User:Marcus334/Genetic testing of Manjampatti White Bison (Bos Gaurus subsp?)

Genetic testing

 * Objective

This cooperative research project seeks to compare the Manjampatti White Bison, with common Gaur and local cattle by DNA profiling to determine if they are different subspecies or hybrids.
 * Hypothesis

If the Manjampatti White Bison were found to be a biologically distinct subspecies of Bos gaurus, then Bos gaurus (manjampattium) could be classified as a Endangered species or a Critically endangered species and a higher degree of habitat protection of their sole habitat, the Manjampatti Valley and the ajoining Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary valley would be justified. This would also aid the conservation of other ungulate prey species and their apex predators that were common there years ago.
 * Method

- Field research will be based on detailed photographic matching of individual Gaur and cattle physical characteristics with precise gaur scat deposition location, and collection of scat thus identified.

- Laboratory research will be based on and comparison of multiple wild Gaur scat samples.

- Results will be reported in peer reviewed scientific journal.

Background
The Manjampatti White Bison is said to be a peculiar subspecie of Gaur (Bos gaurus). Though several subspecies of Gaur have been described, only three subspecies are now recognized: Bos gaurus gaurus, Bos gaurus laosiensis and Bos gaurus hubbacki. Further research is required to determine if the Manjampatti White bison is truly a fourth subspecies. These Gaur are notable for their distinctive ash-grey color as opposed to the almost black color of most Gaur.

Since 1929, there have been at least 19 documented sightings of these rare animals. In July 2004, A white gaur, moving with a herd of dark-skinned gaurs, was spotted repeatedly over several days in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and photographed by the wildlife photographer, N. A. Nazeer. This is the only published photographic documentation of Manjampatti White Bison.

On October 21, 1997 two grayish-white Gaur, an adult female and a sub adult, were observed along with 9 other Gaur on the slopes of Cheevaparamala in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. On January 3, 1998, a juvenile with the same color, was seen at Koottar along with 5 other Gaur. In addition to the White Gaur it is notable that the majority of the animals in these herds ranged from brick red to light red. In the first herd of 11 there were only four normal colored Gaur and in the second herd of six only two normal colored individuals. This was the first record of White Bison in The Chinnar Sanctuary, which shares a long common border with the Manjampatti Valley.

Objectives:
This research seeks to sample, test and compare DNA sequences from normal black colored Gaur and light colored Gaur to determine by Molecular phylogenetics if they are actually different taxon or subspecies. The questions to be answered are:
 * Are White Bison a separate sub species of Bos Gaurus?
 * Are White Bison leucistic or albinoid expressions of Bos Gaurus Gaurus?
 * If they are seperate, are they undergoing divergent evolution, perhaps due to Paliyan tribes' protection of old white pelage mutations?
 * Are they undergoing convergent evolution due to genetic mixing of old white mutations through inbreeding with the dominant black Gaur?
 * Are they a hybrid of domestic lowlands cattle?

If they are separate sub species, or a domestic hybrid, there would be significant argument for greater protection of Manjampatti Valley and Chinnar Sanctuary, especially including exclusion of lowlands cattle from the place.

These are well established protected areas and cattle should be out of there already. They have caused disease among the Gaur in the past and constantly destroy forage that should be had by indigenous wild ungulates. Now that IGNP is a Project Tiger Sanctuary, there are more resources for protection of tiger prey species such as Chital, Sambar, Nilgiri Tahr and Gaur in Manjampatti Valley.

Study area:

 * Manjampatti Valley, core area of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (IGNP), Coimbatore District,Tamil Nadu
 * Wildlife Warden, Wildlife Warden Office, 178 Meenkarai Road, Pollachi, Ph: 04259-225356


 * Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki District, Kerala
 * The Wildlife Warden, Idukki Wildlife Division, Idukki, Vellapara, Painavu P.O, Kerala-686 603, phone: 0486-232271 and
 * The Assistant Wildlife Warden, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Marayoor P.O. via, Munnar, Idukki District, Kerala.

Procedure

 * Donor documentation and Sample collection
 * Two likely locations for White Gaur observation will be established through interview with sanctuaries' staff.
 * Project field camps may be at Manjampatti Village in the Tamil Nadu Forest Dept. Anti-Poaching Camp and Palampatty Camp at Vasikapara Valley in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary.
 * Two sampling teams, each consisting of a guide, forest ranger, biologist and photographer will establish themselves for at least two weeks at observation locations in Chinnar and Mannjampatti Sanctuaries.
 * When White Gaur are observed, their behavior will be monitored without disturbing them. Continuous photographic observation will be maintained.
 * Scat deposition will be photographed in detail, especially noting physical characteristics of the animal and exact ground location of the fresh scat from that animal. Multiple scat depositions by a single animal may be recorded.
 * After the herd has moved on, guide and ranger will follow herd. Biologist and photographer will recover scat sample in accordance with established protocol.
 * Biologist and photographer will rejoin ranger and guide and seek samples from additional animals.
 * Samples from ordinary black Gaur will also be collected.


 * All samples will be returned to National Centre for Biological Sciences.


 * All samples will be tested, analyzed and compared at NCBS in accordance with standard practice of comparative genomics.
 * Research results will be published in appropriate peer reviewed scientific journal such as Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, The Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, Journal of Taxonomy & Biodiversity Research or others.
 * All research results including photographs will be available at no charge to the public under Creative Commons3.0Attribution No Derivatives (CC-BY-ND) copyright license.

Researchers:

 * Principle researcher: Dr. K. Ullas Karanth,
 * Senior Conservation Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society, India Program, 1669, 31st Cross, 16th Main, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore 560 070, India
 * Director, Centre for Wildlife Studies, 26-2, Aga Abbas Ali Road (Apt: 403), Bangalore 560 042, India


 * Laboratory Director: Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan
 * National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560 065, India


 * Laboratory Assistant: Anish Andheriad, Post-graduate Program in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, National Centre for Biological Sciences
 * Labratory assistant Samrat Mondol National Centre for Biological Sciences
 * Biologist: N. Samba Kumarb, Centre for Wildlife Studies,
 * Biologist: Arjun M. Gopalaswamy, Wildlife Conservation Society,
 * Photographers:
 * Field Director: N. A. Naseer naseerart@hotmail.com
 * Photography coordinator: Kalyan Varma kalyan@rtns.org


 * Guides:
 * Vijayan & Shiva Kumar at Chinnar
 * Forest guards at Manjampatti