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Wildlife management in rapid changing landscapes requires critical planning through cross cutting networks, and understanding of landscape features, often affected by the anthropogenic activities. The present study demonstrates fine-scale spatial patterns of genetic variation and contemporary gene flow of red panda (Ailurus fulgens) populations with respect to landscape connectivity in Kangchenjunga Landscape (KL), India. The study found about 1,309.54 km 2 area suitable for red panda in KL-India, of which 62.21% area fell under the Protected Area network. We identified 24 unique individuals from 234 feces collected at nine microsatellite loci. The spatially explicit and non-explicit Bayesian clustering algorithms evident to exhibit population structuring and supported red panda populations to exist in meta-population frame work. In concurrence to the habitat suitability and landscape connectivity models, gene flow results supported a contemporary asymmetric movement of red panda by connecting KL-India in a crescent arc. We demonstrate the structural-operational connectivity of corridors in KL-India that facilitated red panda movement in the past. We also seek for cooperation in Nepal, Bhutan and China to aid in preparing for a comprehensive monitoring plan for the long-term conservation and management of red panda in trans-boundary landscapes.

Because male gene flow cannot easily be estimated directly in many organisms, Hedrick et al. (2013) provided an approach to estimate male gene flow given estimates of diploid nuclear and female differentiation. This approach appears to work well when there is lower female than male gene flow. However, in a tiger data set there was less female differentiation observed as estimated by mitochondrial DNA than expected given the observed overall nuclear diploid differentiation. To analyze these data, we suggest an alternative approach which allows incorporation of sex-specific gene flow and sex-specific effective population size. We find that the pattern of differentiation observed in tigers was consistent with a lower male than female effective population size using this alternative approach. Further, this finding is consistent with observed data in tigers where the male effective population size was 33% that of the female effective population size., (© The American Genetic Association. 2015. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The western Terai Arc Landscape (wTAL) in Uttarakhand, India, marks the range limit for the Asian elephant in north‐western India. This region has been impacted by land‐use changes and infrastructure expansion for the last seven decades. To evaluate the impact of habitat deterioration on the population structure of elephants in the region, we characterized their genetic diversity and local genetic structure using mitochondrial (D loop) and nuclear DNA (microsatellites; n = 15) markers. We used tissue samples of 114 elephants from five different sub‐populations, collected between 2005 and 2014. The genetic variation was moderate (HO = 0.49–0.55) compared with other Indian elephant populations. Two mtDNA haplotypes were identified without strong spatial patterns across wTAL. Bayesian individual‐based clustering algorithm identified two genetic clusters (K = 2) with high admixture (50% at Q < 0.7) and no spatial adherence. Though K = 1 was not supported by the Bayesian algorithm, multivariate analysis and sibship patterns did not indicate genetic differentiation. The lack of spatial genetic structuring suggests high levels of gene flow, indicating that this population is still panmictic. This suggests that the life history traits of elephants as well as the ecological features of this landscape influence genetic connectivity. However, ongoing land use changes necessitate regular genetic monitoring in wTAL to identify incipient structuring caused by anthropogenic barriers to movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wildlife corridors play a pivotal role to support free ranging wildlife in rapid changing landscapes which remains vulnerable due to growing human population, together with unplanned urbanization, industrialization, developmental activities and the inverse impacts of climate change. This triggers for undertaking urgent actions to not only ensure their long-term survival, but also securing sustainable socio-economic and environmental development. Using landscape genetics approach, we in the present study examined the movement and dispersal patterns of a wild mountain ungulate, Himalayan ibex which is considered an ecological engineer and also imparts a major prey base to the large carnivores in Indian trans-Himalayan Region. We identified the Lahaul–Zanskar–Sham valley (L–Z–SV) corridor supports the bidirectional movement of Himalayan ibex, and suggest science driven management interventions for the conservation of Himalayan ibex and other sympatric ungulates in the trans-Himalayan region. Wildlife corridors that connect mosaic habitats in heterogeneous