Conserving adaptive potential: lessons from Tasmanian devils and their transmissible cancer.

ABSTRACT: Maintenance of adaptive genetic variation has long been a goal of management of natural populations, but only recently have genomic tools allowed identification of specific loci associated with fitness-related traits in species of conservation concern. This raises the possibility of managing for genetic variation directly relevant to specific threats, such as those due to climate change or emerging infectious disease. Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) face the threat of a transmissible cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), that has decimated wild populations and led to intensive management efforts. Recent discoveries from genomic and modeling studies reveal how natural devil populations are responding to DFTD, and can inform management of both captive and wild devil popul

SUBMITTER: Hohenlohe PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6759055 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature