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Society for Conservation Biology 16th
Annual Meeting July 14-July 19 2002
co-hosted by DICE and the British Ecological Society
Abstracts for Poster Session One
Boards 1 - 11
Reception 17.45 - 19.30, Monday 15th July
Viewing 09.00 - 17.30, Monday 15th July and Tuesday 16th July
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Conference Home Page | Session
timetable
Boards 12 - 22 | Boards
23 - 33 | Boards 34 - 44
(BLOCK CAPITALS indicate the presenting author)
1) MUÑOZ, VIOLETA, Andy Grenn and Juan Jose Negro. Estacion Biologica
de Doñana (CSIC), Pabellon del Peru, Avda. Maria Luisa s/n, 41013 Sevilla,
Spain, vio@ebd.csic.es
GENETIC INTROGRESSION OF RUDDY DUCKS IN THE EUROPEAN POPULATION OF ENDANGERED
WHITE-HEADED DUCK
Genetic introgression of ruddy ducks has been stated in the European White-headed
Duck Action Plan as the major threat for the conservation of the white-headed duck.
Genetic techniques enable to answer many ecological questions with clear management
implications. We have sequenced mitochondrial DNA of many individuals, pure ones
of both species and hybrids. Our preliminary results show that it is the male ruddy
ducks with female white-headed ducks that are contributing to hybrids appearance
and presence.
2) DINGLE, CAROLINE and Thomas B. Smith. San Francisco State University,
Dept. of Biology, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132, <cdingle@sfsu.edu>,(CD),
Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California
Los Angeles, 1652 Hershey Hall, PO Box 951496, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1496 (TS).
THE ROLE OF GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION IN GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION OF PASSERINE BIRDS IN
THE ECUADORIAN ANDES
Understanding speciation processes is essential to conservation programs aimed at
preserving evolutionary processes as well as maintaining extant diversity. This study
addresses the hypothesis that the Andes mountains form a barrier to gene flow in
populations of passerine birds inhabiting both the eastern and western slopes. Two
species of passerines (Mionectes striaticollis, Streak-necked Flycatcher,
and Henicorhina leucophrys, Gray-breasted Wood-wren) were mistnetted in four
distinct regions of the Ecuadorian Andes: two on the east slope and two on the west
slope. Blood was collected from each bird and the entire length of the mitochondrial
ATPase gene (862 bp) was sequenced. Sequences from individuals in each region were
compared. No differences were detected in sequences of M. striaticollis individuals
from any of the four regions sampled. Sequences from all birds sampled were virtually
identical, with at most three base pairs differing between any two birds. In H.
leucophrys, consistent differences were found between sequences of birds from
the eastern and western slopes. Sequences of all individuals from the eastern slope
were identical, as were those from the west. These results suggest that the effectiveness
of the Andes as a barrier to gene flow varies depending on the species in question.
3) SELAYA, ANNEMARIE, Andres Aguilar, Gary Roemer, Robert K Wayne. Organismic
Biology, Ecology and Evolution Department, University of California Los Angeles,
Los Angeles CA 90095-1606, USA <aselaya@ucla.edu>
(AS, AA, RKW), Department of Fishery and Wildlife Sciences, New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces NM 88003-8003, USA (GR)
MHC DIVERSITY IN A SPECIES WITH LIMITED GENETIC VARIATION: THE ISLAND FOX (UROCYON
LITTORALIS)
The Channel Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis), a threatened species, inhabits
six of the California Channel Islands (Santa Catalina, San Nicolas, Santa Rosa, San
Miguel, Santa Cruz and San Clemente). Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) variation
at specific loci may confer parasite resistance to the foxes and therefore affect
individual fitness. MHC was assessed in U. littoralis populations from all
six Channel Islands via SSCP-PCR and sequencing analysis with primers specific to
domestic dog MHC DRB, DQA and DLA88 loci. Three different alleles were identified
at the DRB locus, four alleles at the DLA88 and only one allele at the DQA locus.
The polymorphism at the DRB and DLA88 locus indicates balancing selection acts on
the U. littoralis populations. Future work correlating allelic frequency with
parasite prevalence may identify alleles advantageous to the populations survival.
This information can be incorporated in current captive breeding programmes.
4) BROWNE, ROBERT A., Brian S. Arbogast and Peter D. Weigl. Wake Forest University,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina USA 27109 brownera@wfu.edu
(RB, PW), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington USA 98195 (BA).
PLEISTOCENE FOREST DYNAMICS AND THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF FLYING SQUIRRELS
Paleovegetational data suggest that Quaternary climate change affected the distributions
of the boreal and deciduous forests of North America in very different ways. We investigated
the genetic consequences of these contrasting forest histories for the flying squirrels
Glaucomys sabrinus and G. volans, two closely related species that
have a strong ecological association with boreal and deciduous forests, respectively.
We used mitochondrial DNA and allozyme data to infer genetic population structure,
levels of genetic variability, and historical changes in population size for each
species. The evidence suggests that flying squirrels persisted in at least three
separated forested refugia in North America during the most recent glacial maximum.
G. volans exhibits little genetic variability throughout its range and appears
to have undergone an intense historical bottleneck followed by a more recent post-glacial
population expansion. Levels of genetic variability within two endangered subspecies
of G. sabrinus from the southern Appalachians are lower than those observed
in other conspecific populations, but higher than those observed in G. volans.
Our results suggest that the Quaternary histories of boreal and deciduous forests
have been important factors in shaping the genetic diversity of North American flying
squirrels and other taxa associated with these two forest types.
5) Willis, Kevin, Michael Russello and GEORGE AMATO. Minnesota Zoo, Apple
Valley, MN (KW), Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, Columbia University,
New York, NY, (MR, GA), Wildlife Conservation Society, Science Resource Center, Bronx,
NY (MR, GA). gamato@wcs.org
INCORPORATING DNA INFORMATION INTO GENETIC MANAGEMENT: COST-BENEFIT CONSIDERATIONS
WHEN ASSIGNING RELATEDNESS.
Nuclear DNA information is increasingly being used as part of genetic management
of captive populations of endangered species. Identification of highly related pairs
of animals in the absence of pedigree information can allow managers to minimize
average kinship within a population and therefore maximize gene diversity. However,
because these data are inherently variable, unambiguous assignment of high relatedness
is seldom possible. Further, because the benefit of correct and cost of incorrect
assignment of high relatedness is not symmetric, being correct on average by using
unbiased estimates of relatedness may not improve overall genetic management. Presented
here is a novel approach to combining microsatellite data with theoretical modeling
to demonstrate how assessments of relatedness can compliment the current genetic
management strategy of minimizing kinship. A dataset of 8 polymorphic microsatellite
loci from 70 St. Vincent Amazon parrots is used as both a baseline for simulations
as well as to demonstrate practical application of this technique. The technique
described outperformed use of the relatedness coefficients in maximizing gene diversity
both in simulation as well as in the dataset using the known relationships among
animals.
6) ROBISON, HILLARY and Peter Brussard. Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
Biology/314, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, <hrobison@unr.nevada.edu>
(HR), Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology/314, University of Nevada, Reno,
NV 89557, USA (PB).
ARMY CUTWORM MOTH MIGRATION AND GRIZZLY BEAR CONSERVATION
The army cutworm moth (Euxoa auxiliaris) (ACM) is native to North America
and migrates from the Great Plains to high elevations in the Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem (GYE), USA. ACM larvae are crop pests in many Great Plains states, while
ACM adults are the richest grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) food in
the GYE. While foraging on ACMs, bears geographically separate themselves from human
use areas, and fewer human-caused bear mortalities occur than when ACMs are not available
to bears. We collected ACMs from ten high elevation sites and from 39 surrounding
agricultural areas. We found ACMs begin mating in high elevation and continue to
mate enroute to and in agricultural areas. We developed microsatellites for the ACM
to elucidate their migration patterns, determine their Great Plains origins, determine
if they show site fidelity to Great Plains and GYE sites between years, and discern
the scale at which environmental factors (e.g., weather, habitat loss, and pesticides)
may influence ACM abundance and availability to bears. By foraging on ACMs, bears
gain pre-hibernation fat stores and incidentally minimize conflicts with humans;
hence, determining ACM origins and the scale at which environmental factors influence
their availability to bears is important to grizzly bear conservation.
