Abstract: The evolutionary potential of species is determined by its genetic diversity. Thus, management plans should integrate genetic concern into active conservation efforts. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an endangered species, endemic to China. Previous studies have focused primarily on genetic diversity among wild giant panda. We compared genetic diversity of captive with giant pandas by obtaining 27 blood samples from pandas held at the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Pandas with 39 samples (feces and skin) collected from the wild. We quantified genetic diversity in each sample using microsatellite loci. Genetic diversity of captive pandas was lower (A=5.5, He=0.620, Ho=0.574 ) than in wild pandas (A=9.8,He=0.779,Ho=0.581), but was higher than that of other 7 endangered species (He=0.13-0.46). Simulations showed that the average number of alleles would increase by only 0.4 within 100 generations with a doubling of population size. Thus, we suggest that the management strategy for the captive giant panda population should develop effective reproductive plans so as to avoid inbreeding.

Key words: Captive populative, Giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca), Genetic diversity

摘要： 以中国最大的大熊猫圈养种群—四川卧龙中国大熊猫保护中心的圈养种群为对象,以８个大熊猫微卫
星位点为分子标记, 探讨了大熊猫圈养种群的遗传多样性, 并与邛崃野生种群及其他７个濒危物种进行比较。微卫星数据表明, 圈养种群的遗传多样性水平(A＝5.5, He ＝0.620, Ho＝0.574) 低于邛崃野生种群(A＝9.8,He＝0.779,Ho＝0.581),但高于其他7 个濒危物种的种群(He＝0.13~0.46)。在此数据的基础上对未来100个世代内圈养种群遗传多样性的变化情况做出了预测。结果表明假设种群数量比现在扩大一倍, 经历100个世代后也只会使平均等位基因数少减少0.4。因此继续增加野生个体对保持遗传多样性的意义已经不大, 建议该圈养种群的保护策略应将重点放到制定更有效的繁殖计划以避免近交上。

关键词: 大熊猫, 圈养种群, 遗传多样性