Genetic variation and hybridization determine the outcomes of conservation reintroductions

Autor: Colter A. Feuerstein, Ryan P. Kovach, Carter G. Kruse, Matt E. Jaeger, Donovan A. Bell, Zachary L. Robinson, Andrew R. Whiteley
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Conservation Letters, Vol 17, Iss 5, Pp n/a-n/a (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1755-263X
DOI: 10.1111/conl.13049
Popis: Abstract The preservation of genetic variation is fundamental in biodiversity conservation, yet its importance for population viability remains contentious. Mixed‐source reintroductions, where individuals are translocated into a single vacant habitat from multiple genetically divergent and often depauperate populations, provide an opportunity to evaluate how genetic variation and hybridization influence individual and relative population fitness. Population genetic theory predicts that individuals with higher genetic variation and hybrids among populations should have higher fitness. We tested these two hypotheses by analyzing individual and population‐scale data for westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) in four mixed‐source reintroductions. We observed more hybrid and fewer nonhybrid offspring than expected across four independent mixed‐source reintroductions. We also found clear evidence that heterozygosity influenced individual reproductive and relative population fitness. Overall, we found a strong, positive relationship between genetic variation, hybridization, and transplant fitness, emphasizing the importance of genetic variation and population mixing in conservation.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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