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Genetic dynamics of a 11-year ex situ managed Itasenpara bitterling population

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Abstract

EX situ conservation management is an effective method that conserves endangered species that are on the decline owing to anthropogenic alteration of natural habitats. This entails the management of a captive population while maintaining its genetic variability and preventing its adaptation to the captive environment. However, implementation of such efforts is largely limited to experimental animals and zoo-managed animals with pedigree information. In this study, ex situ management of endangered Itasenpara bitterling (Acheilognathus longipinnis) was conducted, while practicing recommended conservation procedures, for the purpose of conserving this species. In this 11 year long study, we conducted multi-locus microsatellite DNA analyses to evaluate the genetic dynamics of an ex situ captive population of A. longipinnis, as well as the wild A. longipinnis population of the Kiso River. Genetic diversity generally varied between yearly cohorts in each of the captive sub-populations, and some showed a stable increasing trend with generations. When all sub-populations were considered as one population, genetic diversity was maintained at a high value, while effective population size generally reached target values, thereby preventing inbreeding. These results were achieved by maintaining multiple captive sub-populations and exchanging individuals between them. Simultaneously, the introduction of additional individuals from the wild population produced genetic variability in the captive population. These fluctuating patterns of genetic diversity in the captive A. longipinnis population were desirable compared to previously predicted values. Consequently, these findings show that the current ex situ conservation program is suitable for maintaining the genetic composition of the captive population of A. longipinnis.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, YY, upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the members of the Gifu World Freshwater Aquarium, the Gifu Prefectural Research Institute for Fisheries and Aquatic Environments, the Hekinan Seaside Aquarium, and the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden for their support in rearing fish and completing the experiments. We also thank the Conservation Council for Itasenpara (endangered bitterling) of the Kiso River System, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. This research was carried out as part of the program for Rehabilitation of Natural Habitats and Maintenance of Viable Population for Itasenpara bitterling (Acheilognathus longipinnis) by the Chubu Regional Environment Office, Ministry of the Environment. We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan

    Yuji Yamazaki

  2. Gifu World Fresh Water Aquarium, 1453 Kawashimakasada, Kakamigahara, Gifu, 501-6021, Japan

    Koki Ikeya

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  1. Yuji Yamazaki
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YY completed laboratory work and data analysis, performed the research, and wrote the manuscript. KI corresponded with the administrative agency regarding collection permission, and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yuji Yamazaki.

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This study was conducted with respect for the conservation of the target endangered species. The DNA sample used was a part of the fin extracted from an individual, and the individual was continued to captive.

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Supplementary Information

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10592_2022_1484_MOESM1_ESM.pptx

Frequency distribution of pairwise relatedness coefficients among individuals of five ex situ captive sub-populations and one wild population of Acheilognathus longipinnis derived from the Kiso River. Population abbreviations are shown in Table 1. Supplementary file1 (PPTX 173 KB)

10592_2022_1484_MOESM2_ESM.pptx

Two-dimensional plot of microsatellite allele composition based on axis one and three of ex situ captive and wild Acheilognathus longipinnis populations in the Kiso River for cohort levels assessed via factorial correspondence analysis. Supplementary file2 (PPTX 42 KB)

10592_2022_1484_MOESM3_ESM.xlsx

Allele frequency, probability of departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P), genetic diversity, and composition of clusters by STRUCTURE software with K = 2 and K = 5 for five ex situ captive sub-populations and one wild population of Acheilognathus longipinnis. Supplementary file3 (XLSX 39 KB)

10592_2022_1484_MOESM4_ESM.xlsx

Pairwise FST estimates (below diagonal) of ex situ captive sub-populations and one wild population of Acheilognathus longipinnis. Supplementary file4 (XLSX 18 KB)

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Yamazaki, Y., Ikeya, K. Genetic dynamics of a 11-year ex situ managed Itasenpara bitterling population. Conserv Genet 24, 73–83 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-022-01484-0

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