Analysis of the genetic variability and breeding behaviour of wild populations of two Macaw species (Psittaciformes, Aves) by DNA fingerprinting

Abstract

We used DNA fingerprinting to examine genetic variation in wild populations of two species of Macaw: the Blue and Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna, in the Ema National Park, state of Goiás, Brazil) and the Green-winged Macaw (A. chloroptera, Pantanal, state of Mato Grosso do Sul/Brazil). Mean heterozygosity and genetic relationship between chicks from the same nest were estimated with the human multilocus minisatellite probes 33.6 and 33.15. The Green-winged Macaw has greater heterozygosity than the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw. The latter species showed a mean genetic similarity index similar to those in species considered vulnerable or endangered. Chicks from the same nest had genetic similarity indices close to those expected for first degree relatives in a monogamous species. In only one nest of the Green-winged Macaw did the index of similarity suggest that the chicks were from different parents. The sex ratio of both populations was close to 1:1. In the Green-winged Macaw population a sex- specific polymorphism was observed. Use of DNA fingerprinting can provide a tool to identify animal populations with low genetic variability,

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43
Ararajuba 9 (1): 43-49
junho de 2001
The Blue and Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) and the
Green-winged Macaw (Ara chloroptera) are considered
to have a broad geographic distribution, from Panama,
Central America, through almost the whole Brazilian
territory, the Southern limits being the State of São Paulo
for the Blue and Yellow Macaw and Paraná for Green-
winged Macaw (Sick 1997). Little is known about the
current status of existing populations but both species are
known to be strongly affected by habitat disturbance.
Destruction and fragmentation of natural areas as well as
the illegal trading of wild birds are considered as the main
threats against both species that are already extinct in many
localities within their original distribution and can be
considered vulnerable in other. Thus, the Blue and Yellow
Macaw, the most common Brazilian macaw, is considered
as critically endangered in the State of São Paulo (São
Paulo 1998), nearly extinct in the State of Rio de Janeiro
(Bergallo et al. 1999) and vulnerable in the State of Minas
Gerais (Machado et al. 1998).
Habitat destruction may lead to population frag-
mentation resulting in small and isolated populations. This
may lead to the reduction in heterozigozity levels and
adverse effects of consanguinity. Such conditions are known
to reduce general fitness and together with other stochastic
demographic and environmental events, can drive natural
populations to an extinction vortex (Gilpin and Soulé 1986).
Data on the reproductive biology and current status
of wild populations for most of Psittacidae species are
deficient and few genetic variability estimates have been
performed. In Brazil, some studies have been performed
with this focus on one population of the Hyacinth Macaw
(Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) from the state of Mato
Analysis of the genetic variability and breeding behaviour of wild
populations of two Macaw species (Psittaciformes, Aves) by DNA
fingerprinting
Renato Caparroz
1
, Neiva Maria Robaldo Guedes
2
, Carlos Abs Bianchi
3
and Anita Wajntal
1
1
Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 11461, 05422-970, São Paulo,
SP, Brazil. E-mail: renabio@ib.usp.br and aniwa@usp.br
2
Projeto Arara-azul, UNIDERP, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. E-mail: projetoararaazul@uol.com.br
3
Jardim Zoológico de Brasília, FUNPEB, Distrito Federal, Brazil. E-mail: bianchic@hotmail.com
Recebido em 11 de dezembro de 2000; aceito em 03 de abril de 2001.
RESUMO. Análise da variabilidade genética e do comportamento reprodutivo de populações silvestres de duas espécies de araras
(Psittaciformes, Aves) pela técnica DNA fingerprinting. No presente trabalho, foram estudadas amostras de populações silvestres de duas espécies
de araras, sendo uma de Ara ararauna (Parque Nacional das Emas/GO) e a outra de Ara chloroptera (Pantanal Mato-grossense/MS). Para estas
populações, a variabilidade genética, a relação genética entre filhotes do mesmo ninho e a proporção sexual foram estimadas através da análise com
as sondas de minissatélites humanos 33.15 e 33.6. A população de A. chloroptera apresentou maior variabilidade genética do que a população de A.
ararauna, sendo que esta última apresentou índices de similaridade genética semelhantes aos observados para outras espécies de aves consideradas
vulneráveis ou ameaçadas de extinção. Foi observado que a maioria dos filhotes de mesmo ninho apresentaram índices de similaridade genética
próximos aos esperados entre indivíduos com parentesco de 1
o
grau em sistema monogâmico. No entanto, em um dos ninhos de A. chloroptera, os
índices observados sugerem que os filhotes não pertecem ao mesmo casal. As duas populações estudadas não apresentaram desvios significativos nas
proporções sexuais. Na população de A. chloroptera foi observada a presença de um polimorfismo relativo às bandas sexo-específicas. A identifica-
ção de populações que apresentam perda da variabilidade genética poderá fomentar a elaboração de estratégias de conservação.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Psittacidae, Ara, DNA fingerprinting, variabilidade genética, comportamento reprodutivo, proporção sexual.
