Landscape genetics, phylogeography and conservation of the okapi (Okapia johnstoni).

这项研究将集中在稀有和神秘的霍加皮的遗传分析上--一种仅在刚果民主共和国发现的中非雨林的有蹄动物。该奖学金将与伦敦动物学会、动物学和保护计划研究所合作开展，该研究所在协调保护这种鲜为人知的旗舰物种方面发挥着主导作用。该项目将侧重于使用非侵入性遗传取样来分析该物种在其分布范围内的遗传结构-详细集中在维龙加和埃普卢的两个地点以及已知存在该物种的其他四个地点，并将结合联合收割机DNA特征分析和对地理参照样本的线粒体DNA测序以及地理信息系统，对该区域的一个物种进行第一次重大景观遗传分析。该研究将包括三个组成部分：1）学生将使用该地区的景观遗传学方法量化维龙加国家公园（VNP）和霍加皮动物保护区（Reserve de la Faune de l 'Okapi：RFO）内的扩散和基因流。我们在伦敦动物学会（Zoological Society of London）的合作者认为，VNP由四个孤立的种群组成，由Semliki河和Mbau-Kamango路分隔，也可能与RFO有人口统计学联系。该物种的遗传结构将被绘制成地图，以描述景观特征如何影响这些保护区内和保护区之间的种群进程。这一信息将使最大限度地保护这一旗舰分类群的可行种群的潜力。2）目前我们对霍加皮的基本生态学的知识存在很大的差距。学生将使用VNP和RFO中的非侵入性遗传方法研究扩散和范围大小。通过使用DNA图谱，包括对样本进行性别鉴定，还将估计保护区内孤立种群的种群规模和密度。3)学生将试图重建整个物种在刚果民主共和国的范围内霍加皮的进化历史。大规模的人口结构和过去的人口过程将被调查，以推断该物种的地理和人口历史。目前的遗传多样性估计也将首次在整个范围内进行。

This studentship will focus on genetic analysis of the rare and enigmatic okapi - a range restricted ungulate of the central African rainforest found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The studentship will be carried out in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London's, Institute of Zooology and Conservation Programmes department, which is playing a leading role in coordinating conservation efforts for this surprisingly poorly known flagship species. The project will focus on using non-invasive genetic sampling to analyse the genetic structure of this species across its range - concentrating in detail on two sites at Virunga and Epulu and on four other sites where the species is known to be present, and will combine DNA profiling and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA for georeferenced samples and GIS to carry out the first major landscape genetics analysis for a species in this region. The study will comprise three components: 1) The student will quantify dispersal and gene-flow within Virunga National Park (VNP) and the Okapi Faunal Reserve (Reserve de la Faune de l'Okapi: RFO) using a landscape genetics approach for the region. Our collaborators at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) believe that VNP comprises four isolated populations, divided by the Semliki River and the Mbau-Kamango road and may also be demographically connected with RFO. The genetic structure of this species will be mapped to describe how landscape features are influencing population processes within and among these protected areas. This information will allow the maximization of the potential for conserving viable populations of this flagship taxon. 2) Large gaps currently exist in our knowledge of the basic ecology of okapi. The student will study dispersal and range size using non-invasive genetic methods within VNP and RFO. By using DNA profiles, including sexing of samples, population size and density will also be estimated for isolated populations within the reserves. 3) The student will attempt to reconstruct the evolutionary history of okapi throughout the species' range in the DRC. Large-scale population structure and past demographic processes will be investigated, to infer the biogeographic and demographic history of this species. Present day genetic diversity estimates will also be carried out for the first time throughout the range.