A conservation genomics workflow to guide practical management actions

Rossetto, Maurizio; Yap, Jia Yee S.; Lemmon, Jedda; Bain, David; Bragg, Jason G.; Hogbin, Patricia M.; Gallagher, Rachael V.; Rutherford, Susan; Summerell, Brett A.; Wilson, Trevor

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01492

Cited by 39 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Prioritization can assist in planning effective strategies for optimizing sampling, and resources can be coordinated nationally, or between state agencies, to minimize duplication of effort and increase data sharing (Southwell et al., 2020). Monitoring should also include lodging of voucher specimens with relevant herbaria to provide a long‐term record of the species presence and important genetic material for conservation planning (Rossetto et al., 2021). Secondly, recovery will vary within and between sites and functional groups of species, increasing the need for repeat site visits, surveys across a representative proportion of species ranges and across diverse range of functional groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High fire frequency and the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity

Gallagher

Allen

Mackenzie

et al. 2021

Diversity and Distributions

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102

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Aim To quantify the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity by assessing burnt area across 26,062 species ranges and the effects of fire history on recovery potential. Further, to exemplify a strategic approach to prioritizing plant species affected by fire for recovery actions and conservation planning at a national scale. Location Australia. Methods We combine data on geographic range, fire extent, response traits and fire history to assess the proportion of species ranges burnt in both the 2019–2020 fires and the past. Results Across Australia, suitable habitat for 69% of all plant species was burnt (17,197 species) by the 2019–2020 fires and herbarium specimens confirm the presence of 9,092 of these species across the fire extent since 1950. Burnt ranges include those of 587 plants listed as threatened under national legislation (44% of Australia's threatened plants). A total of 3,998 of the 17,197 fire‐affected species are known to resprout after fire, but at least 2,928 must complete their entire life cycle—from germinant to reproducing adult—prior to subsequent fires, as they are killed by fire. Data on previous fires show that, for 257 species, the historical intervals between fire events across their range are likely too short to allow regeneration. For a further 411 species, future fires during recovery will increase extinction risk as current populations are dominated by immature individuals. Main conclusion Many Australian plant species have strategies to persist under certain fire regimes, and will recover given time, suitable conditions and low exposure to threats. However, short fire intervals both before and after the 2019–2020 fire season pose a serious risk to the recovery of at least 595 species. Persistent knowledge gaps about species fire response and post‐fire population persistence threaten the effective long‐term management of Australian vegetation in an increasingly pyric world.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High fire frequency and the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity

Gallagher

Allen

Mackenzie

et al. 2021

Diversity and Distributions

Self Cite

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Molecular tools are important for conservation management practices and species interventions, as they mediate threats to wildlife and ensure long-term success of intervention programs (Elshire et al 2011;Steiner et al 2013;Flockhart et al 2015;Deiner et al 2017;Forseth et al 2017). Population genetics can identify populations that may be in greater need of intervention or better suited for conservation management (Dudgeon et al 2012;Paparella et al 2015;Whiteley et al 2015;Willoughby et al 2015;Rosauer et al 2018;Mynhardt et al 2020;Rossetto et al 2021). Understanding how species respond to habitat changes is relevant for mitigating future threats, especially where further habitat change is predicted to occur.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene flow between two thick-billed grasswren subspecies with low dispersal creates a genomic pattern of isolation-by-distance

Slender

Louter

Myers

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Context In the era of the Anthropocene, habitat loss and environmental change threaten the persistence of many species. Genotyping-By-Sequencing (GBS) is a useful molecular tool for understanding how patterns of gene flow are associated with contemporary habitat distributions that may be affected by environmental change. Two parapatric subspecies of the threatened thick-billed grasswren (TBGW; Amytornis modestus) more frequently occur in different plant communities. As such, a preference for plant community type could reduce subspecific introgression and increase genetic diversity at the parapatric boundary. Aims We aimed to measure gene flow within and among two TBGW subspecies and tested whether divergent genomic markers were associated with plant community type. Methods We sequenced 118 individuals from either of the two TBGW subspecies or in the region of parapatry and identified 7583 SNPs through ddRADseq. Key results We found evidence of asymmetric gene flow and a genomic pattern of isolation-by-distance. There were sixteen genomic outliers correlated with plant community type (regardless of location). Conclusions These findings show that plant community type does not prevent introgression in one subspecies (A. m. raglessi), but low dispersal and habitat heterogeneity could contribute to the maintenance of distinct subspecific morphotypes. Local adaptation in different plant community types could also provide a mechanism for future divergence. Implications We suggest subspecific introgression could increase genetic variation and the adaptive potential of the species, facilitating species persistence under conditions of climate change.

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“…The low germination and seedling survival observed by researchers may well be the early warning signs of inbreeding depression for this species, and implementation of a germplasm collection from seed should happen rapidly to avoid further loss of diversity through drift and inbreeding. Population genomic studies that cover the distribution of a species are highly informative for conservation and are highly recommended to form part of the conservation management toolbox [76].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

All Populations Matter: Conservation Genomics of Australia’s Iconic Purple Wattle, Acacia purpureopetala

et al. 2021

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Maximising genetic diversity in conservation efforts can help to increase the chances of survival of a species amidst the turbulence of the anthropogenic age. Here, we define the distribution and extent of genomic diversity across the range of the iconic but threatened Acacia purpureopetala, a beautiful sprawling shrub with mauve flowers, restricted to a few disjunct populations in far north Queensland, Australia. Seed production is poor and germination sporadic, but the species occurs in abundance at some field sites. While several thousands of SNP markers were recovered, comparable to other Acacia species, very low levels of heterozygosity and allelic variation suggested inbreeding. Limited dispersal most likely contributed towards the high levels of divergence amongst field sites and, using a generalised dissimilarity modelling framework amongst environmental, spatial and floristic data, spatial distance was found to be the strongest factor explaining the current distribution of genetic diversity. We illustrate how population genomic data can be utilised to design a collecting strategy for a germplasm conservation collection that optimises genetic diversity. For this species, inclusion of all field sites will capture maximum genetic diversity for both in situ and ex situ conservation. Assisted cross pollination, within and between field sites and genetically structured groups, is recommended to enhance heterozygosity particularly at the most disjunct sites and further fragmentation should be discouraged to avoid loss of genetic connectivity.

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A conservation genomics workflow to guide practical management actions

Cited by 39 publications

References 55 publications

High fire frequency and the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity

High fire frequency and the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity

Gene flow between two thick-billed grasswren subspecies with low dispersal creates a genomic pattern of isolation-by-distance

All Populations Matter: Conservation Genomics of Australia’s Iconic Purple Wattle, Acacia purpureopetala

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