The importance of non-academic coauthors in bridging the conservation genetics gap

Britt, Meghan; Haworth, Sarah E; Johnson, Justin B.; Martchenko, Daria; Shafer, Aaron B. A.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2017.12.019

Cited by 43 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…A gap has emerged between genetic studies and on-the-ground conservation and management needs (Shafer et al 2015, Taylor et al 2017. While there are a plethora of reasons for this gap (see Taylor et al 2017, Britt et al 2018, Mair et al 2018, part of the problem stems from the abstract and relative nature of many genetic parameters making them difficult to interpret and implement. General convention describes that F ST < 0.05 constitutes little genetic difference, F ST = 0.05-0.15 as moderate genetic difference, F ST = 0.15-0.25 as large genetic differentiation, and F ST > 0.25 as significant genetic difference (Hartl and Clark 1997).…”

Section: Interpreting Genetic Parameters For Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vernesi et al (2008) observed that few researchers used their data or methods to suggest practical solutions, and subsequent essays raised similar concerns and argued for more collaboration between academics and conservation practitioners (Hoban et al 2013). Metaanalyses have revealed a positive relationship between the inclusion of non-academic co-authors and linking data to policy or management recommendations (Britt et al 2018), notwithstanding a general long-term decline in implementation of research to management and conservation (Mair et al 2018). Despite the gap between geneticists and on-the-ground practitioners (Shafer et al 2015, Haig et al 2016, headway for genetically-informed management can be achieved via academic partnering with non-academics and non-biologists (Britt et al 2018, Mair et al 2018.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Extensive field-sampling reveals the uniqueness of a trophy mountain goat population

Breen

Britt

Johnson

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Collaborations between academic researchers and agencies is crucial for genetic data to have a tangible impact on conservation and wildlife management. Such partnerships are particularly important elusive species where the difficult terrain requires that a significant amount of resources and a combination of methods be used to estimate population parameters needed for conservation. We report and multi-year academic-agency collaboration on the North American mountain goat that used an extensive field sampling of genetic and phenotypic data to determine whether, and to what degree, genetic and phenotypic differences separate an isolated population of mountain goats on the Cleveland Peninsula form those in southeast Alaska. We observed significantly larger horns on the peninsula and the population appears demographically isolated. Isolation-by-distance accompanied by limited migration and low effective population size on the Cleveland Peninsula suggest this population will continue to lose genetic diversity.While the large horns of mountain goats have generated interest in re-opening mountain goat harvest on Cleveland Peninsula, our genetic data suggest this population is vulnerable to demographic and environmental perturbations and is unlikely to support a sustained harvest.

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Section: Interpreting Genetic Parameters For Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Extensive field-sampling reveals the uniqueness of a trophy mountain goat population

Breen

Britt

Johnson

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…In this study, we assumed an intermediate MU definition between those of Moritz () and Palsbøll et al (). Both academic and nonacademic partners were involved in this work to guarantee that the results would directly inform conservation and management action (Britt, Haworth, Johnson, Martchenko, & Shafer, ). More broadly, this study illustrates how population genetics may bring important information to delineate bat management units and to design conservation programs of bat species at relevant geographical scales.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both academic and nonacademic partners were involved in this work to guarantee that the results would directly inform conservation and management action (Britt, Haworth, Johnson, Martchenko, & Shafer, 2018…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating population genetics to define conservation units from the core to the edge of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum western range

Tournayre

Pons

Leuchtmann

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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The greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) is among the most widespread bat species in Europe but it has experienced severe declines, especially in Northern Europe. This species is listed Near Threatened in the European IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, and it is considered to be highly sensitive to human activities and particularly to habitat fragmentation. Therefore, understanding the population boundaries and demographic history of populations of this species is of primary importance to assess relevant conservation strategies. In this study, we used 17 microsatellite markers to assess the genetic diversity, the genetic structure, and the demographic history of R. ferrumequinum colonies in the western part of its distribution. We identified one large population showing high levels of genetic diversity and large population size. Lower estimates were found in England and northern France. Analyses of clustering and isolation by distance suggested that the Channel and the Mediterranean seas could impede R. ferrumequinum gene flow. These results provide important information to improve the delineation of R. ferrumequinum management units. We suggest that a large management unit corresponding to the population ranging from Spanish Basque Country to northern France must be considered. Particular attention should be given to mating territories as they seem to play a key role in maintaining high levels of genetic mixing between colonies. Smaller management units corresponding to English and northern France colonies must also be implemented. These insular or peripheral colonies could be at higher risk of extinction in the near future.

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“…5 ; 6]. Although challenges remain for bridging the gap between generating genomic data and applying this information to species management, this gap continues to close [for detailed discussions, see 3,[7][8][9][10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A high-quality, long-read de novo genome assembly to aid conservation of Hawaii’s last remaining crow species

Sutton

Helmkampf

Steiner

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Genome-level data can provide researchers with unprecedented precision to examine the causes and genetic consequences of population declines, and to apply these results to conservation management. Here we present a high-quality, long-read, de novo genome assembly for one of the world's most endangered bird species, the Alala. As the only remaining native crow species in Hawaii, the Alala survived solely in a captive breeding program from 2002 until 2016, at which point a long-term reintroduction program was initiated. The high-quality genome assembly was generated to lay the foundation for both comparative genomics studies, and the development of population-level genomic tools that will aid conservation and recovery efforts. We illustrate how the quality of this assembly places it amongst the very best avian genomes assembled to date, comparable to intensively studied model systems. We describe the genome architecture in terms of repetitive elements and runs of homozygosity, and we show that compared with more outbred species, the Alala genome is substantially more homozygous. We also provide annotations for a subset of immunity genes that are likely to be important for conservation applications, and we discuss how this genome is currently being used as a roadmap for downstream conservation applications.

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The importance of non-academic coauthors in bridging the conservation genetics gap

Cited by 43 publications

References 34 publications

Extensive field-sampling reveals the uniqueness of a trophy mountain goat population

Extensive field-sampling reveals the uniqueness of a trophy mountain goat population

Integrating population genetics to define conservation units from the core to the edge of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum western range

A high-quality, long-read de novo genome assembly to aid conservation of Hawaii’s last remaining crow species

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