Details:

Journal Title:
Diversity and Distributions
Personal Author:
Vandergast, Amy G. ; Wood, Dustin A. ; Thompson, Andrew R. ; Fisher, Mark ; Barrows, Cameron W. ; ... More +
Vandergast, Amy G. ; Wood, Dustin A. ; Thompson, Andrew R. ; Fisher, Mark ; Barrows, Cameron W. ; Grant, Tyler J. Less -
NOAA Program & Office:
NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; SWFSC (Southwest Fisheries Science Center)
NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; SWFSC (Southwest Fisheries Science Center) Less -
Description:
AimThe frequency and severity of habitat alterations and disturbance are predicted to increase in upcoming decades, and understanding how disturbance affects population integrity is paramount for adaptive management. Although rarely is population genetic sampling conducted at multiple time points, pre‐ and post‐disturbance comparisons may provide one of the clearest methods to measure these impacts. We examined how genetic properties of the federally threatened Coachella Valley fringe‐toed lizard (Uma inornata) responded to severe drought and habitat fragmentation across its range.LocationCoachella Valley, California, USA.MethodsWe used 11 microsatellites to examine population genetic structure and diversity in 1996 and 2008, before and after a historic drought. We used Bayesian assignment methods and F‐statistics to estimate genetic structure. We compared allelic richness across years to measure loss of genetic diversity and employed approximate Bayesian computing methods and heterozygote excess tests to explore the recent demographic history of populations. Finally, we compared effective population size across years and to abundance estimates to determine whether diversity remained low despite post‐drought recovery.ResultsGenetic structure increased between sampling periods, likely as a result of population declines during the historic drought of the late 1990s–early 2000s, and habitat loss and fragmentation that precluded post‐drought genetic rescue. Simulations supported recent demographic declines in 3 of 4 main preserves, and in one preserve, we detected significant loss of allelic richness. Effective population sizes were generally low across the range, with estimates ≤100 in most sites.Main conclusionsFragmentation and drought appear to have acted synergistically to induce genetic change over a short time frame. Progressive deterioration of connectivity, low Ne and measurable loss of genetic diversity suggest that conservation efforts have not maintained the genetic integrity of this species. Genetic sampling over time can help evaluate population trends to guide management.
Keywords:
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Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Source:
Diversity and Distributions, 22(3), 344-357
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12398
ISSN:
1366-9516;1472-4642;
Format:
PDF
Publisher:
Wiley
Document Type:
Journal Article
Rights Information:
Accepted Manuscript
Compliance:
Library
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:383b846005bb61eb50a2288e8a655e4fb3d0e149b67830590b7441669836999d
Download URL:
https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/57023/noaa_57023_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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