Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A central question in the evolutionary diversification of large, widespread, mobile mammals is how substantial differentiation can arise, particularly in the absence of topographic or habitat barriers to dispersal. All extant giraffe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2007-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Biology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/5/57 |
| _version_ | 1828523671072800768 |
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| author | Grether Gregory F Louis Edward E Georgiadis Nicholas J Milá Borja Pollinger John P Koepfli Klaus-Peter Brenneman Rick A Brown David M Jacobs David K Wayne Robert K |
| author_facet | Grether Gregory F Louis Edward E Georgiadis Nicholas J Milá Borja Pollinger John P Koepfli Klaus-Peter Brenneman Rick A Brown David M Jacobs David K Wayne Robert K |
| author_sort | Grether Gregory F |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A central question in the evolutionary diversification of large, widespread, mobile mammals is how substantial differentiation can arise, particularly in the absence of topographic or habitat barriers to dispersal. All extant giraffes (<it>Giraffa camelopardalis</it>) are currently considered to represent a single species classified into multiple subspecies. However, geographic variation in traits such as pelage pattern is clearly evident across the range in sub-Saharan Africa and abrupt transition zones between different pelage types are typically not associated with extrinsic barriers to gene flow, suggesting reproductive isolation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By analyzing mitochondrial DNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite loci, we show that there are at least six genealogically distinct lineages of giraffe in Africa, with little evidence of interbreeding between them. Some of these lineages appear to be maintained in the absence of contemporary barriers to gene flow, possibly by differences in reproductive timing or pelage-based assortative mating, suggesting that populations usually recognized as subspecies have a long history of reproductive isolation. Further, five of the six putative lineages also contain genetically discrete populations, yielding at least 11 genetically distinct populations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Such extreme genetic subdivision within a large vertebrate with high dispersal capabilities is unprecedented and exceeds that of any other large African mammal. Our results have significant implications for giraffe conservation, and imply separate <it>in situ </it>and <it>ex situ </it>management, not only of pelage morphs, but also of local populations.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:32:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3db28479d1a04628bf7c96431feb61aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1741-7007 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:32:01Z |
| publishDate | 2007-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3db28479d1a04628bf7c96431feb61aa2022-12-22T00:51:47ZengBMCBMC Biology1741-70072007-12-01515710.1186/1741-7007-5-57Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffeGrether Gregory FLouis Edward EGeorgiadis Nicholas JMilá BorjaPollinger John PKoepfli Klaus-PeterBrenneman Rick ABrown David MJacobs David KWayne Robert K<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A central question in the evolutionary diversification of large, widespread, mobile mammals is how substantial differentiation can arise, particularly in the absence of topographic or habitat barriers to dispersal. All extant giraffes (<it>Giraffa camelopardalis</it>) are currently considered to represent a single species classified into multiple subspecies. However, geographic variation in traits such as pelage pattern is clearly evident across the range in sub-Saharan Africa and abrupt transition zones between different pelage types are typically not associated with extrinsic barriers to gene flow, suggesting reproductive isolation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By analyzing mitochondrial DNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite loci, we show that there are at least six genealogically distinct lineages of giraffe in Africa, with little evidence of interbreeding between them. Some of these lineages appear to be maintained in the absence of contemporary barriers to gene flow, possibly by differences in reproductive timing or pelage-based assortative mating, suggesting that populations usually recognized as subspecies have a long history of reproductive isolation. Further, five of the six putative lineages also contain genetically discrete populations, yielding at least 11 genetically distinct populations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Such extreme genetic subdivision within a large vertebrate with high dispersal capabilities is unprecedented and exceeds that of any other large African mammal. Our results have significant implications for giraffe conservation, and imply separate <it>in situ </it>and <it>ex situ </it>management, not only of pelage morphs, but also of local populations.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/5/57 |
| spellingShingle | Grether Gregory F Louis Edward E Georgiadis Nicholas J Milá Borja Pollinger John P Koepfli Klaus-Peter Brenneman Rick A Brown David M Jacobs David K Wayne Robert K Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe BMC Biology |
| title | Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe |
| title_full | Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe |
| title_fullStr | Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe |
| title_short | Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe |
| title_sort | extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/5/57 |
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