Genetic diversity and population structure of the northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) in Indian Himalayan region

Despite showing high resilience and adaptation to various types of habitats including human-dominated landscape, barking deer have experienced considerable threats due to habitat loss, poaching, and competition for resources with other deer species. In the present study, we examined the population genetic parameters of barking deer from the Indian Himalayan Region, (IHR) using mitochondrial and nuclear markers and performed comparative analysis with the barking deer sequences retrieved from China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India (Central and Northeast region). We observed relatively high genetic diversity (Hd = 0.904 +/- 0.038 and pi = 0.0165 +/- 0.005) at mitochondrial Cyt b gene and a moderate genetic variability at 11 nuclear microsatellites (Ho = 0.587 +/- 0.072, He = 0.731 +/- 0.046). The Bayesian-based population structure analysis revealed the presence of two different populations corresponding to the western and central-eastern Himalayas. The present study has generated a baseline population genetic account of barking deer that may be used in population monitoring of barking deer across IHR using non-invasive genetic sampling.

Automated summary

Despite their resilience and adaptation to various habitats, barking deer face significant threats including habitat loss, poaching, and competition. This study examined the genetic parameters of barking deer in the Indian Himalayan Region and compared them with populations from China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India. The study found high genetic diversity in the mitochondrial gene and moderate genetic variability in nuclear markers, as well as the presence of two distinct populations in the western and central-eastern Himalayas.