Integrated Specimen-Based Studies of Philippine Birds and Avian Influenza: Applications in Conservation, Taxonomy, Wildlife Enforcement, and Disease

Abstract

Conservation is practiced in many ways, but often overlooked is the role of specimens in conservation biological research. With increasingly powerful phylogenetic analyses necessary to describe dwindling genetic diversity, the preservation of biodiversity can only be as successful as the infrastructure of specimens available. Taxonomic units of biodiversity may not completely reflect true genetic diversity, so new phylogenetic tools useful for the recognition of biodiversity require specimen-based resources to be as complete as possible. Here, we discuss how specimen-based, integrated research has multiple goals, and how conservation biology remains a key focus and outcome of these studies. Our sample archiving methods are among the most comprehensive in the discipline, and critical for quality research in conservation, phylogenetics, taxonomy, wildlife enforcement, and avian influenza studies. Although we have not isolated any avian influenza from Philippine samples, we have learned much from these negative results about avian influenza in the Philippines, and our methodology is producing quality multidisciplinary science.