Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic consequences of intensive conservation management for the Mauritius parakeet

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Conservation Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For conservation managers tasked with recovering threatened species, genetic structure can exacerbate the rate of loss of genetic diversity because alleles unique to a sub-population are more likely to be lost by the effects of random genetic drift than if a population is panmictic. Given that intensive management techniques commonly used to recover threatened species frequently involve movement of individuals within and between populations, managers need to be aware not only of pre-existing levels of genetic structure but also of the potential effects that intensive management might have on these patterns. The Mauritius parakeet (Psittacula echo) has been the subject of an intensive conservation programme, involving translocation and reintroduction that has recovered the population from less than 20 individuals in 1987 to approximately 500 in 2010. Analysis of genotype data derived from 18 microsatellite markers developed for this species reveals a clear signal of structure in the population before intensive management began, but which subsequently disappears following management intervention. This study illustrates the impacts that conservation management can have on the genetic structure of an island endemic population and demonstrates how translocations or reintroductions can benefit populations of endangered species by reducing the risk of loss of genetic diversity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acevedo-Whitehouse K, Gulland F, Greig D, Amos W (2003) Disease susceptibility in California sea lions. Nature 422:35–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong DP, Ewen JG (2001) Assessing the value of follow-up translocations: a case study using New Zealand robins. Biol Conserv 101:239–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong DP, Ewen JG (2002) Dynamics and viability of a New Zealand robin population reintroduced to regenerating fragmented habitat. Conserv Biol 16:1074–1085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beier P, Noss RF (1998) Do habitat corridors provide connectivity? Conserv Biol 12:1241–1252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouzat JL (2001) The population genetic structure of the Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) in an agricultural landscape. Biol Conserv 99:277–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caizergues A, Rätti O, Helle P, Rotelli L, Ellison L, Rasplus J-Y (2003) Population genetic structure of male black grouse (Tetrao tetrix L.) in fragmented vs. continuous landscapes. Mol Ecol 12:2297–2305

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheke AS, Hume J (2008) Lost land of the Dodo. An ecological history of Mauritius, Reunion & Rodrigues. T & AD Poyser, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Corander J, Marttinen P (2006) Bayesian identification of admixture events using multilocus molecular markers. Mol Ecol 15:2833–2843

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corander J, Waldmann P, Sillanpaa MJ (2003) Bayesian analysis of genetic differentiation between populations. Genetics 163:367–374

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corander J, Marttinen P, Siren J, Tang J (2008) Enhanced Bayesian modelling in BAPS software for learning genetic structures of populations. BMC Bioinformatics 9:539

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Debinski DM, Holt RD (2000) A survey and overview of habitat fragmentation experiments. Conserv Biol 14:342–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy K (1993) Echo parakeet project-Progress report August 1992–April 1993. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Vacoas

    Google Scholar 

  • Evanno G, Regnaut S, Goudet J (2005) Detecting the number of clusters of individuals using the software STRUCTURE: a simulation study. Mol Ecol 14:2611–2620

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fahrig L (2001) How much habitat is enough? Biol Conserv 100:65–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankel OH, Soule ME (1981) Conservation and evolution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankham R, Ballou JD, Briscoe DA (2010) Introduction to conservation genetics, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Frantz AC, Cellina S, Krier A, Schley L, Burke T (2009) Using spatial Bayesian methods to determine the genetic structure of a continuously distributed population: clusters or isolation by distance? J Appl Ecol 46:493–505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galbusera P, Githiru M, Lens L, Matthysen E (2004) Genetic equilibrium despite habitat fragmentation in an Afrotropical bird. Mol Ecol 13:1409–1421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goudet J (1995) FSTAT (Version 1.2): a computer programme to calculate F-Statistics. J Hered 86:485–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Haig SM, Bowman R, Mullins TD (1996) Population structure of red-cockaded woodpeckers in south Florida: RAPDs revisited. Mol Ecol 5:725–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartl DL, Clark AG (1997) Principles of Population Genetics. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones CG (1987) The larger land-birds of Mauritius. In: Diamond AW (ed) Studies of Mascarene Island birds. British Ornithologists Union and Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 208–301

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Jones CG, Duffy K (1993) Conservation management of the echo parakeet. Dodo 29:126–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones CG, Swinnerton KJ, Thorsen M, Greenwood A (1998) The biology and conservation of the echo parakeet Psittacula eques of Mauritius. In: Proceedings of IV International Parrot Convention, Tenerife, pp 110–123

