Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions

Zecherle, Lilith J.; Nichols, Hazel; Bar‐David, Shirli; Brown, Richard P.; Hipperson, Helen; Horsburgh, Gavin J.; Templeton, Alan R.

doi:10.1111/eva.13191

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Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions

Lilith J. Zecherle, Hazel Nichols

, Shirli Bar‐David, Richard P. Brown, Helen Hipperson, Gavin J. Horsburgh, Alan R. Templeton

Evolutionary Applications, Volume: 14, Issue: 5, Pages: 1216 - 1224

Swansea University Author: Hazel Nichols

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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/eva.13191

Abstract

IntroductionReintroductions are a powerful tool for the recovery of endangered species. However, their long-term success is strongly influenced by the genetic diversity of the reintroduced population. The chances of population persistence can be improved by enhancing the population’s adaptive abilit...

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Published in:	Evolutionary Applications
ISSN:	1752-4571 1752-4571
Published:	Wiley 2021
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However, where source populations are too diverse the reintroduced population could also suffer from outbreeding depression or unsuccessful admixture due to behavioural or genetic barriers. For the reintroduction of Asiatic wild ass Equus hemionus ssp. in Israel, a breeding core was created from individuals of two different subspecies (E.h.onager & E.h.kulan). Today the population comprises approximately 300 individuals and displays no signs of outbreeding depression. The aim of this study was a population genomic evaluation of this conservation reintroduction protocol. Methods and ResultsWe used maximum likelihood methods and genetic clustering analyses to investigate subspecies admixture and test for spatial autocorrelation based on subspecies ancestry. Further, we analyzed heterozygosity and effective population sizes in the breeding core prior to release and the current wild population. We discovered high levels of subspecies admixture in the breeding core and wild population, consistent with a significant heterozygote excess in the breeding core. Furthermore, we found no signs of spatial autocorrelation associated with subspecies ancestry in the wild population. Inbreeding and variance effective population size estimates were low. DiscussionOur results indicate no genetic or behavioural barriers to admixture between the subspecies and suggest that their hybridization has led to greater genetic diversity in the reintroduced population. The study provides rare empirical evidence of the successful application of subspecies hybridization in a reintroduction. 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spelling	2021-11-30T15:20:23.9503672 v2 55968 2021-01-05 Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions 43ba12986bd7754484874c73eed0ebfe 0000-0002-4455-6065 Hazel Nichols Hazel Nichols true false 2021-01-05 SBI IntroductionReintroductions are a powerful tool for the recovery of endangered species. However, their long-term success is strongly influenced by the genetic diversity of the reintroduced population. The chances of population persistence can be improved by enhancing the population’s adaptive ability through the mixing of individuals from different sources. However, where source populations are too diverse the reintroduced population could also suffer from outbreeding depression or unsuccessful admixture due to behavioural or genetic barriers. For the reintroduction of Asiatic wild ass Equus hemionus ssp. in Israel, a breeding core was created from individuals of two different subspecies (E.h.onager & E.h.kulan). Today the population comprises approximately 300 individuals and displays no signs of outbreeding depression. The aim of this study was a population genomic evaluation of this conservation reintroduction protocol. Methods and ResultsWe used maximum likelihood methods and genetic clustering analyses to investigate subspecies admixture and test for spatial autocorrelation based on subspecies ancestry. Further, we analyzed heterozygosity and effective population sizes in the breeding core prior to release and the current wild population. We discovered high levels of subspecies admixture in the breeding core and wild population, consistent with a significant heterozygote excess in the breeding core. Furthermore, we found no signs of spatial autocorrelation associated with subspecies ancestry in the wild population. Inbreeding and variance effective population size estimates were low. DiscussionOur results indicate no genetic or behavioural barriers to admixture between the subspecies and suggest that their hybridization has led to greater genetic diversity in the reintroduced population. The study provides rare empirical evidence of the successful application of subspecies hybridization in a reintroduction. It supports use of intraspecific hybridization as a tool to increase genetic diversity in conservation translocations. Journal Article Evolutionary Applications 14 5 1216 1224 Wiley 1752-4571 1752-4571 conservation management; Equus hemionus; genetic admixture; reintroduction; Subspecies hybridization 17 5 2021 2021-05-17 10.1111/eva.13191 COLLEGE NANME Biosciences COLLEGE CODE SBI Swansea University 2021-11-30T15:20:23.9503672 2021-01-05T16:38:10.9132293 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences Lilith J. Zecherle 1 Hazel Nichols 0000-0002-4455-6065 2 Shirli Bar‐David 3 Richard P. Brown 4 Helen Hipperson 5 Gavin J. Horsburgh 6 Alan R. Templeton 7 55968__20573__fdbe38622e2f4eeda547068c6d108f9f.pdf 55968.pdf 2021-08-06T16:14:46.6775001 Output 848574 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2021 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title	Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions
spellingShingle	Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions Hazel Nichols
title_short	Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions
title_full	Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions
title_fullStr	Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions
title_full_unstemmed	Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions
title_sort	Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions
author_id_str_mv	43ba12986bd7754484874c73eed0ebfe
author_id_fullname_str_mv	43ba12986bd7754484874c73eed0ebfe_***_Hazel Nichols
author	Hazel Nichols
author2	Lilith J. Zecherle Hazel Nichols Shirli Bar‐David Richard P. Brown Helen Hipperson Gavin J. Horsburgh Alan R. Templeton
format	Journal article
container_title	Evolutionary Applications
container_volume	14
container_issue	5
container_start_page	1216
publishDate	2021
institution	Swansea University
issn	1752-4571 1752-4571
doi_str_mv	10.1111/eva.13191
publisher	Wiley
college_str	Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id	facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title	Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id	facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title	Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str	School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
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description	IntroductionReintroductions are a powerful tool for the recovery of endangered species. However, their long-term success is strongly influenced by the genetic diversity of the reintroduced population. The chances of population persistence can be improved by enhancing the population’s adaptive ability through the mixing of individuals from different sources. However, where source populations are too diverse the reintroduced population could also suffer from outbreeding depression or unsuccessful admixture due to behavioural or genetic barriers. For the reintroduction of Asiatic wild ass Equus hemionus ssp. in Israel, a breeding core was created from individuals of two different subspecies (E.h.onager & E.h.kulan). Today the population comprises approximately 300 individuals and displays no signs of outbreeding depression. The aim of this study was a population genomic evaluation of this conservation reintroduction protocol. Methods and ResultsWe used maximum likelihood methods and genetic clustering analyses to investigate subspecies admixture and test for spatial autocorrelation based on subspecies ancestry. Further, we analyzed heterozygosity and effective population sizes in the breeding core prior to release and the current wild population. We discovered high levels of subspecies admixture in the breeding core and wild population, consistent with a significant heterozygote excess in the breeding core. Furthermore, we found no signs of spatial autocorrelation associated with subspecies ancestry in the wild population. Inbreeding and variance effective population size estimates were low. DiscussionOur results indicate no genetic or behavioural barriers to admixture between the subspecies and suggest that their hybridization has led to greater genetic diversity in the reintroduced population. The study provides rare empirical evidence of the successful application of subspecies hybridization in a reintroduction. It supports use of intraspecific hybridization as a tool to increase genetic diversity in conservation translocations.
published_date	2021-05-17T04:10:34Z
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Subspecies hybridization as a potential conservation tool in species reintroductions

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