Genetic diversity of scarlet macaws Ara macao in reintroduction studies for threatened populations in Costa Rica

Desde 1990, la ecología de la lapa roja (Ara macao) en el Pacífico Central de Costa Rica ha sido estudiada. Un análisis preliminar de los conteos entre 1990-1994 demostró una población decreciendo rápidamente, en riesgo de desaparecer en varias décadas. Con sentido de alarma, esta información fue compartida con 16 actores locales y científicos en un taller sobre conservación de la lapa roja en Punta Leona. Se acordaron acciones de manejo inmediatas para rescatar la población en peligro y se creó, asimismo, una asociación local (LAPPA) para coordinar los esfuerzos. A partir de 1995, se comenzaron a aplicar acciones de manejo in situ, que involucraron el hábitat, la población de lapa roja y las comunidades humanas. Como resultado, se registró un aumento significativo de dicha población y ampliación de su rango. Esto posiblemente se debió a a) la protección del hábitat y de los pichones en sus nidos; b) la educación ambiental sobre la lapa roja en escuelas rurales y pueblos; c) LAPPA coordinando muchos proyectos de manejo; d) la siembra de árboles utilizados por la lapa roja; e) construcción y colocación de nidos artificiales, y f) Punta Leona como padrino del proyecto desde 1994. Esta investigación aplicada y manejo in situ de lapa roja ha demostrado cómo recuperar una población en vías de extinción. Sin embargo, retos futuros que deben ser abordados incluyen: a) el cambio climático; b) necesidades de investigación, manejo y monitoreo con una población de lapa roja en expansión, y c) el impacto de las reintroducciones de lapa roja (manejo ex situ).

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552 Comparison of Genetic Diversity in between Two Germplasm Banks Containing Lycopersicon esculentum Accessions

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.491a ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 491A-491

Author(s):

James Nienhuis ◽

Julie Rodriguez ◽

Wilber Phillips ◽

Peter Hanson ◽

Liliway Engle

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽

Molecular Marker ◽

Research And Development ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

Core Collection ◽

Germplasm Bank ◽

Development Center ◽

Germplasm Banks

Worldwide, there are cuurently more than 60 germplasm banks that contain tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) collections ranging is size from a few dozen to several thousands of accessions. In the utilization of these genetic resources sampling from only one germplasm bank may result in limiting available genetic diversity, whereas sampling from several germplasm banks may result in unnecessary redundancy. The current lack of knowledge regarding the relative magnitudes of genetic diversity contained within different collections makes it difficult to develop a core collection that maximizes genetic diversity. Two large tomato collections are housed at the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), Sanhua, Taiwan, R.O.C., and the Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Enseoanza (CATIE), Turrialba, Costa Rica. Ninety-six accessions from CATIE and 102 accessions from AVRDC were randomly sampled from each base collection. The total of 198 accessions were charcterized for 103 polymorphic RAPD molecular marker bands. The results indicated that the two germplam banks sampled different genetic diversity. In addition, the magnitude of genetic diversity was greater in the AVRDC collection compared to CATIE.

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Genetic structure of Oryza glumaepatula wild rice populations and evidence of introgression from O. sativa in Costa Rica

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1095 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Eric J Fuchs ◽

Allan Meneses Martínez ◽

Amanda Calvo ◽

Melania Muñoz ◽

Griselda Arrieta-Espinoza

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Costa Rica ◽

Genetic Structure ◽

Wild Species ◽

Wild Rice ◽

Wild Rice Species ◽

Genetic Diversity And Structure ◽

Diversity Estimates ◽

Oryza Glumaepatula

Wild crop relatives are an important source of genetic diversity for crop improvement. However, gene flow from cultivated species into wild species may prove detrimental. Introgression may lead to changes in wild species by incorporating alleles from domesticated species, which may increase the likelihood of extinction. The objective of the present study is to analyze how genetic diversity is distributed within and among populations of the wild rice species Oryza glumaepatula in Costa Rica. We also evaluated if there is evidence of introgression between wild rice and commercial varieties of O. sativa since it is cultivated commonly in close proximity to wild rice populations. Individuals from all known O. glumaepatula populations in Costa Rica were collected. With the aid of 455 AFLP markers, we characterized the genetic diversity and structure among seven populations in northern Costa Rica. Given the dominant nature of our markers, Bayesian estimates of genetic structure were used. We also compared genetic diversity estimates between O. glumaepatula individuals and O. sativa commercial rice. Our results show that O. glumaepatula populations in Costa Rica have moderately high levels of genetic diversity, comparable to those found in South American populations. This is likely a result of large population size. Despite the restricted distributions of this wild species, in Costa Rica most populations are composed of several thousand individuals, thus reducing the effects of drift on genetic diversity. Our results also found low but significant structure (\theta=0.03±0.001) among populations that are separated by ~10 Km within a single river. The position of the population along the river did not influence genetic diversity estimates or differences among populations. This river does not have a strong current and meadows or seeds may easily move upstream, thus homogenizing genetic diversity across populations regardless of river position. Ample gene flow through pollen, seeds or detached culms within the same river reduces genetic structure. A Bayesian structure analysis showed that individuals from two populations share a significant proportion of their genomes with O. sativa genome. These results suggest that the low levels of genetic structure found in these populations are likely the result of introgression from cultivated O. sativa populations. These results expose an important biohazard as recurrent hybridization may reduce genetic diversity of this wild rice species. Introgression may transfer commercial traits into the only populations of O. glumaepatula in Costa Rica, which in turn could alter genetic diversity and increase the likelihood of local extinction. These results have important implications for in situ conservation strategies of the only wild populations of O. glumaepatula in Costa Rica.

