
@article {99113,
	title = {High frequency of an otherwise rare phenotype in a small and isolated tiger population.},
	journal = {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A},
	volume = {118},
	year = {2021},
	month = {2021 Sep 28},
	abstract = {<p>Most endangered species exist today in small populations, many of which are isolated. Evolution in such populations is largely governed by genetic drift. Empirical evidence for drift affecting striking phenotypes based on substantial genetic data are rare. Approximately 37\% of tigers () in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (in eastern India) are pseudomelanistic, characterized by wide, merged stripes. Camera trap data across the tiger range revealed the presence of pseudomelanistic tigers only in Similipal. We investigated the genetic basis for pseudomelanism and examined the role of drift in driving this phenotype{\textquoteright}s frequency. Whole-genome data and pedigree-based association analyses from captive tigers revealed that pseudomelanism cosegregates with a conserved and functionally important coding alteration in (), a gene responsible for similar traits in other felid species. Noninvasive sampling of tigers revealed a high frequency of the Taqpep p.H454Y mutation in Similipal (12 individuals, allele frequency = 0.58) and absence from all other tiger populations (395 individuals). Population genetic analyses confirmed few (minimal number) tigers in Similipal, and its genetic isolation, with poor geneflow. Pairwise F (0.33) at the mutation site was high but not an outlier. Similipal tigers had low diversity at 81 single nucleotide polymorphisms (mean heterozygosity = 0.28, SD = 0.27). Simulations were consistent with founding events and drift as possible drivers for the observed stark difference of allele frequency. Our results highlight the role of stochastic processes in the evolution of rare phenotypes. We highlight an unusual evolutionary trajectory in a small and isolated population of an endangered species.</p>
},
	issn = {1091-6490},
	doi = {10.1073/pnas.2025273118},
	author = {Sagar, Vinay and Kaelin, Christopher B and Natesh, Meghana and Reddy, P Anuradha and Mohapatra, Rajesh K and Chhattani, Himanshu and Thatte, Prachi and Vaidyanathan, Srinivas and Biswas, Suvankar and Bhatt, Supriya and Paul, Shashi and Jhala, Yadavendradev V and Verma, Mayank M and Pandav, Bivash and Mondol, Samrat and Barsh, Gregory S and Swain, Debabrata and Ramakrishnan, Uma}
}
@article {890,
	title = {Tracing the geographic origin of traded leopard body parts in the indian subcontinent with DNA-based assignment tests.},
	journal = {Conserv Biol},
	volume = {29},
	year = {2015},
	month = {2015 Apr},
	pages = {556-64},
	abstract = {<p>Illicit trade in wildlife products is rapidly decimating many species across the globe. Such trade is often underestimated for wide-ranging species until it is too late for the survival of their remaining populations. Policing this trade could be vastly improved if one could reliably determine geographic origins of illegal wildlife products and identify areas where greater enforcement is needed. Using DNA-based assignment tests (i.e., samples are assigned to geographic locations), we addressed these factors for leopards (Panthera pardus) on the Indian subcontinent. We created geography-specific allele frequencies from a genetic reference database of 173 leopards across India to infer geographic origins of DNA samples from 40 seized leopard skins. Sensitivity analyses of samples of known geographic origins and assignments of seized skins demonstrated robust assignments for Indian leopards. We found that confiscated pelts seized in small numbers were not necessarily from local leopards. The geographic footprint of large seizures appeared to be bigger than the cumulative footprint of several smaller seizures, indicating widespread leopard poaching across the subcontinent. Our seized samples had male-biased sex ratios, especially the large seizures. From multiple seized sample assignments, we identified central India as a poaching hotspot for leopards. The techniques we applied can be used to identify origins of seized illegal wildlife products and trade routes at the subcontinent scale and beyond.</p>
},
	issn = {1523-1739},
	doi = {10.1111/cobi.12393},
	author = {Mondol, Samrat and Sridhar, Vanjulavalli and Yadav, Prasanjeet and Gubbi, Sanjay and Ramakrishnan, Uma}
}
