Large-scale genome sequencing of giant pandas improves the understanding of population structure and future conservation initiatives

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Lan, Tianming; Yang, Shangchen; Li, Haimeng; Zhang, Yi; Li, Rengui; Sahu, Sunil Kumar; Deng, Wenwen; Liu, Boyang; Shi, Minhui; Wang, Shiqing; Du, Hanyu; Huang, Xiaoyu; Lu, Haorong; Liu, Shanlin; Deng, Tao; Chen, Jin; Wang, Qing; Han, Lei; Zhou, Yajie; Li, Qiye; Li, Desheng; Kristiansen, Karsten; Wan, Qiu - Hong; Liu, Huan; Fang, Sheng - Guo
• 署名单位: Zhejiang University; Northeast Forestry University - China; Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI); Northeast Forestry University - China; Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI); Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI); Chinese Academy of Sciences; Institute of Zoology, CAS; University of Copenhagen; Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI)
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-12792
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406343121
• 发表日期: 2024-09-03
• 关键词: genetic diversity; differentiation; FRAMEWORK; ancestry; IDENTITY; african; HISTORY; decline; IMPACT

摘要

The extinction risk of the giant panda has been demoted from endangered to vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, but its habitat is more fragmented than ever before, resulting in 33 isolated giant panda populations according to the fourth national survey released by the Chinese government. Further comprehensive investigations of the genetic background and in- depth assessments of the conservation status of wild populations are still necessary and urgently needed. Here, we sequenced the genomes of 612 giant pandas with an average depth of similar to 26x and generated a high-resolution map of genomic variation with more than 20 million variants covering wild individuals from six mountain ranges and captive representatives in China. We identified distinct genetic clusters within the Minshan population by performing a fine-grained genetic structure. The estimation of inbreeding and genetic load associated with historical population dynamics suggested that future conservation efforts should pay special attention to the Qinling and Liangshan populations. Releasing captive individuals with a genetic background similar to the recipient population appears to be an advantageous genetic rescue strategy for recovering the wild giant panda populations, as this approach introduces fewer deleterious mutations into the wild population large-scale population genomics to provide precise guidelines for future conservation of the giant panda.