Low genetic diversity in the ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus) revealed by randomly amplified DNA fingerprinting

The ground par-rot (Pezoporus wallicus) is a vulnerable species that occurs in isolated pockets of heathland and sedgeland of Australia. This study used randomly amplified DNA fingerprinting (RAF) to examine genetic diversity in the eastern population of the ground parrot. The seven primers used produced an average of 68 markers per primer, and the number of unambiguous polymorphic markers per primer averaged 6.3 (9.2%). Overall genetic similarity was 0.978 +/- 0.03, The low level of genetic diversity revealed by RAF is comparable to the lower end of diversity found in species that are declared endangered.