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Use of DNA fingerprinting in planning a breeding program for the riverine rabbit ( Bunolagus monticularis )
Author(s) -
Dippenaar S. M.,
Ferguson J. W. H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.1430130305
Subject(s) - biology , captive breeding , endangered species , population , dna profiling , zoology , habitat , ecology , evolutionary biology , genetics , dna , demography , sociology
The riverine rabbit ( Bunolagus monticularis ) is an endangered and endemic species found within a small geographic range in semiarid southern Africa. A captive breeding program has been initiated for reintroducing rabbits into suitable but vacant habitat. DNA fingerprinting was used to identify individuals within a captive group suitable for inclusion in a larger captive breeding program. This methodology allowed the ranking of suitabilities of these individuals, and the results emphasize the need to capture wild rabbits over a wide geographic area for setting up a larger founder population. A statistical technique for inferring linkage between fingerprint probes was used. Fingerprinting methodology allowed a genetic basis for planning the captive breeding program. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.