TY  - JOUR
A1  - Apio, Ann
A1  - Kabasa, John David
A1  - Ketmaier, Valerio
A1  - Schroeder, Christoph
A1  - Plath, Martin
A1  - Tiedemann, Ralph
T1  - Female philopatry and male dispersal in a cryptic, bush-dwelling antelope : a combined molecular and behavioural approach
N2  - In most mammals, females are philopatric while males disperse in order to avoid inbreeding. We investigated social structure in a solitary ungulate, the bushbuck Tragelaphus sylvaticus in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda by combining behavioural and molecular data. We correlated spatial and social vicinity of individual females with a relatedness score obtained from mitochondrial DNA analysis. Presumed clan members shared the same haplotype, showed more socio-positive interactions and had a common home range. Males had a higher haplotype diversity than females. All this suggests the presence of a matrilineal structure in the study population. Moreover, we tested natal dispersal distances between male and female yearlings and used control region sequences to confirm that females remain in their natal breeding areas whereas males disperse. In microsatellite analysis, males showed a higher genetic variability than females. The impoverished genetic variability of females at both molecular marker sets is consistent with a philopatric and matrilineal structure, while the higher degree of genetic variability of males is congruent with a higher dispersal rate expected in this sex. Evidence even for male long-distance dispersal is brought about by one male carrying a haplotype of a different subspecies, previously not described to occur in this area.
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/issn?DESCRIPTOR=PRINTISSN&VALUE=0952-8369
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00654.x
SN  - 0952-8369
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Averbeck, Christiane
A1  - Apio, Ann
A1  - Plath, Martin
A1  - Wronski, Torsten
T1  - Hunting differentially affects mixed-sex and bachelor-herds in a gregarious ungulate, the impala (Aepyceros melampus: Bovidae)
N2  - We investigated herd-sizes and herd-compositions of Impala (Aepyceros melampus) inside a protected area [Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP) in western Uganda] and the unprotected adjacent ranchland [the Ankole Ranching Scheme (ARS)]. Impala experience intense hunting and poaching in the study area, and poaching is especially strong on the ARS. We found evidence for changes in overall group-sizes in both mixed-sex and pure bachelor herds between areas in and outside LMNP. Mixed-sex herds strongly decreased in size outside the National Park, but bachelor herds even slightly increased in size. While the group-composition of mixed-sex herds was very similar in areas in and outside LMNP, bachelor herds comprised more yearlings and subadult males on the ARS. Our study suggests that effects of hunting and other human nuisance may differ between herd types: mixed herds probably decrease in size because females are more strongly hunted. Around LMNP, impala are usually hunted using nets and spears, thereby increasing the hunters' chance of being injured. Poachers therefore prefer hornless females (and their calves), as it is less dangerous to handle net-caught females than males. As a result, males are less hunted, but increased vigilance and, therefore, reduced aggression among the members of a bachelor herd, may account for the observed increase in herd sizes and changes in group-compositions.
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/issn?DESCRIPTOR=PRINTISSN&VALUE=0141-6707
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01118.x
SN  - 0141-6707
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wronski, Torsten
A1  - Wacher, Timothy
A1  - Hammond, Robert L.
A1  - Winney, Bruce
A1  - Hundertmark, Kris J.
A1  - Blacket, Mark J.
A1  - Mohammed, Osama B.
A1  - Flores, Benito
A1  - Omer, Sawsan A.
A1  - Macasero, William
A1  - Plath, Martin
A1  - Tiedemann, Ralph
A1  - Bleidorn, Christoph
T1  - Two reciprocally monophyletic mtDNA lineages elucidate the taxonomic status of Mountain gazelles (Gazella gazella)
N2  - Mountain gazelles (Gazella gazella) rank among the most critically endangered mammals on the Arabian Peninsula. Past conservation efforts have been plagued by confusion about the phylogenetic relationship among various 'phenotypically discernable' populations, and even the question of species boundaries was far from being certain. This lack of knowledge has had a direct impact on conservation measures, especially ex situ breeding programmes, hampering the assignment of captive stocks to potential conservation units. Here, we provide a phylogenetic framework, based on the analysis of mtDNA sequences (360 bp cytochrome b and 213 bp Control Region) of 126 individuals collected from the wild throughout the Arabian Peninsula and from captive stocks. Our analyses revealed two reciprocally monophyletic genetic lineages within the presumed species Gazella gazella: one 'northern clade' on the Golan Heights (Israel/Syrian border) and one genetically diverse larger clade from the rest of the Arabian Peninsula including the Arava Valley (Negev, Israel). Applying the Strict Phylogenetic Species Concept (sensu Mishler & Theriot, 2000) allows assigning species status to these two major clades.
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t913521959~db=all
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/14772001003613192
SN  - 1477-2000
ER  -