Genetic assessment for the endangered black lion tamarin Leontopithecus chrysopygus (Mikan, 1823), Callitrichidae, Primates

• Published in: American journal of primatology 2017-12, Vol.79 (12), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Ayala‐Burbano, Paola A., Caldano, Lucas, Junior, Pedro Manoel Galetti, Pissinatti, Alcides, Marques, Mara Cristina, Wormell, Dominic, Domingues de Freitas, Patrícia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Animals, Wild - genetics; Animals, Zoo - genetics; Bayesian analysis; Behavior; Behavior change; Biodiversity; black lion tamarin; Brazil; Breeding of animals; Channel Islands; conservation genetics; Differentiation; Endangered; endangered primate; Endangered Species; Environmental conditions; Female; Fixation; Forests; France; Gene frequency; Genetic diversity; Genetic markers; Genetic Variation; Genetics; Heterozygosity; Inbreeding; Inbreeding depression; Leontopithecus - genetics; Leontopithecus chrysopygus; Male; Markers; Microsatellites; National forests; population differentiation; Population genetics; Populations; Prevention programs; Primates; Wild animals
• ISSN: 0275-2565; 1098-2345
• DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22719

This is the first study analyzing genetic diversity in captive individuals of the endangered black lion tamarin, Leontopithecus chrysopygus, and also comparing genetic diversity parameters between wild populations and captive groups using the same set of molecular markers. We evaluated genetic diversity and differentiation for the Brazilian and European captive groups and a wild population through 15 polymorphic microsatellite markers. The genetic diversity levels were similar among Brazilian captive, European captive and wild animals from the National Forest of Capão Bonito. Expected heterozygosity showed values ranging from 0.403 to 0.462, and significant differences were not observed among the populations. Different allele frequencies were observed among the groups, which showed the presence of distinct private alleles. The PCoA analysis evidenced three main clusters suggesting that the captive Brazilian and European groups are markedly differentiated both from one another and from the wild population of Capão Bonito. Likewise, the most likely number of genetic clusters (K) revealed by Structure was three. Such a structure is probably the result of the strength of drift and non‐random reproduction in these small and isolated groups. Despite this differentiation, all groups still have similar genetic diversity levels, comparable to other callitrichids. The data obtained herein are important to increasing knowledge of the genetics of tamarins and supporting breeding programs to prevent loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding depression. The genetic diversity levels for the captive and wild populations of black lion tamarins were comparable to one another and also to the genetic diversity levels described for other Leontopithecus species and other callitrichids PCoA and Bayesian analysis results showed that a differentiated allele fixation process has been promoting genetic differentiation among some groups of L. chrysopygus Differences in management and changes in behavioral aspects related to specific environmental conditions have probably lead to processes of differentiation between the captive groups.