Evolutionary history of the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) at continental scale based on mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers
Date
2016-09
Authors
Smitz, Nathalie, author
Heller, Rasmus, author
Van Hooft, Pim, author
Cornélis, Daniel, author
Chardonnet, Philippe, author
Caron, Alexandre, author
de Garine-Wichatitsky, Michel, author
Michaux, Johan, author
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) exhibits extreme morphological variability at the continental scale. Today, four subspecies are recognized based on morphological characteristics, with three subspecies distributed in the West-Central African region and the last one covering the Southern and the Eastern African regions. Based on the mtDNA D-Loop region and on more than 42,000 SNP genetic markers (Single-Nucleotide-Polymorphism), the present study aimed to investigate the evolutionary history of the species by inferring the pan-African spatial distribution of its genetic diversity. All analyses converged on the existence of two distinct lineages, corresponding to a group encompassing West and Central African populations and a group encompassing East and Southern African populations. The former is currently assigned to two to three subspecies (S. c. nanus, S. c. brachyceros, S. c. aequinoctialis) and the latter to a separate subspecies (S. c. caffer). 42% of the total amount of genetic diversity is explained by the between-lineage component, with one to seventeen female migrants per generation inferred as consistent with the isolation-with-migration model. The divergence time was estimated to have occurred during the late to middle Pleistocene, followed by a population expansion in both lineages, adapting morphologically to colonize new habitats, hence developing the variety of ecophenotypes observed today. At the regional scale, 8 populations distributed within these two lineages could be identified, resulting from more recent fragmentation processes. The two main lineages is a structuration that reflects common evolutionary responses to environmental changes within savanna mammals and can be observed within almost all species with a large distribution pattern as for example the waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), the hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), or the roan (Hippotragus equinus).
Description
Presented at the 9th international wildlife ranching symposium: wildlife - the key to prosperity for rural communities, held on 12-16 September 2016 at Hotel Safari & the Safari Court, Windhoek, Namibia in conjuction with the IUCN 2nd African Buffalo Symposium.