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Is isolation the major genetic concern for endangered equids?

Is isolation the major genetic concern for endangered equids? Although hybridization between closely related species is a natural phenomenon that can operate as an important evolutionary force, it has nevertheless contributed to the extinction of numerous species. Where the causes of hybridization are largely anthropogenic, therefore, its consequences need to be carefully assessed. Such investigations become pressing when one or both of the species concerned are endangered, since some form of management intervention may be required to limit the hybridization. Nevertheless, observations of hybridization involving species of conservation concern do not in themselves necessitate management action. Cordingley (2009) report the first case of natural hybridization between two equid species; the abundant plains zebra Equus burchelli and the endangered Grevy's zebra Equus grevyi . Since global numbers of Grevy's zebra have declined dramatically in recent decades due to human activity, hybridization could represent a significant further risk to the conservation of the species. Fortunately, as Cordingley (2009) outline, hybridization does not appear to constitute a serious threat to Grevy's zebra because hybrids seemingly integrate into plains zebra society. Thus while the hybrids are reproductive, there appears to be little possibility of backcrossing due to behavioural isolation and gene flow is essentially unidirectional from the Grevy's zebra to the http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Animal Conservation Wiley

Is isolation the major genetic concern for endangered equids?

Animal Conservation , Volume 12 (6) – Dec 1, 2009

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References (7)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 The Zoological Society of London
ISSN
1367-9430
eISSN
1469-1795
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-1795.2009.00332.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Although hybridization between closely related species is a natural phenomenon that can operate as an important evolutionary force, it has nevertheless contributed to the extinction of numerous species. Where the causes of hybridization are largely anthropogenic, therefore, its consequences need to be carefully assessed. Such investigations become pressing when one or both of the species concerned are endangered, since some form of management intervention may be required to limit the hybridization. Nevertheless, observations of hybridization involving species of conservation concern do not in themselves necessitate management action. Cordingley (2009) report the first case of natural hybridization between two equid species; the abundant plains zebra Equus burchelli and the endangered Grevy's zebra Equus grevyi . Since global numbers of Grevy's zebra have declined dramatically in recent decades due to human activity, hybridization could represent a significant further risk to the conservation of the species. Fortunately, as Cordingley (2009) outline, hybridization does not appear to constitute a serious threat to Grevy's zebra because hybrids seemingly integrate into plains zebra society. Thus while the hybrids are reproductive, there appears to be little possibility of backcrossing due to behavioural isolation and gene flow is essentially unidirectional from the Grevy's zebra to the

Journal

Animal ConservationWiley

Published: Dec 1, 2009

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