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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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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Inbreeding depression explains killer whale population dynamics

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(5), P. 675 - 686

Published: March 20, 2023

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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The contribution of historical processes to contemporary extinction risk in placental mammals

Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 380(6643)

Published: April 27, 2023

Species persistence can be influenced by the amount, type, and distribution of diversity across genome, suggesting a potential relationship between historical demography resilience. In this study, we surveyed genetic variation single genomes 240 mammals that compose Zoonomia alignment to evaluate how effective population size (

Language: Английский

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Key issues in assessing threats to sea turtles: knowledge gaps and future directions

Endangered Species Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 52, P. 303 - 341

Published: Sept. 20, 2023

Sea turtles are an iconic group of marine megafauna that have been exposed to multiple anthropogenic threats across their different life stages, especially in the past decades. This has resulted population declines, and consequently many sea turtle populations now classified as threatened or endangered globally. Although some worldwide showing early signs recovery, still face fundamental threats. is problematic since important ecological roles. To encourage informed conservation planning direct future research, we surveyed experts identify key contemporary (climate change, take, fisheries, pollution, disease, predation, coastal development) faced by turtles. Using survey results current literature, also outline knowledge gaps our understanding impact these how targeted often involving emerging technologies, could close those gaps.

Language: Английский

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Divergent sensory and immune gene evolution in sea turtles with contrasting demographic and life histories

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(7)

Published: Feb. 7, 2023

Sea turtles represent an ancient lineage of marine vertebrates that evolved from terrestrial ancestors over 100 Mya. The genomic basis the unique physiological and ecological traits enabling these species to thrive in diverse habitats remains largely unknown. Additionally, many populations have drastically declined due anthropogenic activities past two centuries, their recovery is a high global conservation priority. We generated analyzed high-quality reference genomes for leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea ) green Chelonia mydas turtles, representing extant sea turtle families. These are highly syntenic homologous, but localized regions noncollinearity were associated with higher copy numbers immune, zinc-finger, olfactory receptor (OR) genes ORs related waterborne odorants greatly expanded turtles. Our findings suggest divergent evolution key gene families may underlie immunological sensory adaptations assisting navigation, occupancy neritic versus pelagic environments, diet specialization. Reduced collinearity was especially prevalent microchromosomes, greater content, heterozygosity, genetic distances between species, supporting critical role vertebrate evolutionary adaptation. Finally, diversity demographic histories starkly contrasted indicating had low yet stable effective population size, exhibit extremely compared other reptiles, harbor load reinforcing concern persistence under future climate scenarios. provide invaluable resources advancing our understanding best practices imperiled lineage.

Language: Английский

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Conservation management strategy impacts inbreeding and mutation load in scimitar-horned oryx

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(18)

Published: April 25, 2023

In an age of habitat loss and overexploitation, small populations, both captive wild, are increasingly facing the effects isolation inbreeding. Genetic management has therefore become a vital tool for ensuring population viability. However, little is known about how type intensity intervention shape genomic landscape inbreeding mutation load. We address this using whole-genome sequence data scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), iconic antelope that been subject to contrasting strategies since it was declared extinct in wild. show unmanaged populations enriched long runs homozygosity (ROH) have significantly higher coefficients than managed populations. Additionally, despite total number deleterious alleles being similar across strategies, burden homozygous genotypes consistently groups. These findings emphasize risks associated with mutations through multiple generations As wildlife continue diversify, our study reinforces importance maintaining genome-wide variation vulnerable direct implications one largest reintroduction attempts world.

Language: Английский

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Population genomics reveals strong impacts of genetic drift without purging and guides conservation of bull and giant kelp

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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