Das Projekt "Effects of contemporary and historical gene flow in maintaining the genetic diversity of fragmented Araucaria araucana populations" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Marburg, Fachbereich Biologie, Professur Naturschutzbiologie durchgeführt. Araucaria araucana ( Molina) K. Koch. is a species endemic to the southern South American temperate forest that grows in a reduced area between 37º 20' and 40º 20' S (Veblen et al., 1995). It represents the main food and economical resource of the aborigine communities (Mapuches) which lives in and from these forests. The great exploitation suffered by this species in the past, the long periods of fires and the intense human activities had led to a high level of erosion of its genetic resources, mainly in the eastern edge of its distribution range in Argentina where highly fragmented populations occur. Moreover, the complete absence of natural regeneration is driving these eastern populations to its extinction. For this reason, the species is currently protected in Argentina by regulations of Lanin National Park and Neuquen Province Government. Besides, it was recently included in CITES, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. However, little is known about its genetic variation and the recently began studies (Bekessy et al., 2002; Izquierdo et al., 2002; Gallo et al., 2003; Marchelli, Ziegenhagen & Gallo, 2003) should be complemented. The objective of this proposal is to study gene flow among fragmented populations in the Patagonian steppe in order to provide information for conservation strategies. Furthermore, the present project will allow the continuity and reinforcement of a long-lasting cooperation between the two groups that began in 1996.
Das Projekt "Erhaltung des Bartgeiers - Genetische Aspekte" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Bündner Naturmuseum Chur durchgeführt. Reintroduction, i.e. the release of captive reared animals to the wild in an attempt to re-establish or augment a population, is an accepted tool in conservation of endangered species. Within the framework of the international project 'Reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture in the Alps' more than 60 captive reared birds were released since 1986 to reestablish the extinct population in the Alps. Because they are small, both the captive and the reintroduced population face the potentially disastrous risks of inbreeding and loss of genetic variability. To avoid inbreeding and to minimize the loss of genetic variability a genetic and demographic management is needed. Important information's for the planning and realization of such a management are the amount of genetic variability remaining in the captive and released populations, compared to large natural populations and the knowledge of the genealogical relationships among the individuals. In the project 'Reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture in the Alps' the genealogy of current individuals is available, but relationship among the 33 reproducing founders is almost completely unknown and there are no assessments of the genetic variability in natural and captive populations. The proposed project will provide the missing genetic data required for establishing a genetic management plan for the Bearded Vulture and will provide important tools for the long-term monitoring of the released population. In addition, the results gained in this study will improve Population Viability Analysis of Bearded Vulture populations. 1. Relatedness analysis of breeding network birds: Molecular genetic techniques (i.e micro satellites) will be used to provide information on the relative genetic similarity or distance among the founder individuals. 2. Comparison of genetic variability between natural populations and the breeding network: To determine whether there is a loss of genetic variability due to inbreeding and genetic drift, we will measure the genetic variability in both natural and captive populations of the Bearded Vulture using microsatelite markers. 3. Comparison of genetic variability between the original population in the Alps and the breeding network. All birds from the original population in the Alps are extinct.
Das Projekt "Kombination von Pedigree- und Markerinformationen fuer die Erstellung von Anpaarungsplaenen zur Erhaltung gefaehrdeter Haustierrassen" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Institut für Nutztierwissenschaften durchgeführt. Der rapide Verlust von biologischer Vielfalt, vor allem auch im Bereich alter Nutztierrassen, macht die Konservierung und den nachhaltigen Umgang mit der Diversitaet existierender Nutztierrassen zu einem bedeutenden Ziel in der heutigen Tierzucht. Sowohl das Pedigree als auch genetische Marker liefern Informationen in unterschiedlicher Quantitaet und Qualitaet ueber die Aehnlichkeit bzw. Unaehnlichkeit von Individuen. Unter Verwendung einer Simulationsstudie werden die Auswirkungen verschiedener Zuchtstrategien (Verwendung von Marker- und/oder Pedigreeinformationen) auf die genetische Variabilitaet von Populationen geklaert. Anhand einer gefaehrdeten, oesterreichischen Nutztierrasse (Tux-Zillertaler-Rind) wird eine Situation in der Praxis untersucht und moegliche Probleme bei der Umsetzung von Erhaltungszuchtprogrammen werden aufgezeigt. Anpaarungsplaene fuer die Tux-Zillertaler-Population sollen erstellt werden.