Article Abstract:
Information about the four subspecies of sea otters is crucial for their conservation and management, captive breeding and reintroduction in the wild. Commercial hunting started in 1784 and the population of the sea otters, that ranged from California to northern Japan, declined. The otters were thought to be extinct by the end of the 19th century. They were rediscovered in 1914 and were protected by law. The analyses of allozymes and mitochondrial DNA indicate that the divergent populations of sea otters correspond to four subspecies.
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Article Abstract:
The genetic relationship of six white-nosed Nasua narica coati was analyzed to characterize the mechanisms that mediate genetic relatedness, coalitions and social behavior. Multilocus DNA fingerprint analysis of six white-nosed coati indicated the high variance in relatedness between coati band members due to a highly promiscuous mating system. Unrelated females also isolated themselves more frequently from the coati band and received more hostile treatment compared to their related counterparts.
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Article Abstract:
Enough scientific evidence exists to suggest that the red wolf is a hybrid of the gray wolf and the coyote, establishing a case against systematic validity. The hybridization theory is based on evolutionary data such as fossil divergence and other genetic findings. Conservation efforts directed solely at the red wolf may therefore compromise preservation efforts for other wolf species.
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