ABSTRACT. We used DNA fingerprinting to examine genetic variation in wild populations of two species of Macaw: the Blue and Yellow Macaw
(Ara ararauna, in the Ema National Park, state of Goiás, Brazil) and the Green-winged Macaw (A. chloroptera, Pantanal, state of Mato Grosso do
Sul/Brazil). Mean heterozygosity and genetic relationship between chicks from the same nest were estimated with the human multilocus minisatellite
probes 33.6 and 33.15. The Green-winged Macaw has greater heterozygosity than the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw. The latter species showed a mean
genetic similarity index similar to those in species considered vulnerable or endangered. Chicks from the same nest had genetic similarity indices
close to those expected for first degree relatives in a monogamous species. In only one nest of the Green-winged Macaw did the index of similarity
suggest that the chicks were from different parents. The sex ratio of both populations was close to 1:1. In the Green-winged Macaw population a sex-
specific polymorphism was observed. Use of DNA fingerprinting can provide a tool to identify animal populations with low genetic variability,
which can then lead to the elaboration of conservation programs.
KEY WORDS: Psittacidae, Ara, DNA fingerprinting, genetic variability, breeding behaviour, sex ratio.

44 Ararajuba 9 (1): 43-49 R. Caparroz et al.
Grosso do Sul (Miyaki et al. 1995b, 1998) and a captive
group of wild born Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii,
Caparroz et al. 2001).
In the present work, we estimated the mean
heterozygozis, the genetic similarity between chicks
sampled in the same nest and the sex ratio in one population
of the Blue and Yellow Macaw and one of the Green-
winged Macaw, using the human multilocus minisatellite
probes 33.6 and 33.15 (Jeffreys et al. 1985a). Both
populations studied have been monitored for many years
(Green-winged Macaw by Neiva M. R.Guedes; and Blue
and Yellow Macaw by Carlos A. Bianchi) and further data
on their biology will be published in the future.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Blood samples (0.1 ml) were collected by venipuncture
of 9 Blue and Yellow Macaw nestling found in 6 wild
nests at the Parque Nacional das Emas, state of Goiás
(1997-1999). For the Green-winged Macaw, samples of
16 chicks from 11 nests and of one captive adult Green-
winged Macaw were collected from southern Pantanal,
Mato Grosso do Sul state (1995 - 1997) (figure 1). These
samples were immediately transferred to microtubes with
0.5ml of absolute ethanol and stored at room temperature.
DNA was extracted by standard methodology and
processed as described in Bruford et al. (1992). Briefly,
approximately 5-6 µg of genomic DNA from each bird
were digested overnight with the restriction enzyme Hae
III at 37°C. The fragments were separated by electro-
phoresis through an 1% agarose gel (20 x 30 cm), during
approximately 72 h at 40 V. All samples of the same
population were loaded in the same gel.
In all gels, a molecular marker (λ Hind III) was loaded
in first lane and DNA from the same bird was loaded in
the second and in the last lanes in order to evaluate the
degree of band distortion during electrophoretic migration.
This allowed us to estimate more accurately the similarity
indexes between any two birds in the same gel. DNA
fragments were transferred onto a nylon membrane
(Hybond, Nfp, Amersham) by capillary Southern blotting
(Sambrook et al. 1989).
The human multilocus minisatellite probes 33.6 and
33.15 (Jeffreys et al. 1985a) were labelled by random
priming with [α-
32
P]dCTP, according to the manufacturer’s
recommendations (Life Technologies). Pre-hybridization
Figure 1. Regions where the wild populations’ blood samples were collected. A) Green-winged Macaw (Pantanal Sul Mato-Grossense); B)
Blue and Yellow Macaw (Parque Nacional das Emas).

