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Available at http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/Eco_people/Presentations/
Conservation Genetics
Sam Hopkins
Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
An Optional Graphiccan go here
Conservation genetics includes:
Study of inbreeding in small populations
Study of spatial patterns of genetic variation
Study of gene flow
Study of hybridisation
Study of systematics
Can start to describe the future of an endangered species
Can involve endangered taxa but often just species that will show us how something works
Genetics alone will not conserve species
What is conservation genetics?What is conservation genetics?
Conservation genetics allows conservationists to make informed decisions
Conservation genetics not always the answer
Its expensive
Time consuming
Interpretation is personal
What is conservation genetics?What is conservation genetics?
Depleted by hunting
Small populations survive in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Southern Oceans
Separation between populations in different oceanic basins
Separation between populations in the same oceanic basin
Geographic variation studied by looking at the mitochondrial DNA
This study gives information on the Humpback but also may give insight into other species with high dispersal abilities, large distributions and social behaviours
Conserving Humpback Whales Conserving Humpback Whales 11
Molecular genetics can identify species that are endangered and protected but still being bought and sold
Often the products on the market cannot be identified by sight but can be identified using genetics
E.g.. Ivory, horn, shell, meat, feathers, dried leaves
An example of this is seen in the Whale market The international whaling commission allows a certain
amount of whaling for scientific research These Whales can then be sold to consumers Often species and geographical source can be
identified Genetics can tell if the products on the market are
caught legally or illegally
Using genetics to identify commercial Using genetics to identify commercial products from endangered speciesproducts from endangered species
Shaving brushes made from Badger hair
Meant to be made from the Hog Badgers (Arctonyx colaris) hair which is an invasive species in Europe
Using molecular genetics the hair of four brushes was found to be from the Eurasian Badger (Meles meles) which is a protected species
Using genetics to identify commercial Using genetics to identify commercial products from endangered species products from endangered species 22
37 out of 38 species in the felid group are endangered or threatened
Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) have less genomic variation than other cats
The Cheetah’s ancestors underwent a severe reduction in numbers and inbreeding possibly several times or over a long period of time
The Florida Panther has the least genetic variation of any puma sub-species
All these species give us an incite into what happens when genetic diversity decreases which can be put to use in other endangered species
The Cats The Cats 33
The Simien Jackal (Canis simensis) is probably the most endangered canid
There are fewer than 500 individuals left and they are in isolated populations
Restricted to the Ethiopian highlands
Habitat loss and fragmentation has restricted the Simien Jackal still more
In one study on the population from the Bale Mountain National Park there was only one mitochondrial genotype found
Another problem is their ability to hybridise with domestic dogs
The Dogs The Dogs 44
The Red Wolf (Canis rufus)
Was found in the south central United States
Extinct in the wild since 1975
Single captive population
The origins of the species are questionable
Genetic tests have assisted in making decisions when considering re-introductions
The Dogs The Dogs 44
The Island of Guam had the brown tree snake introduced and the native species of birds have been in trouble ever since
The Guam Rail (Rallus owstoni) and the Micronesian Kingfisher (Halcyon cinnamomina) are extinct in the wild
Genetic analysis has helped to manage matings by looking at relatedness among the captive birds
The results show low genetic diversity but none of this has been lost since the species have been taken into captivity
The Birds The Birds 55
There are seven species alive today and all are endangered or threatened
Molecular genetics has helped establish some natural history and evolution that is beneficial to conservation efforts
As with the Whales discussed earlier Green, Loggerhead and Hawksbill turtles return to the same rookery (egg laying site)
Using genetic analysis this has been shown to be the turtles returning to their beach of birth
Marine Turtles Marine Turtles 66
Spreading Avens (Geum radiatum) is a perennial herb that is found only on a few mountain tops in North Carolina and Tennessee
In 1991 there were 16 populations
Now there are 11
Extinction is being caused by human trampling
Four of the other populations are declining
The government want to restore the numbers of the plant in one of the declining populations, genetic analysis will help with the answer
Endemic plants Endemic plants 77
The Billfish group contains Swordfish, Marlins, Sailfish and Spearfish
These fish are commercially exploited and their numbers have decreased
It was not known if these animals were moving about the sea as distinct populations or whether they were a continuous population
Molecular genetics have been used to find some answers
The Striped and Blue Marlin both show within ocean population differences even though they travel great distances
This should shape future conservation plans
Pelagic Fish Pelagic Fish 88
Large reptile
Endemic to 5 islands in South East Indonesia
Threatened by habitat destruction and competition by humans
Genetic diversity of five populations on four of the islands studied
Island of Komodo had the greatest diversity
Island of Komodo has been separated from other land masses for the longest period
Makes Komodo population important to conserve
Komodo Dragons Komodo Dragons 99
Restricted range in Southern Highlands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital territory
Three geographically isolated populations
Snowy Mountains
Fiery Range
Brindabella Range
Snowy mountain population has decreased heterozygosity and an absence of rare alleles
May cause the population to struggle to respond to climate change
Corroboree Frogs Corroboree Frogs 1010
ReferencesReferences1. Baker, C. S. and Palumbi, S. R.(1996) Population structure, Molecular
systematics and forensic identification of Whales and Dolphins. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J editors. Conservation Genetics: Case Histories From Nature pp 10-41
2. Domingo- Roura, X. et al. (2006). Badger hair in shaving brushes comes from protected Eurasian Badgers. Biological Conservation 128: 425-430
3. O’Brian, S. J. (1996) Conservation Genetics of the Felidae In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editors. Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp50-71
4. Wayne, R. K. (1996)Conservation Genetics of the Canidae. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editors. Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 75-112
5. Haig, S. M. and Avise, J. C. (1996) Avian Conservation Genetics. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editiors. Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 160-184
ReferencesReferences6. Bowen, B. W. and Avise, J. C. (1996) Conservation genetics of marine turtles.
In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editors. Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 190-230
7. Hamrick, J. L. and Godt, M. J. W. (1996) Conservation genetics of endemic plant species. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick J. editors Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 281-302
8. Graves, J. E. (1996) Conservation Genetics of Fishes in the Pelagic Marine Realm. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editors Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 335-362
9. Ciofi, et al. (1999). Genetic divergence and units for conservation in the Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis. Proceeding of the Royal Society of London B. 266: 2269-2274
10. Osborne, W. S. and Norman, J. A. (1991). Conservation Genetics of Corroboree frogs, Pseudophryne corroboree More (Anura: Myobatrachidad): Population sub-division and genetic divergence. Australian Journal of Zoology 39: 285-297