Events: detail
Profiling endangered species: how molecular genetics can help manage our vanishing species
- Hosted by:
- The Linnean Society of London
- Speaker:
-
Mike Bruford, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
- Starts:
- September 20, 2007 at 07:00 pm
- Ends:
- September 20, 2007 at 09:30 pm
- Location:
- The Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Meeting Room, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BF United Kingdom
- Maps:
Description
Many endangered species are elusive, live in inhospitable habitats and due to their rarity are present at extremely low densities. Under such circumstances, tracking individuals to observe their behaviour and understand the basic components of their life history is extremely challenging, yet this information is vital if we are to manage these species away from extinction in the next century. Because of these challenges, remote sensing techniques and using approaches such as camera-trapping and censusing populations via tracks and signs – especially dung, have become increasingly popular. However these methods are inaccurate and error-prone for much of the time and need to be supplemented with other methods. In the last ten years the use of DNA profiling has become increasingly important in this regard, and has enabled scientists to get a much better picture on social systems, parentage and relatedness, dispersal, individual movements and population census of endangered species. Although technically challenging in itself, forensic DNA profiling is an increasingly well-developed science and I will illustrate this approach using a number of examples from our laboratory, including western lowland gorilla social structure, orang utan population biology and giant panda reserve censusing. I will show how DNA profiling from dung is revealing aspects of these species’ habits that were previously unknown to us which will help us design better conservation programs and identify core habitat needs for these species in the future.
- Registration required:
- No
- Free:
- Yes
Additional information
Tea will be served from 17.30, a reception will be held after the lecture
For more information
- Contact person:
- Victoria Smith/Kate Longhurst
- Email:
- victoria [ at ] linnean.org
- Website:
- Profiling endangered species: how molecular genetics can help manage our vanishing species
