CONSERVATION OF ARABIAN GAZELLES - Nwrc.gov.sa

museum specimens (data extracted from Groves, 1969). Their results seem to indicate that the G.
gaze Ita population of KKWRC belongs to the Palestinian subspecies gazella.
The description of G. g. farasani is mainly based on skull measurements from a sample of 13
specimens (or even less depending on the characters considered and the state of the skulls) that were
compared with G. g. cora specimens from the British Museum of Natural History (Thou less and AI
Bassri, 1991).
With its small size and dark coat, G. g. erlangeri seems different from the other subspecies of
G. gazella in its phenotypic appearance.
- Cytogenetic analysis: So far, all the individuals from the subspecies studied (eight gazelta,
eight cora, 22 erlangeri, three farasani) have had the same diploid number by conventional staining:
34 chromosomes for the females and 35 for the males (Vassar! el al., 1993a). Chromosomal
polymorph isms have not been found in these taxa. This supports their assignment to the same
species. Banding techniques also confirm that they all are closely related taxa (Vassar! el al., 1993a).
- Protein electrophoresis: An allozyme study based on 18 loci showed that G. g. gazelta, G.
g. cora, G. g. erlangeri and G. g. farasani appear to be genetically similar. The levels of observed
differences in allelic frequencies are similar to those observed between separate geographic
populations in other ungulates considered as s~parate subspecies (Vassar! el al., 1994). These results
support their classification as different subspecies of G. gazelta.
- Restriction mapping of mitochondrial DNA: No data are currently available for the
different subspecies of G. gazella.
- Recommendations: Our knowledge about the different subspecies of G. gazelta is much
weaker, and the subspecific level more complex, compared with rheem. There are a large number of
subspecies of G. gazeIta, inhabiting a wide range of ecological conditions, and several relict
populations occur. A reassessment of the validity of the different subspecies should be the first step
in any reintroduction or restoclc.ing project.
I) The genetic distance between G. g. gazella and G. g. cora and their status as distinct
subspecies should be reassessed. Samples of G. g. gazelta should be obtained from the
Palestinian populations. Samples of G. g. cora should be obtained from populations in the
south-west of the Arabian peninsula and Oman. These samples should be compared with
some taken from specimens from Al-Khunfah and Harrat ai-Harrah, to determine the
subspecific status of the mountain gazelle populations found in these areas. Hairs, cell
cultures, blood samples or organ samples could be used to extract and amplify the
mitochondrial DNA.
2) The genetic relationship between the KKWRC mountain gazelle herd and G. g. gazella
should be studied using mitochondrial DNA techniques. According to the results of this
study, the historical distribution limit berween G. g. cora and G. g. gazella and their
subspecific status, a geographic range for the reintroduction of KKWRC animals should
be defined - assuming reliable data can be gathered.
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