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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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von Takach B, Sargent H, Penton CE, Rick K, Murphy BP, Neave G, Davies HF, Hill BM, Banks SC. Population genomics and conservation management of the threatened black-footed tree-rat (Mesembriomys gouldii) in northern Australia. Heredity (Edinb) 2023; 130:278-288. [PMID: 36899176 PMCID: PMC10162988 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-023-00601-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic diversity is a fundamental component of Earth's total biodiversity, and requires explicit consideration in efforts to conserve biodiversity. To conserve genomic diversity, it is necessary to measure its spatial distribution, and quantify the contribution that any intraspecific evolutionary lineages make to overall genomic diversity. Here, we describe the range-wide population genomic structure of a threatened Australian rodent, the black-footed tree-rat (Mesembriomys gouldii), aiming to provide insight into the timing and extent of population declines across a large region with a dearth of long-term monitoring data. By estimating recent trajectories in effective population sizes at four localities, we confirm widespread population decline across the species' range, but find that the population in the peri-urban area of the Darwin region has been more stable. Based on current sampling, the Melville Island population made the greatest contribution to overall allelic richness of the species, and the prioritisation analysis suggested that conservation of the Darwin and Cobourg Peninsula populations would be the most cost-effective scenario to retain more than 90% of all alleles. Our results broadly confirm current sub-specific taxonomy, and provide crucial data on the spatial distribution of genomic diversity to help prioritise limited conservation resources. Along with additional sampling and genomic analysis from the far eastern and western edges of the black-footed tree-rat distribution, we suggest a range of conservation and research priorities that could help improve black-footed tree-rat population trajectories at large and fine spatial scales, including the retention and expansion of structurally complex habitat patches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton von Takach
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Holly Sargent
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Cara E Penton
- Warddeken Land Management Ltd, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Kate Rick
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Brett P Murphy
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Georgina Neave
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Hugh F Davies
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Brydie M Hill
- Flora and Fauna Division, Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security, Northern Territory Government, Berrimah, NT, 0831, Australia
| | - Sam C Banks
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia.
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Andrello M, D'Aloia C, Dalongeville A, Escalante MA, Guerrero J, Perrier C, Torres-Florez JP, Xuereb A, Manel S. Evolving spatial conservation prioritization with intraspecific genetic data. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:553-564. [PMID: 35450706 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Spatial conservation prioritization (SCP) is a planning framework used to identify new conservation areas on the basis of the spatial distribution of species, ecosystems, and their services to human societies. The ongoing accumulation of intraspecific genetic data on a variety of species offers a way to gain knowledge of intraspecific genetic diversity and to estimate several population characteristics useful in conservation, such as dispersal and population size. Here, we review how intraspecific genetic data have been integrated into SCP and highlight their potential for identifying conservation area networks that represent intraspecific genetic diversity comprehensively and that ensure the long-term persistence of biodiversity in the face of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Andrello
- Institute for the study of Anthropic impacts and Sustainability in the marine environment, National Research Council, CNR-IAS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Cassidy D'Aloia
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | | | - Marco A Escalante
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Jimena Guerrero
- Sociedad Científica de Investigación Transdisciplinaria y Especialización (SCITE), Calimaya, México
| | - Charles Perrier
- CBGP, INRAe, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Juan Pablo Torres-Florez
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Santos, Brazil
| | - Amanda Xuereb
- Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Stéphanie Manel
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL University, IRD, Montpellier, France
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Hoban S, Archer FI, Bertola LD, Bragg JG, Breed MF, Bruford MW, Coleman MA, Ekblom R, Funk WC, Grueber CE, Hand BK, Jaffé R, Jensen E, Johnson JS, Kershaw F, Liggins L, MacDonald AJ, Mergeay J, Miller JM, Muller-Karger F, O'Brien D, Paz-Vinas I, Potter KM, Razgour O, Vernesi C, Hunter ME. Global genetic diversity status and trends: towards a suite of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) for genetic composition. