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- Title
Is there genetic connectivity among the critically endangered White‐winged Flufftail (<italic>Sarothrura ayresi</italic>) populations from South Africa and Ethiopia?
- Authors
Dalton, Desire L.; Smit‐Robinson, Hanneline A.; Vermaak, Elaine; Jarvis, Erin; Kotze, Antoinette
- Abstract
Abstract: The White‐winged Flufftail (<italic>Sarothrura ayresi</italic>) is known to occur in the highland marshes of Ethiopia, as well as almost 4000 km in South Africa. The White‐winged Flufftail is listed globally as Critically Endangered. In South Africa the population is estimated to be <50 birds. These birds are severely threatened by habitat destruction. Thus far, no genetic studies have been conducted on <italic>S. ayresi</italic> to confirm genetic connectivity between the South African and Ethiopian populations. In this study, analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear markers was conducted for White‐winged Flufftail samples from South African and Ethiopian birds, as well as Red‐chested Flufftail (<italic>Sarothrura rufa</italic>) for species comparison. Analyses of the DNA regions identified three variations between the two populations, supporting the hypothesis that these two populations are not different species or subspecies but are rather one migrating population with different seasonal occupied ranges. However, these results do not exclude the possibility of additional breeding and nonbreeding sites. Low genetic diversity in the populations of White‐winged Flufftails was observed, which needs to be further elucidated with fast evolving co‐dominant markers such as microsatellites, as this low diversity may ultimately contribute to the extinction of the species.
- Subjects
ETHIOPIA; SAROTHRURA ayresi; MARSHES; HABITAT destruction; MITOCHONDRIAL pathology
- Publication
African Journal of Ecology, 2018, Vol 56, Issue 1, p28
- ISSN
0141-6707
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/aje.12414