A post-translocation genetic analysis of an endemic wingless grasshopper in urban environments

Abstract

Translocation is a core conservation strategy, yet the outcomes of invertebrate translocations are often poorly documented due to the small size and limited mobility of invertebrates. Levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding are key indicators of translocation success, reflecting breeding success, adaptive capacity, and long-term viability of translocated populations. This study characterizes the genetic diversity of a recently translocated flightless grasshopper, Vandiemenella viatica, two generations after release. Genome-wide sequence data revealed significant reductions in observed heterozygosity (19.07% decrease) and nucleotide diversity (12.69% decrease) in the F2 generation relative..