Trends in demography, genetics, and social structure of Przewalski’s horses in the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary over the last 22 years
The world population of Przewalski’s horses has recovered from very few survivors, and is still categorized as “Endangered” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. For this reason, the maintenance of genetically valuable populations is highly important. The 3000 ha Pentezug Reserve in Hortobagy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989420309483 |
| _version_ | 1818573302764929024 |
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| author | Viola Kerekes István Sándor Dorina Nagy Katalin Ozogány Loránd Göczi Benjamin Ibler Lajos Széles Zoltán Barta |
| author_facet | Viola Kerekes István Sándor Dorina Nagy Katalin Ozogány Loránd Göczi Benjamin Ibler Lajos Széles Zoltán Barta |
| author_sort | Viola Kerekes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The world population of Przewalski’s horses has recovered from very few survivors, and is still categorized as “Endangered” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. For this reason, the maintenance of genetically valuable populations is highly important. The 3000 ha Pentezug Reserve in Hortobagy National Park, Hungary, was home to 270 Przewalski’s horses at the end of 2018, approximately 30% of the total European population. In this study, we show the main changes in demographic, genetic, and social characteristics of the population since the establishment of the reserve in 1997. The first years clearly demonstrated that the steppe ecosystem and the wetlands in this area were ideal for the population. We observed that the growing number of individuals affected the total number of harems, but not the average size of the harems. Remarkably, a new phenomenon, herd formation, also appeared. The number of foals per year increased for 17 years (the zenith was in 2014, N = 60 per year) then started to decrease due to both non-human factors (e.g. delay in female fecundity and decreasing foaling rate) and human intervention (e.g. immunocontraception treatment). The total number of horses peaked in 2017 (N = 328) and in 2018 decreased (N = 276) due to decreasing foaling rate, exports, and a population crash. The inbreeding coefficient increased slightly after 2012, while gene diversity stabilized at a relatively high value. Today many individuals from this well-monitored population can be found in Russia and Mongolia. Collectively, understanding of the social structure and mechanisms of population self-control in Przewalski’s horses is improved by our observations. From a population management point of view, our study highlights the importance of human interventions for birth-control and interactions between Przewalski’s horse projects in different countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:09:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d99bcf7097ed4a79b2121ed3c87825ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:09:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-d99bcf7097ed4a79b2121ed3c87825ff2022-12-21T22:42:38ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942021-01-0125e01407Trends in demography, genetics, and social structure of Przewalski’s horses in the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary over the last 22 yearsViola Kerekes0István Sándor1Dorina Nagy2Katalin Ozogány3Loránd Göczi4Benjamin Ibler5Lajos Széles6Zoltán Barta7Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary; Hortobágy National Park Directorate, Sumen utca. 2, H-4024, Debrecen, Hungary; Corresponding author. Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary.Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, Állatkerti Krt. 6-12, H-1146, Budapest, HungaryHortobágy National Park Directorate, Sumen utca. 2, H-4024, Debrecen, HungaryDepartment of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, HungaryDepartment of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, HungaryAdalbertStifter-Weg 1, D-92245, Kümmersbruck, GermanyDepartment of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, HungaryDepartment of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary; MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Debrecen, Hungary; Corresponding authorThe world population of Przewalski’s horses has recovered from very few survivors, and is still categorized as “Endangered” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. For this reason, the maintenance of genetically valuable populations is highly important. The 3000 ha Pentezug Reserve in Hortobagy National Park, Hungary, was home to 270 Przewalski’s horses at the end of 2018, approximately 30% of the total European population. In this study, we show the main changes in demographic, genetic, and social characteristics of the population since the establishment of the reserve in 1997. The first years clearly demonstrated that the steppe ecosystem and the wetlands in this area were ideal for the population. We observed that the growing number of individuals affected the total number of harems, but not the average size of the harems. Remarkably, a new phenomenon, herd formation, also appeared. The number of foals per year increased for 17 years (the zenith was in 2014, N = 60 per year) then started to decrease due to both non-human factors (e.g. delay in female fecundity and decreasing foaling rate) and human intervention (e.g. immunocontraception treatment). The total number of horses peaked in 2017 (N = 328) and in 2018 decreased (N = 276) due to decreasing foaling rate, exports, and a population crash. The inbreeding coefficient increased slightly after 2012, while gene diversity stabilized at a relatively high value. Today many individuals from this well-monitored population can be found in Russia and Mongolia. Collectively, understanding of the social structure and mechanisms of population self-control in Przewalski’s horses is improved by our observations. From a population management point of view, our study highlights the importance of human interventions for birth-control and interactions between Przewalski’s horse projects in different countries.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989420309483Equus ferus przewalskiiConservation managementHaremHome rangeBirth controlFertility control |
| spellingShingle | Viola Kerekes István Sándor Dorina Nagy Katalin Ozogány Loránd Göczi Benjamin Ibler Lajos Széles Zoltán Barta Trends in demography, genetics, and social structure of Przewalski’s horses in the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary over the last 22 years Global Ecology and Conservation Equus ferus przewalskii Conservation management Harem Home range Birth control Fertility control |
| title | Trends in demography, genetics, and social structure of Przewalski’s horses in the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary over the last 22 years |
| title_full | Trends in demography, genetics, and social structure of Przewalski’s horses in the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary over the last 22 years |
| title_fullStr | Trends in demography, genetics, and social structure of Przewalski’s horses in the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary over the last 22 years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in demography, genetics, and social structure of Przewalski’s horses in the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary over the last 22 years |
| title_short | Trends in demography, genetics, and social structure of Przewalski’s horses in the Hortobagy National Park, Hungary over the last 22 years |
| title_sort | trends in demography genetics and social structure of przewalski s horses in the hortobagy national park hungary over the last 22 years |
| topic | Equus ferus przewalskii Conservation management Harem Home range Birth control Fertility control |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989420309483 |
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