Population genomic analysis provides evidence of the past success and future potential of South China tiger captive conservation

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dc.creatorChen Wang
dc.creatorDong Dong Wu
dc.creatorYao Hua Yuan
dc.creatorMeng Cheng Yao
dc.creatorHan Jianlin
dc.creatorYa Jiang Wu
dc.creatorFen Shan
dc.creatorWan Ping Li
dc.creatorJun Qiong Zhai
dc.creatorMian Huang
dc.creatorShi Ming Peng
dc.creatorQin Hui Cai
dc.creatorJian Yi Yu
dc.creatorQun Xiu Liu
dc.creatorZhao Yang Liu
dc.creatorLin Xiang Li
dc.creatorMing Sheng Teng
dc.creatorWei Huang
dc.creatorJun Ying Zhou
dc.creatorChi Zhang
dc.creatorWu Chen
dc.creatorXiao Long Tu
dc.date2023-04-18
dc.date2023-04-23T10:53:34Z
dc.date2023-04-23T10:53:34Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T16:34:11Z
dc.descriptionBackground Among six extant tiger subspecies, the South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) once was widely distributed but is now the rarest one and extinct in the wild. All living South China tigers are descendants of only two male and four female wild-caught tigers and they survive solely in zoos after 60 years of effective conservation efforts. Inbreeding depression and hybridization with other tiger subspecies were believed to have occurred within the small, captive South China tiger population. It is therefore urgently needed to examine the genomic landscape of existing genetic variation among the South China tigers. Results In this study, we assembled a high-quality chromosome-level genome using long-read sequences and re-sequenced 29 high-depth genomes of the South China tigers. By combining and comparing our data with the other 40 genomes of six tiger subspecies, we identified two significantly differentiated genomic lineages among the South China tigers, which harbored some rare genetic variants introgressed from other tiger subspecies and thus maintained a moderate genetic diversity. We noticed that the South China tiger had higher FROH values for longer runs of homozygosity (ROH > 1 Mb), an indication of recent inbreeding/founder events. We also observed that the South China tiger had the least frequent homozygous genotypes of both high- and moderate-impact deleterious mutations, and lower mutation loads than both Amur and Sumatran tigers. Altogether, our analyses indicated an effective genetic purging of deleterious mutations in homozygous states from the South China tiger, following its population contraction with a controlled increase in inbreeding based on its pedigree records. Conclusions The identification of two unique founder/genomic lineages coupled with active genetic purging of deleterious mutations in homozygous states and the genomic resources generated in our study pave the way for a genomics-informed conservation, following the real-time monitoring and rational exchange of reproductive South China tigers among zoos.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/130118
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/126810
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceChen Wang, Dong Dong Wu, Yao Hua Yuan, Meng Cheng Yao, Jian Lin Han, Ya Jiang Wu, Fen Shan, Wan Ping Li, Jun Qiong Zhai, Mian Huang, Shi Ming Peng, Qin Hui Cai, Jian Yi Yu, Qun Xiu Liu, Zhao Yang Liu, Lin Xiang Li, Ming Sheng Teng, Wei Huang, Jun Ying Zhou, Chi Zhang, Wu Chen and Xiao Long Tu. 2023. Population genomic analysis provides evidence of the past success and future potential of South China tiger captive conservation. BMC Biology 21:64.
dc.subjectanimal breeding
dc.subjectgenetics
dc.subjecttigers
dc.subjectcell biology
dc.subjectphysiology
dc.subjectbiotechnology
dc.titlePopulation genomic analysis provides evidence of the past success and future potential of South China tiger captive conservation
dc.typeJournal Article

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Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Pecuarias (ILRI)