Analysis Of Genetic Diversity Of Great Bustard(Otis Tarda Dybowskii)

Great bustard (Otis tarda) is listed as a first-rating protected bird in China and CITES II. The number of great bustard (Otis tarda dybowskii) is decreasing recently in China. In order to find the reason of population decline and assist conservation, the genetic diversity of great bustard was analyzed by microsatellite DNA and mtDNA control region markers. In study using microsatellite DNA markers, Three microsatellites from great bustard (O. t. tarda) and 13 microsatellites from Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulate) were detected in 47 great bustards (O. t. dybowskii). Eight microsatellites loci were polymorphic, 3 loci of which were low polymorphic and the remaining 5 loci were highly polymorphic. The heterozygosity (H₀)of the 8 loci ranged from 0.0435 to 1.0000, averaging 0.6595 per locus, the Polymophism Information Contant (PIC) of the 8 loci ranged from 0.0416 to 0.8520, averaging 0.5497 per locus, and the effective number of alleles (E) of 8 loci ranged from 1.04 to 7.46, 3.61 alleles per locus on average. The observed genotype frequencies at 4 loci were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) and the remaining 4 loci were significantly deviated from HWE. In study of O. t. dybowskii using mtDNA control region markers, three regions and the total region of mtDNA control region I and II were analyzed. Amplification of CtrIaL/CtrIIoH had 8 haplotypes, Nucleotide diversity(л) was 0.00328, Haplotype diversity (d) was 0.622, Average number of differences (K) was 1.116;Amplification of L438/H772 hadn't mutation;Amplification of LCR2a/HCR8 only had 1 mutation;The total region of CtrIaL/HCR8 had 7 haplotypes, Nucleotide diversity (Jl) was 0.00174, Haplotype diversity (d) was 0.718, Average number of differences (K) was 1.359. The results show that genetic diversity of O. t. dybowskii is lower than O. t. tarda through compare of many aspects. This may be caused by the fewer total number, genetic bottleneck in history and concentrated geographical distribution, northwest of Songliao plain and Wulangchabu plateau breeding areas are a evolutionary significant unit, two breeding areas have own haplotype, then administer them as two Conservat ion un its. In view of the fact that the O. t. dybowskii are in imminent danger, first, must take importance to protection of wintering areas;Next, must try our best to protect the important breeding areas;Finally, establishes a population including existing genetic diversity for reintroduction, thus enable it to get rid gradually is in imminent danger, achieves the bustard species protection the goal.