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Using PVA and captive breeding to balance trade-offs in the rescue of the island dibbler onto a new island ark. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11913. [PMID: 35831431 PMCID: PMC9279492 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14150-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In the face of the current global extinction crisis, it is critical we give conservation management strategies the best chance of success. Australia is not exempt from global trends with currently the world’s greatest mammal extinction rate (~ 1 per 8 years). Many more are threatened including the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) whose remnant range has been restricted to Western Australia at just one mainland site and two small offshore islands—Whitlock Island (5 ha) and Boullanger Island (35 ha). Here, we used 14 microsatellite markers to quantify genetic variation in the remaining island populations from 2013 to 2018 and incorporated these data into population viability analysis (PVA) models, used to assess factors important to dibbler survival and to provide guidance for translocations. Remnant population genetic diversity was low (< 0.3), and populations were highly divergent from each other (pairwise FSTs 0.29–0.52). Comparison of empirical data to an earlier study is consistent with recent declines in genetic diversity and models projected increasing extinction risk and declining genetic variation in the next century. Optimal translocation scenarios recommend 80 founders for new dibbler populations—provided by captive breeding—and determined the proportion of founders from parental populations to maximise genetic diversity and minimise harvesting impact. The goal of our approach is long-term survival of genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations and our methods are transferable. We consider mixing island with mainland dibblers to reinforce genetic variation.
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2
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Population Genomics of Bettongia lesueur: Admixing Increases Genetic Diversity with no Evidence of Outbreeding Depression. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10110851. [PMID: 31661830 PMCID: PMC6896034 DOI: 10.3390/genes10110851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Small and isolated populations are subject to the loss of genetic variation as a consequence of inbreeding and genetic drift, which in turn, can affect the fitness and long-term viability of populations. Translocations can be used as an effective conservation tool to combat this loss of genetic diversity through establishing new populations of threatened species, and to increase total population size. Releasing animals from multiple genetically diverged sources is one method to optimize genetic diversity in translocated populations. However, admixture as a conservation tool is rarely utilized due to the risks of outbreeding depression. Using high-resolution genomic markers through double-digest restriction site-associated sequencing (ddRAD-seq) and life history data collected over nine years of monitoring, this study investigates the genetic and fitness consequences of admixing two genetically-distinct subspecies of Bettongia lesueur in a conservation translocation. Using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified from 215 individuals from multiple generations, we found an almost 2-fold increase in genetic diversity in the admixed translocation population compared to the founder populations, and this was maintained over time. Furthermore, hybrid class did not significantly impact on survivorship or the recruitment rate and therefore we found no indication of outbreeding depression. This study demonstrates the beneficial application of mixing multiple source populations in the conservation of threatened species for minimizing inbreeding and enhancing adaptive potential and overall fitness.
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Thavornkanlapachai R, Mills HR, Ottewell K, Dunlop J, Sims C, Morris K, Donaldson F, Kennington WJ. Mixing Genetically and Morphologically Distinct Populations in Translocations: Asymmetrical Introgression in A Newly Established Population of the Boodie ( Bettongia lesueur). Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E729. [PMID: 31546973 PMCID: PMC6770996 DOI: 10.3390/genes10090729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of multiple source populations provides a way to maximise genetic variation and reduce the impacts of inbreeding depression in newly established translocated populations. However, there is a risk that individuals from different source populations will not interbreed, leading to population structure and smaller effective population sizes than expected. Here, we investigate the genetic consequences of mixing two isolated, morphologically distinct island populations of boodies (Bettongia lesueur) in a translocation to mainland Australia over three generations. Using 18 microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial D-loop region, we monitored the released animals and their offspring between 2010 and 2013. Despite high levels of divergence between the two source populations (FST = 0.42 and ϕST = 0.72), there was clear evidence of interbreeding between animals from different populations. However, interbreeding was non-random, with a significant bias towards crosses between the genetically smaller-sized Barrow Island males and the larger-sized Dorre Island females. This pattern of introgression was opposite to the expectation that male-male competition or female mate choice would favour larger males. This study shows how mixing diverged populations can bolster genetic variation in newly established mammal populations, but the ultimate outcome can be difficult to predict, highlighting the need for continued genetic monitoring to assess the long-term impacts of admixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rujiporn Thavornkanlapachai
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| | - Harriet R Mills
- Centre for Ecosystem Management, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia.
| | - Kym Ottewell
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6152, Australia.
| | - Judy Dunlop
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6946, Australia.
| | - Colleen Sims
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6946, Australia.
| | - Keith Morris
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6946, Australia.
| | - Felicity Donaldson
- 360 Environmental, 10 Bermondsey Street, West Leederville, Western Australia 6007, Australia.
