Conserving the genetic diversity of condemned populations: Optimizing collections and translocation.

ABSTRACT: We consider approaches for conserving genetic diversity from plant populations whose destruction is imminent. We do this using SNP genotype data from two endangered species, Pimelea spicata and Eucalyptus sp. Cattai. For both species, we genotyped plants from a 'condemned' population and designed ex situ collections, characterizing how the size and composition of the collection affected the genetic diversity preserved. Consistent with previous observations, populations where genetic diversity was optimized captured more alleles than populations of equal size chosen at random. This benefit of optimization was larger when the propagation population was small. That is, small numbers of individuals (e.g. 20) needed to be selected carefully to capture a comparable proportion of al

SUBMITTER: Bragg JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8127699 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature