Genetic connectivity and population structure of African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Tanzania.

ABSTRACT: Increasing human population growth, exurban development, and associated habitat fragmentation is accelerating the isolation of many natural areas and wildlife populations across the planet. In Tanzania, rapid and ongoing habitat conversion to agriculture has severed many of the country's former wildlife corridors between protected areas. To identify historically linked protected areas, we investigated the genetic structure and gene flow of African savanna elephants in Tanzania using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers in 688 individuals sampled in 2015 and 2017. Our results indicate distinct population genetic structure within and between ecosystems across Tanzania, and reveal important priority areas for connectivity conservation. In northern Tanzania, elephants sampled from the

SUBMITTER: Lohay GG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7593188 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature