Genetic diversity in natural and introduced island populations of koalas in Queensland

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen E. Lee ◽  
Jennifer M. Seddon ◽  
Stephen Johnston ◽  
Sean I. FitzGibbon ◽  
Frank Carrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Allelic Richness ◽  
Island Population ◽  
Founder Effects ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
The North ◽  
Mitochondrial Haplotypes ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Microsatellite Alleles

Island populations of animals are expected to show reduced genetic variation and increased incidence of inbreeding because of founder effects and the susceptibility of small populations to the effects of genetic drift. Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) occur naturally in a patchy distribution across much of the eastern Australian mainland and on a small number of islands near the Australian coast. We compared the genetic diversity of the naturally occurring population of koalas on North Stradbroke Island in south-east Queensland with other island populations including the introduced group on St Bees Island in central Queensland. The population on St Bees Island shows higher diversity (allelic richness 4.1, He = 0.67) than the North Stradbroke Island population (allelic richness 3.2, He = 0.55). Koalas on Brampton, Newry and Rabbit Islands possessed microsatellite alleles that were not identified from St Bees Island koalas, indicating that it is most unlikely that these populations were established by a sole secondary introduction from St Bees Island. Mitochondrial haplotypes on the central Queensland islands were more similar to a haplotype found at Springsure in central Queensland and the inland clades in south-east Queensland, rather than the coastal clade in south-east Queensland.

scholarly journals Island life and isolation: The population genetics of Pacific Wrens on the North Pacific Rim

The Condor ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-142
Author(s):  
Christin L. Pruett ◽  
Angela Ricono ◽  
Cory Spern ◽  
Kevin Winker
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Island Population ◽  
Genetic Rescue ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
The North ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Lagopus Muta ◽  
The North Pacific

Abstract Conservation of intraspecific variation is a growing focus of conservation biology. Island populations can make up a large portion of the variation of widespread species, as they are often isolated and exhibit differences in phenotype and genetic structure compared with mainland populations. We genotyped 169 Pacific Wrens (Troglodytes pacificus) from 9 locations and 6 subspecies in Alaska, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, to examine the population structure, genetic diversity, and likelihood of genetic rescue of island populations of conservation concern. We found that 25% of genetic variation was partitioned among conservation units delineated by subspecies, suggesting that the present framework of managing subspecies as separate units is warranted. Populations found farthest from possible mainland sources had the lowest genetic diversity. The Attu Island population, subspecies T. p. meligerus, had the lowest genetic diversity and highest genetic divergence of all sampled locations, a signal also found in Attu Island populations of Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) and Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta). Currently, populations in western Alaska are unlikely to be connected to populations in mainland locations through dispersal, and thus are unlikely candidates for natural genetic or demographic rescue.

scholarly journals Seascape Genomics of the Sugar Kelp Saccharina latissima Along the North Eastern Atlantic Latitudinal Gradient

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaromir Guzinski ◽  
Paolo Ruggeri ◽  
Marion Ballenghien ◽  
Stephane Mauger ◽  
Bertrand Jacquemin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
Statistical Correlation ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Saccharina Latissima ◽  
Marker Allele ◽  
The North ◽  
Distribution Ranges ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Microsatellite Alleles

Temperature is one of the most important range-limiting factors for many seaweeds. Driven by the recent climatic changes, rapid northward shifts of species’ distribution ranges can potentially modify the phylogeographic signature of Last Glacial Maximum such as increased genetic diversity at lower latitudes. To explore this question in detail in the kelp Saccharina latissima, we used microsatellites and double digest RAD-sequencing derived SNPs on S. latissima sporophytes sampled within 11 sites spanning the entire European Atlantic latitudinal range of this species. In addition, we checked for statistical correlation between genetic marker allele frequencies and three environmental proxies (sea surface temperature, salinity, and water turbidity). Our findings revealed that genetic diversity was significantly higher for the northern localities compared to the southern ones in contrast to the expected phylogeographic pattern. This suggests that the southernmost S. latissima populations are negatively affected by the recent climatic changes but also that the recolonization of S. latissima range following the LGM may have occurred from northerly refugia. Seven SNPs and 12 microsatellite alleles were found to be significantly associated with at least one of the three environmental variables. We discuss the potential adaptive functions of the genes associated with the outlier markers and the importance of these markers for successful conservation and aquaculture strategies for S. latissima in this age of rapid global change.

