GENETIC-VARIABILITY IN SOUTH-AFRICAN BLUE WILDEBEEST (CONNOCHAETES-TAURINUS)

1. We used protein gel-electrophoresis to investigate genetic heteroge neity at 33 protein coding loci in a total of 46 blue wildebeest (C. t aurinus) kept under different management regimes. 2. Average heterozyg osity ranged from 2.14 to 4.3% and within-population differences accou nted for 97.2% of total relative gene diversity. 3. Comparatively litt le divergence was found between animals sampled from populations with very diverse population sizes and management histories, with the large st genetic distance estimated between any two populations being only 0 .0021. 4. We discuss our results with particular emphasis on the influ ence of management history on genetic diversity and divergence in C. t aurinus.