Ararajuba 9 (1): 43-49 45Genetic variability in Macaws
was undertaken in a solution of 0.263M Na
2
HPO
4
, 1mM
EDTA, 1% BSA and 7% SDS at 65°C. After 2 to 4 h, one
probe was added to the solution and left overnight at the
same temperature. The membrane was washed in low
stringency solutions and exposed to an x-ray film with
one or two intensifying screens, at –70
o
C for two to seven
days. Then, the membrane was dehibridized with a solution
of 0.25M NaOH for 10 minutes and 0.1xSSC/1%SDS for
30 minutes at 45
o
C. After this the other probe was used as
described above.
Only the bands between 4.0 and 23.0 kb were
considered for analysis and marked on acetate overlays as
described by Westneat (1990). The band sharing coefficient
(index of similarity) between the individuals was
calculated using the formula: x = 2N
AB
/(N
A
+N
B
); where
N
AB
is the number of bands shared between the individuals
A and B. N
A
and N
B
are the number of bands present in
individuals A and B, respectively (Wetton et al. 1987;
Bruford et al. 1992). Only bands of the same electro-
phoretic mobility (migration distance of band centres
within 0.5mm) between two individuals were considered
to be the same allele. Sex-specific bands were excluded
from this analysis. The mean band sharing coefficient for
each population was estimated from pairwise comparisons
of DNA profiles from only one chick per nest.
Considering that each scored band is an independent
marker, we estimated the mean probability that all bands
in an individual’s profile are present in another unrelated
individual chosen at random as <x
n
, where x corresponds
to the mean band sharing coefficient and n the mean
number of scored bands (Jeffreys et al. 1985a; Bruford et
al. 1992). The frequency (q) of each scorable allele was
Figure 2. Band profiles of birds from two wild Macaw populations obtained by hybridization using human multilocus minisatellite probe 33.6.
a) Blue and Yellow Macaw ; b) Green-winged Macaw. The values of the molecular size marker are showed in the left side of each autoradiograph.
The white arrow shows the band present in eight of nine birds studied and the black arrows show the bands present in all studied birds. Note that
the bird in the first lane is repeated in the last lane in both.

46 Ararajuba 9 (1): 43-49 R. Caparroz et al.
estimated by as: q = 1 – (1-x)
1/2
(Jeffreys et al. 1985b).
Assuming absence of mutation, linkage or allelism, the
mean similarity index between full sibs was estimated by
as: x
i
= (4+5q-6q
2
+q
3
)/[4(2-q)], (Jeffreys et al. 1985c). The
mean heterozigosity was estimated by as: H = 2(1-q)/(2-
q), (Sundt et al. 1994).
Sex ratio of the studied birds was identified by analysis
of sex-specific band patterns in DNA fingerprinting
profiles obtained using minisatellite probe 33.15, as
described by Miyaki et al. (1997a) and results were
confirmed by PCR using the same primers as described
by Griffiths et al. (1998) and Miyaki et al. (1998).
RESULTS
The DNA fingerprinting profiles of the studied
populations obtained by using human multilocus
minisatellite probe 33.6 are shown in figure 2. Mean
number of fragments detected, mean band sharing
coefficients and other estimated data for both wild
populations with both minisatellite probes are shown in
table 1. Two bands below the analysed range were present
in all studied Green-winged Macaws (figure 2). Mean band
sharing coefficients estimated from the analysis with each
of the probes were higher for Blue and Yellow Macaw
population than those observed for the Green-winged
Macaw population (α < 0.05, non-parametric Mann-
Whitney test). In both populations, probe 33.6 detected
lower levels of variability than probe 33.15. The mean
band sharing coefficients combining the results obtained
by both probes were 0.315±0.090 for Blue and Yellow
Macaw and 0.231±0.084 for Green-winged Macaw.
However, in Blue and Yellow Macaw, 21% of the
fragments could be detected by both probes and in Green-
winged Macaw this percentage was of 23.
In three Blue and Yellow Macaw nests and five Green-
winged Macaw nests we found two nestling. The estimated
band sharing coefficients among chicks from the same nest
were close to those expected for full siblings (table 2).
However, in a Green-winged Macaw nest, the band sharing
coefficient between the chicks (x = 0.361 and 0.333 for
probes 33.6 and 33.15, respectively) was within the range
found between chicks sampled in different nests (table 1).
The hybridization with probe 33.15 revealed intense
female-specific bands in both Macaw species. In the Green-
winged Macaw population a pattern of four female-specific
bands was identified (figure 3). In five out of the eight studied
females (62.5%), the bands presented similar sizes compared
to those found in captive females (band pattern of 2.9; 3.9;
4.2; 4.4 Kb, Miyaki et al. 1997a). However, in three of the
females studied (37.5%), there was a different female-linked
band pattern of 3.0, 3.1, 4.3, 4.4 Kb. The sex-specific band
pattern observed in all Blue and Yellow Macaw females
was identical to the one described by Miyaki et al. (1997a).
