Genetic diversity of The Chinkara, or the Indian gazelle (Gazella bennettii)

Presented by :

Panchali Das

Stream- Genetics

B.Sc. 3rd year

To know about the Chinkara.

To know about some species of

the Chinkara.

To know the status of the Chinkara

in the world.

To know about their diversity in the

genetic level.

Objective

About Rajasthan

Rajasthan -"The land of kings“.

Largest state of the Republic of India by area.

Located in the northwest of India.

Capital -Jaipur ,largest city of the state.

Covers 10.4% of India, an area of 342,239 square kilometres

(132,139 sq mi).

Fauna of Rajasthan

Pea cock Tiger

Camel

Chinkara

Black buck

Imperial Eagle

Panther

Flora Of Rajasthan

Peepal (Ficus religlora)

Babul (Acacia nilotica)

Anwal (Cassia auriculata)

Khejri (Prosopiscineria)

Cactus (Cactaceae)

National Parks and Sanctuaries in Rajasthan

S.No Name of National Parks/

Wild Life Sanctuary

District Area(Sq.km.)

1 Keoladeo National Park Bharatpur 28.73

2 Ranthambore National

Park

Sawai Madhopur 392.50

3 Bassi WL Sanctuary Chittorgarh 138.69

4 Desert WL Sanctuary Barmer, Jaisalmer 3,162.00

5Jaisamand WL

SanctuaryUdaipur 52.34

6Mount Abu WL

SanctuarySirohi 112.98

7

Sariska WL Sanctuary Alwar 557.50

Ranthambore National Park

Located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan.

Spread over an area of 1,334 sq km.

Ranthambore became a national park in 1980.

Famous for its Tigers.

Vegetation in the park is mostly of the dry deciduous type.

Temperature lies between, summer 23°C to 45°C, winter 4°C to 32°C.

Best Season: From November to March

Closed: Monsoon season (July - August)

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given

species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.

• Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems.

BIODIVERSITY

GENETIC

DIVERSITY

SPECIES

DIVERSITY

ECOSYSTEM

DIVERSITY

Total number

of genetic

characteristics in the

genetic makeup of a

species

Effective number of

different species that are

represented in a collection

of individuals (a dataset)

Diversity of a place at

the level

of ecosystems

Introduction To Chinkara

The Chinkara, or Indian gazelle, (Gazella bennettii) is a

species of gazelle found in south Asia.

Characterized by a sandy, yellowish and red colored fur with a pale

white ventral region.

They have straight horns with prominent rings and tips that are

slightly out-turned

Horns are found on both males and females, although they are

relatively shorter in females. Usually male weighs around 23kgs & female weighs around 15-

18kgs.

It is preyed upon by leopards and dholes, and was a common prey

item of the Asiatic cheetah.

Scientific Classification of Chinkara

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Bovidae

Genus: GazellaSpecies:

bennettii

Genus GAZELLA & It’s Species

Gazzella is widely considered to contain about 7 species &

2 extinct species.

Species-

Cuvier’s gazelle

Dorcas gazelle

Goitered gazelle

Indian gazelle or

Chinkara

Rhim gazelle

Mountain gazelle

Speke’s gazelle

Recent extinct species of Gazelle –Arabian gazelle (Gazella arabica)

&Saudi gazelle

(Gazella saudiya)

ARABIAN GAZELLE

SAUDI GAZELLE

Behavior of CHINKARA

Shy animal.

Avoids human habitation

Stay as far from human settlement as

possible.

Indian Gazelles can run at great speeds

ranging from 50 to 60 Kms.

Roaming alone.

Or in small groups, up to 4 animals.

Survive without water for days at a stretch.

Common habitats of Chinkara

Distribution

It lives in grassland, desert areas and rainforest in India, Bangladeshand parts of Iran and Pakistan.

Widely distributed in India , being present in 9 states:

Rajasthan

Madhya Pradesh

Gujrat

Uttar Pradesh

Haryana

Bihar

Karnataka

Andhra Pradesh

Maharashtra

Groups of Chinkara never exceeded beyond 6 individuals in eitherseason.

