Managing shifting species: Ancient DNA reveals conservation conundrums in a dynamic world

Waters, Jonathan M.; Grosser, Stefanie

doi:10.1002/bies.201600044

Cited by 22 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…). These dramatic late Holocene faunal shifts are apparently a testament to the impacts of human‐driven pressure and rapid ecosystem change (Waters & Grosser, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Did interaction between human pressure and Little Ice Age drive biological turnover in New Zealand?

Waters

Fraser

Maxwell

et al. 2017

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim To test for simultaneous Holocene biogeographic turnover events in the New Zealand region. Specifically, we synthesize ancient DNA, radiocarbon data and archaeological data to assess the chronologies of late Holocene lineage extinction and replacement. Location Cool‐temperate coastal ecosystems of New Zealand and the subantarctic. Methods We present new ancient DNA and radiocarbon data for New Zealand sea lions, and synthesize existing climatic, genetic and archaeological data, to test for synchronous megafaunal extinction and replacement events. The collated data include ancient DNA sequences from over 200 ancient sea lion and penguin specimens, in addition to 150 modern genetic samples. Results Our temporal genetic analyses show that, following human‐driven extinction events, synchronous marine megafaunal replacement events occurred at around 1500 AD, coinciding with the Little Ice Age onset and an associated drastic human demographic decline in southern New Zealand. Conclusions A combination of climatic and human demographic shifts likely facilitated northward expansion of subantarctic sea lion and penguin lineages, replacing extirpated mainland New Zealand marine megafauna. Broadly, the interaction between human pressure and late Holocene climatic change may explain multiple biological turnover events in the Southern Hemisphere.

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“…). These dramatic late Holocene faunal shifts are apparently a testament to the impacts of human‐driven pressure and rapid ecosystem change (Waters & Grosser, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Schematic depiction of late Holocene avifaunal turnover in New Zealand (following Waters & Grosser, ). Cumulative numbers of avifaunal species extinctions (red line) and natural colonizations (green line) are based on Holdaway et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Did interaction between human pressure and Little Ice Age drive biological turnover in New Zealand?

Waters

Fraser

Maxwell

et al. 2017

Journal of Biogeography

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“…double digest RADseq; Peterson et al 2012) to assess the magnitude and effects of inbreeding and determine inter-island population boundaries. Analysis of historic population structure and genetic diversity using ancient DNA approaches may also provide better insights that would assist the management of the species going forward (Leonard 2008;Shepherd and Lambert 2008;Waters and Grosser 2016).…”

Section: Conservation Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong isolation by distance argues for separate population management of endangered blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos)

et al. 2016

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Knowledge of genetic diversity and population structuring represents a key component for the conservation of endangered species, especially where translocations and re-introduction operations are integral tools for population management. The blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos) is a threatened riverine specialist that is endemic to New Zealand. Populations from the North and South Island form two distinct mitochondrial lineages, which currently necessitate separate conservation management. Here we examine the patterns of variability at 11 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial control region data to assess the range-wide genetic diversity and population structure of blue duck. Our data suggest that North and South Island blue duck populations likely diverged in the late Pleistocene with very limited gene flow, strongly reinforcing the current management strategy to avoid translocation between islands. Genetic diversity within both islands follows a pattern of isolation by distance with relatively high levels of gene flow among populations, likely driven by male-juvenile dispersal. The overall genetic diversity in blue duck is low and effective population size is small. These data will provide important information for conservation management of this species.

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“…The species is believed to have replaced a sister taxon Megadyptes waitaha after it was hunted to extinction by humans as recently as 500 years ago (Boessenkool et al, 2009b; Rawlence et al, 2015). In this light, the question was raised whether the species’ vulnerability to increasing ocean temperatures may in fact reflect a maladaptation for a warmer climate (Waters & Grosser, 2016). While evidence for a physiological relationship between ocean warming and survival rates in YEP is lacking, the specialized benthic foraging strategy renders the species particularly sensitive to environmental change (Mattern et al, 2007; Gallagher et al, 2015).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying climate change impacts emphasises the importance of managing regional threats in the endangered Yellow-eyed penguin

Mattern

Meyer

Ellenberg

et al. 2017

PeerJ

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Climate change is a global issue with effects that are difficult to manage at a regional scale. Yet more often than not climate factors are just some of multiple stressors affecting species on a population level. Non-climatic factors—especially those of anthropogenic origins—may play equally important roles with regard to impacts on species and are often more feasible to address. Here we assess the influence of climate change on population trends of the endangered Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) over the last 30 years, using a Bayesian model. Sea surface temperature (SST) proved to be the dominating factor influencing survival of both adult birds and fledglings. Increasing SST since the mid-1990s was accompanied by a reduction in survival rates and population decline. The population model showed that 33% of the variation in population numbers could be explained by SST alone, significantly increasing pressure on the penguin population. Consequently, the population becomes less resilient to non-climate related impacts, such as fisheries interactions, habitat degradation and human disturbance. However, the extent of the contribution of these factors to declining population trends is extremely difficult to assess principally due to the absence of quantifiable data, creating a discussion bias towards climate variables, and effectively distracting from non-climate factors that can be managed on a regional scale to ensure the viability of the population.

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Managing shifting species: Ancient DNA reveals conservation conundrums in a dynamic world

Cited by 22 publications

References 84 publications

Did interaction between human pressure and Little Ice Age drive biological turnover in New Zealand?

Did interaction between human pressure and Little Ice Age drive biological turnover in New Zealand?

Strong isolation by distance argues for separate population management of endangered blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos)

Quantifying climate change impacts emphasises the importance of managing regional threats in the endangered Yellow-eyed penguin

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