The Taxonomy and Phylogeography of two Arabian gazelles

The phylogeny of the Arabian gazelles is generally not well understood (e.g., Groves 1996). Morphological traits were commonly used as a basis for classification leading to frequent misclassifications. Sister group relationships within the genus are only poorly resolved and there are still lively debates about the status of certain taxa (e.g., Wronski et al., unpublished). The aim of this project is to characterize several Arabian, African and Asian gazelle species using molecular tools while including several taxonomically unclear “species”

Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of African and Arabian Dorcas gazelles (Gazella dorcas)

Once common throughout the entire Sahelo-Saharan region, population sizes of Dorcas gazelles (Gazella dorcas) are nowadays decreasing dramatically. The uncertain taxonomy of this species—with a variety of described subspecies without validated status—hampers conservation efforts. In this situation, phylogenetic and phylogeographic investigations using molecular techniques are highly warranted conservation tools. Here, we investigate sequence variation of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and control region of 73 dorcas (G. dorcas) and Saudi gazelles (G. saudiya) throughout the entire distribution range

Neumann’s enigmatic gazelle (Gazella erlangeri) Threatened taxon or domesticated gazelle?

One of the most challenging questions in regard to Arabian gazelles is the status of G. erlangeri Neumann, 1906 (Fig. 1). Gazelles currently kept in captivity at King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre in Saudi Arabia and Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation in Qatar (Fig. 2) show the described combination of diagnostic features, and thus, were considered to represent G. erlangeri, even though the exact provenance of these gazelles remains obscure. However, captive ‘G. erlangeri’ may have also originated from eastern Oman and could be therefore assigned to G. muscatensis (Fig. 3). Both taxa are considered ‘extinct in the wild’ by the IUCN Red List. Past conservation efforts have been plagued by confusion about the phylogenetic relationship among various—phenotypically discernable—populations (e.g., G. erlangeri, G. muscatensis), and even the question of species boundaries was far from being certain. This lack of knowledge had a direct impact on conservation measures, especially ex situ breeding programmes, hampering the assignment of captive stocks to potential conservation units

Dark grey gazelles Gazella (Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) in Arabia: Threatened species or domestic pet?

True gazelles (genus Gazella) are a prime example of a mammalian group with considerable taxonomic confusion. This includes the descriptions of several dark grey taxa of questionable validity. Here, we examined captive dark grey putative Neumann’s gazelle Gazella erlangeri. Our concerted efforts to retrieve mitochondrial sequence information from old museum specimens of two dark grey gazelles, putative G. erlangeri and putative Muscat gazelle G. muscatensis, were unsuccessful. We did, however, find the mtDNA haplotypes of extant putative G. erlangeri to be nested within the haplotype variation of the Arabian gazelle G. arabica. The observed population genetic divergence between G. arabica and putative G. erlangeri (based on 11 nuclear microsatellites) was driven by genetic impoverishment of putative G. erlangeri. These results, along with morphological signatures of domestication (e.g., reduced brain case size), suggest genetic bottle necks and domestication effects as a consequence of prolonged captive breeding. Three hypotheses are discussed: (a) G. erlangeri and/or G. muscatensis are valid species but are now extinct; (b) one or both taxa represent phenotypic variation within G. arabica and, therefore, are synonyms of G. arabica; and (c) captive stocks, exhibiting the effects of domestication and inbreeding, are the sources for the descriptions of G. erlangeri and G. muscatensis. As concerns the conservation of gazelles, based on current knowledge, we strongly advise against using putative G. erlangeri for any introduction initiative but recommend the continued captive management of putative G. erlangeri

Revisiting the radiation of Gazella arabica on the Arabian Peninsula and testing the suitability of captive breeding stock for reintroduction, using mitochondrial and nuclear markers

Today, the Arabian gazelle (G. arabica) occurs only in small, scattered populations on the Arabian Peninsula and is classified as ‘vulnerable’, due to intensive hunting and competition with livestock. The taxonomy of this threatened species is still under debate, hampering conservation efforts while ex-situ breeding programs could be an appropriate conservation measure to prevent the species from going extinct. In our study, we attempted to elucidate the radiation of G. arabica on the Arabian Peninsula, and to ask whether the population genetic structure allows to distinguish between discrete conservation units. We used mitochondrial markers, microsatellite markers, and three intron markers to identify conservation units, to match them with genotypes found in the captive breeding stock held in Saudi Arabia, and to ensure that genotype diversity of potential founder individuals corresponds to that prevailing at targeted reintroduction sites. The sequence divergence was low among nuclear and mitochondrial markers, with gazelles originating from the north of the Arabian Peninsula showing the largest diversity, while south-western and eastern populations showed a decreased diversity. A haplotype network based on the relatively heterogeneous cytochrome b gene found no signs of a prolonged separate evolutionary history of any investigated mainland population, suggesting limitations of gene-flow after the colonization of the Arabian Peninsula leading to a founder effect-like distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes. The ex-situ breeding population held in Saudi Arabia showed a good haplotype diversity, underlining its general suitability for reintroductions. However, it is recommended that genetic data of founders should be assessed prior to future reintroduction

Splitting or lumping? A conservation dilemma exemplified by the critically endangered Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama)

Managers of threatened species often face the dilemma of whether to keep populations separate to conserve local adaptations and minimize the risk of outbreeding, or whether to manage populations jointly to reduce loss of genetic diversity and minimise inbreeding. In this study we examine genetic relatedness and diversity in three of the five last remaining wild populations of dama gazelle and a number of captive populations, using mtDNA control region and cytochrome b data. Despite the sampled populations belonging to the three putative subspecies, which are delineated according to phenotypes and geographical location, we find limited evidence for phylogeographical structure within the data and no genetic support for the putative subspecies. In the light of these data we discuss the relevance of inbreeding depression, outbreeding depression, adaptive variation, genetic drift, and phenotypic variation to the conservation of the dama gazelle and make some recommendations for its future conservation management. The genetic data suggest that the best conservation approach is to view the dama gazelle as a single species without subspecific divisions

Becoming a Good Farmer - Becoming a Good Farm Worker: On Colonial Educational Policies in Germany and German South-West Africa, Circa 1890 to 1918

This chapter analyzes the training provided to Germans who were eager to become farmers in German South-West Africa (GSWA) and considers related debates on the uses of colonial knowledge and tropical agriculture for the profit of the colony. The chapter considers (1) how colonial enthusiasts and administrators viewed the need for an improved tropical agricultural education given the setbacks encountered in GSWA; (2) how knowledge related to tropical agriculture was institutionalized and administered; (3) how, in Germany, two schools for tropical agriculture were set up; and (4) how the debate about an "education to work" for the African workforce in GSWA resulted in the willful exclusion of this group from the most elementary forms of education