https://popups.lib.uliege.be/2984-0317/index.php?id=484 Entrées d’index fr 0 https://popups.lib.uliege.be/2984-0317/index.php?id=2409 We outline the use of microsatellite markers to study the conservation biology and genetics of black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) and other grouse species. Microsatellites are useful in conservation genetics because they allow the detection of fine scale genetic structure, migration and possible negative effects of inbreeding in local populations while requiring minute samples of target DNA. Thus non-invasive techniques such as using shed feathers or faecal samples provide enough DNA for PCR-based genotyping. We have developed microsatellite libraries for both black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) and capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). These markers contain a high number of alleles and allow us to address the questions outlined above. In this paper we show that the markers are variable, and allow genotypic assignment of black grouse to leks separated by only 5.5 km. Wir zeigen die Möglichkeiten von genetischen Markern für den Naturschutz am Beispiel des Birkhuhns (Tetrao tetrix) auf. Mikrosatelliten Marker sind für den Artenschutz besonders geeignet. Nur geringe Mengen an DNA sind notwendig um Informationen über die genetische Struktur, den Austausch zwischen Populationen und mögliche negative Effekte von Inzucht in kleinen Populationen ermöglichen. Mittels PCR kann selbst DNA von Mauserfedern oder Kotproben für eine Genotypisierung verwendet werden. Wir haben für das Birkhuhn hochpolymorphe Mikrosatelliten entwickelt, die uns ermöglichen die ausgeführten Fragen zu beantworten. Wir zeigen, dass mit diesen hochvariablen Markern eine genotypische Zuordung von Birkhähnen zu Balzplätzen möglich ist, die nur 5.5 km von einander entfernt liegen. Les microsatellites - marqueurs en tandem d'ADN - se révèlent du plus haut intérêt pour l'étude de la génétique et donc de la conservation des Tétras lyres et autres tétraonidés dont les populations d'Europe centrale et occidentale sont de plus en plus isolées et fragilisées. Au départ d'échantillons minimes de séquences cibles d'ADN, il est en effet possible de détecter des structures génétiques à très fine échelle, d'identifier des marqueurs populationnels, de mettre en évidence des déplacements et mouvements migratoires, de mettre au jour d'éventuels effets négatifs de l'endogamie, d'évaluer la diversité et donc le pouvoir d'adaptabilité des petites populations insularisées en danger d'extinction. Il est de toute première importance pour les conservationnistes que ces perspectives reposent sur des techniques non invasives respectant l'intégrité des oiseaux ; des plumes ou des fèces récoltées sur le terrain fournissent en effet suffisamment d'ADN pour réaliser des analyses fines des génotypes. Au départ d'un important échantillon finlandais, les auteurs ont d'abord constitué pour les deux espèces de tétras européens - Tétras lyre et Grand Tétras - une bibliothèque de marqueurs microsatellites de référence. Ils ont ensuite récolté des plumes sur deux arènes de parade en Écosse. Les marqueurs considérés contiennent un nombre important d'allèles dont on peut déterminer la diversité. Celle-ci se révèle importante pour le vaste échantillon finlandais. Pour l'échantillon écossais, 19 coqs sur 20 ont pu être identifiés génétiquement et être assignés sur cette base à l'une ou l'autre de deux arènes distantes seulement de 5,5 km. La technique se révèle donc pleine de promesse pour fournir l'information nécessaire à une politique de conservation. Mon, 25 Mar 2024 10:50:28 +0100 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 10:50:39 +0100 https://popups.lib.uliege.be/2984-0317/index.php?id=2409 https://popups.lib.uliege.be/2984-0317/index.php?id=472 The Capercaillie has disappeared from the Belgian Ardennes at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Several reintroductions in Germany near the border in the late eighteenth and the early twentieth century have allowed some birds to reestablish small local populations which survived until 1933. The question arose as to the opportunity of a reintroduction in the Hautes Fagnes-Eifel Natural park. This problem is examined against the discussions conducted in Colmar in 1981 by two dozen specialists from France, Central and Northern Europe. The Capercaillie populations are on the decline in most parts of their european range since world war the second, and are near to become extinct in numerous traditional sites in Western and Central Europe, mainly in France, Germany and Bohemia. Factors affecting the population level are diseases, too high game-ungulates densities, atmospheric pollution (sharp rains), disturbance through touristic invasion, but all authors agree that the root of the problem is the development of modern sylviculture implying densification of the forest-roads network, spreading of phyto-sanitary products, and overall splitting and destruction of the habitat. This very sedentary bird needs indeed all its vital recquirements on a small area in mixed heterogenous forests with open wetter spaces for displaying and courting on the lek, dense shrub layer and plenty of preferred plants as food - blueberry shrub especially -, big old trees as roosting sites. Small population isolates disappear here and there. Numerous reintroduction programms have been conducted in the past 150 years. Very few succeeded, as in Scotland; most failed ! A special interest is granted to a raising experiment in progress in order to reintroduce the species in the Massif central in France, from where it disappeared two centuries ago; the young birds are released as soon as they have completed their post-juvenile moult, in a good heterogenous regenerated and planted forest; good attention is paid to the ontogeny of the behaviour and the adaptiveness of the birds to their new habitat. The aim is to produce enough birds to allow the building up of at least one reproductive social unit. Nevertheless, if the species is to be saved in those places from where it has not yet vanished, its vital habitat recquirements should be taken into consideration; plantations should be undertaken for long period through natural regeneration with small changes with time in natural ecological successions; clearings, borders should be multiplicated and diversity enhanced. Some experiments are in progress in Sweden, Switzerland and Black Forest of Germany, in order to achieve a compromise between conservation and economic recquirements. In France, forest management recommandations have been formulated by the national forestry service, since foresters are responsible for the structure and quality of the habitat: plant composition of the differents layers, importance of the clear-cuttings, length of the forest exploitation cycles. From all these considerations and experiments, it seems clear that conditions for a successful reintroduction of capercaillie in the Hautes-Fagnes are not prevailing at the present time. We need first to controll the public invasion and to improve the habitat suitability. But contacts with consultants and follow up of the Cevennes programme should be wellcommed. Fri, 26 Jan 2024 10:06:31 +0100 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 10:13:48 +0100 https://popups.lib.uliege.be/2984-0317/index.php?id=472