Conservation Genetics in Mammals

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-vii

   PDF

2. Generalities of Conservation Genetics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. A Modern Synthesis of Mammal Conservation Genetics

      • Klaus-Peter Koepfli, Rebecca M. Gooley

      Pages 3-11

   3. Tools for Monitoring Genetic Diversity in Mammals: Past, Present, and Future

      • Giovanni Forcina, Jennifer A. Leonard

      Pages 13-27

   4. Conservation Genetic Studies in Bats

      • Serena E. Dool

      Pages 29-62

3. Integrative Genetic Tools to Assess Population Parameters

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 63-63

      PDF

   2. Molecular Ecology of the Southern Gray Brocket Deer (Mazama gouazoubira Fischer, 1814)

      • Susana González, María Pía Aristimuño, Claudia Elizondo, Leticia Bidegaray-Batista, Pedro Henrique de Faria Peres, José Mauricio Barbanti Duarte

      Pages 65-82

   3. Noninvasive Genetics and Genomics Shed Light on the Status, Phylogeography, and Evolution of the Elusive Snow Leopard

      • Jan E. Janecka, Charlotte Hacker, Jennifer Broderick, Sree Pulugulla, Philip Auron, McKenna Ringling et al.

      Pages 83-120

   4. Integration of Population Genetics and Ecological Data for Conservation: The Case of the Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Chihuahua, Mexico

      • Gabriela Castellanos-Morales, Luis E. Eguiarte

      Pages 121-139

   5. Conservation Genetics, Demographic History, and Climatic Distribution of the Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus): An Analysis of Its Mitochondrial Lineages

      • Maria Clara Arteaga, Jaime Gasca-Pineda, Rafael Bello-Bedoy, Luis E. Eguiarte, Rodrigo A. Medellin

      Pages 141-163

   6. Molecular Evolution (Mitochondrial and Nuclear Microsatellites Markers) in the Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus; Ursidae, Carnivora): How Many ESUs Are There?

      • Manuel Ruiz-García, Jessica Yanina Arias Vásquez, Armando Castellanos, Lydia Kolter, Joseph M. Shostell

      Pages 165-194

4. Anthropogenic Effects on the Genetic Viability of Wildlife Populations

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 195-195

      PDF

   2. Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on the Genetic Variability of the Volcano Rabbit (Romerolagus diazi)

      • Leslie M. Montes-Carreto, José Antonio Guerrero, Jorge Ortega

      Pages 197-215

   3. Using Genetics in the Conservation Management of the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) in Missouri

      • Emily E. Puckett, Lori S. Eggert

      Pages 217-228

   4. Genetic Analyses of Non-invasively Collected Samples Aids in the Conservation of Elephants

      • Marissa Ahlering, Kris Budd, Stephanie Schuttler, Lori S. Eggert

      Pages 229-248

   5. Genetic Diversity and Structure of Artibeus jamaicensis in the Fragmented Landscape of El Salvador

      • Melissa E. Rodríguez, Jorge Ortega, Gustavo Gutiérrez-Espeleta, J. Edgardo Arévalo, Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera

      Pages 249-268

   6. Patterns of MHC Polymorphism in Endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes Living in Urban and Non-urban Environments

      • Tammy R. Wilbert, Jesús E. Maldonado, Mirian T. N. Tsuchiya, Masoumeh Sikaroodi, Brian L. Cypher, Christine Van Horn Job et al.

      Pages 269-298

5. Multitask Genetic Applicability to Preserve Species in the Future

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 299-299

      PDF

   2. Climate Change Impact at the Genetic Level: Patterns in the Couesi’s Rice Rat (Oryzomys couesi)

      • Ella Vázquez-Domínguez, Tania Garrido-Garduño, Edith Calixto-Pérez

      Pages 301-329

   3. Koala Conservation in Queensland, Australia: A Role for Assisted Gene Flow for Genetic Rescue?

      • J. M. Seddon, B. Schultz

      Pages 331-349

This book focuses on the use of molecular tools to study small populations of rare and endangered mammals, and presents case studies that apply an evolutionary framework to address innovative questions in the emerging field of mammalian conservation genomics using a highly diverse set of novel molecular tools. Novel and more precise molecular technologies now allow experts in the field of mammology to interpret data in a more contextual and empirical fashion and to better describe the evolutionary and ecological processes that are responsible for the patterns they observe. 


The book also demonstrates how recent advances in genetic/genomic technologies have been applied to assess the impact of environmental/anthropogenic changes on the health of small populations of mammals. It examines a range of issues in the field of mammalian conservation genomics, such as the role that the genetic diversity of the immune system plays in disease protection and localadaptation; the use of noninvasive techniques and genomic banks as a resource for monitoring and restoring populations; the structuring of population by physical barriers; and genetic diversity.
 
Further, by integrating research from a variety of areas – including population genetics, molecular ecology, systematics, and evolutionary and conservation biology – it enables readers to gain a deeper understanding of the conservation biology of mammals that are at increasing risk of extinction at local, regional and global scales. As such, it offers a unique resource for a broad readership interested in the conservation biology of mammals and conservation management strategies to better preserve biodiversity.

• Conservation Biology
• Mammals
• Population Genetics
• Wildlife conservation
• Mammalogy
• Evolutionary Genomics
• Conservation Management
• Fish and Wildlife Biology

"The strongest aspect of this volume was the diversity of taxa that it covered. … I found the contributions to this volume to be individually interesting, and of clear value for anyone anticipating working on the species and systems that it covers.” (H. Bradley Shaffer, The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 97 (2), June, 2022)

• Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico

  Jorge Ortega

• Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, USA

  Jesus E. Maldonado

Jorge Ortega obtained his doctorate on behavioral ecology under Hector Arita. He later pursued postdoctoral studies at the Smithsonian Institute, where he gained expertise in molecular biology. Currently he is developing projects on eco-immune genetics and genetic conservation of wildlife such as bats, whales and black bears. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the North American Society of Bat Research, of the North American Bat Alliance, and of the IUCN Bat Specialist Group, the Society for the Study of Evolution and the American Society of Mammalogists.

Jesus Maldonado obtained his Ph.D. degree in Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution at the University of California Los Angeles. He then joined the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute where he has been a Research Geneticist at the Center for Conservation Genomics since 1998. His research applies molecular genetics tools to answer basic and applied questions in conservation and evolutionary biology in mammals. Much of his research involves assessment of genetic variation within and among populations and species to document levels of inbreeding and determine units of evolutionary, taxonomic and conservation significance. He developed a research program that follows an academic model, and most of his projects over the past several years are based on collaborations established with students, postdoctoral fellows and research scientists/curators at the Smithsonian and other academic institutions and conservation communities in Latin American, India, South East Asia and Africa. This allowed him to build a strong conservation genomics program that is international in scope. Beyond theoretical aspects of his research, outcomes from many studies have direct applications to helping address critical conservation issues in a variety of threatened and endangered mammals. He is also interested in studying micro-evolutionary processes that shape genetic variation and evolutionary trajectories, as well as landscape genetics and genomics. During the past 19 years, he has developed and utilized non-invasive genetic techniques and ancient DNA technologies for obtaining reliable information to study many elusive endangered mammal species. Maldonado has over 100 peer reviewed publications in scientific journals including Science, Molecular Ecology, PLoS ONE, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Proceedings Royal Society B and has served in the editorial board of several journals including the Journal of Mammalogy, Conservation Genetics, PLos ONE and Therya.

Policies and ethics