Genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area

dc.contributor.authorTensen, Laura
dc.contributor.authorGroom, R.J. (Rosemary)
dc.contributor.authorVan Belkom, Joep
dc.contributor.authorDavies-Mostert, Harriet T.
dc.contributor.authorMarnewick, Kelly
dc.contributor.authorJansen van Vuuren, Bettine J.
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-26T09:43:43Z
dc.date.issued2016-08
dc.description.abstractThe Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) is one of the last refuges for the endangered African wild dog and hosts roughly one-tenth of the global population. Wild dogs in this area are currently threatened by human encroachment, habitat fragmentation and scarcity of suitable connecting habitat between protected areas. We derived genetic data from mitochondrial and nuclear markers to test the following hypotheses: (i) demographic declines in wild dogs have caused a loss of genetic variation, and (ii) Zimbabwean and South African populations in the GLTFCA have diverged due to the effects of isolation and genetic drift. Genetic patterns among five populations, taken with comparisons to known information, illustrate that allelic richness and heterozygosity have been lost over time, presumably due to effects of inbreeding and genetic drift. Genetic structuring has occurred due to low dispersal rates, which was most apparent between Kruger National Park and the Zimbabwean Lowveld. Immediate strategies to improve gene flow should focus on increasing the quality of habitat corridors between reserves in the GLTFCA and securing higher wild dog survival rates in unprotected areas, with human-mediated translocation only undertaken as a last resort.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentCentre for Wildlife Managementen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2017-08-28
dc.description.librarianhb2016en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Spectrum facility at the University of Johannesburg as well as the South African National Research Facility (NRF).en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://link.springer.com/journal/12686en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationTensen, L, Groom, RJ, Van Belkom, J, Davies-Mostert, HT, Marnewick, K & Jansen van Vuuren, B 2016, 'Genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area', Conservation Genetics, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 785-794.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1877-7252 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1877-7260 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s10592-016-0821-x
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/52163
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherSpringeren_ZA
dc.rights© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016. The original publication is available at : http://link.springer.comjournal/12686.en_ZA
dc.subjectCarnivoreen_ZA
dc.subjectDispersalen_ZA
dc.subjectGene flowen_ZA
dc.subjectHabitat fragmentationen_ZA
dc.subjectPhylogeographyen_ZA
dc.subjectSouthern Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectTransfrontier conservation areasen_ZA
dc.subjectGreater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA)en_ZA
dc.titleGenetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Areaen_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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