Ancient DNA gives green light to Galapagos Land Iguana repatriation

Authors / Editors

Research Areas

Publication Details

Output type: Journal article

Author list: Hofkin BV, Wright A, Altenbach J, Rassmann K, Snell HM, Miller RD, Stone AC, Snell HL

Publisher: Springer

Publication year: 2003

Journal: Conservation Genetics (1566-0621)

Volume number: 4

Issue number: 1

Start page: 105

End page: 108

Number of pages: 4

ISSN: 1566-0621

eISSN: 1572-9737

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

Unpaywall Data

Open access status: closed

Abstract

Land Iguanas, Conolophus subcristatus, were extirpated from Isla Baltra, Galapagos Archipelago in the 1940s. Historical records indicate that some Baltra iguanas were translocated to nearby Isla Seymour Norte in the 1930s. Plans to repatriate iguanas to Baltra were suspended when evidence suggested that iguanas on Seymour Norte may not be entirely of Baltra origin. Comparison of DNA from century-old museum specimens with extant iguanas has identified those individuals of unambiguous Baltra origin on Seymour Norte. These results provide scientific criteria for the ecological restoration of these endangered reptiles.

Keywords

ancient DNA, conservation, Galapagos Land Iguanas, repatriation

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