Genetic diversity of lion populations in Kenya: Evaluating past management practices and recommendations for future conservation actions.

ABSTRACT: The decline of lions (Panthera leo) in Kenya has raised conservation concerns about their overall population health and long-term survival. This study aimed to assess the genetic structure, differentiation and diversity of lion populations in the country, while considering the influence of past management practices. Using a lion-specific Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) panel, we genotyped 171 individuals from 12 populations representative of areas with permanent lion presence. Our results revealed a distinct genetic pattern with pronounced population structure, confirmed a north-south split and found no indication of inbreeding in any of the tested populations. Differentiation seems to be primarily driven by geographical barriers, human presence and climatic factors, but manage

SUBMITTER: Chege M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10950092 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature