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Conservation genetic management of a critically endangered New Zealand endemic bird: minimizing inbreeding in the Black Stilt Himantopus novaezelandiae
Author(s) -
HAGEN ERIN N.,
HALE MARIE L.,
MALONEY RICHARD F.,
STEEVES TAMMY E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.2011.01137.x
Subject(s) - inbreeding depression , inbreeding , critically endangered , endangered species , biology , ecology , captive breeding , zoology , threatened species , population , demography , sociology , habitat
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 Kakī Himantopus 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.