Ivory Harvesting Pressure on the Genome of the African Elephant: A Phenotypic Shift to Tusklessness

Erich J. Raubenheimer; Hilde D. Miniggio

doi:10.1007/s12105-016-0704-y

Ivory Harvesting Pressure on the Genome of the African Elephant: A Phenotypic Shift to Tusklessness

Erich J. Raubenheimer^*, Hilde D. Miniggio

^*Corresponding author for this work

Oral Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The unique chequered pattern of elephant ivory has made it a desired commodity for the production of various works of art. The demand however outstrips the supply and with soaring prices, illegal tusk harvesting is thriving on the African continent. Formal restrictions placed on trade in elephant products have been ineffective in reversing the rapid decline in elephant numbers. We are presently facing the reality of extinction of free roaming elephant on the African continent. This paper describes the histogenesis of the chequered pattern, the genomic impact of ivory harvesting on the phenotype of breeding herds, and the contribution of science to tracing the origin of illegal ivory.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	332-335
Number of pages	4
Journal	Head and Neck Pathology
Volume	10
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-016-0704-y
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2016

Keywords

African elephant
Dentin
Ivory
Tusklessness

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10.1007/s12105-016-0704-y

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abstract = "The unique chequered pattern of elephant ivory has made it a desired commodity for the production of various works of art. The demand however outstrips the supply and with soaring prices, illegal tusk harvesting is thriving on the African continent. Formal restrictions placed on trade in elephant products have been ineffective in reversing the rapid decline in elephant numbers. We are presently facing the reality of extinction of free roaming elephant on the African continent. This paper describes the histogenesis of the chequered pattern, the genomic impact of ivory harvesting on the phenotype of breeding herds, and the contribution of science to tracing the origin of illegal ivory.",

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AB - The unique chequered pattern of elephant ivory has made it a desired commodity for the production of various works of art. The demand however outstrips the supply and with soaring prices, illegal tusk harvesting is thriving on the African continent. Formal restrictions placed on trade in elephant products have been ineffective in reversing the rapid decline in elephant numbers. We are presently facing the reality of extinction of free roaming elephant on the African continent. This paper describes the histogenesis of the chequered pattern, the genomic impact of ivory harvesting on the phenotype of breeding herds, and the contribution of science to tracing the origin of illegal ivory.

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Ivory Harvesting Pressure on the Genome of the African Elephant: A Phenotypic Shift to Tusklessness

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Keywords

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