GOBUSH, K.S.*; WASSER, S.K.; University of Washington,Seattle: Patterns of Genetic Relatedness in a Poached Population of African Elephants Loxodonta africana

Widespread poaching in the 1980�s potentially altered the demographic structure of matrilineal African elephant groups(Loxodonta africana)in many populations by decreasing the number of old, adult female kin (Barnes and Kapela, 1991, Poole, 1989). Using non-invasive genetic and observational techniques, we examined the patterns of genetic relatedness and group cohesiveness among adult female elephants in a heavily poached population to detect the demographic signature of such a disturbance. We observed intra-group cohesiveness and inter-group associations and collected dung samples from over 85 elephant family groups over a 25-month period in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania. Fecal microsatellite DNA analysis was used to determine degree of relatedness among adult females within groups and between groups. Cohesiveness and relatedness within groups differed greatly. Some groups maintained a consistent membership of only close relatives, while others consisted of only non-relatives. Some groups also displayed a more fluid composition, with adult females changing adult female partners frequently. These findings differ from what has been described about African elephant social structure by other researchers focused on more protected populations, and may have implications for adult female reproductive output, stress physiology and competitive behavior. We will also discuss these topics, which we are additionally investigating.