Spatial genetic analysis reveals high connectivity of tiger (Panthera tigris) populations in the Satpura–Maikal landscape of Central India |
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| Authors: | Sandeep Sharma Trishna Dutta Jesús E Maldonado Thomas C Wood Hemendra Singh Panwar John Seidensticker |
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| Institution: | 1. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, , Washington, District of Columbia, 20013‐7012;2. Environmental Science & Policy Department, George Mason University, , Fairfax, Virginia, 22030‐4444;3. Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, , Washington, District of Columbia, 20013;4. Peace Institute Charitable Trust, , Delhi, India, 110091 |
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| Abstract: | We investigated the spatial genetic structure of the tiger meta‐population in the Satpura–Maikal landscape of central India using population‐ and individual‐based genetic clustering methods on multilocus genotypic data from 273 individuals. The Satpura–Maikal landscape is classified as a global‐priority Tiger Conservation Landscape (TCL) due to its potential for providing sufficient habitat that will allow the long‐term persistence of tigers. We found that the tiger meta‐population in the Satpura–Maikal landscape has high genetic variation and very low genetic subdivision. Individual‐based Bayesian clustering algorithms reveal two highly admixed genetic populations. We attribute this to forest connectivity and high gene flow in this landscape. However, deforestation, road widening, and mining may sever this connectivity, impede gene exchange, and further exacerbate the genetic division of tigers in central India. |
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| Keywords: | Central India connectivity non‐invasive genetic analysis
Panthera tigris
spatial genetics tiger |
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