mountainous landscapes can be of high significance as they facilitate the genetic and demographic stability of free-ranging populations. Peripheral populations of widespread species are usually ignored in conservation planning. However, these populations retain locally common alleles and are genetic reservoir under the changing climatic conditions. Capra sibirica has widespread distribution, and its southern peripheral population is distributed in the Indian trans-Himalayan region (ITR). In the present study, we studied the spatial distribution and genetic make-up of Himalayan ibex from the ITR following the landscape genetics approach. We obtained 16 haplotypes at the mitochondrial d-loop region and found a stable demography in the past with a recent decline. With 10 nuclear microsatellites, we ascertained 111 unique individuals assigned into two clusters following Bayesian and non-Bayesian clustering analysis with several admixed individuals. We also recorded 25 first-generation migrants that reflected relatively high dispersal and gene-flow across the range. We identified a 19,835 sq.km suitable area with 13,311 sq.km in Ladakh and 6524 sq.km in Lahaul-Spiti. We identified a novel movement corridor for Himalayan ibex across the Lahaul–Zanskar–Sham valley (L–Z–SV) that displayed a fairly good conductance with low genetic divergence among the samples collected on the L–Z–SV corridor. We propose declaring a protected area in the Lahaul and Kargil districts to prioritize dedicated conservation efforts for the Himalayan ibex and other sympatric ungulates that impart a major role in the diet of large carnivore and balancing ecosystem services in the trans-Himalayan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red Junglefowls (RJFs), the wild progenitor of modern day chickens (DCs), are believed to be in genetic endangerment due to introgression of domestic genes through opportunistic matings with domestic or feral chickens. Previous studies from India reported rare hybridization of RJFs in the wild. However, RJF population genetic structure, pattern of gene flow and their admixture with DC populations are poorly understood at the landscape level. We conducted this study with a large sample size, covering the predicted natural distribution range of RJFs in India. We documented strong evidence of directional gene flow from DCs to free-ranging wild RJFs, with the Northeastern RJF population exhibiting the most genetic variants in their nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, indicating it to be the ancestral population from which early radiation may have occurred. The results provide evidence that landscape features do not act as a barrier to gene flow and the distribution pattern could not be explored due to physical sharing or exchange of wild birds in the past when forests were continuous across RJF range in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite massive global conservation strategies, tiger populations continued to decline until recently, mainly due to habitat loss, human-animal conflicts, and poaching. These factors are known to affect the genetic characteristics of tiger populations and decrease local effective population sizes. The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) at the foothills of the Himalaya is one of the 42 source sites of tigers around the globe. Therefore, information on how landscape features and anthropogenic factors affect the fine-scale spatial genetic structure and variation of tigers in TAL is needed to develop proper management strategies for achieving long-term conservation goals. We document, for the first time, the genetic characteristics of this tiger population by genotyping 71 tiger samples using 13 microsatellite markers from the western region of TAL (WTAL) of 1800 km2. Specifically, we aimed to estimate the genetic variability, population structure, and gene flow. The microsatellite markers indicated that the levels of allelic diversity (MNA = 6.6) and genetic variation (Ho = 0.50, HE = 0.64) were slightly lower than those reported previously in other Bengal tiger populations. We observed moderate gene flow and significant genetic differentiation (FST= 0.060) and identified the presence of cryptic genetic structure using Bayesian and non-Bayesian approaches. There was low and significantly asymmetric migration between the two main subpopulations of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Corbett Tiger Reserve in WTAL. Sibship relationships indicated that the functionality of the corridor between these subpopulations may be retained if the quality of the habitat does not deteriorate. However, we found that gene flow is not adequate in view of changing land use matrices. We discuss the need to maintain connectivity by implementing the measures that have been suggested previously to minimize the level of human disturbance, including relocation of villages and industries, prevention of encroachment, and banning sand and boulder mining in the corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]