Journal article
Balancing genetic uniqueness and genetic variation in determining conservation and translocation strategies: A comprehensive case study of threatened dwarf galaxias, Galaxiella pusilla (Mack) (Pisces: Galaxiidae)
RA Coleman, AR Weeks, AA Hoffmann
Molecular Ecology | Published : 2013
DOI: 10.1111/mec.12227
Abstract
Genetic markers are widely used to define and manage populations of threatened species based on the notion that populations with unique lineages of mtDNA and well-differentiated nuclear marker frequencies should be treated separately. However, a danger of this approach is that genetic uniqueness might be emphasized at the cost of genetic diversity, which is essential for adaptation and is potentially boosted by mixing geographically separate populations. Here, we re-explore the issue of defining management units, focussing on a detailed study of Galaxiella pusilla, a small freshwater fish of national conservation significance in Australia. Using a combination of microsatellite and mitochondr..
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Awarded by Melbourne University
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank Melbourne Water Corporation for funding this research. Thanks to Vin Pettigrove and Tarmo Raadik for general advice throughout the study, and thanks to three anonymous reviewers for detailed comments. For ongoing assistance on laboratory methods and analysis, thanks to Nancy Endersby and Adam Miller. Thanks to Frank Clancy, Vin Pettigrove, Edward Tsyrlin, Elise Furlan, Bryant Gagliardi and to Megan, James and Harry Coleman for field assistance. Thanks to Peter Unmack for cytochrome b primers and Michael Hammer for tissue samples from Tasmania. Thanks also to Anthony Bright for assistance with distance calculations. Research was carried out with Melbourne University animal ethics approval (AEC 0705391.2) and State research permits for threatened species, national parks and fisheries permits for South Australia (PIRSA 9902333, DEH M25833-1), Victoria (DPI RP916, DSE 10004233) and Tasmania (IFS 2008-7, TFA 08090). A.A.H. and A.R.W. were supported by fellowships from the Australian Research Council.