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The endangered Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor has experienced drastic reductions in population size, geographic distribution, and habitat availability throughout East Asia. In the present study, we examined population genetic structure and genetic diversity of Black-faced Spoonbills inhabiting five sites off the west coast of South Korea encompassing a few of its major breeding sites. Ten microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial sequence were used to assess patterns of genetic variation based on 63 individuals. Three ND2 haplotypes were found among 61 individuals; the remaining two were identified as Eurasian Spoonbills, revealing an unexpected hybridization between these two species having different ecological niches in South Korea—the Eurasian Spoonbill overwinters in inland areas, whereas the Black-faced Spoonbill inhabits coastal areas during the summer. Analyses of microsatellite variation revealed no discrete population structure among the five breeding sites but very weak genetic differentiation among geographically distant regions. Assignment tests identified several possible migrants among sites. Our findings suggested that Black-faced Spoonbills from the five breeding sites could be managed as a single population and highlighted the importance of conserving the populations from Maedo, Suhaam, and Namdong reservoir, which are geographically close and have retained high levels of genetic diversity and large populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate taxonomic classification of wildlife species is crucial for guiding biological research and for developing effective management and conservation programs. The taxonomic status of Eurasian badgers from South Korea remains poorly resolved. Here we assessed the phylogenetic relationships and genetic variation of Eurasia badgers using partial mitochondrial fragments to elucidate the evolutionary history and taxonomic status of badgers from the Korean Peninsula. Forty-eight unique haplotypes from 125 individuals were observed. Phylogenetic reconstructions and reduced median networks indicate that Eurasian badgers consisted of four geographic clades (Japan, Eastern Eurasia, Western Eurasia, and Caucasus) with a relatively weak split observed within Eastern Eurasia. Estimated divergence time between the Japanese and Eastern Eurasian clades, including the Korean population, was 467,100 years (69,200–1,085,500 years). The results of this study support the hypothesis that the Japanese badger migrated from the Eurasian continent over the Korea-Japan land bridge and that the Korean Peninsula was an important refugia during the Pleistocene. Our study confirmed that the South Korean badger, Meles meles , belongs to the Eastern Eurasian clade. Based on these results and those of previous studies, we recommend that the scientific name of the Korean badger be changed from M. meles to Meles leucurus (Asian badger). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a well-studied felid with limited genetic diversity, the cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ) has shaped much of the scientific debate surrounding inbreeding depression. The species survived a population bottleneck ~ 12,000 years ago and was extirpated from > 75% of its historical range in the last century. Modern cheetahs produce poor-quality semen, a presumed manifestation of inbreeding depression. Within Felidae, a positive association between genetic diversity and semen quality is well supported by pedigree data and inter-species comparisons. However, this relationship has never been examined among individual cheetahs. Furthermore, whether ongoing population declines are exacerbating inbreeding depression in wild or captive cheetah populations is unknown. Using 12 microsatellite markers, we evaluated the relationship between heterozygosity and reproductive traits among wild ( n = 54) and captive ( n = 43) male cheetahs born from 1976–2007. We tested the hypotheses that genetic diversity has declined over the last ~ 30 years and is positively correlated with semen quality/breeding success in the cheetah. Findings revealed that genetic diversity has decreased in the wild, but not captive, population. Unexpectedly, heterozygosity was lower in proven versus unproven breeders and did not correlate with semen quality. A small proportion of all males (< 10%) produced relatively high quality ejaculates, with sperm traits similar to those of non-inbred felid species. These data suggest a more complex relationship between inbreeding and male cheetah reproductive traits than previously appreciated. Intensive management of captive cheetahs appears to be minimizing inbreeding, whereas the continued erosion of genetic diversity in wild males is of conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]