The risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary bird

Abstract A debate in conservation genomics centers on whether to conserve small, fragmented populations independently or blend them through translocations from larger populations. Translocations of red grouse (Lagopus scotica) from Great Britain to supplement the Irish population have been suggested...

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Main Authors: Grace Walsh, Barry J. McMahon, Filip Thörn, Patrik Rödin‐Mörch, Martin Irestedt, Jacob Höglund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Conservation Science and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13262
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author Grace Walsh
Barry J. McMahon
Filip Thörn
Patrik Rödin‐Mörch
Martin Irestedt
Jacob Höglund
author_facet Grace Walsh
Barry J. McMahon
Filip Thörn
Patrik Rödin‐Mörch
Martin Irestedt
Jacob Höglund
author_sort Grace Walsh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A debate in conservation genomics centers on whether to conserve small, fragmented populations independently or blend them through translocations from larger populations. Translocations of red grouse (Lagopus scotica) from Great Britain to supplement the Irish population have been suggested. We incorporate a variety of genetic datasets to address this. We used genome wide data from 23 contemporary and historic red grouse from Great Britain and Ireland. We also investigate microsatellite data, sequence candidate pigmentation genes, and assess phenotypic color variation. Genomic data indicate higher inbreeding in Irish grouse relative to an English population and significant divergence for genomic (FST = 0.095) and microsatellite (FST = 0.03) markers. Contemporary Ne was seven times smaller in the Irish population compared to the English. We identified divergent regions linked to pigmentation, immune response, and food intake. We show phenotypic differences in plumage color and sequence divergence among coding regions in the melanin pathway including MC1R (FST from genomic data of 0.3). The two populations thus appear locally adapted and this divergence between the source and target population when used for conservation translocations can swamp locally adapted alleles and/or introduce maladapted genotypes, leading to outbreeding depression. While it is important to avoid inbreeding by sustaining larger populations, our research emphasizes the need for practitioners to consider population divergence and local adaptation. We advocate against translocations between Ireland and Britain as a conservation strategy in this particular case and underscore the importance of prioritizing local populations where possible.
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spelling doaj-art-9658b542b24b45a8a04c1dee732f64a92024-12-12T08:54:00ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542024-12-01612n/an/a10.1111/csp2.13262The risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary birdGrace Walsh0Barry J. McMahon1Filip Thörn2Patrik Rödin‐Mörch3Martin Irestedt4Jacob Höglund5Department of Ecology and Genetics Uppsala University Uppsala SwedenUCD School of Agriculture and Food Science University College Dublin Belfield Dublin IrelandDepartment for Bioinformatics and Genetics Swedish Museum of Natural History Stockholm SwedenDepartment of Ecology and Genetics Uppsala University Uppsala SwedenDepartment for Bioinformatics and Genetics Swedish Museum of Natural History Stockholm SwedenDepartment of Ecology and Genetics Uppsala University Uppsala SwedenAbstract A debate in conservation genomics centers on whether to conserve small, fragmented populations independently or blend them through translocations from larger populations. Translocations of red grouse (Lagopus scotica) from Great Britain to supplement the Irish population have been suggested. We incorporate a variety of genetic datasets to address this. We used genome wide data from 23 contemporary and historic red grouse from Great Britain and Ireland. We also investigate microsatellite data, sequence candidate pigmentation genes, and assess phenotypic color variation. Genomic data indicate higher inbreeding in Irish grouse relative to an English population and significant divergence for genomic (FST = 0.095) and microsatellite (FST = 0.03) markers. Contemporary Ne was seven times smaller in the Irish population compared to the English. We identified divergent regions linked to pigmentation, immune response, and food intake. We show phenotypic differences in plumage color and sequence divergence among coding regions in the melanin pathway including MC1R (FST from genomic data of 0.3). The two populations thus appear locally adapted and this divergence between the source and target population when used for conservation translocations can swamp locally adapted alleles and/or introduce maladapted genotypes, leading to outbreeding depression. While it is important to avoid inbreeding by sustaining larger populations, our research emphasizes the need for practitioners to consider population divergence and local adaptation. We advocate against translocations between Ireland and Britain as a conservation strategy in this particular case and underscore the importance of prioritizing local populations where possible.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13262admixturegene ontologyin‐situ conservationmuseomicsruns of homozygosity
spellingShingle Grace Walsh
Barry J. McMahon
Filip Thörn
Patrik Rödin‐Mörch
Martin Irestedt
Jacob Höglund
The risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary bird
Conservation Science and Practice
admixture
gene ontology
in‐situ conservation
museomics
runs of homozygosity
title The risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary bird
title_full The risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary bird
title_fullStr The risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary bird
title_full_unstemmed The risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary bird
title_short The risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary bird
title_sort risk of inbreeding versus outbreeding depression in managing an endangered and locally adapted population of a sedentary bird
topic admixture
gene ontology
in‐situ conservation
museomics
runs of homozygosity
url https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13262
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