Dataset Information

Genetic diversity in global populations of the critically endangered addax (Addax nasomaculatus) and its implications for conservation.

ABSTRACT: Threatened species are frequently patchily distributed across small wild populations, ex situ populations managed with varying levels of intensity and reintroduced populations. Best practice advocates for integrated management across in situ and ex situ populations. Wild addax (Addax nasomaculatus) now number fewer than 100 individuals, yet 1000 of addax remain in ex situ populations, which can provide addax for reintroductions, as has been the case in Tunisia since the mid-1980s. However, integrated management requires genetic data to ascertain the relationships between wild and ex situ populations that have incomplete knowledge of founder origins, management histories, and pedigrees. We undertook a global assessment of genetic diversity across wild, ex situ and reintroduced populations in Tunisia to assist conservation planning for this Critically Endangered species. We show that the remnant wild populations retain more mitochondrial haplotypes that are more diverse than the entirety of the ex situ populations across Europe, North America and the United Arab Emirates, and the reintroduced Tunisian population. Additionally, 1704 SNPs revealed that whilst population structure within the ex situ population is minimal, each population carries unique diversity. Finally, we show that careful selection of founders and subsequent genetic management is vital to ensure genetic diversity is provided to, and minimize drift and inbreeding within reintroductions. Our results highlight a vital need to conserve the last remaining wild addax population, and we provide a genetic foundation for determining integrated conservation strategies to prevent extinction and optimize future reintroductions.

SUBMITTER: Dicks KL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9850015 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genetic diversity in global populations of the critically endangered addax (<i>Addax nasomaculatus</i>) and its implications for conservation.

Dicks Kara L KL Ball Alex D AD Banfield Lisa L Barrios Violeta V Boufaroua Mohamed M Chetoui Abdelkader A Chuven Justin J Craig Mark M Faqeer Mohammed Yousef Al MYA Garba Hamissou Halilou Mallam HHM Guedara Hela H Harouna Abdoulaye A Ivy Jamie J Najjar Chawki C Petretto Marie M Pusey Ricardo R Rabeil Thomas T Riordan Philip P Senn Helen V HV Taghouti Ezzedine E Wacher Tim T Woodfine Tim T Gilbert Tania T

Evolutionary applications 20221221 1

Threatened species are frequently patchily distributed across small wild populations, ex situ populations managed with varying levels of intensity and reintroduced populations. Best practice advocates for integrated management across in situ and ex situ populations. Wild addax (<i>Addax nasomaculatus</i>) now number fewer than 100 individuals, yet 1000 of addax remain in ex situ populations, which can provide addax for reintroductions, as has been the case in Tunisia since the mid-1980s. However ...[more]

PMID: 36699120

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Dataset Information

Genetic diversity in global populations of the critically endangered addax (Addax nasomaculatus) and its implications for conservation.

Publications

Genetic diversity in global populations of the critically endangered addax (<i>Addax nasomaculatus</i>) and its implications for conservation.

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