The genetics of threatened birds
The conservation of threatened species is an ongoing effort the world over. Understanding the genetic variability of different species, and populations within species, can help conservationists plan their efforts better. The EU-funded 'Conservation genetics of threatened bird species' (AVICONGEN2) project used a number of genetic tools to study the variation in and population structure of threatened bird species. Birds studied during the project included the greater and lesser spotted eagles, the white-tailed eagle and the black stork. AVICONGEN2 found significant hybridisation between greater and lesser spotted eagles, across a broad geographical area. Researchers concluded that this poses a significant threat to the highly endangered bird. For black storks, research revealed that the ratio between sexes is uneven, which may negatively impact on the survival of the species. Birth rate in both the greater spotted eagle and the black stork is very low. In the case of the greater spotted eagle, this is compounded by frequent deaths during migration. Finally, AVICONGEN2 found that in Estonia there is a pocket of high genetic diversity in white-tailed eagles that is not reflected in other European populations. This is likely due to the high migration rate of these birds within Estonia. The outcomes of this project will aid planning and implementing of conservation strategies to protect these threatened species.
Keywords
Threatened birds, birds, population genetics, conservation, threatened species, conservation genetics, genetic diversity