scholarly journals Evidence for an extreme founding effect in a highly successful invasive species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kateryna V. Kratzer ◽  
Annemarie van der Marel ◽  
Colin Garroway ◽  
Marta López-Darias ◽  
Stephen D. Petersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Genetic Bottleneck ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Invasion Success ◽  
Island Population ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Founding Population ◽  
Mitochondrial Haplotypes

AbstractThe adaptive potential of invasive species is thought to decrease during founding events due to reduced genetic diversity, limiting the new population’s ability to colonize novel habitats. Barbary ground squirrels (Atlantoxerus getulus) were purportedly introduced as a single breeding pair to the island of Fuerteventura but have expanded to over a million individuals spread across the island in just over 50 years. We estimated the number of founders and measured the level of genetic diversity in this population using the mitochondrial displacement loop and microsatellite markers. Island samples (n = 19) showed no variation in the d-loop, suggesting a single founding female, while Moroccan samples (n = 6) each had unique mitochondrial haplotypes. The microsatellite data of the island population (n = 256 individuals) revealed a small effective population size, low levels of heterozygosity, and high levels of inbreeding, supporting a founding population size of two to three individuals. Our results suggest that A. getulus has undergone an intense genetic bottleneck during their colonization of the island. They are one of the few species where introduction effort does not explain invasion success, although further investigation may explain how they have avoided the worst expected effects following an extreme genetic bottleneck.

Implications for the conservation of genetic diversity in mohair goats from a comparison of a relic island population with breeds farmed in Australia

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 411 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Balasingham ◽  
N. A. Robinson ◽  
B. A. McGregor
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Island Population ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Angora Goats ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Nei's Genetic Distance

The genetic relationships between an abandoned population of mohair-style, fibre-producing goats from the remote semi-arid Faure Island, Western Australia and 3 modern breeds of Angora goats (Australian, southern African and Texan) were investigated. Faure Island goats originated from stock introduced in the 1890s, reputedly from South Africa. Farmed Faure goats were abandoned on the island about 1918, but their fine mohair fleece has since generated commercial interest within the Australian mohair industry. Nineteen microsatellite loci were used to compare Nei’s genetic distance between and variation within the breeds. Faure Island goats are more similar to southern African and Texan Angoras than to Australian Angoras. Genetic variability was lower in Australian Angoras than in Faure Island, southern African and Texan Angoras (lowest proportion of polymorphic loci, mean heterozygosity and mean number of alleles). Current Faure Island mohair-style goats are more closely related to modern southern African Angora goats than to traditional Australian Angora goats, while the reduced variability in the latter may have resulted from inbreeding. These results have implications for the genetic improvement of fibre-producing goats and for the conservation of genetic material from island populations of goats.

scholarly journals Genetic diversity among Hymenaea courbaril L. genotypes naturally occurring in the north of Mato Grosso State, Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
V.D. Rocha ◽  
P.V. Tiago ◽  
A.V. Tiago ◽  
E.C.M. Pedri ◽  
E.S. Cardoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Hymenaea Courbaril ◽  
The North ◽  
Naturally Occurring

scholarly journals Physiological resilience of pink salmon to naturally occurring ocean acidification

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Y Frommel ◽  
Justin Carless ◽  
Brian P V Hunt ◽  
Colin J Brauner
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Elevated Co2 ◽  
Condition Factor ◽  
Pacific Salmon ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Hypoxia Tolerance ◽  
High Co2 ◽  
The North ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Co2 Levels

Abstract Pacific salmon stocks are in decline with climate change named as a contributing factor. The North Pacific coast of British Columbia is characterized by strong temporal and spatial heterogeneity in ocean conditions with upwelling events elevating CO2 levels up to 10-fold those of pre-industrial global averages. Early life stages of pink salmon have been shown to be affected by these CO2 levels, and juveniles naturally migrate through regions of high CO2 during the energetically costly phase of smoltification. To investigate the physiological response of out-migrating wild juvenile pink salmon to these naturally occurring elevated CO2 levels, we captured fish in Georgia Strait, British Columbia and transported them to a marine lab (Hakai Institute, Quadra Island) where fish were exposed to one of three CO2 levels (850, 1500 and 2000 μatm CO2) for 2 weeks. At ½, 1 and 2 weeks of exposure, we measured their weight and length to calculate condition factor (Fulton’s K), as well as haematocrit and plasma [Cl−]. At each of these times, two additional stressors were imposed (hypoxia and temperature) to provide further insight into their physiological condition. Juvenile pink salmon were largely robust to elevated CO2 concentrations up to 2000 μatm CO2, with no mortality or change in condition factor over the 2-week exposure duration. After 1 week of exposure, temperature and hypoxia tolerance were significantly reduced in high CO2, an effect that did not persist to 2 weeks of exposure. Haematocrit was increased by 20% after 2 weeks in the CO2 treatments relative to the initial measurements, while plasma [Cl−] was not significantly different. Taken together, these data indicate that juvenile pink salmon are quite resilient to naturally occurring high CO2 levels during their ocean outmigration.

