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Measuring genetic diversity in translocation programmes: principles and application to a chimpanzee release project

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2002

Benoît Goossens ,
Stephan M. Funk ,
Carmen Vidal ,
Stéphanie Latour ,
Aliette Jamart ,
Marc Ancrenaz ,
Elisabeth J. Wickings ,
Caroline E. G. Tutin  and
Michael W. Bruford
Benoît Goossens
Affiliation:
Biodiversity and Ecological Processes Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff CF10 3TL, UK
Stephan M. Funk
Affiliation:
Biodiversity and Ecological Processes Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff CF10 3TL, UK Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
Carmen Vidal
Affiliation:
Clinica Veterinaria Ensanche, Ercilla 3, Bilbao 48009, Spain
Stéphanie Latour
Affiliation:
Habitat Ecologique et Liberté des Primates (HELP), BP 335, Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo
Aliette Jamart
Affiliation:
Habitat Ecologique et Liberté des Primates (HELP), BP 335, Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo
Marc Ancrenaz
Affiliation:
Kinabatangan Orang-Utan Conservation Project, PO Box 3109 Sandakan, 90734 Sabah, Malaysia
Elisabeth J. Wickings
Affiliation:
Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon
Caroline E. G. Tutin
Affiliation:
Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon Department of Biology and Molecular Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Michael W. Bruford
Affiliation:
Biodiversity and Ecological Processes Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff CF10 3TL, UK
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Abstract

Logging and poaching have dramatically reduced chimpanzee density and distribution in the Republic of Congo. Most chimpanzee translocations attempted in the past failed because a number of biological and non-biological factors can influence success. Biological considerations include knowledge of behaviour, disease, habitat requirements and genetics. We critically review genetic considerations in pre- and post-release phases of translocations and apply them to a welfare-based chimpanzee release project in the Republic of Congo which aimed to re-establish orphan chimpanzees in the wild with a native chimpanzee population. We analyze genetic diversity and relatedness in released animals and devise a genotyping strategy for monitoring of released individuals and their future offspring. Fifty-nine confiscated chimpanzees from different areas of the Republic of Congo were typed for 20 microsatellites using plucked hair as the DNA source. Genetic diversity was high, with an average expected heterozygosity of 81%, and three to 18 alleles per locus. Between 1996 and 1998, 19 individuals were released, and genetic analysis showed that these are unrelated (mean r ± jack-knifed SD = −0.014 ± 0.001). Using FST and population admixture analysis, we identified population structure in wild chimpanzees. For long-term genetic monitoring of released and native chimpanzees, we identified a set of six informative markers, which are easy to score using basic techniques.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Conservation forum , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , August 2002 , pp. 225 - 236
Copyright
© 2002 The Zoological Society of London

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