Genetic structure of giant pandas across patchily distributed habitats in the Qinling Mountains

Bibliographic Details
Title: Genetic structure of giant pandas across patchily distributed habitats in the Qinling Mountains
Authors: Jiqin Huang, Simin Hu, Qifeng Zhu, Fangfang Li, Shiyu Jin, Ximing Zhang, Xuelin Jin
Source: Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 48, Iss , Pp e02666- (2023)
Publisher Information: Elsevier, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Ecology
Subject Terms: Giant pandas, Local populations, Genetic differentiation, Geographic distance, Microsatellites, Ecology, QH540-549.5
More Details: Due to geographic isolation and habitat disturbance, the Qinling giant pandas (QGPs) were divided into six habitat patches and accordingly assigned to six local populations in the Fourth National Survey on Giant Pandas. Whether the artificial division of QGP local population is of rationality and whether it is reflected by genetic structure remain unclear. To answer the questions, we conducted microsatellite marker analysis with 12 loci from 94 individuals identified via faeces samples collected from two local populations in the Qinling Mountains. Based on analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), the genetic variation of the Xinglongling local population and Niuweihe local population mainly occurred within populations (81.22 %), with a relatively high genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.18782) and low gene flow (Nm = 0.340282) between Xinglongling and Niuweihe local population. The Mantel test revealed a significant positive correlation between pairwise genetic distance and geographic distance (R = 0.136, p = 0.001). The study reflected that the partition of two local populations is consistent with the division of habitat patches, and also confirmed the geographic distance has influences on genetic distance between QGP individuals in Qinling Mountains. These findings offer important references for effective conservation of QGPs, especially small populations, avoiding the loss of genetic diversity of the QGP population.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2351-9894
Relation: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423003013; https://doaj.org/toc/2351-9894
DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02666
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/5b39f042d4c942298b576bc05e234e7f
Accession Number: edsdoj.5b39f042d4c942298b576bc05e234e7f
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:23519894
DOI:10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02666
Published in:Global Ecology and Conservation
Language:English