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- Title
Genetic Variability in Swayne's Hartebeest, an Endangered Antelope of Ethiopia.
- Authors
Flagstad, Øystein; Syvertsen, Per Ole; Stenseth, Nils ChR.; Stacy, John E.; Olsaker, Ingrid; Røed, Knut H.; Jakobsen, Kjetill S.
- Abstract
Swayne's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) is an endangered antelope that survives in four or five relict populations in Ethiopia. We examined the two main populations (Senkele and Nechisar) for mitochondrial (D-loop) and nuclear (microsatellite) variability in order to measure levels of genetic variation within the subspecies and degree of differentiation between populations. For comparison, we examined samples from a large population of red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama). Both swaynei and caama exhibited high levels of variation. There was significant differentiation between the populations of swaynei at Senkele and Nechisar, and gene diversity in Nechisar, the smaller of the two populations, was significantly lower than that in Senkele. Many mitochondrial haplotypes and microsatellite alleles present at high frequencies among the Senkele individuals were missing in Nechisar, suggesting that the translocation of animals from Senkele undertaken in 1974 did not contribute notably to the gene pool in Nechisar. Subsamples taken from Senkele in 1988 and 1995 showed a significant change in allele frequencies, a change that probably can be attributed to a massive population decline during this period. We recommend that both populations be protected in situ to maintain as much as possible of the diversity that exists within the taxon and that a breeding program be established. In spite of the earlier unsuccessful attempt, we argue that translocation of animals for enhancement of population size as well as genetic variation in Nechisar should be considered.
- Subjects
ETHIOPIA; HARTEBEESTS; ANTELOPES; ENDANGERED species; ANIMAL genetics
- Publication
Conservation Biology, 2000, Vol 14, Issue 1, p254
- ISSN
0888-8892
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.98339.x