Microsatellite genotype data for captive and wild Arabian leopards

Genetic diversity underpins evolutionary potential that is essential for the long-term viability of wildlife populations. Captive populations harbour genetic diversity potentially lost in the wild, which could be valuable for release programs and genetic rescue. The Critically Endangered Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) has disappeared from most of its former range across the Arabian Peninsula, with fewer than 120 individuals left in the wild, and an additional 64 leopards in captivity. We (i) examine genetic diversity in the wild and captive populations to identify global patterns of genetic diversity and structure; (ii) estimate the size of the remaining leopard population across the Dhofar mountains of Oman using spatially explicit capture-recapture models on DNA and camera trap data, and (iii) explore the impact of genetic rescue using three complementary computer modelling approaches. We estimated a population size of 51 (95% CI: 32–79) in the Dhofar mountains and found that ..., We identified a set of 65 published polymorphic markers (Menotti-Raymond et al., 1999; Uphyrkina et al., 2001; Williamson et al., 2002; Mondol et al., 2009) and tested their amplification success and extent of polymorphism in Arabian leopards using DNA from three scat samples genetically confirmed to be from leopards in Dhofar. Thirty-five markers successfully amplified during initial PCR trials and were then included in the design of seven multiplex sets (Supplementary Information, Table S2). Multiplex PCRs were performed using fluoro-labelled forward primers to genotype all genetically confirmed leopard samples. Felid-specific PCR primers designed to amplify the amelogenin and zinc-finger regions of y‐chromosome were used to assign individual sex (Pilgrim et al., 2005). All PCR products were genotyped using an Applied Biosystems 3730 DNA Analyser and ROX 500 ROX™ size-standard (DBS Genomics, Durham UK). We used Genemapper v3.7 (Applied Biosystems, UK) to identify and score the alleles..., , # Microsatellite genotype data for captive and wild Arabian leopards

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvrn](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvrn)

## Microsatellite genotype data of wild and captive Arabian leopard individuals:

The microsatellite genotype data was produced using a set of microsatellite markers as per the publication (DOI:10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvrn). A set of eight loci were used for the final genotyping after testing of a larger set of markers. The final set of eight were chosen based on producing clean PCR products, and clean peak profiles during the gene-scanning (using ABI 3730). The sampled individuals are either from the captive-breeding population of leopards (labelled ‘captive’ 17-53 in the data file), or are DNA samples from scat/faecal samples that were collected from across the different mountain ranges of Dohfar (Samham, Qara, Qamar, Nejd). This data comprises genetically different individuals based upon analyses as set out in DOI:10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvr...