Conservation potential of aviculture
Australia is home to a fascinating array of flora and fauna, including around 400 species of birds that are unique to Australia. By 2010, 27 species of bird were listed as extinct, an additional 148 species were Threatened and another 63 species were considered Near Threatened (Garnett et al 2011). Zoos and other conservation organisations have long participated in the conservation of threatened species through captive breeding and (eventually) reintroduction programmes.
Private aviculturalists could contribute a lot to conservation efforts for threatened species. They have a wealth of knowledge on optimal bird breeding conditions, which can be vital to establishing and expanding captive breeding programmes. Further, private aviculturalists often have large bird collections, which may represent a significant fraction of genetic diversity and breeding potential for a threatened species. Unfortunately, private avicultural collections are a largely untapped resource for conservation programmes. Recently, the sad decline of the Red Siskin has spurred the interaction between conservation groups, researchers and aviculturalists in an attempt to manage captive breeding populations. There are a number of threatened species in Australia that are widely kept in aviculture, including the Black Throated Finch, and the Gouldian finch. The Red Siskin Initiative is still in the early stages, but we would like to follow this model and examine the conservation potential of private stocks of threatened Gouldian finches.
Private aviculturalists could contribute a lot to conservation efforts for threatened species. They have a wealth of knowledge on optimal bird breeding conditions, which can be vital to establishing and expanding captive breeding programmes. Further, private aviculturalists often have large bird collections, which may represent a significant fraction of genetic diversity and breeding potential for a threatened species. Unfortunately, private avicultural collections are a largely untapped resource for conservation programmes. Recently, the sad decline of the Red Siskin has spurred the interaction between conservation groups, researchers and aviculturalists in an attempt to manage captive breeding populations. There are a number of threatened species in Australia that are widely kept in aviculture, including the Black Throated Finch, and the Gouldian finch. The Red Siskin Initiative is still in the early stages, but we would like to follow this model and examine the conservation potential of private stocks of threatened Gouldian finches.
Genetic changes during domestication
The domesticated versions of wolves, cats, horses, cows can be very different from their wild ancestors in terms of behaviour and appearance. This is in part due to intentional breeding for certain favourable traits (e.g. milk production) - called artificial selection. Differences can also arise unintentionally because some traits are inherited with the traits of interest - think of health problems that arise with some of the dog breeds. Further differences occur simply because only a subset of the total genetic pool of wild individuals was taken into captivity. Genetic changes from domestication can occur over as short timescales as a few generations.
Scientists have long been interested in the changes that occur due to domestication. We are interested in this from a pure science perspective, but also how this affects the potential of avicultural stocks for conservation reintroduction programmes.
Scientists have long been interested in the changes that occur due to domestication. We are interested in this from a pure science perspective, but also how this affects the potential of avicultural stocks for conservation reintroduction programmes.
The Gouldian finch
The Gouldian finch is an iconic threatened finch, inhabiting the savannah grasslands of Northern Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland. Its beautiful plumage also makes it a popular avicultural species, whose stocks and breeding programmes could be useful for reintroduction in areas where Gouldian finches are locally rare. This project seeks to address the conservation element by assessing the genetic diversity of captive stocks relative to the wild. We are also interested in basic questions about genetic changes that occur due to domestication and common avicultural practices.
This is part of a larger project that is exploring genetic changes through time. We are comparing samples from museums from 100 years ago, contemporary wild birds, and contemporary captive birds. Preliminary work has found that there are genetic differences between wild and captive populations, as well as genetic differences between red head and black head morph domesticated birds. So we are interested in doing a proper survey of genetic variation in captive Gouldian finches.
This is part of a larger project that is exploring genetic changes through time. We are comparing samples from museums from 100 years ago, contemporary wild birds, and contemporary captive birds. Preliminary work has found that there are genetic differences between wild and captive populations, as well as genetic differences between red head and black head morph domesticated birds. So we are interested in doing a proper survey of genetic variation in captive Gouldian finches.
Project Goals
- Using genetics techniques, describe relatedness and diversity in avicultural collections across Australia.
- Describe genetic differences between collections within towns, between towns and across Australia
- Compare the genetic changes that have occurred since domestication
- Describe frequency of head-colour morphs (red or black) in captive populations.
Links & References
Garnett, ST, Szabo, J, Dutson, G. 2011. The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria.
http://www.birdsindanger.net/
Red Siskin Initiative: http://www.redsiskin.org/
Save the Gouldian fund: http://savethegouldian.net
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication
The domestication of dogs has caused harmful genetic changes http://www.sciencealert.com/the-domestication-of-dogs-has-caused-harmful-genetic-changes-study-finds
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/05/no-single-gene-responsible-animal-domestication
http://www.birdsindanger.net/
Red Siskin Initiative: http://www.redsiskin.org/
Save the Gouldian fund: http://savethegouldian.net
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication
The domestication of dogs has caused harmful genetic changes http://www.sciencealert.com/the-domestication-of-dogs-has-caused-harmful-genetic-changes-study-finds
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/05/no-single-gene-responsible-animal-domestication