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A genus-wide analysis of genetic variation to guide population management, hybrid identification, and monitoring of invasions and illegal trade in Iguana (Reptilia: Iguanidae)

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Abstract

Biodiversity and wild populations are globally threatened by a wide range of actors. The genus Iguana, widely distributed throughout the Americas, is under threat by invasive species, hybridization, the global pet trade, and habitat destruction. This holds especially true for the insular lineages, with the Critically Endangered I. delicatissima having experienced a > 75% range decrease, primarily through hybridization with non-native iguanas. We collated published microsatellite data and genotyped samples from new localities to construct a distribution-wide Iguana dataset built from 190 individuals for 17 microsatellite loci. This enabled us to identify patterns of genetic differentiation within and among populations, and identify key loci and private alleles for use in conservation management. Our analyses reveal clear separation between I. delicatissima and the I. iguana complex, highlighting the power of eight key microsatellite loci for the study of hybridization dynamics. Genetic differentiation within I. delicatissima identifies four clusters that aid decision making for conservation management action. Within the I. iguana complex, we increase mainland localities by 11-fold and recover 3.5 × more alleles across all loci than previously known. Overall, we identify 112 (48% private) and 76 (25% private) alleles for mainland and island lineages, respectively. We highlight loci sets to identify (1) non-native or hybrid iguanas in insular populations and their genetic origin, and (2) genetic origin of insular iguanas in the global pet trade. Overall, we provide a reference for Iguana microsatellite loci in order to allow standardization and comparison among studies, aiding broader assessment of research and conservation hypotheses.

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Data Availability

Data are freely available on figshare, https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13584923.v1).

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ty Park and all donators to IguanaFest 2019 for financial support. We also want to acknowledge the commitment of all conservation practioners working to protect these endangered reptiles. We are extremely grateful to Joanne Justo-Gaymes, Glenroy Gaymes (Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Industry, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation, Richmond Hill, Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines), and Jennifer Daltry (Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge) for allowing us to include preliminary data generated for a forthcoming manuscript on Iguana insularis insularis in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to better understand genetic variability in the genus Iguana in order to better identify geographic origins and hybridization phenomena throughout the Caribbean.

Funding

We thank Ty Park and all donators to IguanaFest 2019 for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biogeography and Global Change. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), C/ José Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Matthijs P. van den Burg

  2. IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland

    Matthijs P. van den Burg, Michel Breuil & Catherine L. Malone

  3. Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, Équipe EES, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, 5 rue Albert Turpin, 86073, Cedex 9, Poitiers, France

    Frédéric Grandjean

  4. Laboratoire Labofarm-Genindexe, 4 rue Théodore Botrel, 22600, Loudéac, France

    David Schikorski

  5. Laboratoire des Reptiles et Amphibiens, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Bâtiment 30, 57, rue Cuvier, CP n° 30, 75231, Cedex 05, Paris, France

    Michel Breuil

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  1. Matthijs P. van den Burg
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  2. Frédéric Grandjean
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  3. David Schikorski
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  4. Michel Breuil
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Contributions

Project design: MPB, CLM; Sample collection: MPB, MB, CLM; Laboratory work: DS; Data collation: MB; Data analysis: MPB, DS; Paper writing: MPB, CLM; Funding acquisition: MPB, CLM; Commenting on manuscript: All authors.

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Correspondence to Matthijs P. van den Burg.

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van den Burg, M.P., Grandjean, F., Schikorski, D. et al. A genus-wide analysis of genetic variation to guide population management, hybrid identification, and monitoring of invasions and illegal trade in Iguana (Reptilia: Iguanidae). Conservation Genet Resour 13, 435–445 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-021-01216-5

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