15 December 2009
Scientists develop new penguin DNA profiling technique
Penguins´ DNA is being used for the first time to study how they migrate between colonies.
Researchers from The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the University of Sheffield have identified genetic markers that can be used to track the movement of penguins and ultimately determine whether Antarctica´s changing climate is driving them from their favoured breeding sites.
By collecting penguin feathers and extracting their DNA, scientists can now determine the relatedness between different birds within a colony, enabling them to follow the movement of individuals and populations.
The markers have already been used to make a population map of macaroni penguins around South Georgia and are now being expanded to all species of penguin on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Professor Terry Burke, from the University of Sheffield´s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, said: "DNA profiling provides a powerful method of understanding how populations interact and is therefore an increasingly valuable tool for assessing conservation needs and priorities. We therefore very much welcomed the opportunity to assist IOZ to develop a DNA profiling system for penguin species in which the interactions among distant and potentially vulnerable populations are as yet little known."
ZSL´s own penguinologist, Tom Hart said: "Knowing how penguins are responding to climate change is vital to conservation efforts. If we understand how their populations are changing, we can do something about it, such as making sure that our protected areas are in the right place for penguins in 100 years time."
Penguins are not only threatened by climate change, but are also under increasing pressure from direct competition with fisheries. Studying them is notoriously difficult because they live in very harsh environments and are hard to track. This new monitoring tool enables scientists to follow their populations and address the threats that they face.
Tom Hart is now launching a series of expeditions to collect samples and plot how penguins move around the Southern Ocean. Notes for Editors: Tom Hart will be travelling to the Antarctic Peninsula with ZSL London Zoo penguin keeper Evelyn Guyett and collect feathers from as many penguin colonies as possible. This will allow them to understand how penguins are moving in relation to climate change. Please click here for more information and how to donate to this project.
Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. The Society runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research at the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation overseas.
The UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Biomolecular Analysis Facility (NBAF) provides support nationally to environmental researchers in the application of molecular genetics, metabolomics and bioinformatics to the study of natural populations of animals, plants and microbes. NBAF was founded in 1998 at the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield and has since expanded to include laboratories in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Oxford. The Sheffield laboratory is led by Professor Terry Burke and particularly supports the use of DNA profiling.
For further information please contact: Lindsey Bird, Media Relations Manager, on 0114 2225338 or email l.bird@sheffield.ac.uk
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