New DNA study provides critical information on conserving rainforest
lizards

Date:
August 2, 2021
Source:
University of Washington
Summary:
Researchers have provided an important road map to conserving
rough-nosed horned lizards in Sri Lanka.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A study published June 16 in Biotropicaby a team of researchers at the University of Washington, the UW Burke Museum of Natural History and
Culture, WWF Hong Kong and the University of Colombo has provided an
important road map to conserving rough-nosed horned lizards in Sri Lanka.


========================================================================== Rough-nosed horned lizards, or Ceratophora aspera, are small lizards
that live in Sri Lankan rainforests and aren't found anywhere else in
the world.

Characterized by the prominent horn in males, rough-nosed horned lizards
live in moist, humid microhabitats in rainforests and palm groves. These lizards are particularly well-suited to understand the consequences of rainforest habitat destruction, climate change and the pet trade, as they
are found throughout the lowland rainforests of Southwestern Sri Lanka. By analyzing the certain types of mutations in the genome of these lizards,
the team was able to determine how geography and historical events impact
the distribution of the remaining wild populations of rough-nosed horned lizards. Recent UW graduate Shanelle Wikramanayake led the study as part
of her undergraduate work, and is now completing her master's degree at California State University, Northridge.

The team acquired DNA from the rough-nosed horned lizards by a catch-and- release approach of capturing wild lizards and taking tissue samples
from the tips of their tails before releasing them back to the wild,
which minimizes stress to the animals. Samples were taken across eight
forests representing four forest groups from July through September 2018
and 2019, respectively. The remaining tissue samples will be housed along
with photos of the lizards at the Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences at the University of Colombo. In addition, the DNA analysis
from the team's work is also available online, where the samples and
analysis are available for other researchers around the globe to study.

In addition to habitat destruction, nonnative species like cats and
chickens eat these lizards, causing further harm to them and other prey animals. The team recommends a conservation strategy that considers the population structure, history and ecology of rough-nosed horned lizards
to preserve genetic diversity.

The results from the DNA analysis found rough-nosed horned lizards
are separated by distance into four forest groups: Southern Lowlands, Sabaragamuwa Hills, Central Highlands and Kithulgala. With the Sri Lankan government pledging to restore rainforest habitats, the results from the
study can help inform guidelines for forest landscape restoration. For
example, the similarities in populations and close geographic proximity
between the lizards living in the Hiyare and Kottawa forest reserves
in the Southern Lowlands forest group is a great candidate for habitat restoration. The two populations could be reconnected, increasing the
chances for interbreeding, which could result in a stronger gene pool
for future generations and less vulnerability to extinction.

"I hope this study brings attention to the unique and obscure biodiversity
in the rainforests of Sri Lanka that require urgent conservation action,"
said Wikramanayake. "It's important to consider the genetic diversity
in populations across their range when looking at conservation planning
and strategies. This principle should also be considered in other forest ecosystems, where conservationists are planning restoration and habitat connectivity at landscape scales." In addition to these lizards, the researchers are currently considering extending this work to other animals
and other regions of Sri Lanka of high conservation value. In Sri Lanka, approximately 14% of mammals, 6.5% of birds, 75% of reptiles and 29%
of flowering plant species aren't found anywhere else in the world. The
methods of DNA analysis in this study not only inform conservation
planning in Sri Lanka, but they also can be applied to species living
in other rainforests that are at risk, including Madagascar, Borneo and
the Amazon.

"I am proud and impressed with the hard work and passion
that Shanelle Wikramanayake put into her project,"
said Adam Leache', UW biology professor and Burke Museum
curator of herpetology and genetic resources. "The Burke
Museum is lucky to recruit such amazing undergraduates." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Washington. Original
written by Andrea Godinez. Note: Content may be edited for style and
length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Shanelle A. Wikramanayake, Eric D. Wikramanayake, Nirmalie
Pallewatta,
Adam D. Leach�. Integration of genetic structure into
conservation of an endangered, endemic lizard, Ceratophora aspera A
case study from Sri Lanka. Biotropica, 2021; DOI: 10.1111/btp.12970 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210802160707.htm

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