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Evolution of a community-based, Scarlet Macaw conservation organization

UNED Research Journal ◽

10.22458/urj.v4i1.135 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 71-84

Author(s):

Christopher Vaughan

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Community Based ◽

Ara Macao ◽

Scarlet Macaw

El estudio analiza la evolución de un esfuerzo comunitario para conservar la población de la lapa roja (Ara macao) del Pacifico Central de Costa Rica. Entre 1990-1994, investigación fue llevado a cabo para demostrar que la población estaba bajando, primordialmente debido a la explotación de los pichones. El Club Punta Leona, el Pueblo de Quebrada Ganado y la Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica) iniciaron un esfuerzo de conservación de la especie. Dos talleres regional fueron llevado a cabo en los años 1994 y 1999 para evaluar y detallar una estrategia de protección. Los dos talleres recomendaron: (a) llevar a cabo una programa de educación ambiental a nível local, (b) proteger los pichones en sus nidos, (c) aumentar las fuentes de alimentación y los sítios de anidar de las lapas, investigar y monitorear la población de lapa rojo constantemente y (d) promover el proyecto y proveer regresos económicos a los locales. Una organización local, LAPPA, se creo que para encargarse de llevar a cabo la estrategia. Revisando sus éxitos, la junta directiva de LAPPA considera que ellos han sido efectivos con respeto a puntos a, b y d. La planificación estratégica llevado a cabo fue esencial para el trabajo de conservación. La metodología utilizado en el segundo taller ayudo a esquematizar el plan de trabajo para la lapa roja más claramente que el primer taller. Finalmente, los fondos canalizados a través de LAPPA para el trabajo de la conservación de la especie en forma exitosa. Para asegurar el éxito futuro, los miembros de las juntas consideran que el programa requiere: (a) lideres comunitarias adicionales, (b) planificación estratégica anual, (c) financiamiento para emplear un empleado tiempo completo para LAPPA, (d) educación ambiental continua para escolares, (e) un sistema de contabilidad transparente, y (f ) una continuación de las investigaciones y monitoreo de la población de lapa roja.PALABRAS CLAVEAra macao, conservación a nivel de la comunidad, educación ambiental, monitoreo, lapa roja, planificación estratégica

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Reduced diet breadth in the Scarlet Macaw Ara macao of the Área de Conservación Osa (ACOSA), Costa Rica: Implications for conservation and ecotourism

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270920000088 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 575-585

Author(s):

JOSEPH O.E. HAMM ◽

GRACE M. BOND ◽

LAURA C. EXLEY ◽

EMMA A. KOREIN

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Native Species ◽

Diet Breadth ◽

Ecosystem Dynamics ◽

Central American ◽

Food Sources ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Dietary Niche ◽

Ara Macao ◽

Scarlet Macaw

SummaryThe Área de Conservación Osa (ACOSA) contains the largest population of Scarlet Macaws Ara macao in Costa Rica. Despite their influence on ecosystem dynamics and status as a flagship species, empirical data on the foraging patterns of this population is lacking. This information is crucial in implementing effective conservation strategies, particularly reintroduction attempts. Observations of feeding behaviour were made systematically over a 12-month period to provide the first direct examination of Scarlet Macaw diet within the ACOSA region. Scarlet Macaws feed on various items including seeds, flowers, bark, and leaf-gall larvae. Key findings included a demonstration of a smaller dietary niche breadth than that recorded for other Central American populations, use of button mangrove Conocarpus erectus, a species not previously recognised as a food source for Scarlet Macaws, and a heavy reliance on an exotic non-native species, Terminalia catappa. We argue that whilst human-modified coastal locations may present viable habitat for Scarlet Macaws, anthropogenic influences including the removal of native food sources and proliferation of exotic and cultivated species have left the Scarlet Macaws of the ACOSA particularly dependent on a small number of species.

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