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Volume 7, Issue 1 (Suppl) J Ecosyst Ecogr
ISSN: 2157-7625 JEE, an open access journal Biodiversity Congress 2017
April 27-28, 2017
April 27-28, 2017 Dubai, UAE
6th International Conference on
Biodiversity and Conservation
J Ecosyst Ecogr 2017, 7:1(Suppl)
Genetic variation of Caucasian pit viper (Gloydius halys ) populations in Iran using mtDNAmarker
Akram Moghaddasi1, Haji Gholi Kammi2, Masoud Nazari Zadeh1 and Mohammad Kabol1
1University of Tehran, Iran
2University of Golestan, Iran
The concept of genetic variation is a vital factor to investigate the effect of evolutionary process on genus Gloydius’ populations.
Having a vast distribution in many parts of Asia, genus Gloydius (Serpentes: Crotalinae) is from the venomous group of snakes,
and consists of thirteen species. Caucasian Pitviper (Gloydius halys) is scattered from Northwest to Northeast Iran in wide variety
of terrestrial and mountainous, forestal and bush-lands habitats. This study aims to analyze biodiversity, genetic variation and
genetic structure among the Caucasian Pitviper populations in Alborz habitats. For this purpose, 18 individuals representing two
populations (northern and northeastern Alborz) were captured, and, some ventral scale specimens were collected. Polymorphism
of a mitochondrial gene Cytb, was investigated in these samples. For this purpose, using PCR, a segment of this gene with 1067 base
pair length was amplified and the amplified sequence was then subjected to sequencing. The genealogy analysis was conducted to
determine the best evolutionary model using Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches. Our results revealed that the Alborz
populations were separated by 0.99 and 95.34 posterior probability and bootstrap values, respectively. Besides, 13 unique haplotypes
out of 18 sequenced individuals (7 fromnorthern and 6 fromnortheastern population), were analyzed and consequently a considerable
distinction was detected between north and northeastern population haplotypes by 17 mutational steps. Also, a significantly high
genetic variation (Fst>0.25, p<0.01) was found between populations in the north and northeast Alborz through the Analysis of
Molecular Variance (AMOVA). On the other hand, using neutrality tests, the incidence of spontaneous expansion was determined in
north and northeast populations. As a conclusion, we believe that the genetic distance between these two populations is due to their
local adaptability. Hence, they can be considered as two distinct conservational units in terms of biodiversity conservational plans.
Relative abundance, prey preference and niche partitioning of snow leopard (Uncia uncia) and Tibetan
wolf (Canis lupus chanku) in Karakoram Pamir mountains
Anila Ajmal1, Babar Khan1 and Abdukadir Alimit2
1World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan
2Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Reliable information about predator’s abundance, their feeding habits, potential habitats and niches is imperative to understand the
ecological interactions among herders, herbivores and carnivores on shared habitats. Therefore, the present study endeavors to
fill knowledge gaps for the sustainable conservation and management of the remaining lot of endangered Snow leopard and Tibetan
wolf in Khunjerab National Park (KNP) in Pakistan and Taxkorgan National Nature Reserve (TKNR) in China. Our results revealed
that the Tibetan wolf and Snow leopard as the major predators in KNP, with an estimated population size of 30-35 with 0.006 Snow
leopards in per km-2. Also, out of estimated total 822.7 kg km -2 (animal’s km-2) biomass, it was found that that livestock and ungulates
offered around 66% and 34% diet for Snow leopard and Tibetan wolf collectively. Through scat analysis, results showed that both these
predators rely heavily on livestock to fulfill food requirements. Moreover, Tibetan wolf was found having a large niche separation
with Snow leopard, whereas, Snow leopard was found comparatively having greater niche than the Tibetan wolf. In the same vein,
considering the large biomass needs of the carnivores and the low availability of wild prey, human-wildlife conflict is therefore an
inevitable and critical issue in the region. Trans-boundary efforts are necessary to develop conservation management schemes that
protect threatened wildlife species as well as provide support and benefits to the local communities living adjacent to KNP and TNR
in the Karakoram and Pamir mountains of China and Pakistan.