Managing eastern black rhinoceros populations with genetic studies

Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of scientific news about discoveries that affect the world around us.

In this episode, Barbara Mable and Ronald Mellya show how allowing endangered rhinos to move between populations enhances genetic diversity.

In this episode, we cover: •[00:00] Introduction •[01:00] Evolutionary geneticist Barbara Mable explains why is genetic diversity important in managing small, isolated populations of rhinos. •[02:59] Park warden Ronald Mellya describes how his firsthand experience with rhino management led to this study. •[04:52] Mable explains the methods of the study and the contributions of co-author Anubhab Khan. •[06:20] Mable talks about the results. •[07:24] Mellya tells how the study has changed rhino management in Tanzania. •[08:37] Mable and Mellya enumerate the caveats and limitations of the study. •[10:20] Conclusion.

About Our Guests:

Barbara Mable Professor University of Glasgow

Ronald Mellya Park Warden Tanzania National Parks

View related content here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2414412122

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