How does a tigress balance the opposing constraints of raising cubs?

Mammal Research - The persistence of wildlife populations largely depends on females successfully rearing young through the earliest, most vulnerable period. During this period, mothers must...     

Phylogenetics, genome diversity and origin of modern leopard, Panthera pardus

Leopards, Panthera pardus, are widely distributed across southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The extent and phylogeographic patterns of molecular genetic diversity were addressed in a survey of 77 leopards from known geographical locales representing 13 of the 27 classical trinomial subspecies. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences (727 bp of NADH5 and control region) and 25 polymorphic microsatellite loci revealed abundant diversity that could be partitioned into a minimum of nine discrete populations, tentatively named here as revised subspecies: P. pardus pardus, P. p. nimr, P. p. saxicolor, P. p. fusca, P. p. kotiya, P. p. delacouri, P. p. japonensis, P. p. orientalis and P. p. melas. However, because of limited sampling of African populations, this may be an underestimate of modern phylogeographic population structure. Combined phylogeographic and population diversity estimates support an origin for modern leopard lineages 470,000-825,000 years ago in Africa followed by their migration into and across Asia more recently (170,000-300,000 years ago). Recent demographic reductions likely have led to genetic impoverishment in P. p. orientalis and in the island subspecies P. p. kotiya.     

Serosurvey of free-ranging Amur tigers in the Russian Far East

Wild Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica, n=44) from the Russian Far East were tested for antibodies to feline leukemia virus, feline corona virus (FCoV), feline immunodeficiency virus, feline parvovirus (FPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), Toxoplasma gondii, and Bartonella henselae. Antibodies to FCoV, CDV, FPV, and T. gondii were detected in 43, 15, 68, and 42% of tigers, respectively. No differences were detected in antibody prevalence estimates between tigers captured as part of a research program and those captured to mitigate human-tiger conflicts. Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) were tested as a potential source for CDV; 16% were vaccinated against CDV and 58% of unvaccinated dogs were antibody positive for CDV. A high percentage of tigers were exposed to potential pathogens that could affect the survival of this species. We recommend continued monitoring of wild tigers throughout Asia, development of standardized sampling and postmortem examination procedures, and additional research to better understand potential domestic and wild animal sources for these pathogens.     

Interspecific Relationships between the Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and Brown (Ursus arctos) and Asiatic Black (Ursus thibetanus) Bears

Biology Bulletin - During the years 1992–2013, we studied the relationship between Amur tigers and brown and Asiatic black bears in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve and surrounding areas in...     

中国及其他分布区域野生虎的系统地理学和遗传起源研究进展

世界野生虎(Pantheratigris)传统上被划分为8个亚种,其中3个亚种已于20世纪灭绝,而剩余种群的生存仍然受到偷猎、栖息地丧失和片断化的威胁。作为唯一栖息着4个现存虎亚种的国家,中国在世界虎的保护事业中负有重要责任,然而其野生和圈养虎的分类地位却仍然不确定。最近一项研究(Luoetal,2004)从所有现存野生虎分布地区(包括中国)采集了134份“基准样品”(即原产野外或有确定地域起源的个体生物样品),对虎的系统地理学、种群结构以及遗传起源进行了全面分析。所用的分子标记包括四千碱基对的线粒体DNA、30个核基因组微卫星位点,以及MHC-DRB基因。研究结果表明,虽然虎的整体遗传多态性较低,但是种群分化程度很高,它们被划分为6个,而不是5个现存亚种(1)西伯利亚虎(P.t.altaica);(2)苏门答腊虎(P.t.sumatrae);(3)孟加拉虎(P.t.tigris);(4)华南虎(P.t.amoyensis);(5)印支虎(P.t.corbetti);(6)新定义的亚种马来虎,暂命名为P.t.Jacksoni。由于所研究样本量有限,目前暂定的华南虎亚种还需进一步确定。现有华南虎圈养种群包括遗传关系相距较远的两支一支与印支虎(P.t.corbetti)无异;而另一支则与其他种群均相距甚远,可能代表了真正的华南虎(P.t.amoyensis)。利用分子生物学方法对中国动物园中圈养虎的遗传起源调查亟待进行,以确认该圈养种群整体的遗传独特性或者非独特性。换言之,这将是确认华南虎是否仍然存在的关键。     

Noninvasive genetic analyses for estimating population size and genetic diversity of the remaining Far Eastern leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) population

Understanding and monitoring the population status of endangered species is vital for developing appropriate management interventions. We used noninvasive genetic analyses to obtain ecological and genetic data on the last remaining Far Eastern leopard population in the world. During seven winters from 2000–2001 to 2007–2008, we collected feces, hair, and saliva from most of the leopard habitat. Of the 239 leopard samples collected during the study period, 155 were successfully genotyped at 13 microsatellite loci and 37 individuals (18 males and 19 females) were identified. Population size estimates based on the Capwire model were 28 (95 % CI 19–38) in 2002–03 and 26 (95 % CI 13–33) in 2007–2008. The leopard population had a low level of genetic diversity (expected and observed heterozygosity = 0.43; average number of alleles per locus = 2.62), and effective population size was estimated to be low (N _e = 7–16) by two genetic-based methods. We observed little improvement in the genetic diversity during the study period and did find an indication of allele loss compared with individuals from the mid-1990s, suggesting that the remaining population will continue to suffer loss of genetic diversity. Given the small population size and the low genetic diversity, with little expectation of replenishment of the genetic variation by natural immigration, successful expansion of available habitat and development of a second population based on captive individuals may be crucial for persistence of this leopard subspecies in the wild.     

Effects of environmental and anthropogenic drivers on Amur tiger distribution in northeastern China

We examined environmental and anthropogenic factors drive range loss in large mammals, using presence data of Amur tigers opportunistically collected between 2000 and 2012, and anthropogenic and environmental variables to model the distribution of the Amur tiger in northeastern China. Our results suggested that population distribution models of different subregions showed different habitat factors determining tiger population distribution patterns. Where farmland cover was over 50 km² per pixel (196 km²), distance was within 15 km to the railway in Changbaishan and road density (length per pixel) increased in Wandashan, the relative probability of Amur tiger occurrence exhibited monotonic avoidance responses; however, where distance was within 150 km of the Sino-Russia border, the occurrence probability of Amur tiger was relatively high. We analyzed the avoidance or preference responses of Amur tiger distribution to elevation, snow depth and Viewshed. Furthermore, different subregional models detected a variety of spatial autocorrelation distances due to different population clustering patterns. We found that spatial models significantly improved model fits for non-spatial models and made more robust habitat suitability predications than that of non-spatial models. Consequently, these findings provide useful guidance for habitat conservation and management.     

Morbillivirus infection in a wild siberian tiger in the Russian Far East

We report the first documented case of morbillivirus infection in a wild, free-ranging Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). The tigress entered a small village in the Russian Far East in an ambulatory but stuporous state with no apparent recognition or fear of humans. Her condition progressed rapidly with neurological signs, anorexia, and ultimately death. Histologic lesions included vacuolated to malacic white matter in the brain stem, cerebellum, and thalamus, with associated lymphocytic meningoencephalitis. Large, intranuclear, eosinophilic inclusions were within regional astrocytes, and the brain lesions were immunohistochemically positive when stained for canine distemper viral antigen. Hematologic and blood chemistry results were consistent with overwhelming systemic infection and starvation. The animal also was antibody-positive for canine distemper virus, feline panleukopenia, and feline coronavirus.