Genetic diversity in the US ex situ populations of the endangered Puerto Rican Boa, Chilabothrus inornatus. Issue 3 (13th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aungst, Emily R.; Puente‐Rolón, Alberto R.; Reynolds, R. Graham
• Is Part Of: Zoo biology. Volume 39:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 205
• Page End: 213
• Publication Date: 2020-02-13
• Subjects: Boidae -- conservation -- inbreeding -- microsatellite -- mtDNA -- relatedness; Zoo animals -- Periodicals; 591
• DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21535
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0733-3188

Abstract

Abstract: The Puerto Rican Boa ( Chilabothrus inornatus ) was placed on the US Endangered Species List in 1970. Progress has been made since to clarify the recovery status of this species, though the design of a new recovery plan must include information regarding genetic variation within and among populations of this species. While measures of genetic diversity in wild populations of this species are finally becoming available, relative genetic diversity represented in ex situ populations is unknown, which hampers efforts to develop an ex situ species management plan. Here, we provide an analysis of genetic diversity in US public and private collections (zoos and breeders) using mitochondrial sequence data and five highly polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci. We analyzed 50 boas from the US ex situ population and determined overall genetic diversity and relatedness among these individuals. We then compared these data to mitochondrial and microsatellite data obtained from 176 individuals from wild populations across the native range of the species. We found little inbreeding and a large amount of retained genetic diversity in the US ex situ population of C. inornatus relative to wild populations. Genetic diversity in the ex situ population is similar to that found in wild populations. Ours is only the second explicit attempt to characterize genetic diversity at the molecular level in ex situ populations of boid snakes. We anticipate that these results will inform current breeding strategies as well as offer additional information that will facilitate the continuation of ex situ conservation breeding or management in boas. Abstract : Endangered Puerto Rican boas are kept in a number of ex situ facilities. We show that the US ex situ population is a better‐than‐expected representation of genetic diversity among wild populations. Research Highlights: We use a multilocus approach to assay genetic diversity in an ex situ boa population. We find high genetic diversity on par with that found in wild populations. This is the second study to characterize genetic diversity in captive boid snakes.