Using Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) to Detect Fine Structures Within Gorilla Populations

Area of Science:

• Conservation Genetics
• Population Genomics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Knowledge of ancestral origin is vital for endangered species conservation, particularly for maintaining genetic integrity and preventing inbreeding in captive populations.
• The biogeographical affiliation of most captive gorillas remains largely unknown, hindering effective management strategies aimed at maximizing population-level genetic diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and derive the most effective ancestry informative markers (AIMs) for accurately determining the biogeographical affiliation of gorillas.
• To establish a reliable panel of AIMs for gorillas that can facilitate large-scale demographic analyses and enhance conservation efforts.

Main Methods:

• Compared four commonly used AIMs-determining methods: Infocalc, Fst, SmartPCA, and ADMIXTURE, using gorilla genome data.
• Utilized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected by at least three of the four methods (N = 1,531) for gorilla AIM delineation.
• Validated the robustness of the identified AIMs panel using a randomized negative control.

Main Results:

• A panel of 1,531 SNPs, identified by at least three AIMs-determining approaches, proved most suitable for delineating gorilla biogeographical origins.
• The derived AIMs panel accurately recapitulated finer population structure within western lowland gorilla genomes.
• This study reports the first AIMs panel specifically for gorillas, validated for its robustness.

Conclusions:

• The developed AIMs panel offers a cost-effective resource for large-scale demographic analyses crucial for gorilla conservation.
• Accurate determination of ancestral origin through these AIMs will significantly aid in the conservation of this endangered mega-fauna.