Population genetic structure of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) in Uganda: evidence for a strong philopatry among warthogs and social structure breakdown in a disturbed population
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Date
2007
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Abstract
Fine-scale genetic structure of large mammals is rarely analysed. Yet it is potentially important in estimating gene
flow between the now fragmented wildlife habitats and in predicting re-colonization following local extinction events.
In this study, we examined the extent to which warthog populations from five localities in Uganda are genetically
structured using both mitochondrial control region sequence and microsatellite allele length variation. Four of
the localities (Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo and Kidepo Valley) are national parks with relatively
good wildlife protection practices and the other (Luwero), not a protected area, is characterized by a great
deal of hunting. In the total sample, significant genetic differentiation was observed at both the mtDNA locus
(FST ¼ 0.68; P < 0.001) and the microsatellite loci (FST ¼ 0.14; P < 0.001). Despite the relatively short geographical
distances between populations, significant genetic differentiation was observed in all pair-wise population
comparisons at the two marker sets (mtDNA FST ¼ 0.21–0.79, P < 0.001; microsatellite FST ¼ 0.074–0.191,
P < 0.001). Significant heterozygote deficiency was observed at most loci within protected areas while no
significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg expectation was observed in the unprotected Luwero population. We
Description
Keywords
common warthog, philopatry, social structure
Citation
Muwanika, V. B., Nyakaana, S., Siegismund, H. R., & Arctander, P. (2007). Population genetic structure of the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) in Uganda: evidence for a strong philopatry among warthogs and social structure breakdown in a disturbed population. African Journal of Ecology, 45(1), 22-30.