Phylogeny and phylogeography of the Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus): the role of landscape in shaping contemporary genetic structure in the southern African baboon

This thesis contributes to our understanding of the role of climate and landscape change in structuring diversity within chacma baboons (Papio ursinus). The data set comprises molecular sequences from two mitochondrial DNA markers: the Brown region and the hypervariable D-loop. DNA was extracted from faecal samples of 261 free living chacma baboons across southern Africa. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic techniques, including coalescent modeling, were used to examine past and present population dynamics of chacma baboon populations. Bayesian tree constructions provide a timeline of diversification for the sample. Although the ecological drivers of ongoing differentiation remain unclear, it was shown that population contractions and expansions have also played a significant role in driving regional genetic structure within the species.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Archaeology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Sithaldeen, Riashna

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Ackermann, Rebecca Rogers
• Bishop, Jacqueline

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10830

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10830