi Okapia johnstoni, a rainforest giraffid endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo, was recategorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2013. Historical records and anecdotal reports suggest that a disjunct population of okapi may have occurred south-west of the Congo River but the current distribution and status of the okapi in this region are not well known. Here we describe the use of non-invasive genetic identification for this species and assess the success of species identification from dung in the wild, which varied throughout the range. This variation is probably attributable to varying okapi population densities and/or different sample collection strategies across the okapi's distribution. Okapi were confirmed to occur south-west of the Congo River, in scattered localities west of the Lomami River. We demonstrated that non-invasive genetic methods can provide information on the distribution of cryptic, uncommon species that is difficult to obtain by other methods. Further investigation is required to genetically characterize the okapi across its range and to investigate the biogeographical processes that have led to the observed distribution of okapi and other fauna in the region.
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