Wildlife translocation: the conservation implications of pathogen exposure and genetic heterozygosity

BMC Ecology

Research Article

Mara E Weisenberger¹  M Cecilia T Penedo²  Christine K Johnson³  Walter M Boyce³ 

[1] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Andres National Wildlife Refuge, 5686, Santa Gertrudis Drive, 88012, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA;Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University of California, One Shields Avenue, 95616, Davis, California, USA;Wildlife Health Center, University of California, One Shields Avenue, 95616, Davis, California, USA;

关键词: Major Histocompatibility Complex;    Source Population;    Bighorn Sheep;    Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus;    Major Histocompatibility Complex Diversity;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6785-11-5

 received in 2010-04-27, accepted in 2011-02-01,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundA key challenge for conservation biologists is to determine the most appropriate demographic and genetic management strategies for wildlife populations threatened by disease. We explored this topic by examining whether genetic background and previous pathogen exposure influenced survival of translocated animals when captive-bred and free-ranging bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were used to re-establish a population that had been extirpated in the San Andres Mountains in New Mexico, USA.ResultsAlthough the free-ranging source population had significantly higher multi-locus heterozygosity at 30 microsatellite loci than the captive bred animals, neither source population nor genetic background significantly influenced survival or cause of death. The presence of antibodies to a respiratory virus known to cause pneumonia was associated with increased survival, but there was no correlation between genetic heterozygosity and the presence of antibodies to this virus.ConclusionsAlthough genetic theory predicts otherwise, increased heterozygosity was not associated with increased fitness (survival) among translocated animals. While heterosis or genetic rescue effects may occur in F1 and later generations as the two source populations interbreed, we conclude that previous pathogen exposure was a more important marker than genetic heterozygosity for predicting survival of translocated animals. Every wildlife translocation is an experiment, and whenever possible, translocations should be designed and evaluated to test hypotheses that will further improve our understanding of how pathogen exposure and genetic variability influence fitness.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Boyce et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011