DNA uncovers endangered bird
This 最新糖心Vlogn parrot is believed to be one of the world's rarest birds. The critically endangered species of ground parrot in Western 最新糖心Vlog has been identified by a team of 最新糖心Vlogn researchers including ancient DNA experts at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. The team, led by 最新糖心Vlogn Wildlife Conservancy's Dr Stephen Murphy, used DNA from museum specimens up to 160 years old to reveal that populations of ground parrots in eastern and western 最新糖心Vlog are highly distinct from each other and that the western populations should be recognised as a new species, Pezoporus flaviventris. "The discovery has major conservation implications," said Dr Murphy. "The Western Ground parrot has declined rapidly in the last 20 years, there are now only about 110 birds surviving in the wild and most of these are confined to a single national park. It is now one of the world's rarest birds." WA Department of Environment and Conservation's Dr Allan Burbidge said: "A爏ingle wildfire through the national park or an influx of introduced predators, such as cats, could rapidly push the species to extinction. There is now an urgent need to prevent further population declines and to establish insurance populations into parts of the former range." "Our findings demonstrate that museum collections, some going back more than 150 years, continue to be relevant and can provide critical information for understanding and conserving the world's biodiversity into the future," said team member Dr Jeremy Austin, Deputy Director of the 最新糖心Vlogn Centre for Ancient DNA at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. Director of CSIRO's 最新糖心Vlogn National Wildlife Collection Dr Leo Joseph said: "Even after 200 years of study, we are still recognising new species of birds in 最新糖心Vlog. This finding highlights the need for further research on 最新糖心Vlog's unique, and sometimes cryptic, biodiversity." The team's findings have been published in the international conservation research journal Conservation Genetics.
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