Connectivity Among Argali Sheep From Afghanistan And Adjacent Countries: Noninvasive Approaches Using Neutral And Candidate Gene Microsatellites
Summary:
The threatened Marco Polo sub-species of argali wild sheep (Ovis ammon poli) is undoubtedly the most charismatic wild animal in the Afghan Pamirs. Understanding its population ecology and evolution is crucial for conservation, and important because of its role as a flagship and umbrella species for the entire Pimir Mountains ecosystem. Unfortunately, argali are among the most difficult of wild animals to study, due to their wary nature, choice of remote and precipitous habitats, and low population density. It is important that conservation actions be addressed on a regional trans-boundary basis. For this subspecies of argali, this means including China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
This portion of the Afghanistan Biodiversity Project (Wildlife Conservation Society) is addressing issues of connectivity, corridors, isolation, loss of genetic diversity, and possible barriers to movement among sub-populations of Marco Polo argali throughout the 4 country transboundary region. We will also estimate poplation abundance (census size) for one focal study area, and establish base line data for long term monitoring of populations and their genetically-effective population size. We are relying on non-invasive sampling (primarily of feces) to provide raw data on the genetic structure of populations because the region is extremely remote and difficult to access, because capturing large numbers of argali for research purposes in this area is impractical, and because simply observing them during short-duration surveys does not provide the information we need.
Collaborators:
Rich Harris, Albano Beja-Pereira, Steve Amish, Raquel Godinho, Vania Costs, Jay Chen, et al.
Publications:
- Luikart, G., S. Amish, J. Winnie, R. Godinho, A. Beja-Pereira, F.W. Allendorf, and R.B. Harris. 2011. High connectivity among Argali from Afghanistan and adjacent countries: Assessment using neutral and candidate gene microsatellites. In press.
- Harris, R.B., J. Winnie, JR., S. Amish, A. Beja-Pereira, R. Godinho, and G. Luikart. 2010. Population estimation of argali (Ovis ammon) in the Afghan Pamir using capture- recapture modeling from fecal DNA. Journal of Wildlife Management. 74:668–677.