Genetic rescue in Isle Royale wolves: genetic analysis and the collapse of the population

Hedrick, Philip W.; Peterson, Rolf O.; Vucetich, Leah M.; Adams, Jennifer R.; Vucetich, John A.

doi:10.1007/s10592-014-0604-1

Cited by 112 publications

(148 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…However, the interactions themselves are not rare and are likely to become more common in wild populations as activities of the growing human population increasingly isolate populations of wildlife in small patches of otherwise highly suitable habitat. Indeed, wolves (Canis lupus) on Isle Royale appear to be on the brink of extinction following increased isolation associated with decreased frequency of sufficient winter lake-ice formation to allow immigration of wolves from mainland populations, which has been linked to global climate change [15]. Florida panthers nearly went extinct from consequences of inbreeding depression after being isolated from other mountain lion populations due to overhunting and habitat loss in eastern North America.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between demography, genetics, and landscape connectivity increase extinction probability for a small population of large carnivores in a major metropolitan area

et al. 2016

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The extinction vortex is a theoretical model describing the process by which extinction risk is elevated in small, isolated populations owing to interactions between environmental, demographic, and genetic factors. However, empirical demonstrations of these interactions have been elusive. We modelled the dynamics of a small mountain lion population isolated by anthropogenic barriers in greater Los Angeles, California, to evaluate the influence of demographic, genetic, and landscape factors on extinction probability. The population exhibited strong survival and reproduction, and the model predicted stable median population growth and a 15% probability of extinction over 50 years in the absence of inbreeding depression. However, our model also predicted the population will lose 40-57% of its heterozygosity in 50 years. When we reduced demographic parameters proportional to reductions documented in another wild population of mountain lions that experienced inbreeding depression, extinction probability rose to 99.7%. Simulating greater landscape connectivity by increasing immigration to greater than or equal to one migrant per generation appears sufficient to largely maintain genetic diversity and reduce extinction probability. We provide empirical support for the central tenet of the extinction vortex as interactions between genetics and demography greatly increased extinction probability relative to the risk from demographic and environmental stochasticity alone. Our modelling approach realistically integrates demographic and genetic data to provide a comprehensive assessment of factors threatening small populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between demography, genetics, and landscape connectivity increase extinction probability for a small population of large carnivores in a major metropolitan area

et al. 2016

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“…significant pairwise F ST ), and SA pumas still face threats from disease, human development, and stochastic demographic, genetic and environmental events [24,33,34,77]. As observed in other systems where a single or a few migrants genetically restored a population [14,23,53,78,79], genetic diversity will decrease and inbreeding will increase, without continuous gene flow [22,26,62,80–82]. Our results clearly show the benefit of a single migrant to the genetics of a small, isolated population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A single migrant enhances the genetic diversity of an inbred puma population

et al. 2017

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Migration is essential for maintaining genetic diversity among populations, and pumas (Puma concolor) provide an excellent model for studying the genetic impacts of migrants on populations isolated by increasing human development. In densely populated southern California, USA, puma populations on the east and west side of interstate highway 15 (I-15) have become fragmented into a small inbred population on the west side (Santa Ana Mountains) and a relatively larger, more diverse population on the east side (Eastern Peninsular Range). From 146 sampled pumas, genetic analyses indicate seven pumas crossed I-15 over the last 15 years, including four males from west to east, and three males from east to west. However, only a single migrant (named M86) was detected to have produced offspring and contribute to gene flow across the I-15 barrier. Prior to the M86 migration, the Santa Ana population exhibited inbreeding and had significantly lower genetic diversity than the Eastern Peninsular Range population. After M86 emigrated, he sired 11 offspring with Santa Ana females, decreasing inbreeding measures and raising heterozygosity to levels similar to pumas in the Eastern Peninsular Range. The emigration of M86 also introduced new alleles into the Santa Ana population, although allelic richness still remained significantly lower than the Eastern Peninsular population. Our results clearly show the benefit of a single migrant to the genetics of a small, isolated population. However, ongoing development and habitat loss on both sides of I-15 will increasingly strengthen the barrier to successful migration. Further monitoring, and potential human intervention, including minimizing development effects on connectivity, adding or improving freeway crossing structures, or animal translocation, may be needed to ensure adequate gene flow and long-term persistence of the Santa Ana puma population.

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“…; Hedrick et al . ). The concept of ‘genetic rescue’ is based on the prevention or reversal of this situation, and an increase in gene flow has been shown to lead to higher fitness and demographic growth (La Haye et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Y chromosome haplotype distribution of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Northern Europe provides insight into population history and recovery

Schregel

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Grøndahl³

et al. 2015

Molecular Ecology

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High-resolution, male-inherited Y-chromosomal markers are a useful tool for population genetic analyses of wildlife species, but to date have only been applied in this context to relatively few species besides humans. Using nine Y-chromosomal STRs and three Y-chromosomal single nucleotide polymorphism markers (Y-SNPs), we studied whether male gene flow was important for the recent recovery of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Northern Europe, where the species declined dramatically in numbers and geographical distribution during the last centuries but is expanding now. We found 36 haplotypes in 443 male extant brown bears from Sweden, Norway, Finland and northwestern Russia. In 14 individuals from southern Norway from 1780 to 1920, we found two Y chromosome haplotypes present in the extant population as well as four Y chromosome haplotypes not present among the modern samples. Our results suggested major differences in genetic connectivity, diversity and structure between the eastern and the western populations in Northern Europe. In the west, our results indicated that the recovered population originated from only four male lineages, displaying pronounced spatial structuring suggestive of large-scale population size increase under limited male gene flow within the western subpopulation. In the east, we found a contrasting pattern, with high haplotype diversity and admixture. This first population genetic analysis of male brown bears shows conclusively that male gene flow was not the main force of population recovery.

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Genetic rescue in Isle Royale wolves: genetic analysis and the collapse of the population

Cited by 112 publications

References 32 publications

Interactions between demography, genetics, and landscape connectivity increase extinction probability for a small population of large carnivores in a major metropolitan area

Interactions between demography, genetics, and landscape connectivity increase extinction probability for a small population of large carnivores in a major metropolitan area

A single migrant enhances the genetic diversity of an inbred puma population

Y chromosome haplotype distribution of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Northern Europe provides insight into population history and recovery

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