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'CSI for Wildlife' go on the trail of deadly mystery
A TEAM of scientists are using crime scene investigation techniques to protect an endangered species from extinction thousands of miles from home.
Academics from Yorkshire plan to analyse the DNA from the tamaraw dwarf buffalo to find a way of saving the animal from extinction.
The creature only exists on the Philippine island of Mindoro and is seen as a symbol of the island.
However, in recent years its population has dropped below 300, following widespread hunting and the removal of its natural forest habitat, and the species could face extinction within 50 years
Lecturers from Hull University are attempting to save the dwarf buffalo by studying its DNA to discover where they tamaraw live, what they eat and how diverse their population is.
The project is being led by Phil Wheeler, a lecturer at the Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences at the university's Scarborough campus and Bill Hutchinson, a lecturer in molecular ecology in the biology department at Hull who are working in partnership with the Far Eastern University in Manila and the Philippines Government.
Although their research takes place in the spectacular surroundings of the Philippines the initial field work is less glamourous as the lecturers have to collect DNA samples by searching through droppings which the tamaraw have left around the island.
Dr Wheeler said: "The tamaraw is an extremely rare species and one of South-East Asia's least studied mammals.
"We refer to them as dwarf buffaloes, but they are actually 1.5 metres tall and weigh a third of a tonne.
"Through spending time here and gaining local knowledge about Mindoro's flagship species, we hope to be able to shed light on the life, habitat and remaining numbers of this rarely seen animal."
By identifying the locations of droppings the scientists hope to be able to put together a picture of the animal's movement on the island and identify the risks it faces which could threaten its survival.
But the research will not only tell scientists where the animals are but also allow them to analyse genetic data which will show how diverse the tamaraw's population is, how many family groups there are on the island and whether the animals are inter-breeding.
Dr Wheeler said: "If families inter-breed then it makes genetic disorders more likely which could affect the population.
"The main threats to the population have come from man, through over-hunting, loss of forest habitat and diseases which have come from cattle being farmed on the island.
"We call our research CSI for wildlife. Using DNA analysis we can now start to study rare and elusive species like the tamaraw, thanks to the advancement of 21st century science.
"The locals are immensely proud of their dwarf buffalo; Far Eastern University call their sports team 'the Tamaraws'. Our aim is for the research to lead to a coherent conservation programme for the tamaraw and help the people of Mindoro to keep this wonderful species alive."
Dr Hutchinson, who is supervising the genetic analysis said: "The trace quantities of DNA are extracted from the droppings using the university's facilities.
"The DNA fingerprints we obtain can be used to estimate the size of the population, breeding and social behaviour, and habitat usage within the reserve. This allows us to produce a better prediction of how the population is doing and where money and effort should be spent in the ongoing conservation programme."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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