DNA Fingerprint Variation and Reproductive Fitness in the Plain Pigeon

• Published in: Conservation biology Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 225 - 227
• Main Authors: Young, Deshea L., Allard, Marc W., Moreno, Jorge A., Miyamoto, Michael M., Ruiz, Carlos R., Pérez-Rivera, Raul A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, MA Blackwell Scientific Publications 01.02.1998; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animals; Aviculture; Biological and medical sciences; Biology; Breeding; DNA; Eggs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic variation; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Parrots; Pigeons; Plains; Population genetics, reproduction patterns; Research Notes; Research universities; Vertebrata; Central America; Puerto Rico; America; West Indies; Vertebrata; Reproduction; Genetic variability; Endangered species; DNA; Fingerprint method; Captivity; Aves; Population decline; Fitness
• ISSN: 0888-8892; 1523-1739
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-1739.1998.96386.x

The Plain Pigeon (Columbia inornata wetmorei) is an endemic subspecies of Puerto Rico. This once common bird has declined markedly due to habitat destruction, clandestine hunting, nesting failures due to human disturbance, and predation. Brock and White (1992) showed a significant negative relationship between the band-sharing counts (BSC) of the DNA fingerprints for individual breeding pairs and their success in fledging young in the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata). This significant association between D (where D = 1 - BSC) and successful fledging of young (their Table 3) was attributed to inbreeding depression. They proposed that DNA fingerprint differences can be used to guide the choice of individual Puerto Rican Parrots and other endangered birds selected as breeders in captive flocks. The availability of reproductive information for pairs of captive Puerto Rican Pigeons and the D estimates from Miyamoto et al. (1994) provide us an opportunity to evaluate the association between fingerprint differences and reproductive fitness. Such an evaluation complements studies showing a relationship between relatedness and fitness or genetic variation.