Academic Journal
Genetic tracing of the illegal trade of the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in western Central Africa
| Title: | Genetic tracing of the illegal trade of the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in western Central Africa |
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| Authors: | Alain Din Dipita, Alain Didier Missoup, Samantha Aguillon, Emilie Lecompte, Brice Roxan Momboua, Anne-Lise Chaber, Katharine Abernethy, Flobert Njiokou, Maurice Tindo, Stephan Ntie, Philippe Gaubert |
| Source: | Scientific Reports, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2024) |
| Publisher Information: | Nature Portfolio, 2024. |
| Publication Year: | 2024 |
| Collection: | LCC:Medicine LCC:Science |
| Subject Terms: | Microsatellites, Demographic history, Molecular tracing, White-bellied pangolin, Wildlife trade, Western Central Africa, Medicine, Science |
| More Details: | Abstract The white-bellied pangolin is subject to intense trafficking, feeding both local and international trade networks. In order to assess its population genetics and trace its domestic trade, we genotyped 562 pangolins from local to large bushmeat markets in western central Africa. We show that the two lineages described from the study region (WCA and Gab) were overlapping in ranges, with limited introgression in southern Cameroon. There was a lack of genetic differentiation across WCA and a significant signature of isolation-by-distance possibly due to unsuspected dispersal capacities involving a Wahlund effect. We detected a c. 74.1–82.5% decline in the effective population size of WCA during the Middle Holocene. Private allele frequency tracing approach indicated up to 600 km sourcing distance by large urban markets from Cameroon, including Equatorial Guinea. The 20 species-specific microsatellite loci provided individual-level genotyping resolution and should be considered as valuable resources for future forensic applications. Because admixture was detected between lineages, we recommend a multi-locus approach for tracing the pangolin trade. The Yaoundé market was the main hub of the trade in the region, and thus should receive specific monitoring to mitigate pangolins’ domestic trafficking. Our study also highlighted the weak implementation of CITES regulations at European borders. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
| Relation: | https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-024-63666-9 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/28f591aaee364341aae1e0ca43b87cab |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.28f591aaee364341aae1e0ca43b87cab |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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| ISSN: | 20452322 |
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| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-024-63666-9 |
| Published in: | Scientific Reports |
| Language: | English |