Population genetics of Sambar (Rusa unicolor) from the Western Himalayas: preliminary findings

Background The sambar (Rusa unicolor) is one of the largest deer distributed across diverse habitats of India and threatened due to habitat loss, changes in the land-use patterns, illegal poaching, and anthropogenic disturbances. Here, we report the first population genetics account of sambar deer from the Western Himalayas. Methods and results We observed relatively compromised genetic diversity (pi = 0.0008 +/- 0.0006 at mtDNA and Ho = 0.499 +/- 0.056 at nDNA). We identified 60 unique individuals using a select panel of seven loci (P-ID sib cum 1.60E-03). Bayesian skyline plot showed a stable demographic history since the past 8 kyr with a decline in recent years. The population lacked genetic structuring, likely due to the contiguous distribution and large dispersal patterns of sambar. Conclusion The preliminary findings are valuable in exploring the utility of genetic diversity in monitoring the sambar population, estimating density following capture-recapture analysis, and aid to the conservation planning of sambar in large landscapes.

Automated summary

The study found low genetic diversity and lack of genetic structuring in the population of Sambar deer in the Western Himalayas. Despite a stable demographic history over the past 8,000 years, there has been a recent decline in population.