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Genetic structure analysis of a highly inbred captive population of the African antelope Addax nasomaculatus . Conservation and management implications
Author(s) -
Armstrong E.,
Leizagoyen C.,
Martínez A.M.,
González S.,
Delgado J.V.,
Postiglioni A.
Publication year - 2010
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.20341
Subject(s) - biology , inbreeding , captive breeding , microsatellite , population , genetic diversity , zoology , effective population size , locus (genetics) , endangered species , allele , evolutionary biology , genetic variation , ecology , genetics , demography , sociology , habitat , gene
The African antelope Addax nasomaculatus is a rare mammal at high risk of extinction, with no more than 300 individuals in the wild and 1,700 captive animals distributed in zoos around the world. In this work, we combine genetic data and genealogical information to assess the structure and genetic diversity of a captive population located at Parque Lecocq Zoo ( N =27), originated from only two founders. We amplified 39 microsatellites previously described in other Artiodactyls but new to this species. Seventeen markers were polymorphic, with 2–4 alleles per locus (mean=2.71). Mean expected heterozygosity (He) per locus was between 0.050 (marker ETH3) and 0.650 (marker D5S2), with a global He of 0.43. The mean inbreeding coefficient of the population computed from pedigree records of all registered individuals ( N =53) was 0.222. The mean coancestry of the population was 0.298 and F IS index was −0.108. These results reflect the importance of an adequate breeding management on a severely bottlenecked captive population, which would benefit by the incorporation of unrelated individuals. Thanks to the successful amplification of a large number of microsatellites commonly used in domestic bovids, this study will provide useful information for the management of this population and serve as future reference for similar studies in other captive populations of this species. Zoo Biol 30:399–411, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.