Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions.
This study evaluates the diversity of the so-called 'Moroccan Royal lions' using genealogical information. Lions are no longer extant in North Africa, but the previous wild population was an important element of the now-recognised northern subspecies (Panthera leo leo) that ranged across W...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258714&type=printable |
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| author | Kristina Lehocká Simon A Black Adrian Harland Ondrej Kadlečík Radovan Kasarda Nina Moravčíková |
| author_facet | Kristina Lehocká Simon A Black Adrian Harland Ondrej Kadlečík Radovan Kasarda Nina Moravčíková |
| author_sort | Kristina Lehocká |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluates the diversity of the so-called 'Moroccan Royal lions' using genealogical information. Lions are no longer extant in North Africa, but the previous wild population was an important element of the now-recognised northern subspecies (Panthera leo leo) that ranged across West Africa, North Africa and the Middle East into India. The remaining captive population of 'Moroccan Royal lions' seems to be significantly endangered by the loss of diversity due to the effective population size decrease. The pedigree file of this captive lion population consisted of 454 individuals, while the reference population included 98 animals (47 males and 51 females). The completeness of the pedigree data significantly decreased with an increasing number of generations. The highest percentage of pedigree completeness (over 70%) was achieved in the first generation of the reference population. Pedigree-based parameters derived from the common ancestor and gene origin were used to estimate the state of diversity. In the reference population, the average inbreeding coefficient was 2.14%, while the individual increase in inbreeding over generations was 2.31%. Overall, the reference population showed lower average inbreeding and average relatedness compared with the pedigree file. The number of founders (47), the effective number of founders (24) and the effective number of ancestors (22) were estimated in the reference population. The effective population size of 14.02 individuals confirms the critically endangered status of the population and rapid loss of diversity in the future. Thus, continuous monitoring of the genetic diversity of the 'Moroccan Royal lion' group is required, especially for long-term conservation management purposes, as it would be an important captive group should further DNA studies establish an affinity to P. leo leo. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b08df78a89744f1ebfb4b61e02ccacb4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-b08df78a89744f1ebfb4b61e02ccacb42025-08-20T03:16:25ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-011612e025871410.1371/journal.pone.0258714Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions.Kristina LehockáSimon A BlackAdrian HarlandOndrej KadlečíkRadovan KasardaNina MoravčíkováThis study evaluates the diversity of the so-called 'Moroccan Royal lions' using genealogical information. Lions are no longer extant in North Africa, but the previous wild population was an important element of the now-recognised northern subspecies (Panthera leo leo) that ranged across West Africa, North Africa and the Middle East into India. The remaining captive population of 'Moroccan Royal lions' seems to be significantly endangered by the loss of diversity due to the effective population size decrease. The pedigree file of this captive lion population consisted of 454 individuals, while the reference population included 98 animals (47 males and 51 females). The completeness of the pedigree data significantly decreased with an increasing number of generations. The highest percentage of pedigree completeness (over 70%) was achieved in the first generation of the reference population. Pedigree-based parameters derived from the common ancestor and gene origin were used to estimate the state of diversity. In the reference population, the average inbreeding coefficient was 2.14%, while the individual increase in inbreeding over generations was 2.31%. Overall, the reference population showed lower average inbreeding and average relatedness compared with the pedigree file. The number of founders (47), the effective number of founders (24) and the effective number of ancestors (22) were estimated in the reference population. The effective population size of 14.02 individuals confirms the critically endangered status of the population and rapid loss of diversity in the future. Thus, continuous monitoring of the genetic diversity of the 'Moroccan Royal lion' group is required, especially for long-term conservation management purposes, as it would be an important captive group should further DNA studies establish an affinity to P. leo leo.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258714&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Kristina Lehocká Simon A Black Adrian Harland Ondrej Kadlečík Radovan Kasarda Nina Moravčíková Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions. PLoS ONE |
| title | Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions. |
| title_full | Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions. |
| title_fullStr | Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions. |
| title_short | Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions. |
| title_sort | genetic diversity viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the moroccan royal lions |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258714&type=printable |
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