Assessment of Potential Health and Genetic Impacts in Releasing Confiscated Paroaria coronata and Saltator similis

Illegal capture and trade of wild birds has long been a threat to biodiversity. Translocation—the release of individuals from one location into another—is a useful conservation tool in the management of species. However, both health (such as different pathogens) and adaptive (such as local adaptation), differences among populations must be taken into account, as both can impact the recipient population negatively. Here, we provide health and genetic information to support release planning for two of the most trafficked Brazilian wild bird species (Paroaria coronata and Saltator similis). We focused on two fundamental questions: Are there significant differences in pathogen load between wild and captive populations? Is there significant genetic structure among populations? In total, 223 free-living birds were captured, sampled, and released at the same site. Devices and live decoys characteristics were top factors influencing captures. We tested blood, feces, and oropharyngeal swabs from free-ranging (n=101) and confiscated (n=92) birds for Newcastle disease virus, Salmonella spp., and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Genetic structure among populations was investigated using mtDNA in a subsample of these birds. We found no evidence for Newcastle disease virus and Salmonella spp. in seized and free-living birds from both species. However, seized P. coronata and S. similis may be potential sources of M. gallisepticum. We found significant but low genetic structure among populations occurring in different Biomes (ΦCT=0.26 for P. coronata; ΦCT=0.13 for S. similis) and no significant structure among populations occurring in the Pampa Biome. These results suggest that while it may be important to screen seized birds for avian pathogens, genetic structure among populations seems to be of lesser concern when planning the release of seized songbirds in the wild.View Full Text