What is it about?
All species of ungulates - mammals that have hooves, such as the gazelle, goat or sheep - in danger of extinction, living in North Africa from the analysis of DNA fragments have been identified for the first time. This methodology has allowed the experts to classify up to ten types of ungulates using non-invasive samples (feces, hair, bones) that avoid blood draws and catches of the specimens. The genetic and ecological information obtained from these analyzes is, according to the researchers, decisive in the development and implementation of programs that help the conservation of these species, many of them threatened by illegal hunting.
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Why is it important?
The use of non-invasive specimens collected in the areas inhabited by ungulates solves another of the reasons that made these species difficult to classify: their inaccessibility, since most of them live in mountain areas, such as Atlas mountain range, which extends through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, or desert areas. They are difficult to see because they have a lot of mobility. In addition, of some species are very few specimens that are dispersed. If we add to the political instability of some of these countries, it will be understood that there are few studies of North African ungulates and that, therefore, there is no clear identification.
Perspectives
The only way to avoid error is to study DNA. There is one part of the genome, of the whole sequence of genes, which is different for each species. This has enabled us not only to identify all types of North African ungulates but also to differentiate wild from their domestic counterparts, such as goats and sheep, who inhabit the same areas. With only field studies, this distinction was very complicated. The genetic and ecological information obtained from these analyzes is decisive in the development and implementation of programs that help the conservation of these species, many of them threatened by illegal hunting.
Miss Teresa L Silva
CIBIO/InBio
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Genetic identification of endangered North African ungulates using noninvasive sampling, Molecular Ecology Resources, October 2014, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12335.
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