Single-nucleotide polymorphism discovery and panel characterization in the African forest elephant.

摘要: The continuing decline in forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) numbers due to poaching and habitat reduction is driving the search for new tools inform management conservation. For dense rainforest species, basic ecological data on populations threats can be challenging expensive collect, impeding conservation action field. As such, genetic monitoring being increasingly implemented complement or replace more burdensome field techniques. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are particularly cost-effective informative markers that used a range of practical applications, including population census, assessment human impact social structure, investigation illegal wildlife trade. SNP resources elephants scarce, but next-generation sequencing provides opportunity rapid, inexpensive generation nonmodel species. Here, we sourced DNA from 23 samples collected 10 locations within Gabon, Central Africa, applied double-digest restriction-site-associated (ddRAD) discover 31,851 tags containing SNPs were reduced set 1,365 high-quality candidate markers. A subset 115 was then selected assay design validation using 56 additional samples. Genotyping resulted high conversion rate (93%) low per allele error (0.07%). This study first panel 107 validated elephants. resource presents great potential produce reliable underpin step-change policies this elusive