Population structure of the African savannah elephant inferred from mitochondrial control region sequences and nuclear microsatellite loci

TY - JOUR

T1 - Population structure of the African savannah elephant inferred from mitochondrial control region sequences and nuclear microsatellite loci

AU - Nyakaana, S

AU - Arctander, P

AU - Siegismund, H R

N1 - Keywords: Africa; Animals; Base Sequence; Cell Nucleus; Elephants; Feces; Microsatellite Repeats; Mitochondria; Molecular Sequence Data; Population Density; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - Two hundred and thirty-six mitochondrial DNA nucleotide sequences were used in combination with polymorphism at four nuclear microsatellite loci to assess the amount and distribution of genetic variation within and between African savannah elephants. They were sampled from 11 localities in eastern, western and southern Africa. In the total sample, 43 haplotypes were identified and an overall nucleotide diversity of 2.0% was observed. High levels of polymorphism were also observed at the microsatellite loci both at the level of number of alleles and gene diversity. Nine to 14 alleles per locus across populations and 44 alleles in the total sample were found. The gene diversity ranged from 0.51 to 0.72 in the localities studied. An analysis of molecular variance showed significant genetic differentiation between populations within regions and also between regions. The extent of subdivision between populations at the mtDNA control region was approximately twice as high as shown by the microsatellite loci (mtDNA F(ST) = 0.59; microsatellite R(ST) = 0.31). We discuss our results in the light of Pleistocene refugia and attribute the observed pattern to population divergence in allopatry accompanied by a recent population admixture following a recent population expansion.

AB - Two hundred and thirty-six mitochondrial DNA nucleotide sequences were used in combination with polymorphism at four nuclear microsatellite loci to assess the amount and distribution of genetic variation within and between African savannah elephants. They were sampled from 11 localities in eastern, western and southern Africa. In the total sample, 43 haplotypes were identified and an overall nucleotide diversity of 2.0% was observed. High levels of polymorphism were also observed at the microsatellite loci both at the level of number of alleles and gene diversity. Nine to 14 alleles per locus across populations and 44 alleles in the total sample were found. The gene diversity ranged from 0.51 to 0.72 in the localities studied. An analysis of molecular variance showed significant genetic differentiation between populations within regions and also between regions. The extent of subdivision between populations at the mtDNA control region was approximately twice as high as shown by the microsatellite loci (mtDNA F(ST) = 0.59; microsatellite R(ST) = 0.31). We discuss our results in the light of Pleistocene refugia and attribute the observed pattern to population divergence in allopatry accompanied by a recent population admixture following a recent population expansion.

U2 - 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800110

DO - 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800110

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 12136410

SN - 0018-067X

VL - 89

SP - 90

EP - 98

JO - Heredity

JF - Heredity

IS - 2

ER -