GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WERIS (GALLIRALLUS PHILIPPENSIS) FROM MINAHASA BASED ON MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA CYTOCHROME-B GENES.

Utilization of animal genetic resources that live wildly needs to be maintained as well as one of the conservation efforts in a sustainable manner. This study aims to obtain information on genetic characteristics and kinship of Weris (local name) Gallirallus philippensis in several locations in Minahasa through molecular analysis using the Cyt-b gene. Gallirallus philippensis in Minahasa seems to have considerable genetic differences with their relatives from the Philippines and Australia where the results of the analysis show that the species found in Minahasa (Papontolen, Ranoyapo, Tondano, and Wusa) although still have a high genetic diversity based on the existence of 7 different haplotypes and form several branches but still in the same cluster. Alleged Weris in Minahasa may be a separate species (Gallirallus celebensis) need to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]