Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
292(2039)
Published: Jan. 1, 2025
Globally,
many
species
are
threatened
by
population
decline
because
of
anthropogenic
changes
leading
to
fragmentation,
genetic
isolation
and
inbreeding
depression.
Genetic
rescue,
the
controlled
introduction
variation,
is
a
method
used
relieve
such
effects
in
small
populations.
However,
without
understanding
how
characteristics
rescuers
impact
rescue
attempts
interventions
run
risk
being
sub-optimal,
or
even
counterproductive.
We
use
red
flour
beetle
(
Tribolium
castaneum
)
test
rescuer
sex,
sexual
selection
background,
on
productivity.
record
productivity
24
36
replicated
populations
for
ten
generations
following
intervention.
find
little
no
sex
efficacy
but
show
that
background
elevated
makes
individuals
more
effective
rescuers.
In
both
experiments,
diminish
6–10
after
rescue.
Our
results
confirm
can
be
influenced
level
rescuing
an
important
factor.
any
increase
fitness
associated
with
may
last
limited
number
generations,
suggesting
implications
conservation
policy
practice.
Climate Change Responses,
Journal Year:
2015,
Volume and Issue:
2(1)
Published: Jan. 27, 2015
Evolutionary
adaptation
drives
biodiversity.
So
far,
however,
evolutionary
thinking
has
had
limited
impact
on
plans
to
counter
the
effects
of
climate
change
biodiversity
and
associated
ecosystem
services.
This
is
despite
habitat
fragmentation
diminishing
ability
populations
mount
responses,
via
reductions
in
population
size,
gene
flow
heterogeneity
environments
that
occupy.
Research
other
challenges
benefitted
enormously
recent
years
from
genomic
tools,
but
these
have
so
far
only
been
applied
issue
a
piecemeal
manner.
Here,
we
explore
how
new
knowledge
might
be
combined
with
decision
framework
aimed
at
reducing
long-term
impacts
highlights
need
rethink
local
conservation
management
efforts
conservation.
We
take
dynamic
view
based
recognition
continuously
evolving
lineages,
highlight
when
where
approaches
are
justified.
In
general,
developing
tools
for
non-model
organisms,
genomics
can
help
decide
resources
should
redirected
increasing
hybridisation
across
zones
facilitating
situ
large
heterogeneous
areas.
It
also
inform
priorities
shift
maintaining
genetically
distinct
species
supporting
processes
change.
illustrate
our
argument
particular
reference
Australia's
Evolution Letters,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
5(1), P. 33 - 47
Published: Dec. 18, 2020
Abstract
Human-driven
habitat
fragmentation
and
loss
have
led
to
a
proliferation
of
small
isolated
plant
animal
populations
with
high
risk
extinction.
One
the
main
threats
extinction
in
these
is
inbreeding
depression,
which
primarily
caused
by
recessive
deleterious
mutations
becoming
homozygous
due
inbreeding.
The
typical
approach
for
managing
maintain
genetic
diversity,
increasingly
translocating
individuals
from
large
initiate
“genetic
rescue.”
However,
limitations
this
recently
been
highlighted
demise
gray
wolf
population
on
Isle
Royale,
declined
brink
soon
after
arrival
migrant
mainland
population.
Here,
we
use
novel
simulation
framework
investigate
role
variation,
demographic
history
mediating
depression
populations.
We
show
that,
under
realistic
models
dominance,
harbor
levels
strongly
variation
being
hidden
selection
heterozygous
state.
As
result,
when
contract,
they
experience
substantially
elevated
are
exposed
Moreover,
demonstrate
although
rescue
broadly
effective
as
means
reduce
risk,
its
effectiveness
can
be
greatly
increased
drawing
migrants
or
moderate-sized
source
rather
than
smaller
harboring
lower
variation.
Our
findings
challenge
traditional
conservation
paradigm
that
focuses
maximizing
diversity
favor
view
emphasizes
minimizing
These
insights
important
implications
fragmented
landscape
Anthropocene.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2017,
Volume and Issue:
8(1)
Published: Oct. 16, 2017
Genetic
rescue
has
now
been
attempted
in
several
threatened
species,
but
the
contribution
of
genetics
per
se
to
any
increase
population
health
can
be
hard
identify.
Rescue
is
expected
particularly
useful
when
individuals
are
introduced
into
small
isolated
populations
with
low
levels
genetic
variation.
Here
we
consider
such
a
situation
by
documenting
mountain
pygmy
possum,
Burramys
parvus.
Rapid
recovery
occurred
target
after
introduction
number
males
from
large
genetically
diverged
population.
Initial
hybrid
fitness
was
more
than
two-fold
higher
non-hybrids;
animals
had
larger
body
size,
and
female
hybrids
produced
pouch
young
lived
longer.
likely
contributed
largest
size
ever
being
recorded
at
this
site.
These
data
point
as
potentially
option
for
populations.
Evolutionary Applications,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
14(3), P. 634 - 652
Published: Oct. 24, 2020
Abstract
Animal
and
plant
species
around
the
world
are
being
challenged
by
deleterious
effects
of
inbreeding,
loss
genetic
diversity,
maladaptation
due
to
widespread
habitat
destruction
rapid
climate
change.
In
many
cases,
interventions
will
likely
be
needed
safeguard
populations
maintain
functioning
ecosystems.
Strategies
aimed
at
initiating,
reinstating,
or
enhancing
patterns
gene
flow
via
deliberate
movement
genotypes
environment
generating
growing
interest
with
broad
applications
in
conservation
environmental
management.
These
diverse
strategies
go
various
names
ranging
from
evolutionary
rescue
provenancing
resurrection.
Our
aim
here
is
provide
some
clarification
terminology
how
these
connected
linked
underlying
processes.