7) IYENGAR ARATI, Narendra V. Babu, Stephan M. Funk, Simon Hedges, Arun Venkataraman
and Phillip A. Morin. Laboratory for Conservation Genetics , Max Planck Institute
for Evolutionary Anthropology, Inselstrasse 22, 04103 Leipzig, Germany <iyengar@eva.mpg.de>
(AI, PAM); Asian Elephant Research and Conservation Centre, Centre for Ecological
Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India (NB, AV); Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London , Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK (SMF);
Coordinator, Dhole working party of IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, c/o 4 Malthouse
Cottages, Lee Lane, Romsey SO51 9LH, UK (SH).
USE OF MICROSATELLITE MARKERS TO STUDY DHOLE (CUON ALPINUS) POPULATIONS IN
SOUTHERN INDIA AND JAVA
The Asiatic wild dog, or dhole (Cuon alpinus), an endangered canid once
found throughout much of Asia, is currently thought to be at high risk of extinction
in many areas. Little is known about this species except for a few studies from India
and there have been no genetic studies to date. We are using microsatellite markers
to carry out population genetic studies in two locations. Screening of 24 Canis
microsatellite locus primers has resulted in the identification of 20 loci which
are polymorphic in dholes. We have established, using quantitative PCR, that approximately
40% of DNA samples extracted from dhole faeces contain DNA of good enough quality
and quantity to allow accurate genotyping. We have collected 51 scats from Baluran
National Park (Java, Indonesia), thought to contain 2 packs of dholes of approximately
9 individuals each, and 135 scats from four adjoining packs consisting of 3, 4, 10
and 12 individuals each in Mudumalai National Park (Southern India). Genotyping using
12 sets of primers is being carried out and information on levels of genetic diversity,
levels of gene flow and population structure in these groups is being obtained, all
with implications for conservation of this species.
8) MCALILEY, L. REX, Michelle L. Haynie, Joel G. Brant, Carleton J,. Phillips,
Clyde Jones, and Robert J. Baker. Texas Tech University, department of Biological
Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, 79414. (mcaliley1@cox.net)
EXAMINATION OF A PROPOSED CORRIDOR IN ECUADOR: DOES THE RIO PASTAZA RESTRICT GENE
FLOW. A PILOT STUDY.
In the realm of conservation biology, scientists have studied the feasibility of
connecting disjunct populations using natural corridors. However, the effectiveness
of corridors is still not well understood and needs to be further studied in a natural
environment. The purpose of this study was three fold: First to determine the effectiveness
of a proposed natural corridor located between two national parks in Ecuador, Parque
Sangay and Parque Llanganantes; Second to determine too what extent the Rio Pastaza
act as a barrier to gene flow; and third to begin to identify the biodiversity within
the corridor and the two parks. For our examination we collected small rodents from
within the corridor and trapped within each park. Samples were collected tissues
samples taken and voucher specimens placed in the Natural Science Research Laboratory
Texas Tech University. Four hundred bases of cytochrome b gene were amplified
from individuals captured and genetic diversity examined between them. To date we
have identified 11 species with 3 collected from both sides of the Rio Pastaza. Our
preliminary data suggest that for two of these species the Pastaza restricts gene
flow. However, for the third species it does not appear to be effecting the flow
of genes.
9) BLANCHONG, JULIE A., Anna Bess Sorin and Kim T. Scribner. Michigan State
University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, <blanchon@msu.edu>
(JAB, KTS), University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology, Department of Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA, (ABS).
