Abstract: Based on the analysis of 12 microsatellite loci, the genetic diversity of the small isolated population of the Dalmatian pelican (   Pelecanus crispus ) was studied in Shanghai Zoo. The results showed that the polymorphism information content was 0.60±0.15， which demonstrated a high degree of allelic variation of the population. The observed heterozygosity was 0.36±0.15, which indicated that the population genetic variation had been low, and the inbreeding occurred in the isolated population. The results of clustering analysis showed the 26 individuals could be separated into 11 clusters when the coefficients were 0.77. One cluster contained of 16 individuals which were pure Dalmatian pelican, and the others were crossed with the Great White pelican (P. onocrotalus) to some extent. It should be taken effective genetic management in order to achieve the sustainable development of isolated pelican population in the Zoo.

Key words: Pelecanus crispus, microsatellite, inbreeding, population genetic management