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Alves F, Banks SC, Edworthy M, Stojanovic D, Langmore NE, Heinsohn R. Using conservation genetics to prioritise management options for an endangered songbird. Heredity (Edinb) 2023; 130:289-301. [PMID: 37016134 PMCID: PMC10162965 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-023-00609-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic data can be highly informative for answering questions relevant to practical conservation efforts, but remain one of the most neglected aspects of species recovery plans. Framing genetic questions with reference to practical and tractable conservation objectives can help bypass this limitation of the application of genetics in conservation. Using a single-nucleotide polymorphism dataset from reduced-representation sequencing (DArTSeq), we conducted a genetic assessment of remnant populations of the endangered forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus), a songbird endemic to Tasmania, Australia. Our objectives were to inform strategies for the conservation of genetic diversity in the species and estimate effective population sizes and patterns of inter-population movement to identify management units relevant to population conservation and habitat restoration. We show population genetic structure and identify two small populations on mainland Tasmania as 'satellites' of larger Bruny Island populations connected by migration. Our data identify management units for conservation objectives relating to genetic diversity and habitat restoration. Although our results do not indicate the immediate need to genetically manage populations, the small effective population sizes we estimated for some populations indicate that they are vulnerable to genetic drift, highlighting the urgent need to implement habitat restoration to increase population size and to conduct genetic monitoring. We discuss how our genetic assessment can be used to inform management interventions for the forty-spotted pardalote and show that by assessing contemporary genetic aspects, valuable information for conservation planning and decision-making can be produced to guide actions that account for genetic diversity and increase chances of recovery in species of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Alves
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Sam C Banks
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, College of Engineering, IT and the Environment, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Max Edworthy
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Dejan Stojanovic
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Naomi E Langmore
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Robert Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Alves F, Potts J, Round V, Stojanovic D, Webb M, Heinsohn R, Langmore NE. Modelling the distribution of a key habitat feature to guide future on‐ground habitat assessment for an endangered specialist songbird. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Alves
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology Australian National University 134 Linnaeus Way Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
| | - Joanne Potts
- The Analytical Edge Blackmans Bay Tasmania Australia
| | - Vanessa Round
- CSIRO Climate Science Centre, Oceans and Atmosphere Melbourne Vioctoria Australia
| | - Dejan Stojanovic
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Matthew Webb
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Robert Heinsohn
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Naomi E. Langmore
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology Australian National University 134 Linnaeus Way Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
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