| | - W Jason Kennington
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
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Dispersal, philopatry and population genetic structure of the mainland dibbler, Parantechinus apicalis. CONSERV GENET 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01196-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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5
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du Plessis SJ, Howard-McCombe J, Melvin ZE, Sheppard EC, Russo IRM, Mootoocurpen R, Goetz M, Young RP, Cole NC, Bruford MW. Genetic diversity and cryptic population re-establishment: management implications for the Bojer’s skink (Gongylomorphus bojerii). CONSERV GENET 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-018-1119-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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6
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Genetic diversity of a hitchhiker and prized food source in the Anthropocene: the Asian green mussel Perna viridis (Mollusca, Mytilidae). Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1659-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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7
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Temporal genetic dynamics of reintroduced and translocated populations of the endangered golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia). CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0948-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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8
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La Haye MJJ, Reiners TE, Raedts R, Verbist V, Koelewijn HP. Genetic monitoring to evaluate reintroduction attempts of a highly endangered rodent. CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0940-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Fourdrilis S, Mardulyn P, Hardy OJ, Jordaens K, de Frias Martins AM, Backeljau T. Mitochondrial DNA hyperdiversity and its potential causes in the marine periwinkle Melarhaphe neritoides (Mollusca: Gastropoda). PeerJ 2016; 4:e2549. [PMID: 27761337 PMCID: PMC5068447 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the presence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hyperdiversity in the marine periwinkle Melarhaphe neritoides (Linnaeus, 1758), the first such case among marine gastropods. Our dataset consisted of concatenated 16S-COI-Cytb gene fragments. We used Bayesian analyses to investigate three putative causes underlying genetic variation, and estimated the mtDNA mutation rate, possible signatures of selection and the effective population size of the species in the Azores archipelago. The mtDNA hyperdiversity in M. neritoides is characterized by extremely high haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.999 ± 0.001), high nucleotide diversity (π = 0.013 ± 0.001), and neutral nucleotide diversity above the threshold of 5% (πsyn = 0.0677). Haplotype richness is very high even at spatial scales as small as 100m2. Yet, mtDNA hyperdiversity does not affect the ability of DNA barcoding to identify M. neritoides. The mtDNA hyperdiversity in M. neritoides is best explained by the remarkably high mutation rate at the COI locus (μ = 5.82 × 10−5 per site per year or μ = 1.99 × 10−4 mutations per nucleotide site per generation), whereas the effective population size of this planktonic-dispersing species is surprisingly small (Ne = 5, 256; CI = 1,312–3,7495) probably due to the putative influence of selection. Comparison with COI nucleotide diversity values in other organisms suggests that mtDNA hyperdiversity may be more frequently linked to high μ values and that mtDNA hyperdiversity may be more common across other phyla than currently appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Séverine Fourdrilis
- Directorate Taxonomy and Phylogeny & JEMU, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Patrick Mardulyn
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Olivier J Hardy
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Kurt Jordaens
- Department of Biology, Invertebrate Section, Royal Museum for Central Africa , Tervuren , Belgium
| | - António Manuel de Frias Martins
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Pólo dos Açores, Departamento de Biologia da Universidade dos Açores, University of the Azores , Ponta Delgada , Portugal
| | - Thierry Backeljau
- Directorate Taxonomy and Phylogeny & JEMU, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium; Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Guildea C, Hitchen Y, Duffy R, Dias PJ, Ledger JM, Snow M, Kennington WJ. Introgression threatens the survival of the critically endangered freshwater crayfish Cherax tenuimanus (Decapoda: Parastacidae) in the wild. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121075. [PMID: 25799102 PMCID: PMC4370514 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridization and genetic introgression following the introduction of exotic species can pose a significant threat to the survival of geographically restricted species. A remnant population of the critically endangered freshwater crayfish Cherax tenuimanus in the upper reaches of the Margaret River in southwestern Australia is under threat following the introduction and spread of its congener Cherax cainii. Here, we examine the extent of hybridization and introgression between the two species using twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci. Our study reveals there are three times more C. cainii than C. tenuimanus at our study site in the upper reaches of the Margaret River. There is also evidence of hybridization and introgression between C. tenuimanus and C. cainii at this site, with F1, F2 and backcrossed individuals identified. While interbreeding was confirmed in this study, our simulations suggest that the levels of introgression are much lower than would be expected under random mating, indicating partial reproductive barriers exist. Nevertheless, it is apparent that hybridization and introgression with C. cainii pose a serious threat to C. tenuimanus and their survival in the wild will require active adaptive management and continued genetic monitoring to evaluate management effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clodagh Guildea
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Yvette Hitchen
- Helix Molecular Solutions, PO Box 155, Leederville, WA 6903, Australia
| | - Rodney Duffy
- Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia, Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6920, Australia
| | - P. Joana Dias
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia, Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6920, Australia
| | - Jason M. Ledger
- School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Michael Snow
- Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia, Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6920, Australia
| | - W. Jason Kennington
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Veale AJ, Holland OJ, McDonald RA, Clout MN, Gleeson D. An invasive non-native mammal population conserves genetic diversity lost from its native range. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:2156-63. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. J. Veale
- Biodiversity, Biosecurity and Conservation; School of Biological Sciences; University of Auckland; 261 Morin Road Auckland 1142 New Zealand
| | - O. J. Holland
- School of Medical Science; Griffith University; Southport Qld 4222 Australia
| | - R. A. McDonald
- Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter; Penryn TR10 9FE UK
| | - M. N. Clout
- Biodiversity, Biosecurity and Conservation; School of Biological Sciences; University of Auckland; 261 Morin Road Auckland 1142 New Zealand
| | - D.M. Gleeson
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory; Landcare Research; 231 Morin Road, Auckland 1142 New Zealand
- Institute of Applied Ecology; University of Canberra; Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
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