Evaluation of impact of population management on genetic parameters of selected spiral-horned antelopes

Bc. Ema Cetkovská

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Conservation of endangered animal species is one of the key objectives of captive populations, and its significance is expected to increase due to the rapidly growing number of vulnerable taxa. However, since these populations tend to be restricted in size and established using a limited number of founders, they commonly experience reduced genetic diversity, which might decrease their viability and ability to survive reintroduction into the wild. Although management has shown to have a positive effect on genetic parameters of such populations, it is frequently based on pedigree data, which may not be reliable, and inclusion of molecular methods is thus recommended. In this thesis, genetic characteristics of European Association of Zoos and Aquaria populations of six spiral-horned antelope taxa (mountain bongo, nyala, sitatunga, lesser kudu, greater kudu, common eland) were studied using a combination of microsatellite and mitochondrial markers and related to the current and past management of the populations, conservation statuses of the taxa, and availability of information useable for decision-making. The mitochondrial control region was also analyzed to identify geographic origin of the maternal lineages present in the captive populations and to evaluate the extent to which the captive stocks reflect the wild populations in terms of geographic and genetic representativeness. Several factors, including size and distribution range of wild populations, size of captive populations, number of founders, and thoroughness of management, were suggested as primary drivers affecting the values of the genetic parameters. High genetic diversity observed in sitatunga, greater kudu, and common eland may also be attributed to interbreeding of genetically distinct lineages, which raises a concern regarding the disruption of local adaptations. Consequently, genetic management should consider preventing interbreeding between the different clades. Furthermore, high inbreeding levels were found in mountain bongo and sitatunga, which should also be addressed in the future management of these populations. The origin of maternal lineages was successfully determined in all of the studied taxa, apart from the lesser kudu and mountain bongo, although in some instances solely as a broader region. Most of the studied captive populations were found to only mirror a portion of the wild distribution areas and to display a limited genetic representativeness.

Keywords

captive populations, zoo management, Tragelaphini, mountain bongo, nyala, sitatunga, lesser kudu, greater kudu, common eland

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 24. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 30. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: Mgr. Barbora Černá Bolfíková, Ph.D.
• Reader: Paul Grobler, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / specializace:
Wildlife and Livestock Production, Management and Conservation / Wildlife Management and Conservation