Genetic Monitoring of the Last Captive Population of Greater Mouse-Deer on the Thai Mainland and Prediction of Habitat Suitability before Reintroduction

Wongsathit Wongloet, Prach Kongthong, Aingorn Chaiyes, Worapong Singchat, Warong Suksavate, Nattakan Ariyaraphong, Thitipong Panthum, Artem Lisachov, Kitipong Jaisamut, Jumaporn Sonongbua, Trifan Budi, Wannapa Wannakan, Worawit Thienpreecha, Paanwaris Paansri, Syed Farhan Ahmad, Kriangsak Sribuarod, Umphornpimon Prayoon, Pakpoom Aramsirirujiwet, Wiyada Chamchumroon, Narongrit Muangmai, Prateep Duengkae and Kornsorn Srikulnath ()
Additional contact information
Wongsathit Wongloet: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Prach Kongthong: Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Aingorn Chaiyes: School of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Pakkret Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
Worapong Singchat: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Warong Suksavate: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Nattakan Ariyaraphong: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Thitipong Panthum: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Artem Lisachov: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Kitipong Jaisamut: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Jumaporn Sonongbua: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Trifan Budi: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Wannapa Wannakan: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Worawit Thienpreecha: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Paanwaris Paansri: Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Syed Farhan Ahmad: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Kriangsak Sribuarod: Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Umphornpimon Prayoon: Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Pakpoom Aramsirirujiwet: Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Wiyada Chamchumroon: Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Narongrit Muangmai: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Prateep Duengkae: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Kornsorn Srikulnath: Animal Genomics and Bioresource Research Unit (AGB Research Unit), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: Developing successful conservation programs for genetically depleted species is challenging. Survival and adaptive potential are related to genetic and habitat factors; therefore, conservation programs are designed to minimize risks associated with inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity. The greater mouse-deer ( Tragulus napu ) is a true forest species that contributes to seed distribution dynamics in forests. However, with continuous demographic decline over the last century in the wild, only captive populations of the greater mouse-deer remain on the Thai mainland. A restoration program initiated 20 years ago has increased their population to more than 100 individuals but maintaining high genetic diversity in a small captive population is crucial for successful recovery. Microsatellite genotyping and mitochondrial D-loop and SRY gene sequence analyses were performed to examine the genetic diversity and population structure in 123 greater mouse-deer (64 females and 59 males). Highly reduced effective captive population size with trends of inbreeding were observed. No historical bottleneck was observed. These conditions have reduced their reproductive fitness and ability to adapt to environmental change, increasing the risk of population decline and eventual extinction. Demographic analyses suggested a recent captive population expansion due to effective animal welfare and reproduction. The results also suggested that population size at equilibrium is the main factor of allelic diversity (number of alleles). Large habitat carrying capacity, representing each fixed captive population size can support the genetic diversity of greater mouse-deer. We also identified suitable habitat areas for reintroduction and long-term in situ conservation of greater mouse-deer using maximum entropy modeling. Based on the environmental variables, species distribution modeling for greater mouse-deer indicated lowland tropical forest regions in the Khlong Saeng-Khao Sok forest complexes as most suitable and requiring urgent habitat improvement. These findings highlight the relevance of careful genetic monitoring and habitat suitability for the long-term conservation of greater mouse-deer and enhance the success of future conservation plans.

Keywords: genetic diversity; habitat suitability; greater mouse-deer; effective population size; conservation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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