Diet and Feeding Of Chinkara

Diet in Wild:

Grasses

Green leaves

Buds of flowers & fruits such as pumpkins and melons.

Majority of their metabolic water intake comes from the

vegetation they consume.

It can go without water for long periods and can get

sufficient fluids from plants and dew.

Mating Behaviour

Do not have specific time for breeding.

Though Autumn and Spring season are preferred as mating

period.

Mating System : Polygynandrous (promiscuous).

Mating begins as a male gazelle touches the under parts of a

female gazelle with a stiff leg, called “laufschlag”.

When complete, copulation ensues.

Gestation lasts for 5-6 months and females give birth to 1 or

2 young ones.

Subspecies of Chinkara

1. Gazella bennetti bennettii

2. Gazella bennetti chiristii

3. Gazella bennetti fusciforms

4. Gazella bennetti karamii

5. Gazella bennetti salinarum

6. Gazella bennetti shikarii

Gazella bennetti bennetti

Tawany colored with

contrastingly lighter haunces

and legs.

Darker brown-red in

middle of back, and region of

lower flank-stripe the same

colour, with a duller zone

between.

From the Ganges valley

and the Deccan.

Gazella bennetti chiristii

Much paler, silvery drab brown.

Very short haired.

From Desert country of Rajasthan and Gujrat.

Gazella bennetti fusciforms

Long coated, grey-sandy.

Flank-band, nearly obsolete.

Female has especially long horns.

From Southeast Iran and Pakistan west of the Indus.

Gazella bennetti shikarii

Larger in size.

Long horned in male, female smaller.

Colour is rich tobacco-brown, underside whiter.

From Salt range, Punjab.

Phylogenetic tree of Chinkara

Antilopinae

Phylogenetic tree of sub species Antilopinae

Chinkara (Indian gazelle)

The genetic adaptation of Chinkara:

The Indian gazelle is extremely fast & the leopard is

even faster. These traits are adaptational characteristics

or behaviors that give a gazelle an edge in the struggle

for survival.

Also by following the two stages of adaptation- random

variation & natural selection , the Leopard has become

faster.

Random variation results from sligth genetic difference

both in case of Leopard & Chinkara.

Genetic Diversity of Chinkara

Genetic Diversity of Chinkara (cont..)

Both of their offspring will have the same gene, that

influence the speed. As the population of leopard become

faster, there is now a selection pressure on gazelles to

become more & more faster.

Therefore we may say that the Chinkara have become faster

through evolution & the gene it carries inside will survive as

well & will be transmitted to the next generation.

As generation pass, good gene become more frequent in

gene pool of Indian gazelle.

Genetic diversity of Chinkara (cont..)

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 of Gazelle bennetti (Chinkara):

• Protein name:Recommended name Cytochrome c oxidassubunit 3 Alternative name(s) Cytochrome c oxidase polypeptide III .

• Gene names:Name: MT-CO3Synonyms: COIII, COXIII, MTCO3• Organism:Gazella bennettii (Chinkara)• Taxonomic identifier: [69300]NCBI

PROTEIN ATTRIBUTES: • Sequence length:261 AA.• Sequence status: complete• Protein existence: inferred from homologyGENERAL ANNOTATION:Function :Subunits I, II and III form the functional core of the enzyme

complex.

Genetic diversity of Chinkara (cont..)

• Subcellular location:Mitochondrion inner membrane; Multi-passmembrane protein.

• Sequence similarity: Belongs to the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 family.

ONTOLOGY:• Cellular components: Membrane

MitochondrionMitochondrion inner membrane

• Domain: Transmembrane

• Biological process: mitochondrial electron transport,cytochrome c to oxygen.

• Cellular component: integral to membranemitochondrial inner membrane.

• Molecular function: Cytochrome c oxidase activity.

Genetic diversity of Chinkara (cont..)

