Three genetically divergent lineages of the Oryx in eastern Africa: Evidence for an ancient introgressive hybridization
Loading...
Date
2006
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Conservation Genetics
Abstract
Phylogeographic and population genetic studies using sequence information are frequently used to infer
species boundaries and history; and to assess hybridization and population level processes. In this study,
partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (423 bp) and cytochrome b sequences (666 bp) of
Oryx beisa sampled from five isolated localities in its entire current range in Africa were analyzed to
investigate the extent of genetic variation and differentiation between populations. We observed high
nucleotide diversity at the control region in the total sample (6.3%) but within populations, it varied
considerably ranging from 1.6% to 8.1%. Population pairwise genetic differentiation was generally
significantly high (ranging from FST = 0.15, P<0.01 to FST = 0.54, P<0.001). In the total sample, 29 and
12 haplotypes were observed in the control region and the cytochrome b data sets respectively. For both
data sets, the haplotypes cluster into three distinct clades (sequence divergence ranged from 6.0%–12.9% to
0.8%–1.0% for the control region and cytochrome b sequences, respectively) that do not correspond to
sampling locations. Two of these clades are found in the same localities (Samburu and Marsabit), which
represent the O.beisa beisa subspecies, whereas the last clade represents the fringe-eared oryx (O. beisa
callotis). We interpret these findings in terms of an ancient hybridization and introgression between two
formerly isolated taxa of Oryx beisa.
Description
Keywords
introgressive hybridization, mitochondrial DNA, Oryx beisa, population structure
Citation
Masembe, C., Muwanika, V. B., Nyakaana, S., Arctander, P., & Siegismund, H. R. (2006). Three genetically divergent lineages of the Oryx in eastern Africa: Evidence for an ancient introgressive hybridization. Conservation Genetics, 7(4), 551-562.DOI 10.1007/s10592-005-9066-9