Genetic Differentiation In Captive Populations Of Nycticebus Bengalensis Based On Mitochondrial DNA

The Bengal slow loris,Nycticebus bengalensis,is a cryptic nocturnal primate species.It is widely distributed in northeastern India,eastern Bangladesh,southern China,Myanmar,Vietnam,Laos,Cambodia,Thailand,and possibly north of Peninsular Malaysia.N.bengalensis has been listed as vulnerable(VU)by the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction,hunting for traditional medicine and trade.In present study,genomic DNA of N.bengalensis was extracted from faecal samples collected in seven rescue centers in the south of China through non-destructive sampling.Sequences analysis was used to characterize the complete mitochondrial genome of N.bengalensis.Besides,Cytb and D-loop data were used to establish the classification status through construction of phylogenetic trees,and thus the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of N.bengalensis were analysed.The results can be summarized as follow:(1)The entire mt DNA of N.bengalensis,16,770 bp in length,containing 13 protein-coding genes,2 r RNA genes,22 t RNA genes and one control region,was similar to other species in Nycticebus in gene arrangement and composition.Moreover,the base composition has AT bias,and the initial codon of protein-coding gene has ATG bias.(2)Among the 63 Cytb sequences analyzed,a total of 33 haplotypes were defined,as well as 36 haplotypes of 59 D-loop sequences.A high haplotype diversity but low nucleotide diversity was observed based on genetic diversity data.(3)The genetic distance between 33 haplotypes of Cyt b gene was 0.001-0.022,and 0.003-0.049 occurred between 36 haplotypes in the D-loop.There is a genetic differentiation among the captive populations of N.bengalensis,but more data is needed.A low genetic diversity indicates an urgent attention and conservation actions.