Phylogeography, genetic diversity, and population structure of Nile crocodile populations at the fringes of the southern African distribution

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorVan Asch, Barbaraen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVersfeld, William F.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHull, Kelvin L.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLeslie, Alison J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMatheus, Timoteus I.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBeytell, Petrus C.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDu Preez, Pierreen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSlabbert, Ruhanen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRhode, Clinten_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2020-05-08T17:50:00Z
dc.date.available2020-05-08T17:50:00Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.descriptionVan Asch, B., et al. 2018. Phylogeography, genetic diversity, and population structure of Nile crocodile populations at the fringes of the southern African distribution. PLoS ONE, 14(12):e0226505, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0226505.
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at https://journals.plos.org/plosone
dc.descriptionPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
dc.description.abstractNile crocodiles are apex predators widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa that have been viewed and managed as a single species. A complex picture of broad and fine-scale phylogeographic patterns that includes the recognition of two species (Crocodylus niloticus and Crocodylus suchus), and the structuring of populations according to river basins has started to emerge. However, previous studies surveyed a limited number of samples and geographical regions, and large areas of the continent remained unstudied. This work aimed at a fine scale portrait of Nile crocodile populations at the fringes of their geographic distribution in southern Africa. Wild and captive individuals were sampled across four major river systems (Okavango, Lower Kunene, Lower Shire and Limpopo) and the KwaZulu-Natal region. A multi-marker approach was used to infer phylogeographic and genetic diversity patterns, including new and public mitochondrial data, and a panel of 11 nuclear microsatellites. All individuals belonged to a phylogenetic clade previously associated with the C. niloticus species, thus suggesting the absence of C. suchus in southern Africa. The distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes indicated ancestral genetic connectivity across large areas, with loss of diversity along the north-south axis. Genetic variation partitioned the populations primarily into western and eastern regions of southern Africa, and secondarily into the major river systems. Populations were partitioned into five main groups corresponding to the Lower Kunene, the Okavango, the Lower Shire, and the Limpopo rivers, and the KwaZulu-Natal coastal region. All groups show evidence of recent bottlenecks and small effective population sizes. Long-term genetic diversity is likely to be compromised, raising conservation concern. These results emphasize the need for local genetic assessment of wild populations of Nile crocodiles to inform strategies for management of the species in southern Africa.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0226505
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.format.extent20 pages
dc.identifier.citationVan Asch, B., et al. 2018. Phylogeography, genetic diversity, and population structure of Nile crocodile populations at the fringes of the southern African distribution. PLoS ONE, 14(12):e0226505, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0226505
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1371/journal.pone.0226505
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/108545
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Science
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectPhylogeographyen_ZA
dc.subjectNile crocodile -- Geographical distributionen_ZA
dc.subjectNile crocodile -- Conservation -- Africa, Southernen_ZA
dc.subjectNile crocodile -- Genome mapping -- Africa, Southernen_ZA
dc.titlePhylogeography, genetic diversity, and population structure of Nile crocodile populations at the fringes of the southern African distributionen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
vanasch_phylogeography_2019.pdf
Size:
1.27 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Research Articles (Genetics)
Research Articles (Ancient Studies)
Research Articles (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)