Genetics Applied to Mammal Conservation

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Background

Currently, more than 6,400 mammal species are formally recognized and more than one quarter of these are considered threatened of extinction. Genetic studies are crucial for understanding the conservation status of mammalian species, particularly considering the importance of obtaining data about genetic diversity and structure, demographic processes, geographic distribution, and ecological aspects essential for species evaluation. Such data are even more important for the species already recognized as threatened, since updated information is required for conservation policies and management of populations. For captive stocks, data on genetic ancestry and diversity are still decisive for the achievement of successful plans of breeding and reintroduction.
In view of the present extinction threat scenario, all information that becomes available is of great importance for mammalian conservation worldwide. Advanced platforms for genetic sequencing developed in recent years (e.g. Roche 454, Illumina DNA microarray, TrueSeq Long Reads, RADseq, SOLiD, Ion Torrent) are highly efficient at revealing intraspecific levels of genetic diversity and enabling specific identification for forensic purposes. Moreover, the use of environmental DNA provides important information about feeding habits and the occurrence of elusive threatened species in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. On the other hand, the use of traditional mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers (e.g. Cytb, COI, RAG2, Fgb, VWF, microsatellites), when applied to a solid sample, is still very useful to identify the genetic diversity and structure, especially considering the existence of a large database already established for such markers, which is available for site comparisons and broad geographical analyses. Thus, studies based on robust genetic tools have a lot to contribute for the evaluation of the conservation status of mammalian species and the management of threatened taxa.
This Research topic is dedicated to the publication of high-quality papers related to novel uses of genetic tools for mammalian conservation. Manuscripts dealing with genetic diversity of free-ranging and captive populations, development and application of markers for forensic analysis, environmental DNA analyses for species ecology and detection of elusive species, and development of new markers and genomic libraries are very welcome. Investigations concerning threatened species are especially requested, but non-threatened species will also be considered. The submission of manuscripts using next generation sequencing (NGS) is highly encouraged, but studies based in the use of traditional markers over a robust and geographical broad sample will also be considered.

Keywords: biological conservation, population genetics, strategies, forensic genetics, next generation sequencing

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