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Conservation genetics of the black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis bicornis, in Namibia

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Abstract

Poaching and habitat destruction across sub-Saharan Africa brought the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) close to extinction. Over the past few decades, however, one of four subspecies, D. b. bicornis, has experienced a significant population increase as a consequence of its protection within Etosha National Park (ENP), Namibia. We report here on the level and spatial distribution of black rhinoceros genetic diversity within ENP. Using nine microsatellite loci, genetic variation was assessed from 144 individuals. Our results are consistent with the observation of lower levels of genetic diversity in D. b. bicornis, when compared to D. b. michaeli, but greater diversity when compared to D. b. minor. We also showed that ENP’s black rhino genetic diversity is well represented in Waterberg National Park, originally founded with ENP individuals. We found no genetic signature of a recent bottleneck in ENP, however, suggesting that the genetic diversity within ENP has not been adversely affected by the recent severe population decline. Using Bayesian clustering methods, we observed no significant population structure within ENP, but positive spatial genetic correlation is observed at distances up to 25 km. This relationship exists in females but not males, suggesting reduced dispersal among females, the first evidence of limited female dispersal or philopatry in any species of rhinoceros.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Peter Smouse and Al Roca for many helpful comments on the manuscript. The collection of samples was funded by the WWF—Africa Rhino Program, Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, African Wildlife Foundation and the Ismer family and friends. The molecular work was funded by the National Science and Engineering Research Council (Canada; PTB) and multiple Summer Work Experience Program grants (Queen’s: PJVCDG & PTB). We thank Michael Kim for his laboratory assistance at the onset of this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    Peter J. Van Coeverden de Groot, Candace Scott & Peter T. Boag

  2. San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA

    Andrea S. Putnam

  3. Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Private Bag, 13346, Windhoek, Namibia

    Peter Erb

  4. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    Don Melnick

  5. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa

    Colleen O’Ryan

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  1. Peter J. Van Coeverden de Groot
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Correspondence to Peter J. Van Coeverden de Groot.

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Van Coeverden de Groot, P.J., Putnam, A.S., Erb, P. et al. Conservation genetics of the black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis bicornis, in Namibia. Conserv Genet 12, 783–792 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-011-0185-1

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