Genetic variability in three Amazon parrot species

Parrots of the genus Amazona are among the most threatened species of the Order Pscittaciformes. This work describes allozyme polymorphisms in three Amazon parrot species - the Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva), the Orange-winged Amazon (Amazona amazonica), and the Festive Amazon (Amazona festiva) -, and provides useful data for the evaluation of their genetic variability. We electrophoretically analyzed blood samples from 68 wild-caught individuals, maintained in captivity in three Brazilian zoos. Eight of the ten studied enzyme loci exhibited polymorphism. Glucosephosphate isomerase (Gpi) proved to be a diagnostic locus for the identification of these Amazon species. The expected average heterozygosity of the Blue-fronted Amazon (0.060) differed significantly from the expected heterozygosities of the Orange-winged Amazon and the Festive Amazon (0.040 and 0.039, respectively). This result was discussed as a consequence of hybridization between two geographic A. aestiva subspecies, and alternatively as a particular trait of this species. Genetic variability of the Blue-fronted Amazon compared to birds in general is not low on a species-wide level, despite the fact that this parrot is one of the most illegally traded species. Allozyme analysis proved to be an useful tool in monitoring the genetic variation within the genus Amazona and can be applied in the management program of other threatened species of this genus.

Biochemical taxonomy of Crenicichla (Pisces: Perciformes: Cichlidae) of the Iguaçu River, Brazil

Samples of Crenicichla iguassuensis and a morph from the Iguaçu River which differed from C. iguassuensis by its lips morphology were examined by isozyme starch electrophoresis technique. The analysis of 27 enzyme loci exhibited a genetic identity of 0.993 between the two morphs. No diagnostic locus was found that permitted to distinguish the two Crenicichla morphs. The data obtained in this investigation did not support the existence of two distinct species for this genus in the Iguaçu River, which suggested that the morphs stood for two polymorphic forms of Crenicichla iguassuensis.

Etudes sur les Acanthodactyles de Tunisie V.-Différenciation Génétique et Divergence

Electrophoretic analysis of allozymes encoded by 22 loci supports the specific status of four lizard taxa in the genus Acanthodactylus. LDH-2 appears as a diagnostic locus for the four species. Measures of genetic distance suggest two groups: A. inornatus- A. savignyi and A. pardalis- A. boskianus. A. boskianus relationships might yet be modified when intraspecific variability is more extensively known.