Genetic diversity of the free-living population of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
The present study is aimed at evaluating the genetic diversity, genetic status and the extent of hybridization with the domestic horse for the Przhevalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii Poliakov 1881) population free-ranging in the territory of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) in Belarus and Ukr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural History
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Theriologia Ukrainica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://terioshkola.org.ua/library/pts20/TU2008-kheidorova.htm |
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| author | Ekaterina E. Kheidorova Kanstantsin V. Homel Mikhail E. Nikiforov Aliaksei V. Shpak Valery Ch. Dombrovski Marina S. Shkvyrya Peter E. Schlichting James C. Beasley Denis A. Vishnevsky Yegor B. Yakovlev |
| author_facet | Ekaterina E. Kheidorova Kanstantsin V. Homel Mikhail E. Nikiforov Aliaksei V. Shpak Valery Ch. Dombrovski Marina S. Shkvyrya Peter E. Schlichting James C. Beasley Denis A. Vishnevsky Yegor B. Yakovlev |
| author_sort | Ekaterina E. Kheidorova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study is aimed at evaluating the genetic diversity, genetic status and the extent of hybridization with the domestic horse for the Przhevalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii Poliakov 1881) population free-ranging in the territory of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) in Belarus and Ukraine. The sample size included 12 individuals (10 sampled in the Belarusian part of the CEZ and 2 from the Ukrainian part of the CEZ). Ten microsatellites recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) for horse genetic status and pedigree determination were used as markers in this study. The fragment analysis data obtained utilising this microsatellite panel determined that two individuals from Belarus possess no allelic variants typical for Przhevalski’s horse. Most of the other individuals presented diagnostically valuable allelic variants. Demographic history analysis for the population did not indicate any drastic population shrinkage events in the population’s recent history. The studied population is characterised by heterogeneous population structure with signs of inbreeding (0.21 %), intermediate level of genetic diversity (He = 0.63) and allelic richness (5.15), possesses 16 unique alleles among 2 microsatellite loci and valuable alleles for loci HMS3 and HMS7 (46.4 and 67.9 % specific alleles for Przhevalski’s horse, respectively). Genetic structure evaluation for the population was performed via Bayesian population structure analysis and factorial correspondence analysis (FCA), which indicated the presence of intrapopulation genetic subdivision. Taking into account the obtained indicators of genetic diversity, we may conclude on the relatively favourable status of Przewalski’s horse in the exclusion zone with good potential for the long-term existence of the species population in the wild. In order to minimise inbreeding effects and the risk of a decline in genetic diversity in the population of Przewalski’s horse of the exclusion zone, as well as to increase the value of this free-living group to preserve the gene pool of the species as a whole, it is necessary to provide detailed genetic monitoring of the livestock’s state, as well as develop a regional population management plan, including measures aimed to minimise the possibility of further hybridisation of wild horses with domestic ones. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:33:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d55ac61cebb543b4ae3a9bc23d5ee361 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2616-7379 2617-1120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:33:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural History |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Theriologia Ukrainica |
| spelling | doaj.art-d55ac61cebb543b4ae3a9bc23d5ee3612022-12-22T03:45:57ZengNational Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural HistoryTheriologia Ukrainica2616-73792617-11202020-12-0120586610.15407/TU2008Genetic diversity of the free-living population of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion ZoneEkaterina E. Kheidorova0Kanstantsin V. Homel1Mikhail E. Nikiforov2Aliaksei V. Shpak3Valery Ch. Dombrovski4Marina S. Shkvyrya5Peter E. Schlichting6James C. Beasley7Denis A. Vishnevsky8Yegor B. Yakovlev9Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Minsk, Belarus)Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Minsk, Belarus)Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Minsk, Belarus)Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Minsk, Belarus)Polesie State Radioecological Reserve (Chojniki, Belarus)Kyiv Zoo (Kyiv, Ukraine)University of Georgia (Athens, USA)University of Georgia (Athens, USA)Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve (Kyiv, Ukraine)Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine)The present study is aimed at evaluating the genetic diversity, genetic status and the extent of hybridization with the domestic horse for the Przhevalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii Poliakov 1881) population free-ranging in the territory of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) in Belarus and Ukraine. The sample size included 12 individuals (10 sampled in the Belarusian part of the CEZ and 2 from the Ukrainian part of the CEZ). Ten microsatellites recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) for horse genetic status and pedigree determination were used as markers in this study. The fragment analysis data obtained utilising this microsatellite panel determined that two individuals from Belarus possess no allelic variants typical for Przhevalski’s horse. Most of the other individuals presented diagnostically valuable allelic variants. Demographic history analysis for the population did not indicate any drastic population shrinkage events in the population’s recent history. The studied population is characterised by heterogeneous population structure with signs of inbreeding (0.21 %), intermediate level of genetic diversity (He = 0.63) and allelic richness (5.15), possesses 16 unique alleles among 2 microsatellite loci and valuable alleles for loci HMS3 and HMS7 (46.4 and 67.9 % specific alleles for Przhevalski’s horse, respectively). Genetic structure evaluation for the population was performed via Bayesian population structure analysis and factorial correspondence analysis (FCA), which indicated the presence of intrapopulation genetic subdivision. Taking into account the obtained indicators of genetic diversity, we may conclude on the relatively favourable status of Przewalski’s horse in the exclusion zone with good potential for the long-term existence of the species population in the wild. In order to minimise inbreeding effects and the risk of a decline in genetic diversity in the population of Przewalski’s horse of the exclusion zone, as well as to increase the value of this free-living group to preserve the gene pool of the species as a whole, it is necessary to provide detailed genetic monitoring of the livestock’s state, as well as develop a regional population management plan, including measures aimed to minimise the possibility of further hybridisation of wild horses with domestic ones.http://terioshkola.org.ua/library/pts20/TU2008-kheidorova.htmprzewalski's horsechernobyl exclusion zonemicrosatellitesgenetic structure |
| spellingShingle | Ekaterina E. Kheidorova Kanstantsin V. Homel Mikhail E. Nikiforov Aliaksei V. Shpak Valery Ch. Dombrovski Marina S. Shkvyrya Peter E. Schlichting James C. Beasley Denis A. Vishnevsky Yegor B. Yakovlev Genetic diversity of the free-living population of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Theriologia Ukrainica przewalski's horse chernobyl exclusion zone microsatellites genetic structure |
| title | Genetic diversity of the free-living population of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone |
| title_full | Genetic diversity of the free-living population of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone |
| title_fullStr | Genetic diversity of the free-living population of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic diversity of the free-living population of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone |
| title_short | Genetic diversity of the free-living population of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone |
| title_sort | genetic diversity of the free living population of przewalski s horses in the chernobyl exclusion zone |
| topic | przewalski's horse chernobyl exclusion zone microsatellites genetic structure |
| url | http://terioshkola.org.ua/library/pts20/TU2008-kheidorova.htm |
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