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Article
First steps to success: identification of divergence among the northern and the southern lineages of African Pygmy Kingfisher (Ispidina picta) (Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae)
Currently little is known about intra-African bird migrants. Migratory connectivity between populations may be affected by past climatic fluctuations as well as contemporary threats that affect habitat connect...
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Article
Potential drivers of samango monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis) population subdivision in a highly fragmented mountain landscape in northern South Africa
Forests affected by fragmentation are at risk of losing their primate populations over the long term. The impact of fragmentation on primate populations has been studied in several places in Africa, Asia and S...
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Article
Population and genetic structure of a male-dispersing strepsirrhine, Galago moholi (Primates, Galagidae), from northern South Africa, inferred from mitochondrial DNA
The habitats of Galago moholi are suspected to be largely fragmented, while the species is thought to be expanding further into the southernmost fringe of its range, as well as into human settlements. To date, no...
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Article
Isolation and characterization of 30 STRs in Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) and potential for cross amplification in other African species
Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) is one of four species of pangolin, endemic to Africa. Two of the African pangolin species are listed as vulnerable and two are listed as endangered on the Internat...
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Article
A tale of the traded cat: development of a rapid real-time PCR diagnostic test to distinguish between lion and tiger bone
A rapid allelic discrimination real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay has been developed for the confirmation of lion (Panthera leo) or tiger (P. tigris) DNA. The method includes a low cost allele speci...
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Article
Genetic rescue of an isolated African lion population
Fragmented wildlife populations are challenged by limited gene flow that can lead to significant inbreeding. The lion (Panthera leo) population in South Africa’s Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) started from a small ...
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Article
A targeted gene approach to SNP discovery in the blue (Connochaetes taurinus) and black wildebeest (C. gnou)
We report the characterization of 23 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the blue (Connochaetes taurinus) and black wildebeest (C. gnou) based on a targeted gene approach. The polymorphisms of these ...
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Article
Isolation and characterization of species-specific microsatellite markers for blue and black wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus and C. gnou)
The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is distributed throughout southern and east Africa while the black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) is endemic to South Africa and was driven to near extinction in the ea...
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Article
Assessing introgressive hybridization between blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) from South Africa
Introgressive hybridization poses a threat to the genetic integrity of black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) and blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) populations in South Africa. Black wildebeest is endemic to ...
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Article
The role of toll-like receptor polymorphisms in susceptibility to canine distemper virus
Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a global multi-host pathogen of wildlife. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are key recognition structures of the innate immune system. To investigate host susceptibility to CDV, the pr...
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Article
Open AccessMitochondrial genomes of African pangolins and insights into evolutionary patterns and phylogeny of the family Manidae
This study used next generation sequencing to generate the mitogenomes of four African pangolin species; Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), giant ground pangolin (S. gigantea), white-bellied pangoli...
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Article
Scale samples from Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii): a non-invasive source of DNA
Non-invasive sampling aims to obtain suitable samples without causing harm to the study organism, thus making it a more preferred sampling technique. Molecular methods have advanced in such a way that quality ...
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Article
Open AccessExtinctions, genetic erosion and conservation options for the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
The black rhinoceros is again on the verge of extinction due to unsustainable poaching in its native range. Despite a wide historic distribution, the black rhinoceros was traditionally thought of as depauperat...
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Article
Endonuclease V digestion for SNP discovery and marker development in South African white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers are a promising new tool that can be used to study evolutionary processes, population genetic parameters, forensic cases and parentage. However, application of SNP ...
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Article
Open AccessEthnomedicinal use of African pangolins by traditional medical practitioners in Sierra Leone
Pangolins (Manidae) have long been used for traditional medicinal purposes in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa. However, very little is known about the extent of this use, the body parts that are used and the ...
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Article
Interspecific hybridization between greater kudu and nyala
Hybridization of wildlife species, even in the absence of introgression, is of concern due to wasted reproductive effort and a reduction in productivity. In this study we detail an accidental mating between a...
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Article
A hybrid dilemma: a molecular investigation of South African bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) and blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi)
Human-mediated hybridization poses a serious threat to the genetic integrity of threatened inter-fertile species or subspecies, such as the bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) and blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus...
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Article
Social and genetic population structure of free-ranging cheetah in Botswana: implications for conservation
Once widely distributed throughout Africa, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) occur today within fragmented populations and are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Botswana currently hosts the second largest cheetah popul...
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Article
Isolation and characterization of species-specific microsatellite loci in African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
Eight microsatellite markers were developed via pyrosequencing of a microsatellite-enriched library for the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). These microsatellite loci displayed 2–6 alleles with expected het...
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Article
A targeted gene approach to SNP discovery in the White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum)
We report the characterization of 10 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum), based on a targeted gene approach. The polymorphisms of these SNP loci were assessed us...
