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Assessment of genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) across Nepal's Terai Arc Landscape

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dc.contributor.authorThapa, Kanchanen
dc.contributor.authorManandhar, Sulochanaen
dc.contributor.authorBista, Manishaen
dc.contributor.authorShakya, Jivanen
dc.contributor.authorSah, Govinden
dc.contributor.authorDhakal, Maheshwaren
dc.contributor.authorSharma, Netraen
dc.contributor.authorLlewellyn, Bronwynen
dc.contributor.authorWultsch, Claudiaen
dc.contributor.authorWaits, Lisette P.en
dc.contributor.authorKelly, Marcella J.en
dc.contributor.authorHero, Jean-Marcen
dc.contributor.authorHughes, Janeen
dc.contributor.authorKarmacharya, Dibeshen
dc.contributor.departmentFish and Wildlife Conservationen
dc.date.accessioned2019-06-05T13:02:46Zen
dc.date.available2019-06-05T13:02:46Zen
dc.date.issued2018-03-21en
dc.description.abstractWith fewer than 200 tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) left in Nepal, that are generally confined to five protected areas across the Terai Arc Landscape, genetic studies are needed to provide crucial information on diversity and connectivity for devising an effective country-wide tiger conservation strategy. As part of the Nepal Tiger Genome Project, we studied landscape change, genetic variation, population structure, and gene flow of tigers across the Terai Arc Landscape by conducting Nepal's first comprehensive and systematic scat-based, non-invasive genetic survey. Of the 770 scat samples collected opportunistically from five protected areas and six presumed corridors, 412 were tiger (57%). Out of ten microsatellite loci, we retain eight markers that were used in identifying 78 individual tigers. We used this data set to examine population structure, genetic variation, contemporary gene flow, and potential population bottlenecks of tigers in Nepal. We detected three genetic clusters consistent with three demographic sub-populations and found moderate levels of genetic variation (H-e = 0.61, A(R) = 3.51) and genetic differentiation (F-ST = 0.14) across the landscape. We detected 3-7 migrants, confirming the potential for dispersal-mediated gene flow across the landscape. We found evidence of a bottleneck signature likely caused by large-scale land-use change documented in the last two centuries in the Terai forest. Securing tiger habitat including functional forest corridors is essential to enhance gene flow across the landscape and ensure long-term tiger survival. This requires cooperation among multiple stakeholders and careful conservation planning to prevent detrimental effects of anthropogenic activities on tigers.en
dc.description.notesThis work was supported by USAID FOG AID-367-G-11-00001. Netra Sharma and Bronwyn Llewellyn were involved with the project and helped in conceptualization. The Katheryn Fuller Fellowship (WWF US), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Virginia Tech (VT) supported Kanchan Thapa.en
dc.description.sponsorshipUSAID [FOG AID-367-G-11-00001]; Katheryn Fuller Fellowship (WWF US); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); Virginia Tech (VT)en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193495en
dc.identifier.eissn1932-6203en
dc.identifier.issue3en
dc.identifier.othere0193495en
dc.identifier.pmid29561865en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/89755en
dc.identifier.volume13en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherPLOSen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.titleAssessment of genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) across Nepal's Terai Arc Landscapeen
dc.title.serialPLOS ONEen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.dcmitypeStillImageen

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