• Sequence Length Mass (Da)Tools • P68531-1 [UniParc]. FASTA26129,886

• Last modified November 23, 2004. Version 1. 10 20 30 40 50 60

MTHQTHAYHM VNPSPWPLTG ALSALLMTS LIMWFHFNST TLLMLGLTTN MLTMYQWWRD

70 80 90 100 110 120

VIRESTFQGH HTPNVQKGLR YGMILFIISE VLFFTGFFWA FYHSSLAPTP ELGGCWPPTG

130 140 150 160 170 180

IHPLNPLEVP LLNTSVLLAS GVSITWAHHS LMEGNRNHML QALFITIALG VYFTLLQASE

190 200 210 220 230 240 YYEAPFTISD GVYGSTFFVA TGFHGLHVII GSTFLIVCFF RQLKFHFTSS HHFGFEAAAW

250 260YWHFVDVVWL FLYVSIYWWG S

Chromosomal Evolution in Gazelles

The chromosomes of nine gazelle species and two other

antilopinae species (antidorcas marsupialis and antilope

cervicapra) were prepared from fibroblast cultures.

G- and C-band karyotypes were constructed, and when

possible, autosomal arms were numbered according to

the cattle standard karyotype.

Diploid chromosome numbers ranged from 30 to 58 .

Therefore evolution in this genus could have occurred

mainly by speciation following monobrachial

homoeology of centric fusions.

Chromosomal Evolution in Gazelles (cont.)

X to autosome translocations were common in

the whole genus.

This phylogenetic reconstruction confirms most

of the taxonomic relationships obtained by

morphological analyses for this group of

species including Gazella bennetti..

Comparative Genetics

Diversity in total number of chromosome of Chinkara

with other gazelle species:

The interesting feature of other species in genus gazelle is that,

their widely varying chromosome number.

In CHINKARA (Gazella bennetti) 2n=49 (female) 52 (male)

In DORCAS GAZELLE 2n= 30 (female) 31 (male)

In THOMSON’S GAZELLE 2n=58

In SAUDI GAZELLE 2n=47(female) 51(male)

Therefore this is one of the major GENETIC DIVERSITY of

Chinkara with other species around the world, though they belong

to the same genus.

Comparative Genetics

MALE & FEMALE KARYOTYPE OFA PERSIAN GAZELLE(G.s.subgutturosa

Interesting Facts

In 1998, an Indian

film star, Salman

Khan, was charged

with hunting

Chinkara.

A young / baby

of a Indian

gazelle is called

a 'calf'.

The alert nature of

Chinkara helps

them to get hunted

from the predators

like Hunters,

Cheetah, etc.

Indian Gazelle

(Chinkara) is

known as the

state animal of

Rajasthan in

India.

In 1994 the species was considered

vulnerable.

In 1996 Gazella bennettii was

considered a species of lower risk.

Major Threat(s) of Chinkara

Indiscriminate hunting and habitat loss.

Hunted for meat and to a lesser degree for trophies.

Habitat loss through-

Overgrazing

Conversion to agriculture

Industrial development.

Conservation Status of Chinkara

Considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Indian country has enacted laws against killing of Gazelles.

In the North Western parts of the Indian country, people called as Bishnoi community protect this animal for their religious reason.

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) (A Bishnoi priest feeding a Chinkara)

Conclusion

Chinkara is a slender and graceful deer.

Although from IUCN red data book it has been found

that Gazella bennetti (Chinkara),belongs to the category

of least concerned but it is our duty to be concerned

about the fact of conservation of Chinkara in India

because not only Leopard is the enemy of Chinkara, also

human being are major threat to them.

Let us save Chinkara from extinction.

References

http://www.ecoindia.com/mammals/chinkara

http://www.iloveindia.com/wildlife/indian-wild-

animals/chinkara/indian gazella.html

http://www.wildlywise.com/chinkara.htm.

Prater, S. H. 1971 The Book of Indian Animals. Oxford

University Press, 2005 reprint.

Thank you!!