Population genetic tools for pest management: a review

Abstract

Population genetic tools have the potential to answer key questions in pest management including quantifying the number of genetically distinct populations represented in an invasion, the number of individuals present, whether populations are expanding or contracting, identifying the origin of invasive individuals, the number of separate introduction events that have occurred and in which order, and the rate that individuals are moving between populations. Genetic methods have only recently gained sufficient resolution to address these questions due to advances in laboratory techniques coupled with an increase in computational power. In combination, these methods may lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of invasions. The expansion of the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) into Western Australia is used as an applied example of how genetic methods can be integrated to provide vital information to improve pest-management strategies. Invasion events also may provide a unique opportunity to test some of these methodologies.

Towards modelling persistence of woodland birds: the role of genetics

“…Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus), Nichols et al 2001;South Island Takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri), Grueber and Jamieson 2008), and testing the provenance of reintroduction stocks (Greater Prairie-chicken; Palkovacs et al 2004). Such approaches have rarely been resourced and applied to Australian biota, although Rollins et al (2006) give an overview for managing invasive species.…”

“…The extensive contributions of molecular population biology to ecological management have been reviewed elsewhere (Pearse and Crandall 2004;DeYoung and Honeycutt 2005;Scribner et al 2005;Excoffier and Heckel 2006;Rollins et al 2006;Selkoe and Toonen 2006;Sunnucks and Taylor 2008;Balkenhol et al 2009a;Simmons et al 2010). The main focus here will be on factors associated with understanding population persistence.…”

Using population genetic tools to develop a control strategy for feral cats (Felis catus) in Hawai'i

“…Their dispersal patterns and the inaccessibility of remote locations also make them logistically difficult to manage. Research on the genetic structure of feral cats in island ecosystems is rare (Pontier et al 2005), but can provide valuable information for formulating control strategies and determining the scale and location of control efforts (Rollins et al 2006). Here, we describe the use of seven highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to estimate the genetic structure of three feral cat populations on Hawai'i Island.…”

“…Attempts to control only a fraction of the population or a sink population could result in rapid recolonisation (Robertson and Gemmell 2004;Abdelkrim et al 2005). Identifying routes of potential migration is difficult using direct observations, but vital for controlling invasive species (Robertson and Gemmell 2004;Abdelkrim et al 2005;Rollins et al 2006). Population genetics can provide valuable information about the demographic status and dynamics of invasive species and may provide an alternative approach for developing control strategies (Robertson and Gemmell 2004;Abdelkrim et al 2005;Pontier et al 2005).…”

“…Only recently have these tools been applied in invasive species management (Robertson and Gemmell 2004;Abdelkrim et al 2005;Rollins et al 2006). Invasive species are the main cause of species extinctions in island ecosystems (Courchamp et al 1999) and the second main cause of biodiversity loss after habitat destruction (Vitousek et al 1997).…”