Morphological and ancient DNA analyses reveal inaccurate labels on two of Buller%26apos;s bird specimens

作者：Rawlence N J^*; Kennedy M; Waters J M; Scofield R P

来源：Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 2014, 44(4): 163-169.

DOI：10.1080/03036758.2014.972962

• Leucocarbo chalconotus
• specimen label
• shag
• colensoi
• Auckland Island
• onslowi
• Chatham Island
• museum collections
• Stewart Island
• Sir Walter Buller

Historical museum skins are an important genetic resource for taxonomic, phylogeographic and conservation genetic research. However, their utility can be compromised by errors in specimen labels concerning taxonomic identity, collection locality and collector. Here we use morphological comparisons and ancient DNA analysis to show that two Auckland Island Shags (Leucocarbo colensoi) in the Sir Walter Buller collection of the Canterbury Museum, New Zealand, are mislabelled. Given that Buller was able to identify these taxa prior to their supposed collection dates, it suggests erroneous labelling and/or poor record keeping. Despite the importance of Buller%26apos;s collections for ornithological research, our findings reinforce previous conclusions that caution is required when utilising these avian specimens.

• 出版日期2014-10-2