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1511-1538. [PMID: 35415952 PMCID: PMC9545166 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Biodiversity underlies ecosystem resilience, ecosystem function, sustainable economies, and human well‐being. Understanding how biodiversity sustains ecosystems under anthropogenic stressors and global environmental change will require new ways of deriving and applying biodiversity data. A major challenge is that biodiversity data and knowledge are scattered, biased, collected with numerous methods, and stored in inconsistent ways. The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) has developed the Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) as fundamental metrics to help aggregate, harmonize, and interpret biodiversity observation data from diverse sources. Mapping and analyzing EBVs can help to evaluate how aspects of biodiversity are distributed geographically and how they change over time. EBVs are also intended to serve as inputs and validation to forecast the status and trends of biodiversity, and to support policy and decision making. Here, we assess the feasibility of implementing Genetic Composition EBVs (Genetic EBVs), which are metrics of within‐species genetic variation. We review and bring together numerous areas of the field of genetics and evaluate how each contributes to global and regional genetic biodiversity monitoring with respect to theory, sampling logistics, metadata, archiving, data aggregation, modeling, and technological advances. We propose four Genetic EBVs: (i) Genetic Diversity; (ii) Genetic Differentiation; (iii) Inbreeding; and (iv) Effective Population Size (Ne). We rank Genetic EBVs according to their relevance, sensitivity to change, generalizability, scalability, feasibility and data availability. We outline the workflow for generating genetic data underlying the Genetic EBVs, and review advances and needs in archiving genetic composition data and metadata. We discuss how Genetic EBVs can be operationalized by visualizing EBVs in space and time across species and by forecasting Genetic EBVs beyond current observations using various modeling approaches. Our review then explores challenges of aggregation, standardization, and costs of operationalizing the Genetic EBVs, as well as future directions and opportunities to maximize their uptake globally in research and policy. The collection, annotation, and availability of genetic data has made major advances in the past decade, each of which contributes to the practical and standardized framework for large‐scale genetic observation reporting. Rapid advances in DNA sequencing technology present new opportunities, but also challenges for operationalizing Genetic EBVs for biodiversity monitoring regionally and globally. With these advances, genetic composition monitoring is starting to be integrated into global conservation policy, which can help support the foundation of all biodiversity and species' long‐term persistence in the face of environmental change. We conclude with a summary of concrete steps for researchers and policy makers for advancing operationalization of Genetic EBVs. The technical and analytical foundations of Genetic EBVs are well developed, and conservation practitioners should anticipate their increasing application as efforts emerge to scale up genetic biodiversity monitoring regionally and globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Hoban
- Center for Tree Science, The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rt 53, Lisle, IL, 60532, USA
| | - Frederick I Archer
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/NMFS, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Laura D Bertola
- City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Jason G Bragg
- Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, Australian Institute of Botanical Science, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Martin F Breed
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, University Drive, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia
| | - Michael W Bruford
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, Wales, UK
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales Fisheries, National Marine Science Centre, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450, Australia
| | - Robert Ekblom
- Wildlife Analysis Unit, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Blekholmsterrassen 36, Stockholm, SE-106 48, Sweden
| | - W Chris Funk
- Department of Biology, Graduate Degree in Ecology, Colorado State University, 1878 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1878, USA
| | - Catherine E Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Carslaw Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Brian K Hand
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, 32125 Bio Station Ln, Polson, MT, 59860, USA
| | - Rodolfo Jaffé
- Exponent, 15375 SE 30th Place, Suite 250, Bellevue, WA, 98007, USA
| | - Evelyn Jensen
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Agriculture Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Jeremy S Johnson
- Department of Environmental Studies, Prescott College, 220 Grove Avenue, Prescott, AZ, 86303, USA
| | - Francine Kershaw
- Natural Resources Defense Council, 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY, 10011, USA
| | - Libby Liggins
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Ōtehā Rohe campus, Gate 4 Albany Highway, Auckland, Aotearoa, 0745, New Zealand
| | - Anna J MacDonald
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Joachim Mergeay
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Gaverstraat 4, 9500, Geraardsbergen, Belgium.,Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, KULeuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, box 2439, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joshua M Miller
- Department of Biological Sciences, MacEwan University, 10700 104 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4S2, Canada
| | - Frank Muller-Karger
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - David O'Brien
- NatureScot, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW, UK
| | - Ivan Paz-Vinas
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, UPS, UMR-5174 EDB, 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse, 31062, France
| | - Kevin M Potter
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, 3041 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Orly Razgour
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Cristiano Vernesi
- Forest Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre- Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach, 1, San Michele all'Adige, 38010, (TN), Italy
| | - Margaret E Hunter
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA
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