The indentification of genetic markers in the Roseate Spoonbill Ajaia ajaja and the family Bovidae and their application in captive population management

Abstract

Various genetic techniques were used to detect DNA polymorphisms in captive Roseate Spoonbills Ajaia ajaja and in several different species of the families Bovidae and Cervidae. The DNA polymorphisms found in the Roseate Spoonbill populations, from DNA fingerprinting and mtDNA haplotype analysis, were used to determine the parentage of captive born birds and the amount of genetic variation present in the Fort Worth and Dallas Zoo flocks. Primers designed for the amplification of (GT)n microsatellites in cows and goats were tested to ascertain whether the primers were species specific, or if they could be used to amplify (GT)n microsatellites in species throughout the families Bovidae and Cervidae. Primers amplifying microsatellite polymorphisms were identified and allele frequencies calculated for each species included in the study.