Population differentiation within and among Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) populations in southern India

摘要: Southern India, one of the last strongholds endangered Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), harbours about one-fifth global population. We present here first population genetic study free-ranging elephants, examining within- and among-population differentiation by analysing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) nuclear microsatellite across Nilgiris-Eastern Ghats, Anamalai, Periyar reserves southern India. Low mtDNA diversity 'normal' were observed. Surprisingly, Nilgiri population, which is world's single largest had only haplotype lower than two other smaller populations examined. There was almost no or among localities within Nilgiris, an area 15,000 km2. This suggests extensive gene flow in past, compatible with home ranges several hundred square kilometres elephants Conversely, genetically distinct at both markers from more southerly populations, Anamalai Periyar, turn are not differentiated each other. The separated Nilgiris a 40-km-wide stretch gap Western Ghats mountain range. These results variably indicate importance bottlenecks, social organization, biogeographic barriers shaping distribution variation