Available at http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/Eco_people/Presentations/

Conservation Genetics

Sam Hopkins

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

An Optional Graphiccan go here

Conservation genetics includes:

Study of inbreeding in small populations

Study of spatial patterns of genetic variation

Study of gene flow

Study of hybridisation

Study of systematics

Can start to describe the future of an endangered species

Can involve endangered taxa but often just species that will show us how something works

Genetics alone will not conserve species

What is conservation genetics?What is conservation genetics?

Conservation genetics allows conservationists to make informed decisions

Conservation genetics not always the answer

Its expensive

Time consuming

Interpretation is personal

What is conservation genetics?What is conservation genetics?

Depleted by hunting

Small populations survive in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Southern Oceans

Separation between populations in different oceanic basins

Separation between populations in the same oceanic basin

Geographic variation studied by looking at the mitochondrial DNA

This study gives information on the Humpback but also may give insight into other species with high dispersal abilities, large distributions and social behaviours

Conserving Humpback Whales Conserving Humpback Whales 11

Molecular genetics can identify species that are endangered and protected but still being bought and sold

Often the products on the market cannot be identified by sight but can be identified using genetics

E.g.. Ivory, horn, shell, meat, feathers, dried leaves

An example of this is seen in the Whale market The international whaling commission allows a certain

amount of whaling for scientific research These Whales can then be sold to consumers Often species and geographical source can be

identified Genetics can tell if the products on the market are

caught legally or illegally

Using genetics to identify commercial Using genetics to identify commercial products from endangered speciesproducts from endangered species

Shaving brushes made from Badger hair

Meant to be made from the Hog Badgers (Arctonyx colaris) hair which is an invasive species in Europe

Using molecular genetics the hair of four brushes was found to be from the Eurasian Badger (Meles meles) which is a protected species

Using genetics to identify commercial Using genetics to identify commercial products from endangered species products from endangered species 22

37 out of 38 species in the felid group are endangered or threatened

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) have less genomic variation than other cats

The Cheetah’s ancestors underwent a severe reduction in numbers and inbreeding possibly several times or over a long period of time

The Florida Panther has the least genetic variation of any puma sub-species

All these species give us an incite into what happens when genetic diversity decreases which can be put to use in other endangered species

The Cats The Cats 33

The Simien Jackal (Canis simensis) is probably the most endangered canid

There are fewer than 500 individuals left and they are in isolated populations

Restricted to the Ethiopian highlands

Habitat loss and fragmentation has restricted the Simien Jackal still more

In one study on the population from the Bale Mountain National Park there was only one mitochondrial genotype found

Another problem is their ability to hybridise with domestic dogs

The Dogs The Dogs 44

The Red Wolf (Canis rufus)

Was found in the south central United States

Extinct in the wild since 1975

Single captive population

The origins of the species are questionable

Genetic tests have assisted in making decisions when considering re-introductions

The Dogs The Dogs 44

The Island of Guam had the brown tree snake introduced and the native species of birds have been in trouble ever since

The Guam Rail (Rallus owstoni) and the Micronesian Kingfisher (Halcyon cinnamomina) are extinct in the wild

Genetic analysis has helped to manage matings by looking at relatedness among the captive birds

The results show low genetic diversity but none of this has been lost since the species have been taken into captivity

The Birds The Birds 55

There are seven species alive today and all are endangered or threatened

Molecular genetics has helped establish some natural history and evolution that is beneficial to conservation efforts

As with the Whales discussed earlier Green, Loggerhead and Hawksbill turtles return to the same rookery (egg laying site)

Using genetic analysis this has been shown to be the turtles returning to their beach of birth

Marine Turtles Marine Turtles 66

Spreading Avens (Geum radiatum) is a perennial herb that is found only on a few mountain tops in North Carolina and Tennessee

In 1991 there were 16 populations

Now there are 11

Extinction is being caused by human trampling

Four of the other populations are declining

The government want to restore the numbers of the plant in one of the declining populations, genetic analysis will help with the answer

Endemic plants Endemic plants 77

The Billfish group contains Swordfish, Marlins, Sailfish and Spearfish

These fish are commercially exploited and their numbers have decreased

It was not known if these animals were moving about the sea as distinct populations or whether they were a continuous population

Molecular genetics have been used to find some answers

The Striped and Blue Marlin both show within ocean population differences even though they travel great distances

This should shape future conservation plans

Pelagic Fish Pelagic Fish 88

Large reptile

Endemic to 5 islands in South East Indonesia

Threatened by habitat destruction and competition by humans

Genetic diversity of five populations on four of the islands studied

Island of Komodo had the greatest diversity

Island of Komodo has been separated from other land masses for the longest period

Makes Komodo population important to conserve

Komodo Dragons Komodo Dragons 99

Restricted range in Southern Highlands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital territory

Three geographically isolated populations

Snowy Mountains

Fiery Range

Brindabella Range

Snowy mountain population has decreased heterozygosity and an absence of rare alleles

May cause the population to struggle to respond to climate change

Corroboree Frogs Corroboree Frogs 1010

ReferencesReferences1. Baker, C. S. and Palumbi, S. R.(1996) Population structure, Molecular

systematics and forensic identification of Whales and Dolphins. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J editors. Conservation Genetics: Case Histories From Nature pp 10-41

2. Domingo- Roura, X. et al. (2006). Badger hair in shaving brushes comes from protected Eurasian Badgers. Biological Conservation 128: 425-430

3. O’Brian, S. J. (1996) Conservation Genetics of the Felidae In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editors. Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp50-71

4. Wayne, R. K. (1996)Conservation Genetics of the Canidae. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editors. Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 75-112

5. Haig, S. M. and Avise, J. C. (1996) Avian Conservation Genetics. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editiors. Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 160-184

ReferencesReferences6. Bowen, B. W. and Avise, J. C. (1996) Conservation genetics of marine turtles.

In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editors. Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 190-230

7. Hamrick, J. L. and Godt, M. J. W. (1996) Conservation genetics of endemic plant species. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick J. editors Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 281-302

8. Graves, J. E. (1996) Conservation Genetics of Fishes in the Pelagic Marine Realm. In: Avise, J. C. and Hamrick, J. editors Conservation Genetics, Case Histories From Nature pp 335-362

9. Ciofi, et al. (1999). Genetic divergence and units for conservation in the Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis. Proceeding of the Royal Society of London B. 266: 2269-2274

10. Osborne, W. S. and Norman, J. A. (1991). Conservation Genetics of Corroboree frogs, Pseudophryne corroboree More (Anura: Myobatrachidad): Population sub-division and genetic divergence. Australian Journal of Zoology 39: 285-297