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Limited mitochondrial DNA variation within S outh A frica's black rhino ( D iceros bicornis minor ) population and implications for management
Author(s) -
AndersonLederer Rosalynn M.,
Linklater Wayne L.,
Ritchie Peter A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2012.01333.x
Subject(s) - genetic diversity , biology , microsatellite , subspecies , mitochondrial dna , population , haplotype , population bottleneck , genetics , zoology , genotype , gene , allele , medicine , environmental health
The taxonomy of A frican black rhinoceros ( D iceros 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 K wa Z ulu‐ N atal ( KZN ) Province, South Africa, 55 of which came from H luhluwe‐i M folozi G ame P ark ( HiP ) and M kuzi G ame R eserve ( MGR ) source populations. However, six different haplotypes were represented in eleven D . b. minor samples from Z imbabwe. 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.