Unraveling the Genetic Diversity of Asian Elephants (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) in China: Implications for the Conservation of Asian Elephants.

ABSTRACT: The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), a crucial flagship and umbrella species in forest ecosystems, possesses significant conservation value. However, it has been categorized as endangered due to several factors, including land use change, human disturbance, and climate change. To evaluate the genetic diversity of Chinese Asian elephant populations and provide a scientific basis for the establishment of the Asian Elephant National Park, microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses were conducted on seven populations distributed across Yunnan Province, China. A total of 121 unique genotypes and five mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes were identified. The results revealed that all populations exhibited varying degrees of inbreeding, with the Mengla population showing the highest in

SUBMITTER: Yun X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12617253 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature