Hartmann's mountain zebra studbook 2011 - Marwell Zoo

Stripe tripe tripe project
project
Prof. Morris Gosling, University of Newcastle,
Prof. Gosling has developed a system for identifying individual mountain zebra using variation in stripe pattern
which he uses in his studies of population ecology in southern Namibia. He has defined types of stripe (simple,
branched, tree shaped, short, etc) and uses combinations of these variants at particular stripe positions to code
individual identities. This system gives the opportunity to establish an ID library for any group of mountain zebra
and he has offered to carry out this exercise for Hartmann's mountain zebra in the captive breeding programme.
This is a great help to the studbook keeper and the EEP/PMP coordinators as it will allow them to identify
animals in their populations even if transponders and other markers are lost.
Prof. Gosling is also interested in using the identified pattern variants to explore variation in stripes between and
within populations. Stripe patterns differ in detail between the two sides of an individual's body but there appears
to be a level of similarity between the two sides. This suggests that stripe variation has both genetic and
developmental components and he aims to test this idea by estimating degrees of similarity between relatives. At
the same time he will relate this to variation within and between wild populations in Namibia. Preliminary
observations suggest that there are some differences between populations, for example in the frequency of
missing gridiron stripes (the stripe that descends obliquely forward from the 'gridiron patch' above the base of the
tail).
Many zoos are already supporting this work by submitting photos of their Hartmann’s mountain zebras to the intl
studbook and Prof. Gosling. If you would like to contribute too, please take photos of both sides o fyour
Hartmann’s zebra, name them with the studbook number and send them to Tanya Langenhorst on
TanyaL@marwell.org.uk .
AII