American Bison - Buffalo Field Campaign

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................xi
Authors, contributors and their affiliations .............................................................................................xii
Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................xiii
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. xv
CHAPTER 1 Introduction: The Context ................................................................................................... 1
1.1 The Species Survival Commission and the American Bison Specialist Group ...................... 1
1.2 Context .................................................................................................................................. 1
1.3 Current Challenges for Conservation and Ecological Restoration of Bison as Wildlife ......... 2
1.4 Large Wild Populations ........................................................................................................... 2
1.5 Conserving the Wild Character and Genome of Bison............................................................ 3
1.6 Reportable Diseases ............................................................................................................... 4
1.7 Purpose of this Document ...................................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER 2 History of Bison in North America ...................................................................................... 5
2.1 Palaeobiology and Phylogeny ............................................................................................... 5
2.2 Original Range ........................................................................................................................ 6
2.3 Abundance .............................................................................................................................. 7
2.4 Extirpation .............................................................................................................................. 8
2.5 Early Recovery ........................................................................................................................ 8
2.6 Cultural Significance .............................................................................................................. 9
CHAPTER 3 Taxonomy and Nomenclature ............................................................................................13
3.1 An Historical Misnomer: Bison vs. Buffalo ............................................................................13
3.2 Genus: Bos vs. Bison .............................................................................................................13
3.3 Subspecies ...........................................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 4 Genetics ............................................................................................................................19
4.1 Reduction of Genetic Diversity ..............................................................................................19
4.2 Hybridisation .........................................................................................................................21
4.2.1 Plains bison x wood bison ..........................................................................................21
4.2.2 Domestic cattle x bison ..............................................................................................22
4.3 Domestication ........................................................................................................................24
CHAPTER 5 Reportable or Notifiable Diseases ....................................................................................27
5.1 Diseases of Conservation Concern .......................................................................................28
5.1.1 Anaplasmosis..............................................................................................................28
5.1.2 Anthrax .......................................................................................................................28
5.1.3 Bluetongue ..................................................................................................................29
American Bison: Status Survey and Conservation Guidelines 2010 v