Evaluation of the Impact of Population Management on the Genetic Parameters of Selected Spiral-Horned Antelopes

Abstract

The rapid loss of biodiversity and the associated reduction and fragmentation of habitats means that ex situ populations have become an important part of species conservation. These populations, which are often established from a small number of founders, require careful management to avoid the negative effects of genetic drift and inbreeding. Although the inclusion of molecular data is recommended, their availability for captive breeding management remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the levels of genetic diversity in six spiral-horned antelope taxa bred under human care and their respective management strategies, conservation status, demography, and geographic origin, using 10 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci and mitochondrial control region DNA sequences. Our findings include associations between genetic diversity and management intensity but also with the diversity and contribution of wild populations to captive founders, with some populations apparently composed of animals from divergent wild lineages elevating captive genetic diversity. When population sizes are large, the potential advantages of maximizing genetic diversity in widely outcrossed populations may need careful consideration with respect to the potential disruption of adaptive diversity. Genetic data serve as a robust tool for managing captive populations, yet their interpretation necessitates a comprehensive understanding of species biology and history.

Keywords: Tragelaphini; ex situ management; genetic diversity; zoo populations.

Figure 1

TCS haplotype networks for (a) the mountain bongo, (b) the nyala, (c) the sitatunga, (d) the lesser kudu, (e) the greater kudu, and (f) the common eland, including samples from this study and sequences downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) nucleotide database. Geographic origin of the sequences is depicted through the different colors. The size of the circles is proportional to the number of sequences of the given haplotypes, mutation steps are indicated through hatch marks, and the length of lines is proportional to the number of mutation steps. Cases where proportionality could not be maintained are indicated through dotted lines.