Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou
Small and declining populations of large mammals are vulnerable to stochastic events and can be at high risk of extinction. Population viability is also susceptible to the detrimental effects of low genetic diversity and inbreeding. The objective of this study was to do an assessment of three endang...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:09f2b3cccc29416a85415067a96687b0 2023-05-15T18:04:16+02:00 Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou Samantha McFarlane Micheline Manseau Amy Flasko Rebekah L. Horn Neil Arnason Lalenia Neufeld Mark Bradley Paul Wilson 2018-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00451 https://doaj.org/article/09f2b3cccc29416a85415067a96687b0 EN eng Elsevier http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418302890 https://doaj.org/toc/2351-9894 2351-9894 doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00451 https://doaj.org/article/09f2b3cccc29416a85415067a96687b0 Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 16, Iss , Pp - (2018) Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00451 2022-12-31T00:57:50Z Small and declining populations of large mammals are vulnerable to stochastic events and can be at high risk of extinction. Population viability is also susceptible to the detrimental effects of low genetic diversity and inbreeding. The objective of this study was to do an assessment of three endangered caribou subpopulations using non-invasive genetic sampling to assess demographic population changes by combining capture-recapture modeling, familial pedigree networks, individual fitness and inbreeding coefficients. Three subpopulations of the Central Mountain caribou ecotype (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Jasper National Park, Canada, were systematically surveyed over a 10-year period and fecal samples collected for DNA analyses. For the Tonquin, population size declined at a rate of 0.86 (95% CI 0.82, 0.91), the number of females decreased from 41 in 2006 to only 14 in 2015. The Brazeau and Maligne subpopulations also declined over the same period, from 22 to 11 individuals (11 and 5 females) in 2006, to 12 and 3 individuals (6 and 1 females) in 2015. The pedigree network confirmed limited interbreeding among subpopulations, varied fitness levels in both males and females, and evidence of inbreeding avoidance among high-fitness individuals. All population parameters pointed to a rapid population decline and low population sizes, putting them at high risk of extinction. The varying reproductive fitness observed amongst males and females was significant and should be considered in future population augmentation or reintroduction efforts. Improved connectivity among and with neighbouring subpopulations should also be considered to sustain or enhance genetic diversity. Keywords: Conservation genetics, Pedigrees, Inbreeding, Non-invasive genetic sampling, Rangifer tarandus, Varied fitness Article in Journal/Newspaper Rangifer tarandus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada Global Ecology and Conservation 16 e00451 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Ecology QH540-549.5 Samantha McFarlane Micheline Manseau Amy Flasko Rebekah L. Horn Neil Arnason Lalenia Neufeld Mark Bradley Paul Wilson Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou |
topic_facet |
Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Small and declining populations of large mammals are vulnerable to stochastic events and can be at high risk of extinction. Population viability is also susceptible to the detrimental effects of low genetic diversity and inbreeding. The objective of this study was to do an assessment of three endangered caribou subpopulations using non-invasive genetic sampling to assess demographic population changes by combining capture-recapture modeling, familial pedigree networks, individual fitness and inbreeding coefficients. Three subpopulations of the Central Mountain caribou ecotype (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Jasper National Park, Canada, were systematically surveyed over a 10-year period and fecal samples collected for DNA analyses. For the Tonquin, population size declined at a rate of 0.86 (95% CI 0.82, 0.91), the number of females decreased from 41 in 2006 to only 14 in 2015. The Brazeau and Maligne subpopulations also declined over the same period, from 22 to 11 individuals (11 and 5 females) in 2006, to 12 and 3 individuals (6 and 1 females) in 2015. The pedigree network confirmed limited interbreeding among subpopulations, varied fitness levels in both males and females, and evidence of inbreeding avoidance among high-fitness individuals. All population parameters pointed to a rapid population decline and low population sizes, putting them at high risk of extinction. The varying reproductive fitness observed amongst males and females was significant and should be considered in future population augmentation or reintroduction efforts. Improved connectivity among and with neighbouring subpopulations should also be considered to sustain or enhance genetic diversity. Keywords: Conservation genetics, Pedigrees, Inbreeding, Non-invasive genetic sampling, Rangifer tarandus, Varied fitness |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Samantha McFarlane Micheline Manseau Amy Flasko Rebekah L. Horn Neil Arnason Lalenia Neufeld Mark Bradley Paul Wilson |
author_facet |
Samantha McFarlane Micheline Manseau Amy Flasko Rebekah L. Horn Neil Arnason Lalenia Neufeld Mark Bradley Paul Wilson |
author_sort |
Samantha McFarlane |
title |
Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou |
title_short |
Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou |
title_full |
Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou |
title_fullStr |
Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou |
title_full_unstemmed |
Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou |
title_sort |
genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00451 https://doaj.org/article/09f2b3cccc29416a85415067a96687b0 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 16, Iss , Pp - (2018) |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418302890 https://doaj.org/toc/2351-9894 2351-9894 doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00451 https://doaj.org/article/09f2b3cccc29416a85415067a96687b0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00451 |
container_title |
Global Ecology and Conservation |
container_volume |
16 |
container_start_page |
e00451 |
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1766175603218710528 |