Noninvasive genetic monitoring of Chinese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla ) from Darjeeling district of Northwest Bengal, India

Chinese pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla ) has experienced a rapid population decline across its distribution range mainly due to illegal harvesting for scale and local consumption for meat. We monitored 65 burrows of free‐ranging pangolins and collected 147 fecal droppings from five sites in the Darjeeling district of Northwest Bengal in the central Himalayas. On genetic analysis with the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, we obtained four haplotypes with haplotype diversity of 0.479 ± 0.088. At 15 microsatellite loci, we identified 35 unique genotypes with relatively low level of genetic diversity (Ho‐0.382 ± 0.091). We also estimated the population genetic parameters and demographic history using Bayesian skyline plot which revealed a demographic decline in the population size in the past 200 years. The present study generated the base‐line population genetics estimates of Chinese pangolin, that may be used in genetic monitoring of the population and also aid to the geographical assignment of wildlife crime cases. 中华穿山甲（Manis pentadactyla）种群数量在其分布区内迅速下降，主要是因为非法利用其甲片以及当地食用其肉。在喜马拉雅山脉中部印度西孟加拉邦的大吉岭地区的5个地点，我们监测了65个中华穿山甲的野外洞穴，并收集了147份粪便样品。基于线粒体细胞色素b（Cytb）基因片段的遗传分析，获得4个单倍型，其单倍型多样性为0.479±0.088。应用15个微卫星位点的遗传进行分析，鉴定出35个遗传多样性相对较低的基因型（观测杂合度为0.382±0.091）。使用贝叶斯天际线模型（Bayesian skyline plot,BSP），估算了种群遗传参数与历史动态，发现200年前中华穿山甲的种群规模就已经开始出现明显下降。本研究提供了中华穿山甲种群遗传评估的基准状况，可用于中华穿山甲种群遗传监测和非法制品地理来源鉴定。 Researchers/biologists can utilize the baseline population genetic estimates in this paper to undertake comparisons in evaluating genetic diversity patterns among different regions with respect to anthropogenic activities and land use. The genotype data generated may be utilized by researchers/biologists in evaluating the population size of Chinese pangolin following the capture–recapture framework. The regional genetic signature generated in this study may be used by the wildlife forensic professionals/scientists in assigning the wildlife contraband to the source of origin.