Genetic diversity assessment of Camelus ferus based on CYTB gene and D-loop region

The wild camel (Camelus ferus) is a globally endangered species, and China has the largest number of wild camels. To determine the current level of genetic diversity of wild camels in various protected areas in China, we collected 30 samples of wild camel feces or tissue (individuals that had died naturally) from the Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve, the Annanba Reserve, and the Wuwei Endangered Animal Protection Center.

We obtained mitochondrial CYTB and D-loop sequences of the wild camels and conducted various genetic diversity analyses. The level of genetic diversity among the three groups of wild camels was in the order Lop Nur > Wuwei > Annanba. Three phylogenetic tree (NJ, BI, and ML) using the sequences of both genes indicated that the Annanba samples and some individuals from Lop Nur belonged to the same clade.

Our findings reveal a distinct genetic structure among the reserves and underscore that, despite conservation successes in restoring population numbers, targeted genetic management is crucial to mitigate the risks of genetic erosion and preserve the long-term evolutionary potential of this critically endangered species.