  • Kenta T, Gratten J, Haigh NS, Hinten GN, Slate J, Butlin RK, Burke T (2008) Multiplex SNP-SCALE: a cost-effective medium-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping method. Mol Ecol Resour 8:1230–1238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Latch E, Dharmarajan G, Glaubitz J, Rhodes O (2006) Relative performance of Bayesian clustering software for inferring population substructure and individual assignment at low levels of population differentiation. Conserv Genet 7:295–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay DL, Barr KR, Lance RF, Tweddale SA, Hayden TJ, Leberg PL (2008) Habitat fragmentation and genetic diversity of an endangered, migratory songbird, the golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia). Mol Ecol 17:2122–2133

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lovegrove TG, Nieuwland AB, Green S (1995) Interim report on the echo parakeet conservation project, February 1995. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Vacoas

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall TC, Slate J, Kruuk LEB, Pemberton JM (1998) Statistical confidence for likelihood-based paternity inference in natural populations. Mol Ecol 7:639–655

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls JA, Double MC, Rowell DM, Magrath RD (2000) The evolution of cooperative and pair breeding in thornbills Acanthiza (Pardalotidae). J Avian Biol 31:165–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owens IPF, Bennett PM (2000) Ecological basis of extinction risk in birds: Habitat loss versus human persecution and introduced predators. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:12144–12148

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard J, Stephens M, Donnelly P (2000) Inference of population structure using multilocus genotype data. Genetics 155:945–959

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raisin C, Dawson DA, Greenwood AG, Jones CG, Groombridge JJ (2009) Characterization of Mauritius parakeet (Psittacula eques) microsatellite loci and their cross-utility in other parrots (Psittacidae, Aves). Mol Ecol Resour 9:1231–1235

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raymond M, Rousset F (1995) GENEPOP (Version 1.2): population genetics software for exact tests and ecumenicism. J Hered 86:248–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice WR (1989) Analysing tables of statistical tests. Evolution 43:223–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards H, Chowrimootoo A, Garrett M, Bednarczuk E, Smith D, Tollington S, Skinner A (2010) Management of the echo parakeet in the wild 2009/10. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Vacoas

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie BW, Niagro FD, Lukert PD, Latimer KS, Steffens WL, Pritchard N (1989) A review of psittacine beak and feather disease: characteristics of the PBFD virus. J Assoc Avian Vet 3:143–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rousset F (1997) Genetic differentiation and estimation of gene flow from F-Statistics under isolation by distance. Genetics 145:1219–1228

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rousset F (2000) Genetic differentiation between individuals. J Evol Biol 13:58–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seddon PJ, Armstrong DP, Maloney RF (2007) Developing the science of reintroduction biology. Conserv Biol 21:303–312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Segelbacher G, Höglund J, Storch I (2003) From connectivity to isolation: genetic consequences of population fragmentation in capercaillie across Europe. Mol Ecol 12:1773–1780

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webley LS, Zenger KR, Hall GP, Cooper DW (2007) Genetic structure of introduced European fallow deer (Dama dama dama) in Tasmania, Australia. Eur J Wildl Res 53:40–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by a NERC PhD studentship award to JG with CASE partner Wildlife Vets International. The laboratory work was performed at the NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility at the University of Sheffield and we would particularly like to thank Deborah Dawson and Andy Krupa for their assistance. We also thank all the staff of the National Parks and Conservation Service of the Government of Mauritius and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation for support with fieldwork.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UK

    Claire Raisin & Jim J. Groombridge

  2. NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK

    Claire Raisin & Alain C. Frantz

  3. Division of Infection and Immunity, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Samit Kundu

  4. International Zoo Veterinary Group, Station House, Parkwood Street, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD21 4NQ, UK

    Andrew G. Greenwood

  5. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Grannum Road, Vacoas, Mauritius

    Claire Raisin, Carl G. Jones & Nicolas Zuel

  6. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augres Manor, Trinity, Jersey, JE3 5BP, UK

    Carl G. Jones

Authors
  1. Claire Raisin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alain C. Frantz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Samit Kundu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Andrew G. Greenwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carl G. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Nicolas Zuel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jim J. Groombridge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claire Raisin.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 187 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Raisin, C., Frantz, A.C., Kundu, S. et al. Genetic consequences of intensive conservation management for the Mauritius parakeet. Conserv Genet 13, 707–715 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-012-0319-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-012-0319-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation