Beyond the beneficial effects of translocations as an effective tool for the genetic restoration of isolated populations |
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Authors: | Juan L Bouzat Jeff A Johnson John E Toepfer Scott A Simpson Terry L Esker Ronald L Westemeier |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Life Science Building, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0212, USA;(2) Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, 1109 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;(3) Society of Tympanuchus Cupido Pinnatus, Plover, WI 54467, USA;(4) Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Newton, IL 62448, USA;(5) Illinois Natural History Survey, Effingham, IL 62401, USA |
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Abstract: | Translocations are becoming increasingly popular as appropriate management strategies for the genetic restoration of endangered
species and populations. Although a few studies have shown that the introduction of novel alleles has reversed the detrimental
effects of inbreeding over the short-term (i.e., genetic rescue), it is not clear how effective such translocations are for
both maintaining neutral variation that may be adaptive in the future (i.e., genetic restoration) and increasing population
viability over the long-term. In addition, scientists have expressed concerns regarding the potential genetic swamping of
locally adapted populations, which may eliminate significant components of genetic diversity through the replacement of the
target population by the source individuals used for translocations. Here we show that bird translocations into a wild population
of greater prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) in southeastern Illinois were effective in both removing detrimental variation associated with inbreeding depression as
well as restoring neutral genetic variation to historical levels. Furthermore, we found that although translocations resulted
in immediate increases in fitness, the demographic recovery and long-term viability of the population appears to be limited
by the availability of suitable habitat. Our results demonstrate that although translocations can be effective management
tools for the genetic restoration of wild populations on the verge of extinction, their long-term viability may not be guaranteed
unless the initial conditions that led to most species declines (e.g., habitat loss) are reversed. |
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Keywords: | Tympanuchus cupido Bottlenecks Genetic rescue Translocations |
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