Conservation genetic management of a critically endangered New Zealand endemic bird: minimizing inbreeding in the Black Stilt Himantopus novaezelandiae |
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Authors: | ERIN N. HAGEN MARIE L. HALE RICHARD F. MALONEY TAMMY E. STEEVES |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand;2. Island Conservation, Las Urbinas 53, Providencia – Santiago, Chile;3. Research and Development Group, Department of Conservation, PO Box 13049, Christchurch, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | For threatened species with small captive populations, it is advisable to incorporate conservation management strategies that minimize inbreeding in an effort to avoid inbreeding depression. Using multilocus microsatellite genotype data, we found a significant negative relationship between genetic relatedness (inbreeding) and reproductive success (fitness) in a captive population of the critically endangered Black Stilt or KakīHimantopus novaezelandiae. In an effort to avoid inbreeding depression in this iconic New Zealand endemic, we recommend re‐pairing closely related captive birds with less related individuals and pairing new captive birds with distantly related individuals. |
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Keywords: | inbreeding depression microsatellites genetic relatedness reproductive success Kakī |
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