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Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic population structure in Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)

Dissertation (MSc )--University of Pretoria, 1993.

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Other Authors: Robinson, T.J.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Robinson, T.J.
author_browse Robinson, T.J.
author_facet Robinson, T.J.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc )--University of Pretoria, 1993.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:54.752Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2024
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publishDateSort 2024
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/99620 Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic population structure in Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha) Robinson, T.J. Matthee, Conrad Adolf Mitochondrial DNA Geographic population Pronolagus P. randensis UCTD Dissertation (MSc )--University of Pretoria, 1993. Phylogeographic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) population structure was determined for Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis, two species of red rock rabbit occurring in South Africa. The study revealed that P. randensis mtDNA patterns reflect phylogenetic continuity with partial spatial separation between populations, although this should be viewed with caution given the limited distributional range covered by the investigation. Eleven composite haplotypes were found in the 27 P. randensis specimens sampled. The relatively low sequence diversity of 0.74% (±0.21 %) was interpreted as reflecting limited intraspecific variation within the taxon, and is thought to be indicative of fairly recent range expansion. In the eastern Transvaal (Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve) P. rupestris and P. randensis are found approximately 15 kilometers apart. No distributional overlap was detected even though extensive geographic sampling was undertaken in the presumed contact zone, a pattern which is thought to reflect competitive exclusion. An interesting observation was that previously documented mtDNA phylogeographic patterns recorded in the rock hyrax, Procavia capensis, coincide with the observed zone of contact between P. rupestris and P. randensis. The rock hyrax is a mammalian species of comparable body size which occurs sympatrically with Prono/agus and is similarly limited to outcrops of rock in the form of krantzes, rocky koppies or rocky hillsides. It is argued that similar vicariant events may have been implicated in shaping the evolutionary processes in these independent lineages. This hypothesis may hold for not only the taxa surveyed in this investigation, but for other mammal species with similar habitat and dispersal capabilities. The 55 P. rupestris specimens sampled showed pronounced intraspecific genetic structure with two well defined, virtually geographically contiguous clades; one situated in the north western Cape Province while the other follows the Great Escarpment extending along the southern and eastern seaboard of South Africa. These mitochondrially distinct clades were separated by 7.94% (±1 .40%) sequence divergence, a relatively high value which is thought to reflect inaccuracies in the currently accepted taxonomy of P. rupestris. The phylogeographic profiles of the two P. rupestris clades differ markedly from each other. The north western clades' matrilines are separated by few mutational steps between isolated populations, while those of the south eastern clade are characterized by deep divisions. Disruptive extrinsic factors between the two assemblages could not be identified and the clade specificity of the mtDNA haplotypes is thought to be due to competitive habitat exclusion and possibly the inability of the representatives of the two clades to interbreed. Zoology and Entomology MSc 2024-11-27T09:16:31Z 2024-11-27T09:16:31Z 21/11/18 1993 Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99620 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Mitochondrial
DNA
Geographic population
Pronolagus
P. randensis
UCTD
Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic population structure in Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)
title Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic population structure in Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)
title_full Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic population structure in Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)
title_fullStr Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic population structure in Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)
title_full_unstemmed Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic population structure in Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)
title_short Mitochondrial DNA variability and geographic population structure in Pronolagus rupestris and P. randensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)
title_sort mitochondrial dna variability and geographic population structure in pronolagus rupestris and p randensis mammalia lagomorpha
topic Mitochondrial
DNA
Geographic population
Pronolagus
P. randensis
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99620