Lessons for conservation management: Monitoring temporal changes in genetic diversity of Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220331
• Publication Date: 2019-07-31T17:36:01Z
• Authors: Antoinette Kotzé; Rae M. Smith; Yoshan Moodley; Gordon Luikart; Coral Birss; Anna M. Van Wyk; J. Paul Grobler; Desiré L. Dalton
• Keywords: Subspecies; ZEBRA (computer); Cape; Conservation Genetics

The Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra) is a subspecies of endemic to South Africa. experienced near extinction in the early 1900's and their numbers have since recovered more than 4,800 individuals. However, there are still threats long-term persistence. A previous study reported that had low genetic diversity three relict populations urgent conservation management actions were needed mitigate risk further loss. As these suggestions went largely unheeded, we undertook present study, fifteen years later determine impact on key populations. Our results show substantial loss heterozygosity across studied. most severe losses occurred at De Hoop Nature Reserve where expected reduced by 22.85% from 0.385 0.297. This alarming, as was previously identified genetically diverse population owing its founders originating two remaining stocks. Furthermore, observed complete multiple private alleles all populations, related reduction structure subspecies. These could lead inbreeding depression reduce evolutionary potential zebra. We recommend immediate implementation evidence-based monitoring prevent losses, which jeopardise long term survival zebra, especially face habitat climate change emerging diseases.