Figure 3. Band profiles observed using the human multilocus minisatellite probe 33.15 for the Green-winged Macaw population. The values of
the molecular size marker are showed in the left side of the autoradiograph. The letters show the different sex-specific profiles found in this
population. (*) Females with b profile sex-specific, (M) male, (F) female.

Ararajuba 9 (1): 43-49 47Genetic variability in Macaws
Five out of nine Blue and Yellow Macaw chicks
were male and nine out of 17 Green-winged Macaw were
sexed as males. The observed sex ratio within each studied
populations was not significantly different from 1:1 (p >
0.05, chi-square test).
DISCUSSION
The decay of genetic variability in small populations
can be detected by the loss of heterozygozis and/or fixation
of alleles (Wright 1931). According Sundt et al. (1994)
there is a direct relationship between the heterozygozis
present in a population and the similarity indexes obtained
by DNA fingerprinting analysis.
Estimates of mean genetic similarity obtained by
the same probes we used, revealed that, for non-
endangered bird species, the indexes are usually below
0,30 (Burke and Bruford 1987; Hanotte et al. 1992;
Fleischer et al. 1994; Tegelström and Sjöberg 1995). The
same was true for such estimates in parrots of unknown
origin kept in captivity in aviaries, Zoos and official anti-
traffic institutions (Miyaki et al. 1993, 1995a, 1997b).
Our data show that in the studied samples, similarity
indexes between chicks from different nests were higher
for Blue and Yellow Macaw than for Green-winged
Macaw and that the estimated mean index for this Blue
and Yellow Macaw population was above the observed
values for non-endangered populations. The similarity
indexes for Green-winged Macaw were within values
observed in non-endangered populations. However, the
presence of two specific fragments detected with probe
33.6 in all the Green-winged Macaws studied suggests
that at least one locus is homozygous in all individuals
from this population. The presence of this fragment can
be useful as a population marker if it can be proved that it
is absent from other populations of the same species. This
“marker” was not found in a captive sample of Green-
winged Macaw, which was probably originated from
various wild localities (Miyaki et al. 1993), showing that
it is not a species marker. In the Blue and Yellow Macaw
population, the same probe detected another fragment in
eight out of nine chicks analysed. In the remaining chick,
there was a weak hybridization signal in this region.
Again, such fragment was not observed in samples of
captive kept birds of the same species (Miyaki et al. 1993).
Such “marker” may have spread in these populations
either because it was already present in the founder group
or because it became fixed by genetic drift more recently.
This last possibility should be considered. These “marker”
fragments were not included in the estimates of the
similarity indexes as they were below the 4.0 Kb limit
considered for analysis.
The Brazilian middle-west region is highly affected
by the increasing of agricultural and cattle breeding
activities. Aerial survey performed by Silva et al. (1992)
show an exponential tendency of deforestation of the
Pantanal region, severely affecting the area from where
our Green-winged Macaw samples were drawn. The
Parque Nacional das Emas, where the studied Blue and
Yellow Macaw population inhabits, is one of the largest
cerrado (Brazilian Savannah) areas that is legally protected
(around 132.000ha). Due to its special characteristics that
favour mechanical agriculture, this fitogeographic domain
has been highly exploited (Espinoza et al. 1982; Azevedo
and Adámoli 1988) and the surroundings of the protected
Table 1. Estimates of the genetic similarity obtained using the human multilocus minisatellite probes 33.6 and 33.15 among birds
of wild Macaw populations.
Species Probe N n ± sd b x ± se (x) H x
n
q
A. ararauna 33.6 15 28.17 ± 5.56 0 0.376 ± 0.070 0.883 1.1 x 10-12 0.210
33.15 15 29.17 ± 4.71 0 0.253 ± 0.062 0.927 3.9 x 10-18 0.136
A. chloroptera 33.6 66 28.00 ± 3.58 2 0.268 ± 0.068 0.922 8.8 x 10-17 0.144
33.15 66 23.67 ± 3.11 0 0.195 ± 0.092 0.946 1.6 x 10-17 0.103
(N) Number of comparisons, (n ± sd) mean number of scored bands ± 1 standard deviation, (b) number of bands present in all studied birds, (x ±
se (x)) mean band sharing coefficient ± 1 standard error, (H) mean heterozigosity, (x
n
) probability of unrelated birds sharing the same band profile
by chance, (q) mean allelic frequency.
