Cooper A
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Experientia. 1994 Jun 15;50(6):558-63. doi: 10.1007/BF01921725.
Ancient DNA sequences from preserved specimens are increasingly being used for the investigation of Pacific Island ecosystems prior to the large scale modification and extinction of endemic biota associated with human colonization. However, many difficulties are associated with the use of ancient DNA sequences in studies of genetically close taxa. In this paper, these difficulties are discussed as they relate to a study involving extinct and extant members of an ancient New Zealand avian family, the New Zealand wrens (Acanthisittidae). Sequences of the mitochondrial small ribosomal subunit RNA gene (12S) were obtained from museum specimens of several wren taxa in order to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and the taxonomic status of a rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris) subspecies. Limitations due to sample size and 12S sequence variability as well as the difficulties in authenticating ancient DNA sequences prevent firm conclusions but the data suggest unsuspected phylogenetic relationships exist and raise the possibility that conservation management of rock wren populations is required.
从保存下来的标本中获取的古代DNA序列越来越多地被用于研究太平洋岛屿生态系统，这些研究发生在与人类殖民相关的特有生物群大规模改变和灭绝之前。然而，在对亲缘关系较近的分类群进行研究时，使用古代DNA序列存在许多困难。在本文中，将讨论这些困难，这些困难与一项涉及新西兰一个古老鸟类家族（新西兰鹪鹩科）已灭绝和现存成员的研究有关。为了研究几种鹪鹩分类群的系统发育关系以及一种岩鹪鹩（Xenicus gilviventris）亚种的分类地位，从博物馆标本中获取了线粒体小核糖体亚基RNA基因（12S）的序列。由于样本量和12S序列变异性的限制以及鉴定古代DNA序列的困难，无法得出确凿结论，但数据表明存在未被怀疑的系统发育关系，并增加了对岩鹪鹩种群进行保护管理的可能性。
