Table 2 Larger mammal species from across African savannah grasslands and woodlands showing phylogeographic pattern, with some indication of their phylogenetic structure and possible divergence times, refugia in west W, east E, and south S, and genetic signals of colonization and population history. LP = Late Pleistocene, MP = Mid Pleistocene, EP = Early Pleistocene, → = colonization/expansion. MS = mismatch expansion. All studies used d-loop mtDNA; also elephant used cytb and microsats, impala cytb, warthog and dog microsats, and buffalo Y.
From: The structure of biodiversity – insights from molecular phylogeography
Species | Phylogenetic structure | Likely Refugia (fossil evidence *) | Genetic signals of range changes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus | 3 step clades W→S→E, | W, E subdiv, S, *0.7 My> | S→, E→, some shallow clades | Arctander et al [83] |
Topi Damaliscus lunatus | 3 clades S→E (+ S) | (W), E, S, *0.7 My> | S→, 2 clades, MS E→, shallow clade, MS | Arctander et al [83] |
Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus | 2 clades, S→E, S structured | E, S, *1.5 My> | S→E, MS in E LP | Arctander et al [83] |
Kob (& Puku) Kobus kobus sl | 3 clades, W→E + S | W, E, S * EP> | W↔E several times, lineage mixing, MP LP | Birungi & Arctander [108] |
Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros | 3 clades, E, SW→S→E | E, S, SW isolate *widespread | S→E LP shallow clades diversity S>E | Nersting & Arctander [84] |
Impala Aepyceros melampus | 2 clades, SW, S→E | (E), S SW isolate *widespread | S→E LP network cluster E diversity S>E | Nersting & Arctander [84] |
Wild dog Lycaon pictus | 2 shallow clades, E, S, few haplotypes | (W), E, S | W→E&S?, 340 ky> each clade 70 ky> mobile – mixing | Girman et al [89] |
Buffalo Syncerus caffer | 2 shallow clusters W→E+S S nested in E | W, E, S, * LP | W→E <180 ky E→S twice <130 ky MS LP | Van Hooft et al [85] |
Elephant Loxodonta africana | 3–5 clades W→E+S→W | W, E, S, *EP *LP→ | W→S&E, EP W→S&E, MP E→W, LP | Nyakaana et al [109] Eggert et al [88] |
Warthog Phacochoerus africanus | 3 distinct clades W→S→E | W, E, S, *0.78 My> *0.4 My→ | 3 clades isolated MP by dry climate contract/expand LP | Muwanika et al [87] |