The mitochondrial DNA diversity of captive ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.): implications for conservation
Ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata and Varecia rubra) are categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and genetic studies are needed for assessing the conservation value of captive populations. Using 280 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences, we studied the genetic diversity and st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Oryx |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605322000643/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797690055024705536 |
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| author | Rodrigo Vega Jane Hopper Andrew C. Kitchener Jérôme Catinaud Delphine Roullet Eric Robsomanitrandrasana Jack D. Hollister Christian Roos Tony King |
| author_facet | Rodrigo Vega Jane Hopper Andrew C. Kitchener Jérôme Catinaud Delphine Roullet Eric Robsomanitrandrasana Jack D. Hollister Christian Roos Tony King |
| author_sort | Rodrigo Vega |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata and Varecia rubra) are categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and genetic studies are needed for assessing the conservation value of captive populations. Using 280 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences, we studied the genetic diversity and structure of captive ruffed lemurs in Madagascar, Europe and North America. We found 10 new haplotypes: one from the European captive V. rubra population, three from captive V. variegata subcincta (one from Europe and two from Madagascar) and six from other captive V. variegata in Madagascar. We found low mtDNA genetic diversity in the European and North American captive populations of V. variegata. Several founder individuals shared the same mtDNA haplotype and therefore should not be assumed to be unrelated founders when making breeding recommendations. The captive population in Madagascar has high genetic diversity, including haplotypes not yet identified in wild populations. We determined the probable geographical provenance of founders of captive populations by comparison with previous studies; all reported haplotypes from captive ruffed lemurs were identical to or clustered with haplotypes from wild populations located north of the Mangoro River in Madagascar. Effective conservation strategies for wild populations, with potentially unidentified genetic diversity, should still be considered the priority for conserving ruffed lemurs. However, our results illustrate that the captive population in Madagascar has conservation value as a source of potential release stock for reintroduction or reinforcement projects and that cross-regional transfers within the global captive population could increase the genetic diversity and therefore the conservation value of each regional population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:54:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a6bfc3687be4b2fa944be9bb6e328b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0030-6053 1365-3008 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:54:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oryx |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a6bfc3687be4b2fa944be9bb6e328b12023-09-08T07:26:54ZengCambridge University PressOryx0030-60531365-30082023-09-015764965810.1017/S0030605322000643The mitochondrial DNA diversity of captive ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.): implications for conservationRodrigo Vega0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4915-9840Jane Hopper1Andrew C. Kitchener2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2594-0827Jérôme Catinaud3Delphine Roullet4Eric Robsomanitrandrasana5Jack D. Hollister6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8697-5076Christian Roos7Tony King8https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4597-0134Section of Natural and Applied Sciences, School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU, UKThe Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Hythe, UKDepartment of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, UKParc des Félins, Lumigny-Nesles-Ormeaux, FranceParc Zoologique de Paris, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, FranceMinistry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Antananarivo, MadagascarSection of Natural and Applied Sciences, School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU, UKGerman Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, GermanyThe Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Hythe, UKRuffed lemurs (Varecia variegata and Varecia rubra) are categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and genetic studies are needed for assessing the conservation value of captive populations. Using 280 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences, we studied the genetic diversity and structure of captive ruffed lemurs in Madagascar, Europe and North America. We found 10 new haplotypes: one from the European captive V. rubra population, three from captive V. variegata subcincta (one from Europe and two from Madagascar) and six from other captive V. variegata in Madagascar. We found low mtDNA genetic diversity in the European and North American captive populations of V. variegata. Several founder individuals shared the same mtDNA haplotype and therefore should not be assumed to be unrelated founders when making breeding recommendations. The captive population in Madagascar has high genetic diversity, including haplotypes not yet identified in wild populations. We determined the probable geographical provenance of founders of captive populations by comparison with previous studies; all reported haplotypes from captive ruffed lemurs were identical to or clustered with haplotypes from wild populations located north of the Mangoro River in Madagascar. Effective conservation strategies for wild populations, with potentially unidentified genetic diversity, should still be considered the priority for conserving ruffed lemurs. However, our results illustrate that the captive population in Madagascar has conservation value as a source of potential release stock for reintroduction or reinforcement projects and that cross-regional transfers within the global captive population could increase the genetic diversity and therefore the conservation value of each regional population.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605322000643/type/journal_articleBiodiversityconservationgenetic diversityLemuridaeMadagascarprimates |
| spellingShingle | Rodrigo Vega Jane Hopper Andrew C. Kitchener Jérôme Catinaud Delphine Roullet Eric Robsomanitrandrasana Jack D. Hollister Christian Roos Tony King The mitochondrial DNA diversity of captive ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.): implications for conservation Oryx Biodiversity conservation genetic diversity Lemuridae Madagascar primates |
| title | The mitochondrial DNA diversity of captive ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.): implications for conservation |
| title_full | The mitochondrial DNA diversity of captive ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.): implications for conservation |
| title_fullStr | The mitochondrial DNA diversity of captive ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.): implications for conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mitochondrial DNA diversity of captive ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.): implications for conservation |
| title_short | The mitochondrial DNA diversity of captive ruffed lemurs (Varecia spp.): implications for conservation |
| title_sort | mitochondrial dna diversity of captive ruffed lemurs varecia spp implications for conservation |
| topic | Biodiversity conservation genetic diversity Lemuridae Madagascar primates |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605322000643/type/journal_article |
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