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Simplified polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sexing assists conservation of an endangered owl, the Norfolk Island Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

Michael Double  and
Penny Olsen
Michael Double
Affiliation:
Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia
Penny Olsen
Affiliation:
Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia
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In 1986 a single Norfolk Island Boobook Owl Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata remained. As part of a re-establishment programme, two male New Zealand Moreporks N. n. novaeseelandiae were introduced, one of which survived to pair with the female in the wild and breed successfully. By 1995 the population numbered 12 or 13 individuals of which seven were second generation (F2). However, there were only two breeding pairs. As the 11 hybrids could not be sexed using morphometrics we developed a molecular method based on a recently described avian polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sexing technique. The population was found to contain six females and five males. A scarcity of mature males was established as the main factor slowing the recovery effort.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , September 1997 , pp. 283 - 286
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1997

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