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Trapped in the extinction vortex? Strong genetic effects in a declining vertebrate population.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity are expected to increase the extinction risk of small populations, but detailed tests in natural populations are scarce. We combine long-term population and fitness data with those from two types of molecular markers to examine the role of genetic effects in a declining metapopulation of southern dunlins Calidris alpina schinzii, an endangered shorebird. RESULTS:The decline is associated with increased pairings between related individuals, including close inbreeding (as revealed by both field observations of parentage and molecular markers). Furthermore, reduced genetic diversity seems to affect individual fitness at several life stages. Higher genetic similarity between mates correlates negatively with the pair's hatching success. Moreover, offspring produced by related parents are more homozygous and suffer from increased mortality during embryonic development and possibly also after hatching. CONCLUSIONS:Our results demonstrate strong genetic effects in a rapidly declining population, emphasizing the importance of genetic factors for the persistence of small populations.

SUBMITTER: Blomqvist D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2824661 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Trapped in the extinction vortex? Strong genetic effects in a declining vertebrate population.

Blomqvist Donald D Pauliny Angela A Larsson Mikael M Flodin Lars-Ake LA

BMC evolutionary biology 20100202

<h4>Background</h4>Inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity are expected to increase the extinction risk of small populations, but detailed tests in natural populations are scarce. We combine long-term population and fitness data with those from two types of molecular markers to examine the role of genetic effects in a declining metapopulation of southern dunlins Calidris alpina schinzii, an endangered shorebird.<h4>Results</h4>The decline is associated with increased pairings between related in ...[more]

PMID: 20122269

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Project description:Background and aimsHabitat degradation and landscape fragmentation dramatically lower population sizes of rare plant species. Decreasing population sizes may, in turn, negatively affect genetic diversity and reproductive fitness, which can ultimately lead to local extinction of populations. Although such extinction vortex dynamics have been postulated in theory and modelling for decades, empirical evidence from local extinctions of plant populations is scarce. In particular, comparisons between current vs. historical genetic diversity and differentiation are lacking despite their potential to guide conservation management.MethodsWe studied the population genetic signatures of the local extinction of Biscutella laevigata subsp. gracilis populations in Central Germany. We used microsatellites to genotype individuals from 15 current populations, one ex situ population, and 81 herbarium samples from five extant and 22 extinct populations. In the current populations, we recorded population size and fitness proxies, collected seeds for a germination trial and conducted a vegetation survey. The latter served as a surrogate for habitat conditions to study how habitat dissimilarity affects functional connectivity among the current populations.Key resultsBayesian clustering revealed similar gene pool distribution in current and historical samples but also indicated that a distinct genetic cluster was significantly associated with extinction probability. Gene flow was affected by both the spatial distance and floristic composition of population sites, highlighting the potential of floristic composition as a powerful predictor of functional connectivity which may promote decision-making for reintroduction measures. For an extinct population, we found a negative relationship between sampling year and heterozygosity. Inbreeding negatively affected germination.ConclusionsOur study illustrates the usefulness of historical DNA to study extinction vortices in threatened species. Our novel combination of classical population genetics together with data from herbarium specimens, an ex situ population and a germination trial underlines the need for genetic rescue measures to prevent extinction of B. laevigata in Central Germany.

Dataset Information

Trapped in the extinction vortex? Strong genetic effects in a declining vertebrate population.

Publications

Trapped in the extinction vortex? Strong genetic effects in a declining vertebrate population.

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