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Gates D, Jackson B, Schoville SD. Impacts of Fire on Butterfly Genetic Diversity and Connectivity. J Hered 2021; 112:367-376. [PMID: 34009382 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
How do novel fire regimes and a long history of fire suppression influence species genetic diversity? Genetic diversity provides the raw materials for sustaining viable populations and for allowing adaptation to novel environmental challenges, and at present, few studies address the genetic responses of animals to fire management. Here we study the genetic responses of 2 butterfly species to a landscape gradient of fire timing and severity in Yosemite National Park using a large set of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Butterflies are important bio-indicators of invertebrate diversity and play important roles in both bottom-up and top-down ecosystem processes, and typically increase in abundance following wildfires, due to an increase in abundance of flowering plants. However, it is not clear how genetic diversity and genetic connectivity of butterflies respond to landscape change following fire, and whether fire management has positive or negative effects. We found evidence to suggest that fire increases genetic diversity and reduces isolation in 2 butterfly species, but that aspects of the fire regime (severity, extent, timing, and frequency) differ in importance depending on the ecology of the specific species. This research is the first study to address fire management impacts on genetic diversity in invertebrates, and the results will allow fire managers to predict that fire reintroduction in protected areas will generally benefit butterfly populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Gates
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Breeanne Jackson
- Division of Resources Management and Science, Yosemite National Park, El Portal, CA, USA
| | - Sean D Schoville
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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2
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von Takach B, Ahrens CW, Lindenmayer DB, Banks SC. Scale-dependent signatures of local adaptation in a foundation tree species. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2248-2261. [PMID: 33740830 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding local adaptation is critical for conservation management under rapidly changing environmental conditions. Local adaptation inferred from genotype-environment associations may show different genomic patterns depending on the spatial scale of sampling, due to differences in the slope of environmental gradients and the level of gene flow. We compared signatures of local adaptation across the genome of mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) at two spatial scales: A species-wide data set and a topographically-complex subregional data set. We genotyped 367 individual trees at over 3700 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), quantified patterns of spatial genetic structure among populations, and used two analytical methods to identify loci associated with at least one of three environmental variables at each spatial scale. Together, the analyses identified 549 potentially adaptive SNPs at the subregion scale, and 435 SNPs at the range-wide scale. A total of 39 genic or near-genic SNPs, associated with 28 genes, were identified at both spatial scales, although no SNP was identified by both methods at both scales. We observed that nongenic regions had significantly higher homozygote excess than genic regions, possibly due to selective elimination of inbred genotypes during stand development. Our results suggest that strong environmental selection occurs in mountain ash, and that the identification of putatively adaptive loci can differ substantially depending on the spatial scale of analyses. We also highlight the importance of multiple adaptive genetic architectures for understanding patterns of local adaptation across large heterogenous landscapes, with comparison of putatively adaptive loci among spatial scales providing crucial insights into the process of adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton von Takach
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.,Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Collin W Ahrens
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, Australia
| | - David B Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Sam C Banks
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
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Proft KM, Bateman BL, Johnson CN, Jones ME, Pauza M, Burridge CP. The effects of weather variability on patterns of genetic diversity in Tasmanian bettongs. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:1777-1790. [PMID: 33590590 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
While the effects of climate (long-term, prevailing weather) on species abundance, range and genetic diversity have been widely studied, short-term, localized variations in atmospheric conditions (i.e., weather) can also rapidly alter species' geographical ranges and population sizes, but little is known about how they affect genetic diversity. We investigated the relationship between weather and range-wide genetic diversity in a marsupial, Bettongia gaimardi, using dynamic species distribution models (SDMs). Genetic diversity was lower in parts of the range where the weather-based SDM predicted high variability in probability of B. gaimardi occurrence during 1950-2009. This is probably an effect of lower population sizes and extinction-recolonization cycles in places with highly variable weather. Spatial variation in genetic diversity was also better predicted by mean probabilities of B. gaimardi occurrence from weather- than climate-based SDMs. Our results illustrate the importance of weather in driving population dynamics and species distributions on decadal timescales and thereby in affecting genetic diversity. Modelling the links between changing weather patterns, species distributions and genetic diversity will allow researchers to better forecast biological impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin M Proft
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Christopher N Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Matthew Pauza
