ASSESSING GENETIC DIVERSITY AND DEMOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF THE MANCHURIAN WAPITI (CERVUS CANADENSIS XANTHOPYGUS) POPULATION IN THE GAOGESITAI, INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA.

This paper attempts to assess the genetic diversity and demographic history of the Manchurian wapiti (MW) population in the Gaogesitai region of Inner Mongolia, Northeast China. To this end, a survey was conducted on 108 stool samples collected in the Gaogesitai region. Then, the mitochondrial cytochrome b and 10 microsatellite loci were used to perform the species identification and individual identification, and 49 MW individuals were found. Besides, the cytochrome b, control region and microsatellites were also analyzed to obtain the genetic data of the MWs. The analysis found that the MW population in the Gaogesitai region experienced a recent bottleneck effect, but it did not have a significant impact on the subsequent rapid population growth; the population genetic diversity is at a medium level; gene exchange between individuals within the population is frequent, and there is no inbreeding; a high proportion (50%) of rare haplotypes in the population was detected. Thus, it is recommended to strengthen the protection and management of the MW population in this region to avoid a sharp decline in population genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]