We
draw
on
case
studies
literature
outline
mechanisms
that
underlie
increase
fitness
impact
wider
community.
argue
understanding
leading
decline
community
a
key
successful
implementation
strategies.
emphasize
need
consider
nature
source
recipient
populations,
as
well
associated
risks
trade‐offs
for
This
overview
highlights
where
have
potential
population,
species,
ecosystem
scales,
but
also
they
should
probably
not
attempted
depending
overall
aims
intervention.
advocate
an
approach
short‐
long‐term
integrated
into
decision
framework
considers
nongenetic
aspects
Molecular Ecology,
Journal Year:
2016,
Volume and Issue:
25(19), P. 4745 - 4756
Published: Aug. 6, 2016
Natural
populations
are
becoming
increasingly
fragmented
which
is
expected
to
affect
their
viability
due
inbreeding
depression,
reduced
genetic
diversity
and
increased
sensitivity
demographic
environmental
stochasticity.
In
small
highly
inbred
populations,
the
introduction
of
only
a
few
immigrants
may
increase
vital
rates
significantly.
However,
very
studies
have
quantified
long-term
success
individuals
in
natural
populations.
Following
an
episode
immigration
isolated,
severely
Scandinavian
wolf
(Canis
lupus)
population,
we
demonstrate
significantly
higher
pairing
breeding
for
offspring
compared
from
native,
pairs.
We
argue
that
depression
underlying
mechanism
profound
difference
success.
Highly
wolves
lower
survival
during
natal
dispersal
as
well
competitive
disadvantage
find
partner.
Our
study
one
first
quantify
compare
reproductive
first-generation
migrants
vs.
population.
Indeed,
our
data
impact
single
can
small,
represent
documented
cases
rescue
population
large
carnivores.
Molecular Ecology,
Journal Year:
2016,
Volume and Issue:
25(10), P. 2176 - 2194
Published: March 19, 2016
Abstract
The
evolutionary
mechanisms
generating
the
tremendous
biodiversity
of
islands
have
long
fascinated
biologists.
Genetic
drift
and
divergent
selection
are
predicted
to
be
strong
on
both
could
drive
population
divergence
speciation.
Alternatively,
genetic
may
preclude
adaptation.
We
conducted
a
genomic
analysis
test
roles
in
causing
differentiation
among
populations
island
fox
(
Urocyon
littoralis
).
This
species
consists
six
subspecies,
each
which
occupies
different
California
Channel
Island.
Analysis
5293
SNP
loci
generated
using
Restriction‐site
Associated
DNA
RAD
)
sequencing
found
support
for
as
dominant
mechanism
driving
populations.
In
particular,
had
exceptionally
low
variation,
small
N
e
(range
=
2.1–89.7;
median
19.4),
significant
signatures
bottlenecks.
Moreover,
with
lowest
variation
(and,
by
inference,
strongest
historical
drift)
were
most
genetically
differentiated
from
mainland
grey
foxes,
vice
versa,
indicating
drives
genome‐wide
divergence.
Nonetheless,
outlier
tests
identified
3.6–6.6%
high
F
ST
outliers,
suggesting
that
despite
drift,
contributes
Patterns
similarity
based
outliers
mirrored
patterns
morphology,
providing
additional
evidence
reflect
adaptive
Extremely
some
populations,
particularly
San
Nicolas
Island,
suggest
they
vulnerable
fixation
deleterious
alleles,
decreased
fitness
reduced
potential.
Conservation Letters,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
12(5)
Published: May 17, 2019
Abstract
The
recent
extensive
loss
of
biodiversity
raises
the
question
whether
organisms
will
adapt
in
time
to
survive
current
era
rapid
environmental
change,
and
today's
conservation
practices
policies
are
appropriate.
We
review
benefits
risks
inter‐
intraspecific
hybridization
as
a
management
tool
aimed
at
enhancing
adaptive
potential
survival,
with
particular
reference
coral
reefs.
conclude
that
is
underutilized
many
its
perceived
possibly
overstated;
few
applications
date
have
already
shown
positive
outcomes.
Moreover,
perceptions
risk
change
significantly
when
focus
on
preserving
species/population,
instead
species
original
state.
Further,
we
suggest
uncertain
legal
status
hybrids
entities
protection
can
be
costly
society
ecosystems,
legislative
revision
overdue.
present
decision
tree
help
assess
where
suitable
tool,
or
preferred
option.
Frontiers in Genetics,
Journal Year:
2015,
Volume and Issue:
6
Published: Feb. 10, 2015
The
management
of
livestock
breeds
and
threatened
natural
population
share
common
challenges,
including
small
effective
sizes,
high
risk
inbreeding,
the
potential
benefits
costs
associated
with
mixing
disparate
gene
pools.
Here
we
consider
what
has
been
learnt
about
these
issues,
ways
in
which
knowledge
gained
from
one
area
might
be
applied
to
other,
genomics
provide
new
insights.
Although
there
are
key
differences
stemming
importance
artificial
versus
selection
decreased
level
environmental
heterogeneity
experienced
by
many
populations,
suspect
that
information
genetic
rescue
populations
could
usefully
livestock.
This
includes
an
increased
emphasis
on
maintaining
substantial
sizes
at
expense
uniqueness
ensuring
future
adaptability,
emphasizing
way
changes
can
influence
relative
fitness
deleterious
alleles
genotypes
populations.
We
also
cross-breeding
maintenance
unique
will
increasingly
important
for
preservation
variation
In
particular,
selected
genes
identified
domestic
markers
exploring
adaptive
evolution
Genomic
technologies
two
disciplines
realizing
gains
maximizing
capacity
wildlife,
particularly
understanding
how
parts
genome
may
respond
differently
when
exposed
processes
selection.