The inflated significance of neutral genetic diversity in conservation genetics

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(10)

Published: Feb. 19, 2021

The current rate of species extinction is rapidly approaching unprecedented highs and life on Earth presently faces a sixth mass event driven by anthropogenic activity, climate change ecological collapse. field conservation genetics aims at preserving using their levels genetic diversity, usually measured as neutral genome-wide barometer for evaluating population health risk. A fundamental assumption that higher diversity lead to an increase in fitness long-term survival species. Here, we argue against the perceived importance wild populations We demonstrate no simple general relationship exists between risk extinction. Instead, better understanding properties functional demographic history, relationships, necessary developing implementing effective strategies.

Language: Английский

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The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(48)

Published: Nov. 12, 2021

The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field conservation biology has placed too much focus on conserving genome-wide genetic variation, should instead managing subset functional variation is thought affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate feasibility likely benefits this approach in conservation. We find population theory empirical results show generally best prevent inbreeding depression loss adaptive potential from driving populations toward extinction. Focusing efforts presumably will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, counterproductive when prioritized over variation. Given increasing habitat other environmental changes, failure recognize detrimental effects lost long-term viability worsen biodiversity crisis.

Language: Английский

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Genetic load: genomic estimates and applications in non-model animals

Nature Reviews Genetics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 23(8), P. 492 - 503

Published: Feb. 8, 2022

Language: Английский

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Conservation genetics as a management tool: The five best-supported paradigms to assist the management of threatened species

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 119(1)

Published: Dec. 20, 2021

About 50 y ago, Crow and Kimura [ An Introduction to Population Genetics Theory (1970)] Ohta Genet. Res. 22, 201–204 (1973)] laid the foundations of conservation genetics by predicting relationship between population size genetic marker diversity. This work sparked an enormous research effort investigating importance dynamics, in particular small size, for mean performance, viability, evolutionary potential. In light a recent perspective [J. C. Teixeira, D. Huber, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118, 10 (2021)] that challenges some fundamental assumptions genetics, it is timely summarize what field has achieved, robust patterns have emerged, worthwhile future directions. We consider theory methodological breakthroughs helped management, we outline applied genetics.

Language: Английский

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Prevalence and Adaptive Impact of Introgression

Annual Review of Genetics, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 55(1), P. 265 - 283

Published: Sept. 28, 2021

Alleles that introgress between species can influence the evolutionary and ecological fate of exposed to novel environments. Hybrid offspring different are often unfit, yet it has long been argued introgression be a potent force in evolution, especially plants. Over last two decades, genomic data have increasingly provided evidence is critically important source genetic variation this additional useful adaptive evolution both animals Here, we review factors probability foreign variants provide long-term benefits (so-called introgression) discuss their potential benefits. We find plays an role particularly when far from its fitness optimum, such as they expand range or subject changing

Language: Английский

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Genomic evidence for inbreeding depression and purging of deleterious genetic variation in Indian tigers

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(49)

Published: Nov. 30, 2021

Increasing habitat fragmentation leads to wild populations becoming small, isolated, and threatened by inbreeding depression. However, small may be able purge recessive deleterious alleles as they become expressed in homozygotes, thus reducing depression increasing population viability. We used whole-genome sequences from 57 tigers estimate individual mutation load a small-isolated two large-connected India. As expected, the had substantially higher average genomic (

Language: Английский

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Genetic architecture and lifetime dynamics of inbreeding depression in a wild mammal

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: May 20, 2021

Abstract Inbreeding depression is ubiquitous, but we still know little about its genetic architecture and precise effects in wild populations. Here, combine long-term life-history data with 417 K imputed SNP genotypes for 5952 Soay sheep to explore inbreeding on a key fitness component, annual survival. manifests long runs of homozygosity (ROH), which make up nearly half the genome most inbred individuals. The ROH landscape varies widely across genome, islands where 87% deserts only 4% individuals have ROH. consequences are severe; 10% increase individual F associated 60% reduction odds survival lambs, though decreases age. Finally, genome-wide association scan shows that many loci small five larger contribute

Language: Английский

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The critically endangered vaquita is not doomed to extinction by inbreeding depression

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 376(6593), P. 635 - 639

Published: May 5, 2022

In cases of severe wildlife population decline, a key question is whether recovery efforts will be impeded by genetic factors, such as inbreeding depression. Decades excess mortality from gillnet fishing have driven Mexico's vaquita porpoise (

Language: Английский

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Deleterious Variation in Natural Populations and Implications for Conservation Genetics

Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11(1), P. 93 - 114

Published: Nov. 4, 2022

Deleterious mutations decrease reproductive fitness and are ubiquitous in genomes. Given that many organisms face ongoing threats of extinction, there is interest elucidating the impact deleterious variation on extinction risk optimizing management strategies accounting for such mutations. Quantifying understanding effects population history complex endeavors because we do not know strength selection acting each mutation. Further, effect demographic depends against mutation degree dominance. Here clarify how can be quantified studied natural populations. We then discuss different factors, as small size, nonequilibrium size changes, inbreeding, gene flow, affect variation. Lastly, provide guidance studying nonmodel populations conservation concern.

Language: Английский

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Purging and accumulation of genetic load in conservation

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(10), P. 961 - 969

Published: June 19, 2023

Our ability to assess the threat posed by genetic load small and declining populations has been greatly improved advances in genome sequencing computational approaches. Yet, considerable confusion remains around definitions of its dynamics, how they impact individual fitness population viability. We illustrate both selective purging drift affect distribution deleterious mutations during size decline recovery. show this impacts composition load, affects extinction risk recovery potential populations. propose a framework examine dynamics advocate for introduction estimates management endangered

Language: Английский

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