Genetic polymorphism and structure of wild and zoo populations of the fosa (Eupleridae, Carnivora), the largest living carnivoran of Madagascar

Publication date: September 2018Source: Mammalian Biology, Volume 92Author(s): Géraldine Veron, Délia Dupré, Mia-Lana Lührs, Peter M. Kappeler, Luke Dollar, Julie Pomerantz, Steven M. GoodmanAbstractCryptoprocta ferox, or fosa, is the largest living endemic carnivoran of Madagascar, with presumably high dispersal capacity, and for which no broad scale phylogeographic study has been conducted to date. This species is considered “Vulnerable” by the IUCN and the subject of a captive breeding program; approximately 113 individuals are held in 57 zoos. The aim of this study was to examine the genetic structure and polymorphism within both captive and wild populations, to determine possible lineage variation, and to make recommendations for the captive breeding program. For this purpose, we analyzed three mitochondrial (Cytochrome b, ND2, Control Region) and one nuclear (Beta-fibrinogen intron 7) markers. The results showed an overall low level of genetic polymorphism, likely related to its dispersal capacity, and some genetic structure possibly associated with geographical barriers, such as large rivers. The genetic diversity of the captive population was greater than that of wild individuals included herein, suggesting that the captive population encompasses a considerable proportion of the genetic diversity of the species. This genetic variability is presumably the consequence of frequent imports of wild animals into zoos from different areas of Madagascar, and subsequen...
Source: Mammalian Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: research