HABITAT FRAGMENTATION AND ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON DEER POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY, BEHAVIOR
AND GENETICS
Fragmentation of natural habitats is likely to increasingly impact population demographic
and genetic characteristics. Herein we illustrate the impacts of anthropogenic effects
through comparative analyses of four white-tailed deer populations. We hypothesize
that population differences in degree of isolation, size and sex/age structure have
led to differences in gene diversity and relatedness. We used molecular genetic markers
to compare the degree of relatedness in four deer populations from Michigan that
differ in several characteristics. Deer in the Edwin S. George Reserve (ESGR) are
older with a dominant male breeding hierarchy and equitable sex ratio. Deer Management
Unit 452 (452) is a large female-biased population. Age structure is comparatively
younger and there is no dominant male breeding hierarchy. Characteristics of two
metropark populations (Stony Creek (SCM) and Kensington (KM)) are intermediate to
ESGR and 452. The isolated ESGR population had the lowest genetic diversity and highest
coancestry. The open 452 population had the highest genetic diversity and lowest
coancestry. The metropark populations (SCM and KM) were intermediate to ESGR and
452. The differences among the populations were a function of differences in degree
of isolation and anthropogenic influence. Results illustrate that increasing anthropogenic
influence can affect levels of population genetic diversity.
10) GUNN, MELISSA, Jyoutsna Gupta, Felicity Donaldson, William Sherwin. School
of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney
2052, Australia <m.gunn@unsw.edu.au>
WHICH MEASURE OF VARIATION SHOULD BE USED TO MONITOR BOTTLENECKED POPULATIONS?
Microsatellite markers are a popular method of determining the level of variation
in an endangered species’ genome. The assumption is made that microsatellites, which
are neutral markers, behave in the same manner as quantitative traits, which often
directly affect survival, and are therefore subject to selection. If this assumption
is disproven, then the use of neutral markers in conservation monitoring would have
to be re-evaluated. We are conducting bottleneck experiments using Drosophila
melanogaster to test the assumption that variation in quantitative traits under
balancing selection declines at the same rate as variation in microsatellite markers,
during a population bottleneck. We have initiated a number of bottlenecked populations
of varying effective population size (Ne) and generations. We are collecting data
to compare 8 microsatellites with egg numbers and sternopleural bristle numbers.
Preliminary results from the intense bottleneck (Ne=2) sternopleural bristles indicate
that variation is not being lost at the same rate as predicted by neutral theory
(Ne x generations). Variation in microsatellites may not be the most appropriate
measure of variation to monitor in endangered species.
11) ROON, DAVID A., Joe Chivaro, Katherine C. Kendall, Lisette P. Waits. College
of Natural Resources, Department of Fish and Wildife, University of Idaho, Moscow,
ID, 83844, USA roon8505@uidaho.edu (DAR, LPW), Deparment
of Natural Resources, Carroll College 1601 North Benton Ave., Helena MT, 59625, USA
(JC), U.S. Geological Surveys-BRD, Glacier Field Station, Science Center, c/o Glacier
National Park, West Glacier, MT 59936-0128, USA (KCK).
USING MTDNA SEQUENCING TO REVEAL FINE SCALE SPATIAL POPULATION STRUCTURE FOR VAGILE
SPECIES (URSUS ARCTOS) IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Distributions of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes have been effectively used in identifying
broad phylogeographic patterns, but have rarely been applied in assessing fine-scale,
intra-population structure. In 1998 and 1999, we used barbed-wire snags to collect
hair samples from two bear species, Ursus arctos and U. americanus,
across 8000 km2 of Glacier Park (USA). UTM coordinates were recorded for every sample
collection site. After genotyping all U. arctos samples for species, sex,
and individual, we selected 73 females and 77 males using a randomized block approach,
and sequenced a 300bp section of the MtDNA control region. Haplotypes were plotted
using GIS, and spatial distribution assessed using geostatistics. We identified eight
haplotypes; one of which was female-specific, and three of which were male-specific.
One haplotype (37a) occurred in 65 females and 59 males. The only other haplotype
appearing in multiple females (37b) had a geographically random distribution. Three
male haplotypes (40a, N=4, 39b, N=3, 37b, N=6) clustered into geographically discrete
regions. (p << 0.001). We propose several explanations for this pattern, including
anthropogenic and/or geographic barriers to dispersal, disproportionate sampling
of kin groups, and pre-existing, broad scale spatial patchiness. We discuss the relative
merits of these hypotheses in light of individual microsatellite data.
The SCB2002 pages are maintained by Christine Eagle
email: C.M.Eagle@ukc.ac.uk
Conference email: scb2002@ukc.ac.uk
Last updated: 07.07.02