Oliver A. Ryder
Adjunct Professor of Biology
Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species,
San Diego Zoo
e-mail: oryder@ucsd.edu |
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Challenges involved in conserving
biological diversity include addressing the numerous scientific issues
limiting our understanding of the Earth's biota. Speciation and species
diversity, the role of genetic variation in population persistence,
its rate of generation and loss in different taxonomic groups and
under different ecological conditions, as well as the development
of tools for addressing these questions are all significant topics
in biology pertinent to conservation issues. The genetics group at
the CRES (Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species - a division
of the Zoological Society of San Diego) undertakes comparative cytogenetic
and molecular genetics studies involving a diverse array of species
suitable as models for investigating relative rates of evolution among
different taxa, population structure and systematics. Additionally,
research pertinent to planning and management for selected mammalian,
reptilian and avian species of conservation concern is undertaken
utilizing appropriate techniques, including the development and application
of new methodologies. Current emphases include molecular evolutionary
and population studies involving analysis of nuclear microsatellite
allelic variation and nucleotide sequence analysis of mitochondrial
genomes. Assessment, planning, monitoring, and management of small
populations for conservation will benefit from application of more
effective methods of collection and analysis of genetic data. An increased
understanding of many threatened species at the cytogenetic and molecular
genetic level will contribute to gene pool conservation strategies
and management as well as establishing a broader knowledge of the
dynamics of genome evolution. Located in lab facilities on the grounds
of the San Diego Zoo, our studies are facilitated by unique resources,
including cell lines and other biological samples that are available
as a result of the animal collections of the San Diego Zoo and Wild
Animal Park as well as through associated field activities of CRES
staff.
Field, D., Chemnick, L., Robbins,
M., Garner, K. and Ryder, O.A. (1998). Paternity determination in
captive lowland gorillas and orangutans and wild mountain gorillas
by microsatellite analysis. Primates 39:199-209.
Burrows, W. and Ryder, O.A. (1997).
Y-chromosome variation in great apes. Nature 385:125-126.
Garner, K.J. and Ryder, O.A.
(1996). Mitochondrial DNA diversity in gorillas. Molec. Phyl. Evol.
(In press).
Zhang, Y. and Ryder, O.A. (1995).
Different rates of mitochondrial DNA sequence evolution in Kirk's
dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii) populations. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 4:291-297.
Ryder, O. A. and Feistner, A.T.C.
(1995). Research in zoos: a growth area in conservation. Biodiversity
and Conservation 4: 671-677.
Zhang, Y. and Ryder, O.A. (1993).
Mitochondrial DNA sequence evolution in the Arctoidea. Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA 90: 9557-9561.
Black rhinoceros male in
Masia Mara Reserve in Kenya. Increased knowledge of genetics of
black rhinos contributes to monitoring and recovery efforts for
this endangered species.
Oliver A. Ryder received his Ph.D.
from UCSD. He is the geneticist and recipient of the Kleberg
Genetics Chair at the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species,
Zoological Society of San Diego. He is a member of Specialist
Groups of the Species Survival Commission of World Conservation Union:
Equid Specialist Group, Captive Breeding Specialist Group, and Re-introduction
Specialists Group. Dr. Ryder is an associate editor of the Journal
of Heredity. |
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