Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive population
Abstract Breeding programs have an essential role in the recovery of threatened populations through optimal genetic management and mating strategies. The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is a North African ungulate listed as critically endangered. The mhorr subspecies is extinct in the wild and currently...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10876 |
| _version_ | 1827572804991582208 |
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| author | Sonia Domínguez Isabel Cervantes Juan Pablo Gutiérrez Eulalia Moreno |
| author_facet | Sonia Domínguez Isabel Cervantes Juan Pablo Gutiérrez Eulalia Moreno |
| author_sort | Sonia Domínguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Breeding programs have an essential role in the recovery of threatened populations through optimal genetic management and mating strategies. The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is a North African ungulate listed as critically endangered. The mhorr subspecies is extinct in the wild and currently survives thanks to the creation in 1971 of an ex situ breeding program. The aim of the present study was to assess the evolution of genetic variability in this mhorr gazelle captive population, as well as the mating strategy used in two reference populations studied (Almeria and Europe). The entire pedigree, with 2739 animals, was analyzed to measure demographic characters, pedigree completeness level, probability of gene origin, level of relatedness and genetic structure of the population. The population size has been progressively increasing, with up to 264 individuals alive in Europe at the time of the study. The average number of equivalent complete generations was 5.55. The effective number of founders and ancestors was both 3, and the founder genome equivalent was 1.99. The genetic contributions of the four main ancestors were unbalanced. The average values of inbreeding and average relatedness for the whole pedigree were, respectively, 28.34% and 50.14%. The effective population size was 8.7 by individual increase in inbreeding and 9.8 by individual increase in coancestry. F‐statistics evidenced a very small level of population subdivision (FST = 0.033370). The mating strategy used, based on the minimum coancestry of the individuals, has minimized the losses of genetic variability and helped to balance the genetic contributions between ancestors. The strategy also avoided large subdivisions within the population and the appearance of new bottlenecks. This study shows how pedigree analysis can both be used to determine the genetic variability of the population and to assess the influence of the mating strategy used in the breeding program on such variability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:28:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ee28d3ff68b4f34a50aecb8434b9f30 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:28:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ee28d3ff68b4f34a50aecb8434b9f302024-02-29T08:56:39ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-02-01142n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10876Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive populationSonia Domínguez0Isabel Cervantes1Juan Pablo Gutiérrez2Eulalia Moreno3Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas‐CSIC Almería SpainDepartamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria UCM Madrid SpainDepartamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria UCM Madrid SpainEstación Experimental de Zonas Áridas‐CSIC Almería SpainAbstract Breeding programs have an essential role in the recovery of threatened populations through optimal genetic management and mating strategies. The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is a North African ungulate listed as critically endangered. The mhorr subspecies is extinct in the wild and currently survives thanks to the creation in 1971 of an ex situ breeding program. The aim of the present study was to assess the evolution of genetic variability in this mhorr gazelle captive population, as well as the mating strategy used in two reference populations studied (Almeria and Europe). The entire pedigree, with 2739 animals, was analyzed to measure demographic characters, pedigree completeness level, probability of gene origin, level of relatedness and genetic structure of the population. The population size has been progressively increasing, with up to 264 individuals alive in Europe at the time of the study. The average number of equivalent complete generations was 5.55. The effective number of founders and ancestors was both 3, and the founder genome equivalent was 1.99. The genetic contributions of the four main ancestors were unbalanced. The average values of inbreeding and average relatedness for the whole pedigree were, respectively, 28.34% and 50.14%. The effective population size was 8.7 by individual increase in inbreeding and 9.8 by individual increase in coancestry. F‐statistics evidenced a very small level of population subdivision (FST = 0.033370). The mating strategy used, based on the minimum coancestry of the individuals, has minimized the losses of genetic variability and helped to balance the genetic contributions between ancestors. The strategy also avoided large subdivisions within the population and the appearance of new bottlenecks. This study shows how pedigree analysis can both be used to determine the genetic variability of the population and to assess the influence of the mating strategy used in the breeding program on such variability.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10876captive breeding programcritically endangereddama gazellegenetic diversitymating strategypedigree analysis |
| spellingShingle | Sonia Domínguez Isabel Cervantes Juan Pablo Gutiérrez Eulalia Moreno Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive population Ecology and Evolution captive breeding program critically endangered dama gazelle genetic diversity mating strategy pedigree analysis |
| title | Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive population |
| title_full | Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive population |
| title_fullStr | Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive population |
| title_short | Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive population |
| title_sort | pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle nanger dama mhorr genetic variability evolution of the captive population |
| topic | captive breeding program critically endangered dama gazelle genetic diversity mating strategy pedigree analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10876 |
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