- Biosecurity Tasmania, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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Sitters H, Di Stefano J. Integrating functional connectivity and fire management for better conservation outcomes. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:550-560. [PMID: 31777984 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Globally, the mean abundance of terrestrial animals has fallen by 50% since 1970, and populations face ongoing threats associated with habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, and disturbance. Climate change can influence the quality of remaining habitat directly and indirectly by precipitating increases in the extent, frequency, and severity of natural disturbances, such as fire. Species face the combined threats of habitat clearance, changing climates, and altered disturbance regimes, each of which may interact and have cascading impacts on animal populations. Typically, conservation agencies are limited in their capacity to mitigate rates of habitat clearance, habitat fragmentation, or climate change, yet fire management is increasingly used worldwide to reduce wildfire risk and achieve conservation outcomes. A popular approach to ecological fire management involves the creation of fire mosaics to promote animal diversity. However, this strategy has 2 fundamental limitations: the effect of fire on animal movement within or among habitat patches is not considered and the implications of the current fire regime for long-term population persistence are overlooked. Spatial and temporal patterns in fire history can influence animal movement, which is essential to the survival of individual animals, maintenance of genetic diversity, and persistence of populations, species, and ecosystems. We argue that there is rich potential for fire managers to manipulate animal movement patterns; enhance functional connectivity, gene flow, and genetic diversity; and increase the capacity of populations to persist under shifting environmental conditions. Recent methodological advances, such as spatiotemporal connectivity modeling, spatially explicit individual-based simulation, and fire-regime modeling can be integrated to achieve better outcomes for biodiversity in human-modified, fire-prone landscapes. Article impact statement: Land managers may conserve populations by using fire to sustain or enhance functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Sitters
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Creswick, Victoria, 3363, Australia
| | - Julian Di Stefano
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Creswick, Victoria, 3363, Australia
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von Takach Dukai B, Peakall R, Lindenmayer DB, Banks SC. The influence of fire and silvicultural practices on the landscape-scale genetic structure of an Australian foundation tree species. CONSERV GENET 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01245-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Coop JD, DeLory TJ, Downing WM, Haire SL, Krawchuk MA, Miller C, Parisien M, Walker RB. Contributions of fire refugia to resilient ponderosa pine and dry mixed‐conifer forest landscapes. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D. Coop
- School of Environment and Sustainability Western Colorado University Gunnison Colorado 81231 USA
| | | | - William M. Downing
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Sandra L. Haire
- Haire Laboratory for Landscape Ecology Belfast Maine 04915 USA
| | - Meg A. Krawchuk
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Carol Miller
- Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute Rocky Mountain Research Station USDA Forest Service Missoula Montana 59801 USA
| | - Marc‐André Parisien
- Northern Forestry Centre Canadian Forest Service Natural Resources Canada Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Ryan B. Walker
- School of Environment and Sustainability Western Colorado University Gunnison Colorado 81231 USA
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von Takach Dukai B, Jack C, Borevitz J, Lindenmayer DB, Banks SC. Pervasive admixture between eucalypt species has consequences for conservation and assisted migration. Evol Appl 2019; 12:845-860. [PMID: 30976314 PMCID: PMC6439489 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation management often uses information on genetic population structure to assess the importance of local provenancing for ecological restoration and reintroduction programs. For species that do not exhibit complete reproductive isolation, the estimation of population genetic parameters may be influenced by the extent of admixture. Therefore, to avoid perverse outcomes for conservation, genetically informed management strategies must determine whether hybridization between species is relevant, and the extent to which observed population genetic patterns are shaped by interspecific versus intraspecific gene flow. We used genotyping by sequencing to identify over 2,400 informative single nucleotide polymorphisms across 18 populations of Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell., a foundation tree species of montane forests in south-eastern Australia. We used these data to determine the extent of hybridization with another species, Eucalyptus obliqua L'Hér., and investigate how admixture influences genetic diversity parameters, by estimating metrics of genetic diversity and examining population genetic structure in datasets with and without admixed individuals. We found hybrid individuals at all sites and two highly introgressed populations. Hybrid individuals were not distributed evenly across environmental gradients, with logistic regression identifying hybrids as being associated with temperature. Removal of hybrids resulted in increases in genetic differentiation (F ST), expected heterozygosity, observed heterozygosity and the inbreeding coefficient, and different patterns of isolation by distance. After removal of hybrids and introgressed populations, mountain ash showed very little population genetic structure, with a small effect of isolation by distance, and very low global F ST(0.03). Our study shows that, in plants, decisions around provenancing of individuals for restoration depend on knowledge of whether hybridization is influencing population genetic structure. For species in which most genetic variation is held within populations, there may be little benefit in planning conservation strategies around environmental adaptation of seed sources. The possibility for adaptive introgression may also be relevant when species regularly hybridize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton von Takach Dukai
- Fenner School of Environment and SocietyThe Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Cameron Jack
- ANU Bioinformatics Consultancy, John Curtin School of Medical ResearchAustralian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Justin Borevitz
- Research School of BiologyThe Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
- Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy BiologyThe Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - David B. Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and SocietyThe Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Sam C. Banks
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin UniversityDarwinNorthwest TerritoriesAustralia
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