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Distribution of haplotypes and microsatellite alleles among Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand

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Abstract

Habitat fragmentation often promotes increased inbreeding depression due to interrupted gene flow between populations. In this study, we demonstrate that Asian elephants most likely also suffer from outbreeding depression due to cryptic speciation. We analysed mitochondrial and nuclear DNA loci from 78 Asian elephants. Haplotype genealogy and analysis of molecular variance revealed two matrilinear clades (α h, β h). Microsatellite analyses of individuals grouped according to their haplotype clade (corresponding group of nuclear genotypes called α nuc and β nuc) revealed significant genotypic differentiation between α nuc and β nuc. Such genealogically differentiated forms in a morphologically uniform species are considered indicative of cryptic speciation. The differentiation was caused by bulls, whereas considering cows only resulted in no differentiation. Such result is best explained by Haldane’s rule whereby hybrid formation between genealogical forms causes lower viability and fertility of heterogametic hybrids. Although the lack of hybrid-specific morphological characteristics renders direct testing of reduced hybrid fitness under natural conditions unfeasible, the effects of Haldane’s rule are demonstrated by reduced male-mediated gene flow between genealogical forms under sympatric conditions, as was indeed suggested by the data found in Asian elephants: male-mediated gene flow between groups α nuc and β nuc was much lower than female-mediated gene flow.

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Notes

  1. In this context, the offspring between genealogical differentiated groups rather than between recognised species.

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Acknowledgements

We are most grateful to all Thai elephant owners, camp workers and veterinarians who contributed to the study. Special thanks goes to Dr. S. Yodmani, Chairman of the Thai Elephant Conservation and Coordination Committee for his help and support. Most samples were collected by T.B. Hildebrandt, F. Goeritz (both IZW) and W. Rietschel (Wilhelma, Stuttgart). A. Schmidt and A. Reinsch (IZW) provided technical assistance. All experiments carried out in the course of this study complied with the existing law in Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany

    Joerns Fickel, Dietmar Lieckfeldt & Christian Pitra

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, 22/25 Salaya, Nakorn-Pathom, 73170, Thailand

    Parntep Ratanakorn

Authors
  1. Joerns Fickel
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  2. Dietmar Lieckfeldt
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  3. Parntep Ratanakorn
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  4. Christian Pitra
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Correspondence to Joerns Fickel.

Additional information

Communicated by W. Lutz

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplement 1

MtDNA haplotypes and nDNA genotypes of 78 Asian elephants from Thailand (DOC 142 kb).

Supplement 2

Absolute allele frequencies (f) at 7 microsatellite loci in the two Asian elephant groups αnuc (14 bulls, 25 cows) and βnuc (12 bulls, 27 cows) (DOC 26.1 kb).

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Fickel, J., Lieckfeldt, D., Ratanakorn, P. et al. Distribution of haplotypes and microsatellite alleles among Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand. Eur J Wildl Res 53, 298–303 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-007-0099-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-007-0099-x

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