Genetic consequences of isolation: island tammar wallaby (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Macropus eugenii</Emphasis>) populations and the conservation of threatened species |
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Authors: | Emily J Miller Mark D B Eldridge Keith D Morris Kyall R Zenger Catherine A Herbert |
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Institution: | (1) School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia;(2) School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, A08 Heydon-Laurence Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia;(3) Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, B01, J. D. Stewart Building, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia;(4) Department of Molecular Biology, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia;(5) Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australian Wildlife Research Centre, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA, 6946, Australia;(6) School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia |
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Abstract: | Isolation and restricted gene flow can lead to genetic deterioration in populations. Populations of many species are increasingly
becoming fragmented due to human impacts and active management is required to prevent further extinctions. Islands provide
an ideal location to protect species from many mainland threatening processes such as habitat loss and fragmentation, disease
and competition/predation from introduced species. However their isolation and small population size renders them prone to
loss of genetic diversity and to inbreeding. This study examined two endemic and one introduced population of tammar wallaby
(Macropus eugenii) on three islands in the Houtman Abrolhos Archipelago, Western Australia: East Wallabi (EWI), West Wallabi (WWI) and North
Islands (NI). Nine autosomal and four Y-linked microsatellite loci, and sequence data from the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control
region were used to examine the impact of long-term isolation (EWI and WWI) and small founder size (NI) on genetic diversity
and inbreeding. This study found all three populations had low genetic diversity, high levels of effective inbreeding and
increased frequency of morphological abnormalities. Isolation has also led to significant inter-population genetic differentiation.
These results highlight the importance of incorporating genetic management strategies when utilising islands as refuges for
declining mainland populations. |
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