ALLOZYME VARIATION IN SOUTH-AFRICAN IMPALA POPULATIONS UNDER DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT REGIMES

Seventy-nine impalas Aepyceros melampus from four populations were compared using protein gel-electrophoresis to determine the influence of different management strategies on genetic variability and differentiation. Four tissue types were analysed, and we were able to resolve 35 protein-coding loci, of which six were polymorphic. Average heterozygosity values ranged from 4,6% in a numerically large population to 2,41% and 3,21% in two isolated groups, and 4,43% in another isolated (but well-managed) population, (with corresponding proportions of polymorphic loci of 14,29%; 5,71%; 11,43% and 14,29%). As expected for conspecific populations, gene variability was much higher within (91,53%) than between (8,47%) populations. Average genetic distance (Nei 1972) between populations ranged from 0,0015 to 0,0088, indicating limited allozyme divergence among the groups studied. We discuss factors contributing towards the above results as well as the implications for management strategies.