Genetic Assessment of the Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) for Its Conservation Implications

概要

The Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) has been listed as ‘endangered’ in the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 2008. The species distribution range has shrunk and left
only some remnant populations at the Thailand-Myanmar border to the west of Thailand, in ThailandMalay Peninsula, and on Sumatran, with a global estimated population size of < 2,500 mature
individuals and an estimated > 150 individuals in captivity. Despite this, little is known about the genetic
status of the Malayan tapir over the globe. Hence, the purpose of this thesis was to conduct a genetic
assessment of this endangered fauna in Southeast Asia (SEA) and its captive population in Japan to
deepen our understanding of the genetic makeup of their population in the wild as well as the captivity.
The main aim of this research is to provide useful insights into the genetic status of the Malayan tapir
through genetic and genomic approaches while providing conservation managers tools and data for the
betterment of the species conservation management program, both in-situ and ex-situ, around the world.
The research attempted to answer research questions on the levels of genetic diversity and population
genetic structure (including sex-biased dispersal) in SEA and the Japanese captive population, the
historical and contemporary effective population size and population split time of the tapir populations
in SEA, and how the conservation management strategies of the Malayan tapir can be improved via a
genetic perspective obtained from this research. ...