Scientific publications
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Scientific publications
Alain Din Dipita* (Corresponding author)
Other affiliations: Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · University of Douala · Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement · Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement
Samantha Aguillon
Other affiliations: Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement · Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement
Émilie Lecompte
Other affiliations: Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement · Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement
Philippe Gaubert* (Corresponding author)
Other affiliations: Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées · Universidade do Porto · Géosciences Environnement Toulouse · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement · Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement
Alain Didier Missoup* (Corresponding author)
Maurice Tindo
Brice Roxan Momboua
Other affiliations: National Agency for National Parks
Stéphan Ntie
Anne‐Lise Chaber
Katharine Abernethy
Other affiliations: Institut Africain d'Informatique
Scientific Reports
The white-bellied pangolin is subject to intense trafficking, feeding both local and international trade networks. In order to assess its population genetics and trace its domestic trade, we genotyped 562 pangolins from local to large bushmeat markets in western central Africa. We show that the two lineages described from the study region (WCA and Gab) were overlapping in ranges, with limited introgression in southern Cameroon. There was a lack of genetic differentiation across WCA and a significant signature of isolation-by-distance possibly due to unsuspected dispersal capacities involving a Wahlund effect. We detected a c. 74.1-82.5% decline in the effective population size of WCA during the Middle Holocene. Private allele frequency tracing approach indicated up to 600 km sourcing distance by large urban markets from Cameroon, including Equatorial Guinea. The 20 species-specific microsatellite loci provided individual-level genotyping resolution and should be considered as valuable resources for future forensic applications. Because admixture was detected between lineages, we recommend a multi-locus approach for tracing the pangolin trade. The Yaoundé market was the main hub of the trade in the region, and thus should receive specific monitoring to mitigate pangolins' domestic trafficking. Our study also highlighted the weak implementation of CITES regulations at European borders.