Within the Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC), molecular genetic and statistical tools are used to study wild and captive populations, to increase conservation success.
Delineating (genetic) differences is of prime interest in conservation. Hence, samples from the wild and musea are analysed (microsatellites, sanger sequencing or NGS) to determine both the taxonomic position (e.g. military macaws, Ara militaris) or to understand recent population dynamics (e.g. effect of reintroductions in storks, Ciconia ciconia). In terms of captive breeding, most of this work centres around avoidance of hybridisation.
On a “lower” hierarchical level, individual subpopulations are subject of genetic surveys, which are often linked to one of our in-situ research projects. Genetic analysis on non-invasive stool samples of the Cross river gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) for instance enable us to get insights in population sizes, social interactions and dispersal rate of this highly elusive and threatened subspecies. These estimates are essential in modeling (eg. probability of extinction) and the management of these wild populations. Within ex-situ breeding populations we study the role of inbreeding depression and how genes affect the expression of traits (e.g. life-history traits in Congo peafowl, Afropavo congensis) and whether genetic variability of these traits changes throughout time.
Within captive breeding genetic goal are set and evaluated based on pedigrees, which often include gaps and assume founders to be unrelated. Here (genetic) management of breeding programs can be supported by DNA analyses. As such, samples of eg. captive golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) are currently analysed to resolve questions on founder relatedness and paternity, often by integrating the molecular data with the available pedigree data and samples from the wild. At the individual level, analyses on Major Histocompatibility Complex genes of Eurasian black vultures aim to optimize pair formation.