Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics

Pangolins face critical threats from illegal trade and habitat loss, making their conservation a global priority. Despite their ecological and conservation significance, these elusive creatures remain poorly understood, particularly regarding their phylogeography and genetic diversity. This study su...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Hogan, Fiona, Wedrowicz, Faye, Khatiwada, Ambika Prasad, Joshi, Janardan Dev, Wasser, Sam, Wright, Wendy
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/391786
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/391786
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85218974938
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Mitochondrial DNA
Non‐invasive genetic sampling
Pangolin
Scat
id ES_f88ba799453fc66db2c8ee65c407dcd3
oai_identifier_str oai:digital.csic.es:10261/391786
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
repository_id_str
spelling Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife ForensicsHogan, FionaWedrowicz, FayeKhatiwada, Ambika PrasadJoshi, Janardan DevWasser, SamWright, WendyMitochondrial DNANon‐invasive genetic samplingPangolinScatPangolins face critical threats from illegal trade and habitat loss, making their conservation a global priority. Despite their ecological and conservation significance, these elusive creatures remain poorly understood, particularly regarding their phylogeography and genetic diversity. This study successfully isolated DNA from two types of pangolin scat samples (whole scat and swabs) and blood that had been stored frozen for up to 3 years. A mitochondrial cytochrome b (424 bp) sequence was reliably generated from both types of scat samples, irrespective of whether the scat appeared in 'good' or 'poor' condition at the time of collection, and from the blood samples. Sanger sequencing identified four novel cytochrome b haplotypes, with distinct variations observed across sampling regions in Nepal (central and east). A comparison with reference sequences from China, Taiwan and Thailand revealed that the Chinese pangolins in Nepal represent a genetically distinct variant, differing by 15-19 base pairs from these other populations. These findings underscore significant genetic differentiation of Chinese pangolins in Nepal, with implications for the species' conservation and management. The methods described in this study are robust and adaptable, offering a valuable framework for broader genetic studies of pangolin populations across Nepal. Such approaches could facilitate the genetic mapping of pangolin variations, aiding in the identification of significant populations, the evaluation of conservation interventions and forensic applications to combat illegal poaching. This work emphasises the critical role of genetics in understanding and protecting pangolins, offering insights that are vital for their long-term conservation.Open access publishing facilitated by Federation University Australia, as part of the Wiley—Federation University Australia agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.Peer reviewedJohn Wiley & SonsCouncil of Australian University LibrariansHogan, Fiona [0000-0001-6934-3720]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202520252025info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/391786https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85218974938reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)InglésThe underlying dataset has been published as supplementary material of the article in the publisher platform at DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70982http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70982Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/3917862026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics
title Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics
spellingShingle Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics
Hogan, Fiona
Mitochondrial DNA
Non‐invasive genetic sampling
Pangolin
Scat
title_short Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics
title_full Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics
title_fullStr Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics
title_full_unstemmed Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics
title_sort Genetic Evidence Reveals Distinct Lineage of Chinese Pangolin in Nepal: Insights From Scat and Blood Samples for Conservation and Wildlife Forensics
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Hogan, Fiona
Wedrowicz, Faye
Khatiwada, Ambika Prasad
Joshi, Janardan Dev
Wasser, Sam
Wright, Wendy
author Hogan, Fiona
author_facet Hogan, Fiona
Wedrowicz, Faye
Khatiwada, Ambika Prasad
Joshi, Janardan Dev
Wasser, Sam
Wright, Wendy
author_role author
author2 Wedrowicz, Faye
Khatiwada, Ambika Prasad
Joshi, Janardan Dev
Wasser, Sam
Wright, Wendy
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Council of Australian University Librarians
Hogan, Fiona [0000-0001-6934-3720]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Mitochondrial DNA
Non‐invasive genetic sampling
Pangolin
Scat
topic Mitochondrial DNA
Non‐invasive genetic sampling
Pangolin
Scat
description Pangolins face critical threats from illegal trade and habitat loss, making their conservation a global priority. Despite their ecological and conservation significance, these elusive creatures remain poorly understood, particularly regarding their phylogeography and genetic diversity. This study successfully isolated DNA from two types of pangolin scat samples (whole scat and swabs) and blood that had been stored frozen for up to 3 years. A mitochondrial cytochrome b (424 bp) sequence was reliably generated from both types of scat samples, irrespective of whether the scat appeared in 'good' or 'poor' condition at the time of collection, and from the blood samples. Sanger sequencing identified four novel cytochrome b haplotypes, with distinct variations observed across sampling regions in Nepal (central and east). A comparison with reference sequences from China, Taiwan and Thailand revealed that the Chinese pangolins in Nepal represent a genetically distinct variant, differing by 15-19 base pairs from these other populations. These findings underscore significant genetic differentiation of Chinese pangolins in Nepal, with implications for the species' conservation and management. The methods described in this study are robust and adaptable, offering a valuable framework for broader genetic studies of pangolin populations across Nepal. Such approaches could facilitate the genetic mapping of pangolin variations, aiding in the identification of significant populations, the evaluation of conservation interventions and forensic applications to combat illegal poaching. This work emphasises the critical role of genetics in understanding and protecting pangolins, offering insights that are vital for their long-term conservation.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/391786
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85218974938
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/391786
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85218974938
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv The underlying dataset has been published as supplementary material of the article in the publisher platform at DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70982
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70982
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv John Wiley & Sons
publisher.none.fl_str_mv John Wiley & Sons
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
_version_ 1869425012021133312
score 15,812429

Similares en LA Referencia