EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF Hippotragus GENUS - PHYLOGEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION GENETICS (OMICS)

STUDENT SEMINAR IN BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION

Hippotragus is an endemic African genus, encompassing the emblematic Roan and Sable antelopes. Unfortunately, over the past 60 years they have been suffering severe population declines, which could have had drastic consequences in terms of genetic diversity. Also, recent threats and poor management actions could be increasing risk of inbreeding and outbreeding depression. Towards proper species management and conservation efforts, it is important to fully understand past phylogeographic patterns that led to current genetic and demographic structure of populations. Therefore, it is important to conduct population genetic and genomic analysis for both species, incorporating past geographic and geological features, towards a comprehensive study of their evolutionary history and best conservation policies that enable them to thrive in the future.

Margarida Gonçalves holds a MsC in Conservation Biology from the University of Lisbon. Currently she is a PhD student on her third year of BIODIV doctoral programm, working under the supervision of Dr. Raquel Godinho (CIBIO-InBIO), Dr. Hans Siegismund (University of Copenhagen) and Dr. Bettine van Vuuren (University of Johannesburg) as part of the Conservation Genetics group. Her interests focus on phylogeography, population genetics/genomics and the application of these tools in conservation and management of endangered species.

[Host: Raquel Godinho, Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Management]

Image credits: http://www.africanskyhunting.co.za (on the left) and Julien Boulé (on the right)