Journal article
Scope for genetic rescue of an endangered subspecies though re-establishing natural gene flow with another subspecies
KA Harrisson, A Pavlova, A Goncąlves Da Silva, R Rose, JK Bull, ML Lancaster, N Murray, B Quin, P Menkhorst, MJL Magrath, P Sunnucks
Molecular Ecology | Published : 2016
DOI: 10.1111/mec.13547
Abstract
Genetic diversity is positively linked to the viability and evolutionary potential of species but is often compromised in threatened taxa. Genetic rescue by gene flow from a more diverse or differentiated source population of the same species can be an effective strategy for alleviating inbreeding depression and boosting evolutionary potential. The helmeted honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops cassidix is a critically endangered subspecies of the common yellow-tufted honeyeater. Cassidix has declined to a single wild population of ~130 birds, despite being subject to intensive population management over recent decades. We assessed changes in microsatellite diversity in cassidix over the last fo..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
Funding was provided by the Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (LP0776322), the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), Museum of Victoria, Parks Victoria, North Central Catchment Management Authority, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, Birds Australia, the Merrin Foundation, Zoos Victoria. BQ and PM were funded by the Victorian Government. Blood samples were collected under DEPI permits (RP-89-159, 10000073, 10000197, 10004802 and 10004294 under the Wildlife Act 1975 and the National Parks Act 1975, and NWF10455 under section 52 of the Forest Act 1958) and approval of animal ethics committees of DEPI (98/004), Monash University (BSCI/2007/07) and Zoos Victoria (ZV08016). Computationally intensive analyses were run on the Monash Computing Cluster courtesy of Monash eResearch. We thank Leo Joseph and the Australian National Wildlife Collection (ANWC) for provision of tissue samples; Robert Palmer, Karina Cartwright and Emma Campbell for curatorial assistance; and Jian Yen for comments on earlier drafts and assistance with preparation of figures. Finally, we thank the vast number of volunteers, including members of Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, for assistance provided to the banding and DNA-sampling programme.