Genetics and the successful reintroduction of the Missouri river otter

Abstract

Reintroduction is an effective tool for restoring endangered populations. There is increasing concern, however, that demographic restoration may not equate with genetic restoration. We examine the demographic-genetic contrast in the context of one of the world's most successful carnivore population restorations. Beginning in 1982, a total of 835 river otters Lontra canadensis were reintroduced to Missouri, USA, more than 50 years after extirpation. Most otters were translocated from Louisiana, USA, and released at 43 sites across the state. An estimated population of 11 000-18 000 otters existed by 2000, and density estimates for Missouri otters are now similar to those reported for populations across the continent, indicating demographic recovery. We used microsatellite genotyping and mitochondrial sequence analysis of DNA extracted from fecal samples from eight southern Missouri rivers, in conjunction with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses from several native Louisiana otter populations, to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of otters within Missouri as compared with Louisiana. The Missouri population showed moderate to high heterozygosity and allelic diversity, similar to that of the source populations, but low mtDNA haplotype diversity. We detected five distinct genetic clusters distributed throughout the eight rivers, with no evidence of isolation by distance. These data collectively suggest that 30 years after restoration efforts commenced, Missouri river otters have retained genetic diversity levels similar to those of the source populations, but that genetic structure has not reached an equilibrium between migration and genetic drift. Thus, the Missouri otter population has made a robust recovery despite retaining the genetic signature of the reintroduction.Restored otter genetic structure R. A. Mowry et al.

Population genetics of the wolverine in Finland: the road to recovery?

“…At that time, there were no wolverines in western Finland. This type of high similarity between the source and the translocated populations have previously been described also in other cases of reintroductions to areas where the species had completely disappeared (Wisely et al 2003;Mowry et al 2015). Our results suggest that the translocated wolverines have survived and reproduced for decades in western Finland.…”

Genetic assessment for the endangered black lion tamarinLeontopithecus chrysopygus(Mikan, 1823),Callitrichidae, Primates

“…Several species have been reintroduced and translocated increasing the number of successful conservation programs (Michaelides, Cole, & Funk, ; Mowry et al, ; Parker, ). Reintroductions of BLTs from captivity to the wild could represent a plausible option.…”

Temporal genetic dynamics of reintroduced and translocated populations of the endangered golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)

“…The objective of these conservation strategies is to establish viable populations over time by increasing population size of new or existing populations and by increasing or maintaining genetic diversity (Griffith et al 1989;Kleiman 1989;Sigg et al 2005). Since reintroductions emerged as a conservation option, the number of reintroduced and translocated animal species has increased (for review, see Fischer and Lindenmayer 2000;Seddon et al 2007), the same occurring for the number of successful programs (e.g., Parker 2008;Michaelides et al 2015;Mowry et al 2015).…”