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PMID: 15583716 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Phylogeography and genetic ancestry of tigers (Panthera tigris).

PLoS biology ·Vol. 2 ·No. 12 ·2004-12-00 ·Pages e442

Luo SJ, Kim JH, Johnson WE, van der Walt J, Martenson J, Yuhki N, Miquelle DG, Uphyrkina O, Goodrich JM, Quigley HB, Tilson R, Brady G, Martelli P, Subramaniam V, McDougal C, Hean S, Huang SQ, Pan W, Karanth UK, Sunquist M, Smith JL, O'Brien SJ

Abstract

Eight traditional subspecies of tiger (Panthera tigris),of which three recently became extinct, are commonly recognized on the basis of geographic isolation and morphological characteristics. To investigate the species' evolutionary history and to establish objective methods for subspecies recognition, voucher specimens of blood, skin, hair, and/or skin biopsies from 134 tigers with verified geographic origins or heritage across the whole distribution range were examined for three molecular markers: (1) 4.0 kb of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence; (2) allele variation in the nuclear major histocompatibility complex class II DRB gene; and (3) composite nuclear microsatellite genotypes based on 30 loci. Relatively low genetic variation with mtDNA,DRB,and microsatellite loci was found, but significant population subdivision was nonetheless apparent among five living subspecies. In addition, a distinct partition of the Indochinese subspecies P. t. corbetti in to northern Indochinese and Malayan Peninsula populations was discovered. Population genetic structure would suggest recognition of six taxonomic units or subspecies: (1) Amur tiger P. t. altaica; (2) northern Indochinese tiger P. t. corbetti; (3) South China tiger P. t. amoyensis; (4) Malayan tiger P. t. jacksoni, named for the tiger conservationist Peter Jackson; (5) Sumatran tiger P. t. sumatrae; and (6) Bengal tiger P. t. tigris. The proposed South China tiger lineage is tentative due to limited sampling. The age of the most recent common ancestor for tiger mtDNA was estimated to be 72,000-108,000 y, relatively younger than some other Panthera species. A combination of population expansions, reduced gene flow, and genetic drift following the last genetic diminution, and the recent anthropogenic range contraction, have led to the distinct genetic partitions. These results provide an explicit basis for subspecies recognition and will lead to the improved management and conservation of these recently isolated but distinct geographic populations of tigers.

MeSH Terms
Alleles Animals Bayes Theorem Biological Evolution Cluster Analysis Conservation of Natural Resources DNA Primers/chemistry DNA, Mitochondrial/metabolism Genetic Variation Genotype Geography Haplotypes Major Histocompatibility Complex/genetics Microsatellite Repeats Models, Biological Molecular Sequence Data Phylogeny Polymorphism, Genetic Tigers/genetics Time Factors
Chemicals
DNA Primers DNA, Mitochondrial
Authors & Affiliations
22 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Luo Shu-Jin
Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
Kim Jae-Heup
Johnson Warren E
van der Walt Joelle
Martenson Janice
Yuhki Naoya
Miquelle Dale G
Uphyrkina Olga
Goodrich John M
Quigley Howard B
Tilson Ronald
Brady Gerald
Martelli Paolo
Subramaniam Vellayan
McDougal Charles
Hean Sun
Huang Shi-Qiang
Pan Wenshi
Karanth Ullas K
Sunquist Melvin
Smith James L D
O'Brien Stephen J
Conflict of Interest

The authors have declared that no conflicts of interests exist.

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Article Info
Journal
PLoS biology
Abbr.
PLoS Biol
ISSN
1545-7885
DOI
10.1371/journal.pbio.0020442
Published
2004-12-00
Epub
2004-00-07
Pages
e442
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
101183755
PMCID
PMC534810
Subset
IM
Databases
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PubMed source DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0020442 PMC Full Text View journal details
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