New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

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Genetic variation and hybridisation of black stilts (Himantopus novaezelandiae) and pied stilts (H. h. leucocephalus), Order Charadriiformes

BRENDA GREENE^*

Victoria University of Wellington
P. O. Box 600
Wellington, New Zealand

^*Present address: Auckland Regional Council,
 Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand.

Abstract  Isozyme electrophoresis was used to re-assess the taxonomic status of the endangered black stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) and the pied stilt (H. himantopus leucocephalus), Order Charadriiformes, in New Zealand. A total of 28 loci was scored from 17 enzyme systems from a total of 115 birds (43 pied stilts, 53 hybrids and 19 black stilts). G-tests of the allele and genotype frequencies at the two polymorphic loci (Mpi and Pgd) showed significant differences when black stilts, hybrids and pied stilts were tested together, implying there were two separate populations. Genetic distance between the two species (D = 0.006) was small, but the genetic data confirm that pied and black stilts are distinct at the species level.

Keywords  Isozyme electrophoresis; biodiversity; introgression; population genetics; New Zealand

Z980031
Received 27 July 1998; accepted 18 May 1999

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2004K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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