Targeted gene flow and rapid adaptation in an endangered marsupial

Kelly, Ella; Phillips, Benjamin L.

doi:10.1111/cobi.13149

Cited by 33 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…On the contrary, the success of assisted gene flow operations may be enhanced by translocating individuals originating from populations sharing a common genetic background with the recipient population, so as to avoid outbreeding depression and/or gene swamping (Aitken & Whitlock, 2013), but also showing a distinct epigenetic background, so that the recipient population can cope with anticipated environmental changes through the increase in the frequency of some identified preadapted epi-alleles (case 2; Figure 1b). For instance, the heritable "toad-smart" behaviour of the northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus identified by Kelly and Phillips (2018) in populations recently exposed to the cane toad Rhinella marina may have an epigenetic basis (Ledon-Rettig et al, 2013):…”

Section: Ecological Exchangeability and Population Reinforcementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a conservation epigenetics perspective

et al. 2019

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Biodiversity conservation is a global issue where the challenge is to integrate all levels of biodiversity to ensure the long‐term evolutionary potential and resilience of biological systems. Genetic approaches have largely contributed to conservation biology by defining “conservation entities” accounting for their evolutionary history and adaptive potential, the so‐called evolutionary significant units (ESUs). Yet, these approaches only loosely integrate the short‐term ecological history of organisms. Here, we argue that epigenetic variation, and more particularly DNA methylation, represents a molecular component of biodiversity that directly links the genome to the environment. As such, it provides the required information on the ecological background of organisms for an integrative field of conservation biology. We synthesize knowledge about the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in (a) orchestrating fundamental development alternatives in organisms, (b) enabling individuals to respond in real‐time to selection pressures and (c) improving ecosystem stability and functioning. Using practical examples in conservation biology, we illustrate the relevance of DNA methylation (a) as biomarkers of past and present environmental stress events as well as biomarkers of physiological conditions of individuals; (b) for documenting the ecological structuring/clustering of wild populations and hence for better integrating ecology into ESUs; (c) for improving conservation translocations; and (d) for studying landscape functional connectivity. We conclude that an epigenetic conservation perspective will provide environmental managers the possibility to refine ESUs, to set conservation plans taking into account the capacity of organisms to rapidly cope with environmental changes, and hence to improve the conservation of wild populations. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

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Section: Ecological Exchangeability and Population Reinforcementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a conservation epigenetics perspective

et al. 2019

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“…The model lacks complexity around genetic architecture: in reality, genes influence traits to varying degrees, loci are varyingly linked, and there are interactions within and between loci (Gomulkiewicz & Holt 1995). For example, dominance in the target trait (which is hinted at in northern quolls(Kelly & Phillips 2018)) would result in a faster adaptive shift. But in the absence of detail on the genetic architecture of this key trait, we have chosen the simplest model possible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cane toads continue to spread westward, and will eventually inhabit the quolls’ entire range (Tingley et al 2017). Evidence suggests a small number of scattered populations have adapted to the threat (Kelly & Phillips 2017, 2018) by evolving to avoid toads as prey. Juvenile northern quolls born in a toad-free environment will avoid cane toads if they have at least one parent from one of these toad-smart populations (Kelly & Phillips 2018), indicating that toad-smart behaviour has a heritable basis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How many, and when? Optimising targeted gene flow for a step change in the environment

Kelly

Phillips

2018

Preprint

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7Targeted gene flow is an emerging conservation strategy that involves translocating individuals with 8 particular traits to places where they are of benefit, thereby increasing a population's evolutionary 9 resilience. While the idea can work in theory, questions remain as to how best to implement it. Here, we 10 vary timing of introduction and size of the introduced cohort to maximise our objective -survival of the 11 recipient population's genome. We demonstrate our approach using the northern quoll, an Australian 12 marsupial predator threatened by the toxic cane toad. We highlight a general trade-o between maintain-13 ing a local genome and reducing population extinction risk, but show that key management levers can 14 optimise this so that 100% of the population's genome is preserved. In our case, any action was better 15than not acting at all (even with strong outbreeding depression), but the size of the benefit was sensitive 16 to timing and size of the introduction.

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“…Cane toads continue to spread westward and will eventually inhabit the quolls' entire range . Evidence suggests a small number of scattered populations have adapted to the threat (Kelly & Phillips 2017, 2018 by evolving to avoid toads as prey. Recent work shows the behaviour has a heritable basis (Kelly & Phillips 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evidence suggests a small number of scattered populations have adapted to the threat (Kelly & Phillips 2017, 2018 by evolving to avoid toads as prey. Recent work shows the behaviour has a heritable basis (Kelly & Phillips 2018). It is this 'toad-smart' behavioural trait that we can make use of with targeted gene flow.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How many and when? Optimising targeted gene flow for a step change in the environment

Kelly

Phillips

2019

Ecol Lett

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Targeted gene flow is an emerging conservation strategy that involves introducing individuals with particular traits to places where these traits are of benefit. One obvious application is to adapt a recipient population to a known threat, but questions remain as to how best to achieve this. Here, we vary timing and size of the introduction to maximise our objective – survival of the recipient population's genome. We explore a generic population model as well as a specific example – the northern quoll, an Australian marsupial predator threatened by the toxic cane toad. We reveal a trade‐off between preserving the recipient genome and reducing population extinction risk, but key management levers can often optimise this so that nearly 100% of the recipient population's genome is preserved. Any action was better than none but the size of the benefit was sensitive to outbreeding depression, recombination rate, and the timing and size of the introduction.

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Targeted gene flow and rapid adaptation in an endangered marsupial

Cited by 33 publications

References 56 publications

Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a conservation epigenetics perspective

Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a conservation epigenetics perspective

How many, and when? Optimising targeted gene flow for a step change in the environment

How many and when? Optimising targeted gene flow for a step change in the environment

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