Genetic and demographic vulnerability of adder populations : Results of a genetic study in mainland Britain
(2020) In PLoS ONE 15(4).- Abstract
Genetic factors are often overlooked in conservation planning, despite their importance in small isolated populations. We used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate population genetics of the adder (Vipera berus) in southern Britain, where numbers are declining. We found no evidence for loss of heterozygosity in any of the populations studied. Genetic diversity was comparable across sites, in line with published levels for mainland Europe. However, further analysis revealed a striking level of relatedness. Genetic networks constructed from inferred first degree relationships suggested a high proportion of individuals to be related at a level equivalent to that of half-siblings, with rare inferred full-sib dyads. These... (More)
Genetic factors are often overlooked in conservation planning, despite their importance in small isolated populations. We used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate population genetics of the adder (Vipera berus) in southern Britain, where numbers are declining. We found no evidence for loss of heterozygosity in any of the populations studied. Genetic diversity was comparable across sites, in line with published levels for mainland Europe. However, further analysis revealed a striking level of relatedness. Genetic networks constructed from inferred first degree relationships suggested a high proportion of individuals to be related at a level equivalent to that of half-siblings, with rare inferred full-sib dyads. These patterns of relatedness can be attributed to the high philopatry and low vagility of adders, which creates high local relatedness, in combination with the polyandrous breeding system in the adder, which may offset the risk of inbreeding in closed populations. We suggest that reliance on standard genetic indicators of inbreeding and diversity may underestimate demographic and genetic factors that make adder populations vulnerable to extirpation. We stress the importance of an integrated genetic and demographic approach in the conservation of adders, and other taxa of similar ecology.
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- author
- Ball, Sarah ; Hand, Nigel ; Willman, Faye ; Durrant, Christopher ; Uller, Tobias LU ; Claus, Katja ; Mergeay, Joachim ; Bauwens, Dirk and Garner, Trenton W.J.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2020
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- PLoS ONE
- volume
- 15
- issue
- 4
- article number
- e0231809
- publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85083482845
- pmid:32310990
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0231809
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d508c66c-ec57-4f6b-98f7-e4b6a152bddb
- date added to LUP
- 2020-04-29 12:39:11
- date last changed
- 2024-05-01 09:40:23
@article{d508c66c-ec57-4f6b-98f7-e4b6a152bddb,
abstract = {{<p>Genetic factors are often overlooked in conservation planning, despite their importance in small isolated populations. We used mitochondrial and microsatellite markers to investigate population genetics of the adder (Vipera berus) in southern Britain, where numbers are declining. We found no evidence for loss of heterozygosity in any of the populations studied. Genetic diversity was comparable across sites, in line with published levels for mainland Europe. However, further analysis revealed a striking level of relatedness. Genetic networks constructed from inferred first degree relationships suggested a high proportion of individuals to be related at a level equivalent to that of half-siblings, with rare inferred full-sib dyads. These patterns of relatedness can be attributed to the high philopatry and low vagility of adders, which creates high local relatedness, in combination with the polyandrous breeding system in the adder, which may offset the risk of inbreeding in closed populations. We suggest that reliance on standard genetic indicators of inbreeding and diversity may underestimate demographic and genetic factors that make adder populations vulnerable to extirpation. We stress the importance of an integrated genetic and demographic approach in the conservation of adders, and other taxa of similar ecology.</p>}},
author = {{Ball, Sarah and Hand, Nigel and Willman, Faye and Durrant, Christopher and Uller, Tobias and Claus, Katja and Mergeay, Joachim and Bauwens, Dirk and Garner, Trenton W.J.}},
issn = {{1932-6203}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
publisher = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
series = {{PLoS ONE}},
title = {{Genetic and demographic vulnerability of adder populations : Results of a genetic study in mainland Britain}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231809}},
doi = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0231809}},
volume = {{15}},
year = {{2020}},
}