Genomic erosion in a demographically recovered bird species during conservation rescue

Jackson, Hazel A., Percival-Alwyn, Lawrence, Ryan, Camilla, Albeshr, Mohammed F, Venturi, Luca, Morales, Hernan E, Mathers, Thomas C, Cocker, Jonathan, Speak, Samuel A, Accinelli, Gonzalo G, and others. (2022) Genomic erosion in a demographically recovered bird species during conservation rescue. Conservation Biology, 36 (4). ISSN 0888-8892. (doi:10.1111/cobi.13918) (KAR id:93465)

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Abstract

The pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) is an endemic species of Mauritius that has made a remarkable recovery after a severe population bottleneck in the 1970s to early 1990s. Prior to this bottleneck, an ex situ population was established from which captive-bred individuals were released into free-living subpopulations to increase population size and genetic variation. This conservation rescue led to rapid population recovery to 400–480 individuals, and the species was twice down-listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. We analyzed the impacts of the bottleneck and genetic rescue on neutral genetic variation during and after population recovery (1993 to 2008) with RAD sequencing, microsatellite analyses, and quantitative genetic analysis of studbook data of 1112 birds from zoos in Europe and the United States. We used computer simulations to study the predicted changes in genetic variation and population viability from the past into the future. Genetic variation declined rapidly, despite the population rebound, and the effective population size was approximately an order of magnitude smaller than census size. The species carried a high genetic load of circa 15 lethal equivalents for longevity. Our computer simulations predicted continued inbreeding will likely result in increased expression of deleterious mutations (i.e., a high realized load) and severe inbreeding depression. Without continued conservation actions, it is likely that the pink pigeon will go extinct in the wild within 100 years. Conservation rescue of the pink pigeon has been instrumental in the recovery of the free-living population. However, further genetic rescue with captive-bred birds from zoos is required to recover lost variation, reduce expression of harmful deleterious variation, and prevent extinction. The use of genomics and modeling data can inform IUCN assessments about the viability and extinction risk of species, and it helps to assess the conservation dependency of populations.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1111/cobi.13918
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Funders:	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (https://ror.org/00cwqg982)
Depositing User:	Jim Groombridge
Date Deposited:	04 Mar 2022 11:22 UTC
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2023 15:00 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/93465 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Jackson, Hazel A..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9573-2025
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Groombridge, Jim J..

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6941-8187
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

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