Genetic tools for assisting sustainable management and conservation of the spiny-tailed iguana, Ctenosaura pectinata
[EN] The System of Management Units for the Conservation of Wildlife (Sistema de Unidades de Manejo para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre, SUMA), regulated by the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, seeks the correct management and sustainable use of wildlife. The main tool used by SUMA is wildlife management units (UMAs) that harbor wildlife for several purposes (e.g., production, education, research, conservation, and exhibition). Ctenosaura pectinata, a threatened Mexican endemic spiny-tailed iguana, is legally managed through UMAs, some of them harboring individuals that were unwanted pets or confiscations of unknown origin. Facilities may become overcrowded, as iguanas cannot be returned to the wild without knowledge of their origins. This may lead to irresponsible or accidental releases of individuals or their captive-born offspring into the wild; a potential source of genetic contamination to local populations. To promote proper management of captive individuals and to evaluate their potential reintroduction into the wild, we created and tested a distribution-wide database to identify the origin of 24 confiscated individuals harbored in two UMAs in México. We compiled mtDNA and microsatellite data derived from previous studies, including 341 individuals from 49 localities. We applied two Bayesian methods for population genetic assignment using the database as a baseline. In several cases, it was possible to narrow down the potential geographic region of origin when considering mtDNA together with the microsatellite data. The database is potentially a useful resource for authorities and conservation organizations.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | artículo biblioteca |
| Published: |
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
2016-06-12
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| Subjects: | Garrobo de Roca, Genetic assignment, Wildlife management units, mtDNA, Microsatellites, México, Guerreran iguanas, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/183937 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000736 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005739 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003141 |
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| Summary: | [EN] The System of Management Units for the Conservation of Wildlife (Sistema de Unidades de Manejo para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre, SUMA), regulated by the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, seeks the correct management and sustainable use of wildlife. The main tool used by SUMA is wildlife management units (UMAs) that harbor wildlife for several purposes (e.g., production, education, research, conservation, and exhibition). Ctenosaura pectinata, a threatened Mexican endemic spiny-tailed iguana, is legally managed through UMAs, some of them harboring individuals that were unwanted pets or confiscations of unknown origin. Facilities may become overcrowded, as iguanas cannot be returned to the wild without knowledge of their origins. This may lead to irresponsible or accidental releases of individuals or their captive-born offspring into the wild; a potential source of genetic contamination to local populations. To promote proper management of captive individuals and to evaluate their potential reintroduction into the wild, we created and tested a distribution-wide database to identify the origin of 24 confiscated individuals harbored in two UMAs in México. We compiled mtDNA and microsatellite data derived from previous studies, including 341 individuals from 49 localities. We applied two Bayesian methods for population genetic assignment using the database as a baseline. In several cases, it was possible to narrow down the potential geographic region of origin when considering mtDNA together with the microsatellite data. The database is potentially a useful resource for authorities and conservation organizations. |
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