Landscape genetics, phylogeography and conservation of the okapi (Okapia johnstoni).

这个项目的重点是对稀有而神秘的霍加皮进行基因分析，这是一种仅在刚果民主共和国发现的非洲中部热带雨林中的有限有蹄类动物。该项目将与伦敦动物学会、动物学会和保护计划部门合作进行，后者在协调这种出人意料的鲜为人知的旗舰物种的保护工作方面发挥着主导作用。该项目将集中在维龙加和埃普鲁的两个地点以及已知该物种存在的其他四个地点，利用非侵入性遗传取样分析该物种的遗传结构，并将地理参照样本的DNA图谱和线粒体DNA测序与地理信息系统结合起来，对该区域的物种进行第一次重要的地貌遗传学分析。这项研究将包括三个部分：1)学生将使用景观遗传学方法量化维龙加国家公园和奥卡皮动物保护区(保护区de la Faune de L‘Okapi：RFO)内的扩散和基因流动。我们在伦敦动物学会(ZSL)的合作者认为，VNP由四个孤立的种群组成，被塞姆利基河和Mbau-Kamango路隔开，在人口统计学上也可能与RFO有关。将绘制该物种的遗传结构图，以描述景观特征如何影响这些保护区内和保护区之间的种群过程。这些信息将允许最大限度地保护这个旗舰分类群的可行种群的潜力。2)目前我们对霍加皮的基本生态学的认识存在很大差距。学生将在VNP和RFO中使用非侵入性遗传方法研究扩散和范围大小。通过使用DNA图谱，包括样本的性别鉴定，还将估计保护区内孤立种群的种群规模和密度。3)学生将尝试重建刚果民主共和国境内整个物种范围内霍加皮的进化史。将调查大规模的种群结构和过去的人口过程，以推断该物种的生物地理和人口历史。目前的遗传多样性估计也将首次在整个范围内进行。

This studentship will focus on genetic analysis of the rare and enigmatic okapi - a range restricted ungulate of the central African rainforest found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The studentship will be carried out in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London's, Institute of Zooology and Conservation Programmes department, which is playing a leading role in coordinating conservation efforts for this surprisingly poorly known flagship species. The project will focus on using non-invasive genetic sampling to analyse the genetic structure of this species across its range - concentrating in detail on two sites at Virunga and Epulu and on four other sites where the species is known to be present, and will combine DNA profiling and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA for georeferenced samples and GIS to carry out the first major landscape genetics analysis for a species in this region. The study will comprise three components: 1) The student will quantify dispersal and gene-flow within Virunga National Park (VNP) and the Okapi Faunal Reserve (Reserve de la Faune de l'Okapi: RFO) using a landscape genetics approach for the region. Our collaborators at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) believe that VNP comprises four isolated populations, divided by the Semliki River and the Mbau-Kamango road and may also be demographically connected with RFO. The genetic structure of this species will be mapped to describe how landscape features are influencing population processes within and among these protected areas. This information will allow the maximization of the potential for conserving viable populations of this flagship taxon. 2) Large gaps currently exist in our knowledge of the basic ecology of okapi. The student will study dispersal and range size using non-invasive genetic methods within VNP and RFO. By using DNA profiles, including sexing of samples, population size and density will also be estimated for isolated populations within the reserves. 3) The student will attempt to reconstruct the evolutionary history of okapi throughout the species' range in the DRC. Large-scale population structure and past demographic processes will be investigated, to infer the biogeographic and demographic history of this species. Present day genetic diversity estimates will also be carried out for the first time throughout the range.