Research Article

AFLP Analysis of genetic variation on captive-bred chinese alligators: an application to select individuals for release

  1. Peng Yan1,
  2. Xiaobing Wu1,*,
  3. Yiyang Wang1,
  4. Zhigang Jiang2,
  5. Changming Gu3,
  6. Chaoling Wang4

Article first published online: 20 NOV 2006

DOI: 10.1002/zoo.20110

Issue

Zoo Biology

Zoo Biology

Volume 25, Issue 6, pages 479–490, November/December 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Yan, P., Wu, X., Wang, Y., Jiang, Z., Gu, C. and Wang, C. (2006), AFLP Analysis of genetic variation on captive-bred chinese alligators: an application to select individuals for release. Zoo Biol., 25: 479–490. doi: 10.1002/zoo.20110

Author Information

  1. 1

    College of Life Sciences, Anhui Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploration for Important Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China

  2. 2

    Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

  3. 3

    Forestry Department of Anhui Province, Hefei, China

  4. 4

    Anhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator Reproduction, Xuanzhou, China

*College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, No.1 East Beijing Road, Wuhu 241000, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 DEC 2006
  2. Article first published online: 20 NOV 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 28 JUN 2006
  4. Manuscript Received: 2 DEC 2005

Funded by

  • National Natural Science Foundations of China (NSFC). Grant Numbers: 30270213, 30470244
  • Natural Science Foundation of Education Department of Anhui Province. Grant Number: 2005kj182
  • Special Foundation for Excellent Youth in Anhui Province. Grant Number: 04043409
  • Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui Province

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Keywords:

  • Chinese alligator;
  • AFLP;
  • genetic variation;
  • select;
  • release

Abstract

The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is a critically endangered species in China. Wild populations of Chinese alligator are on the edge of extinction. Through a release program, some captive-bred alligators will be selected and released into the wild to supplement and renew natural populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic variation of captive-bred Chinese alligators by AFLP markers and to select individuals with maximally different genetic backgrounds for release. Forty-three captive-bred alligators of the second filial generation from the Anhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator Reproduction (ARCCAR) were surveyed using four primer combinations, yielding 117 AFLP markers. According to AFLP fingerprints, six samples had distinctly different band patterns compared to other samples. When the six samples were removed from the analysis, there were 19 monomorphic loci and 98 polymorphic loci yielding 84% polymorphic loci. Moreover, the genetic similarity (GS) among 37 samples varied from 0.13–0.97, and the average was 0.7503±0.0064 standard error (SE). When the six samples were included, the GS value among the 43 samples declined and varied from 0.06–0.97, and the average was 0.6523±0.0079 SE. Based on a cluster analysis using UPGMA, a dendrogram of the 43 alligators was constructed. According to the cluster analysis and gender of the 43 samples, eight Chinese alligators with very different genetic backgrounds were selected and suggested for release with two groups in the future. Zoo Biol 0:1–12, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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