User:Marcus334/Taxonomy of Manjampatti White Bison

Genetic testing to determine taxonomy of Manjampatti White Bison (Bos Gaurus subsp?)


 * This cooperative research project seeks to properly identify the correct subspecific name for the Manjampatti White Bison, a vulnerable species


 * Field research will be based on detailed photographic matching of Gaur physical characteristics with precise Gaur dropping deposition location, and collection of droppings thus identified.


 * Laboratory research will be based on genetic sampling and comparison of multiple wild Gaur dropping 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. Further research is required to precisely determine the taxonomy of this species. These Gaur are notable for their distinctive ash-grey color as opposed to the almost black color of most Gaur.

Historical sightings
Since 1929, there have been at least 19 documented sightings of these rare animals. James L. H. Williams, a British wildlife enthusiast, reported sighting many gaurs with light pink or white skin between 1929 and 1937 during many trips to Manjampatti Valley. He reported seeing many herds of Gaur, up to 120 animals in a herd, with most herds having some individuals with color varying from light red through the duns to pure white. In one herd of 20 animals, every animal was of abnormal color. He reported that the white bison had some religious significance to the local Pulayar tribal residents and that they would gently divert outsiders away from any herds with abnormally colored animals

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 7.8 km long common border with the Manjampatti Valley.

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.

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?
 * Or 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?
 * or are they undergoing convergent evolution due to genetic mixing of old white mutations through inbreeding with the dominant black Gaur?


 * or 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 Rinderpest disease here among the Gaur in the past

and constantly destroy forage that should be grazed 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. See video of Tigers and Gaurs.

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.

Researchers:

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

Methods

 * Donor documentation and Sample collection
 * Likely locations for White Gaur observation will be established through interviews with sanctuaries' staff.


 * Project field camps may be at the Tamil Nadu Forest Dept. Anti-Poaching Camp in Manjampatti hamlet 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.


 * Dropping deposition will be photographed in detail, especially noting physical characteristics of the animal and exact ground location of the fresh dropping from that animal. Multiple dropping 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 dropping 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 ([ Open access]) or others.
 * All research results including photographs will be available to the public at no charge under Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution No Derivatives (CC-BY-ND) copyright license.

Materials and Equipment
Major purchases of materials and equipment by the project are not anticipated.
 * High quality cameras and lens are currently available to the photographers.
 * DNA sequencers and associated reagents and sample containers are already available to the laboratory staff.

Budget

 * Hopefully the short staff times of the project laboratory staff can be integrated into the existing staff schedules of participating organizations.
 * Project photographers: 2 x 10 days x Rs. 400/day =                                                                                    Rs. 8,000.
 * Field professionals reimbursement for personal transportation to field sites.
 * 2 photographers, 2 biologists and Principle investigator 2 round trips from Bangalore @ Rs 200. = Rs. 2,000.
 * Daily wage for 2 guides, 2 weeks, 5 days/wk x Rs. 150/day =                                                                    Rs. 3,000.
 * Daily food provisions for 9 field staff for 10 days @ Rs. 40,/day =                                                             Rs. 3,600.
 * Final report preparation: Lab and Field directors @ Rs. 1000. and Principle investigator Rs 2,000. =  Rs. 3,000.
 * .............................................................................................................................Sub total = Rs. 11,600.
 * ............................................................................Unanticipated miscellaneous, Sub total  30% = Rs.  3,480.
 * ..............................................................First estimate, framework for discussion   Grand Total = Rs. 15,080.

Possible Funding Agencies

 * Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
 * Wildlife Conservation Society
 * World Wide Fund for Nature