Preservation of genetic diversity in a wild and captive population of a rapidly declining mammal, the Common hamster of the French Alsace region

摘要: Abstract The Common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) faced massive population declines throughout its western range margin. In France, relict populations remained in the Alsace region. By comparing allelic diversity using microsatellite analysis over a time span of 12 years we investigated if this decline led to genetic erosion French species. Genetic was moderate but comparable other from Western Europe. Interestingly, no variation revealed between 1999 and 2012 study region (expected heterozygosity = 0.51 0.5 2012, respectively), suggesting sufficiently high effective size ∼500 (179–956 SD). While several alleles were lost captive breed maintained for restocking purposes region, expected heterozygosity comparably (=0.5). Our results show that has been effectively hamsters despite loss. We recommend maintenance intense situ conservation effort, along with regular monitoring size.