Genetic diversity and saving the forty spotted Pardalote

Bruny Island
The 40-spotted pardalote is a tiny bird that now lives largely just on Maria Island, Bruny Island and a couple of small patches of forest across from Bruny Island

The importance of maintaining ecological diversity is a well understood concept in conservation biology. This research paper looks at how this concept applies to the tiny remaining population of the endangered forty spotted pardalote.

The paper finds highlights the importance of genetic monitoring alongside other conservation actions, to save this exquisite bird.

"...the small effective population sizes we estimated for some populations indicate that they are vulnerable to genetic drift, highlighting the urgent need to implement habitat restoration to increase population size and to conduct genetic monitoring." - study authors
Using conservation genetics to prioritise management options for an endangered songbird

Article published in Heredity, 2023. Authors - Fernanda Alves, Sam C. Banks, Max Edworthy, Dejan Stojanovic, Naomi Langmore, and Robert Heinsohn.

The article can be read in full or downloaded here or you can visit the report on Nature.com here

Forty Spotted Pardalote KM
Forty Spotted Pardalote. Image: Kim Murray

Inala Nature Tours
Inala Nature Tours
Inala Nature Tours is based on Bruny Island in Tasmania and operates birding and wildlife tours...


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