Individual identification and genetic variation of lions (Panthera leo) from two protected areas in Nigeria.

This survey was conducted in two protected areas in Nigeria to genetically identify individual lions and to determine the genetic variation within and between the populations. We used faecal sample DNA, a non-invasive alternative to the risky and laborious task of taking samples directly from the an...

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Main Authors: Talatu Tende, Bengt Hansson, Ulf Ottosson, Mikael Akesson, Staffan Bensch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3888380?pdf=render
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author Talatu Tende
Bengt Hansson
Ulf Ottosson
Mikael Akesson
Staffan Bensch
author_facet Talatu Tende
Bengt Hansson
Ulf Ottosson
Mikael Akesson
Staffan Bensch
author_sort Talatu Tende
collection DOAJ
description This survey was conducted in two protected areas in Nigeria to genetically identify individual lions and to determine the genetic variation within and between the populations. We used faecal sample DNA, a non-invasive alternative to the risky and laborious task of taking samples directly from the animals, often preceded by catching and immobilization. Data collection in Yankari Game Reserve (YGR) spanned through a period of five years (2008 -2012), whereas data in Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) was gathered for a period of three years (2009, 2010 and 2012). We identified a minimum of eight individuals (2 males, 3 females, 3 unknown) from YGR and a minimum of ten individuals (7 males, 3 females) from KLNP. The two populations were found to be genetically distinct as shown by the relatively high fixation index (FST  = 0.17) with each population exhibiting signs of inbreeding (YGR FIS  = 0.49, KLNP FIS  = 0.38). The genetic differentiation between the Yankari and Kainji lions is assumed to result from large spatial geographic distance and physical barriers reducing gene flow between these two remaining wild lion populations in Nigeria. To mitigate the probable inbreeding depression in the lion populations within Nigeria it might be important to transfer lions between parks or reserves or to reintroduce lions from the zoos back to the wild.
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spelling doaj.art-14dd57833b5941058d1ce17fb4c67bc52022-12-22T00:09:48ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0191e8428810.1371/journal.pone.0084288Individual identification and genetic variation of lions (Panthera leo) from two protected areas in Nigeria.Talatu TendeBengt HanssonUlf OttossonMikael AkessonStaffan BenschThis survey was conducted in two protected areas in Nigeria to genetically identify individual lions and to determine the genetic variation within and between the populations. We used faecal sample DNA, a non-invasive alternative to the risky and laborious task of taking samples directly from the animals, often preceded by catching and immobilization. Data collection in Yankari Game Reserve (YGR) spanned through a period of five years (2008 -2012), whereas data in Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) was gathered for a period of three years (2009, 2010 and 2012). We identified a minimum of eight individuals (2 males, 3 females, 3 unknown) from YGR and a minimum of ten individuals (7 males, 3 females) from KLNP. The two populations were found to be genetically distinct as shown by the relatively high fixation index (FST  = 0.17) with each population exhibiting signs of inbreeding (YGR FIS  = 0.49, KLNP FIS  = 0.38). The genetic differentiation between the Yankari and Kainji lions is assumed to result from large spatial geographic distance and physical barriers reducing gene flow between these two remaining wild lion populations in Nigeria. To mitigate the probable inbreeding depression in the lion populations within Nigeria it might be important to transfer lions between parks or reserves or to reintroduce lions from the zoos back to the wild.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3888380?pdf=render
spellingShingle Talatu Tende
Bengt Hansson
Ulf Ottosson
Mikael Akesson
Staffan Bensch
Individual identification and genetic variation of lions (Panthera leo) from two protected areas in Nigeria.
PLoS ONE
title Individual identification and genetic variation of lions (Panthera leo) from two protected areas in Nigeria.
title_full Individual identification and genetic variation of lions (Panthera leo) from two protected areas in Nigeria.
title_fullStr Individual identification and genetic variation of lions (Panthera leo) from two protected areas in Nigeria.
title_full_unstemmed Individual identification and genetic variation of lions (Panthera leo) from two protected areas in Nigeria.
title_short Individual identification and genetic variation of lions (Panthera leo) from two protected areas in Nigeria.
title_sort individual identification and genetic variation of lions panthera leo from two protected areas in nigeria
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3888380?pdf=render
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