Table 2. Estimated mean band sharing coefficients between
chicks of the same nest of two wild Macaw populations obtained
by using multilocus minisatellite probes 33.6 and 33.15.
Species N Probe x
s
± se (x) x
i
A. ararauna
3 33.6 0.704 ± 0.199 0.670
33.15 0.656 ± 0.028 0.613
A. chloroptera
4 33.6 0.546 ± 0.138 0.619
33.15 0.579 ± 0.072 0.587
(N) Number of analysed nests with two chicks, (x
s
± se (x)) mean band
sharing coefficient between chicks of the same nest ± 1 standard error,
(x
i
) mean similarity index expected between full siblings.

48 Ararajuba 9 (1): 43-49 R. Caparroz et al.
area presently show only 30% of the original cerrado
vegetation (Mantovani and Pereira 1998).
Macaws achieve reproductive maturity approximately
at the age of five. As there has been a continuous and
exponential habitat loss in the last 30 to 50 years, especially
in the areas where the studied populations inhabit, around
6 to 10 generations have elapsed since high habitat
fragmentation started. Depending on the number of birds
isolated in the remnant fragments, the probability of
loosing the least frequent alleles can be reasonably high.
The threat imposed by human occupation of natural
areas can be further increased for species that present site
fidelity for reproduction areas. Macaws are considered as
presenting such behaviour: there are strong evidences that
the Hyacinth Macaw returns to the same reproductive site
(Guedes and Harper 1995).
Data on Blue and Yellow Macaws from Parque Nacional
das Emas (Bianchi 1998) suggest that the effective number
of birds is small, in spite of the disposability of nest cavities
in dead palm trees (Mauritia flexuosa). However, for the
Green-winged Macaw, habitat destruction, the loss of
appropriate nesting holes and a strong nest competition
between different species as well as within the same species
was documented by Guedes and Harper (1995).
Nest intraspecific competition is the most plausible
hypothesis for our findings in one of the nests of Green-
winged Macaw where the similarity index between two
chicks was within the range obtained for chicks from
different nests. Even though such competition was not
observed in this nest during the breeding season when the
samples were collected, it was documented (NMRG)
during the preceding season, when two couples of this
species were fighting for this same tree cavity and blood
stains were observed on the bird’s naked face. The
similarity indexes between chicks from the other nests with
more than one chick, were within expected values for full
sibs, reinforcing the field observations that both species
are monogamous as long as the pair always remains
together, even when flying in large flocks.
A sex specific polymorphism was detected in the
Green-winged Macaw population by means of probe 33.15.
Two sibs and an unrelated chick from a different nest
presented a peculiar pattern of fragments. Sex specific
polymorphism was identified by Miyaki et al. (1997a) in
the Scarlet Macao (Ara macao) and might be useful in
studies of population structure as described for Milvus
milvus (May et al. 1993).
In spite of the small number of birds sampled in the
present work, no significant deviation from a 1:1 sex ratio
was found. The same result was obtained by Miyaki et al.
(1995b, 1998) in natural population of Hyacinth Macaw
from the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul state.
In the present work it was possible to detect, in the Blue
and Yellow Macaw population from Parque Nacional das
Emas, levels of heterozygozis similar to those that were
found among vulnerable bird populations and the presence
of a “marker” fragment. Such “marker” fragments were also
detected in the Green-winged Macaw population from the
Pantanal. Thus, our data suggest that habitat disturbance
and fragmentation can be responsible for decay of genetic
variability in both Macaw populations here studied. The
bird populations characterised as vulnerable could serve as
stimuli to create conservation programs next to local human
communities, leading to preservation of vital ecosystems.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank Fundação de Amparo
à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Conselho
Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
(CNPq), Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de
Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação O Boticário
de Proteção a Natureza, Association of Field Ornithology
– Bergstrom Award, UNIDERP – Universidade para o
Desenvolvimento do Estado e Região do Pantanal,
Hyacinth Macaw Fund, Toyota do Brasil, Refúgio
Ecológico Caiman, Pousada Arara azul, Parrot Society and
Hyacinth Macaw Trust for financial support; Sérgio Luiz
Pereira and Cristina Yumi Miyaki for helpful suggestions.
The Jeffrey’s probes 33.6 and 33.15 are the subject of
patent number GBA 2166445 and World-wide patents
(pending) for commercial diagnostic use.
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