Genetic Assignment and Monitoring of Yellow Cardinals

Abstract

The yellow cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata) is a passerine bird endemic to southern South America. At present, the species is threatened with extinction, in part because of the capture of wild birds to supply the illegal caged‐bird market. Previous genetic evidence supports the existence of 3 management units for the species in Argentina, where the largest populations are currently found. Our objectives were to guide the reintroduction of these animals to their respective management units by determining the origin of seized specimens from illegal trade using 2 molecular markers, mtDNA and microsatellites, and to monitor the success of the released birds through radio‐telemetry. We compared the performance of different molecular markers and assignment approaches to optimize a technique capable of assigning the origin of confiscated yellow cardinals in a reliable way. Five of 10 released radio‐tracked individuals were predated shortly after liberation; however, 3 were successful in finding a mate and starting reproductive activities. Individual success was independent of the time spent in captivity, the liberation with a partner, the settlement type (semi‐open or closed), and the maximum distance traveled from the point of release. Cardinals that survived had higher individual heterozygosity. Our findings contribute a robust genetic assignment technique to be used in future yellow cardinal seizures and identify factors that might improve subsequent releases.