Premium
Assessment of conservation units for the Sumatran rhinoceros ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis )
Author(s) -
Amato George,
Wharton Dan,
Zainuddin Zainal Z.,
Powell Jeffery R.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.1430140502
Subject(s) - biology , rhinoceros , endangered species , population , zoology , mitochondrial dna , critically endangered , lineage (genetic) , captive breeding , evolutionary biology , ecology , fishery , genetics , demography , sociology , habitat , gene
An assessment of conservation units for the Sumatran rhinoceros ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis ) was conducted using a population aggregation analysis (PAA) of mitochondrial DNA site substitutions. Populations were defined as the three geographically separated regions of West Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. The intent of this assessment was to explore management options for this highly endangered lineage rather than conduct a traditional taxonomic revision. Individual DNA positions were not diagnostic for any population. A single haplotype provided a character as support for diagnosing the West Malaysian and Bornean population. The haplotypes on West Malaysia and Sumatra were more similar to each other than either was to the one on Borneo. These data, and a review of the morphological characters, support the option of treating Sumatran rhinos as a single conservation unit, providing managers with greater flexibility in managing the unique Dicerorhine lineage. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.