We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Limited mitochondrial DNA variation within South Africa's black rhino ( Diceros bicornis minor) population and implications for management.
- Authors
Anderson-Lederer, Rosalynn M.; Linklater, Wayne L.; Ritchie, Peter A.
- Abstract
The taxonomy of African black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis) remains unresolved. Maintaining levels of genetic diversity and species rescue by reintroduction and restocking requires its resolution. We compared the sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) control region for a total of 101 D. bicornis from three subspecies: D. b. minor, D. b. michaeli and D. b. bicornis. A single unique haplotype was found within the 65 D. b. minor samples from Kwa Zulu- Natal ( KZN) Province, South Africa, 55 of which came from Hluhluwe-i Mfolozi Game Park ( HiP) and Mkuzi Game Reserve ( MGR) source populations. However, six different haplotypes were represented in eleven D. b. minor samples from Zimbabwe. Similarly, published autosomal microsatellite data indicate low levels of diversity within the KZN D. b. minor populations. The low levels of mt DNA diversity within the KZN metapopulation point to the possible need for genetic supplementation. However, there is a need to determine whether the low levels of genetic variation within KZN D. b. minor are a result of the recent bottleneck or whether KZN historically always had low diversity.
- Subjects
AFRICA; BLACK rhinoceros; BIODIVERSITY; MITOCHONDRIAL DNA; HAPLOTYPES; MKUZE Game Reserve (South Africa)
- Publication
African Journal of Ecology, 2012, Vol 50, Issue 4, p404
- ISSN
0141-6707
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2028.2012.01333.x