Habitat remediation followed by managed connectivity reduces unwanted changes in evolutionary trajectory of high extirpation risk populations

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(5), P. e0304276 - e0304276

Published: May 30, 2024

As we continue to convert green spaces into roadways and buildings, connectivity between populations biodiversity will decline. In threatened endangered species, this trend is particularly concerning because the cessation of immigration can cause increased inbreeding loss genetic diversity, leading lower adaptability higher extirpation probabilities in these populations. Unfortunately, monitoring changes diversity from management actions such as assisted migration predicting extent introduced variation that needed prevent difficult costly situ . Therefore, designed an agent-based model link population-wide variability influx unique alleles via population stability outcomes. These models showed be critical restoring at-risk reducing effects depression. However, rescued were more similar migrant source (average F ST range 0.05–0.10) compared historical recipient 0.23–0.37). This means not only recovered depression, but they did so a way changed evolutionary trajectory was predicted expected for prior crash. change most extreme with smallest sizes, which are representative critically species could reasonably considered candidates restored or translocation strategies. Understanding how response varying interventions has broad implications long-term improve future efforts protecting locally adapted allele complexes when restored.

Language: Английский

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Wild lions in small, fenced reserves in South Africa conform to a meta‐population

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Lions ( Panthera leo ) are declining across their range, mainly due to human‐induced habitat fragmentation and prey depletion. However, the South African lion population continues grow. Unlike other range states, Africa actively manages wild lions a continuum of landscapes ecological constraints. Many these in small, fenced reserves where managers seek mimic processes small landscapes. effectiveness this management approach has not been evaluated against meta‐population criteria. Given that dynamics allows species living fragmented habitats persist, we how Africa's complies with criteria using national audit data between 2010 2019 from 49 fenced, reserves. The holding fulfil for functionality. functionality was achieved through haphazard uncoordinated actions coordinated approach. Our main recommendation is consider implementing more At very least, guidelines should be reviewed updated on regular basis, audits conducted periodic genetic evaluation (every 10 years) instituted. We recommend incentivising enhance conservation within framework. also focus improving decision making policy procedures facilitates compliance relevant legislation aimed at achieving high levels conservation‐governance efficiency. effective conserving contributing broadly. In an increasingly landscape, need human ensure persistence large carnivores likely increase. A managed (or unfenced, but geographically isolated) populations useful tool conservationists worldwide.

Language: Английский

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Spatial genetic patterns in African wild dogs reveal signs of effective dispersal across southern Africa

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Dec. 13, 2022

Across much of Africa, decades civil war, land reforms, and persecution by humans have decimated wildlife populations. African wild dogs ( Lycaon pictus ) declined dramatically during the past decades, but shown recent natural recolonisation some areas. In Angola, they were rediscovered after almost five when no surveys being conducted, recolonised areas in southern Zimbabwe northern South Africa. Wild also reintroduced to Mozambique, where only few individuals remained. Against this backdrop, understanding genetic structure effective dispersal between fragmented populations is essential ensure best conservation approaches for long-term survival species. Our study investigated population diversity, differentiation gene flow across include recently been rediscovered, reestablished or reintroduced. results point four weakly differentiated clusters, representing lowveld Zimbabwe/Limpopo, Kruger NP, Angola/KAZA-TFCA, managed metapopulation, counterbalanced moderate levels on a scale. suggest that if human footprint impact can be significantly minimized, could lead demographic recovery species

Language: Английский

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Assessment of population structure and genetic diversity of wild and captive populations of Ammotragus lervia provide insights for conservation management

Conservation Genetics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 25(1), P. 59 - 73

Published: Aug. 10, 2023

Abstract The aoudad ( Ammotragus lervia ) is a Vulnerable bovid endemic of North Africa. Although legally protected in almost every country its native distribution, the continues to be hunted for meat and trophy both Africa countries where it has been introduced. species was subject past translocations planned irrespectively genetic diversity local adaptations source receiving populations, no management or conservation units have ever designed. We aim provide here important insights on taxonomy subspecies most wild captive populations. collected 127 invasive non-invasive samples from five six recognized date. could successfully retrieve data 74 samples. Of those, 36 provided nuclear (11 microsatellites) mitochondrial Cyt-b data, 31 just data. implement Bayesian approaches infer population structure phylogenetic relationships between different populations/subspecies backtrack maternal lineages introduced individuals European Our results support presence four genetically corresponding three distinct plus fourth group restricted Egypt identified by markers. also evidence affiliation some populations with respect ones. instead variation within all low. This might consequence small effective size and/or high inbreeding degree, probably related hunting, decline habitat availability quality (i.e. overgrazing, frequent drought), degree. information conservation, including reintroductions reinforcement actions exchange among stocks.

Language: Английский

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Simulated genetic efficacy of metapopulation management and conservation value of captive reintroductions in a rapidly declining felid

Animal Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(2), P. 250 - 263

Published: Sept. 21, 2022

Abstract In South Africa, cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) occur as a relictual, unmanaged population of ‘free‐roamers’, managed metapopulation across fenced reserves, and in various captive facilities. To ensure that the Cheetah Metapopulation Project (CMP) is not at risk losing overall genetic variation to drift or inbreeding, we propose interventions, including exchanges between free‐roamers supplementation with unrelated individuals from captivity. Simulated trajectories diversity under such intervention strategies over time could directly inform conservation action policy towards securing long‐term integrity CMP. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped for 172 adult free‐roamer population, metapopulation, three major Management trajectory models tested including, (1) no intervention, (2) exchange (3) translocation single facility (4) several facilities into metapopulation. Discriminant Analysis Principal Components (DAPC) showed two populations are highly differentiated each other, whilst third genetically more similar 25 generations indicated 1 2 show significant losses heterozygosity due present proportional increase frequencies 1st‐ 2nd‐degree relatives, this pairwise relatedness remain relatively constant 3 4. We emphasise potential importance reservoirs management threatened species recovery.

Language: Английский

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