scholarly journals Population structure and genetic diversity of non-native aoudad populations

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunčica Stipoljev ◽  
Toni Safner ◽  
Pavao Gančević ◽  
Ana Galov ◽  
Tina Stuhne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Control Region ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Control Region ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Spanish Populations ◽  
Microsatellite Alleles ◽  
Shared Alleles ◽  
Number Of Individuals

AbstractThe aoudad (Ammotragus lervia Pallas 1777) is an ungulate species, native to the mountain ranges of North Africa. In the second half of the twentieth century, it was successfully introduced in some European countries, mainly for hunting purposes, i.e. in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain. We used neutral genetic markers, the mitochondrial DNA control region sequence and microsatellite loci, to characterize and compare genetic diversity and spatial pattern of genetic structure on different timeframes among all European aoudad populations. Four distinct control region haplotypes found in European aoudad populations indicate that the aoudad has been introduced in Europe from multiple genetic sources, with the population in the Sierra Espuña as the only population in which more than one haplotype was detected. The number of detected microsatellite alleles within all populations (< 3.61) and mean proportion of shared alleles within all analysed populations (< 0.55) indicates relatively low genetic variability, as expected for new populations funded by a small number of individuals. In STRUCTURE results with K = 2–4, Croatian and Czech populations cluster in the same genetic cluster, indicating joined origin. Among three populations from Spain, Almeria population shows as genetically distinct from others in results, while other Spanish populations diverge at K = 4. Maintenance of genetic diversity should be included in the management of populations to sustain their viability, specially for small Czech population with high proportion of shared alleles (0.85) and Croatian population that had the smallest estimated effective population size (Ne = 5.4).

The spatial genetic structure of bank vole (Myodes glareolus) and yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) populations: The effect of distance and habitat barriers

2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Kozakiewicz ◽  
Alicja Gryczyńska–Siemiątkowska ◽  
Hanna Panagiotopoulou ◽  
Anna Kozakiewicz ◽  
Robert Rutkowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Apodemus Flavicollis ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Local Populations ◽  
Bank Vole Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Yellow Necked Mouse

AbstractHabitat barriers are considered to be an important factor causing the local reduction of genetic diversity by dividing a population into smaller sections and preventing gene flow between them. However, the “barrier effect” might be different in the case of different species. The effect of geographic distance and water barriers on the genetic structure of populations of two common rodent species – the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) and the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) living in the area of a lake (on its islands and on two opposite shores) was investigated with the use of microsatellite fragment analysis. The two studied species are characterised by similar habitat requirements, but differ with regard to the socio-spatial structure of the population, individual mobility, capability to cross environmental barriers, and other factors. Trapping was performed for two years in spring and autumn in north-eastern Poland (21°E, 53°N). A total of 160 yellow-necked mouse individuals (7 microsatellite loci) and 346 bank vole individuals (9 microsatellite loci) were analysed. The results of the differentiation analyses (FST and RST) have shown that both the barrier which is formed by a ca. 300 m wide belt of water (between the island and the mainland) and the actual distance of approximately 10 km in continuous populations are sufficient to create genetic differentiation within both species. The differences between local populations living on opposite lake shores are the smallest; differences between any one of them and the island populations are more distinct. All of the genetic diversity indices (the mean number of alleles, mean allelic richness, as well as the observed and expected heterozygosity) of the local populations from the lakeshores were significantly higher than of the small island populations of these two species separated by the water barrier. The more profound “isolation effect” in the case of the island populations of the bank vole, in comparison to the yellow-necked mouse populations, seems to result not only from the lower mobility of the bank vole species, but may also be attributed to other differences in the animals' behaviour.

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