On the feasibility of estimating contemporary effective population size (Ne) for genetic conservation and monitoring of forest trees

Blanco, Luis Santos del; Olsson, Sanna; Budde, Katharina B.; Grivet, Delphine; González‐Martínez, Santiago C.; Alı́a, Ricardo; Robledo‐Arnuncio, Juan J.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109704

Cited by 17 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Accordingly, all studied populations, except for WGC3, are defined as being at risk of loss of adaptive potential because of critically low N e . However, we know that accurate estimates of N e may be especially difficult in trees because some aspects of their population biology violate methodological assumptions of N e estimation (Santos‐del‐Blanco et al, 2022). The values presented here may be down‐biased because of spatially restricted sampling and the intensive gene flow (Beridze et al, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity protection against anthropogenic climate change: Conservation prioritization of Castanea sativa in the South Caucasus based on genetic and ecological metrics

Beridze

Sękiewicz

Walas

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity protection against anthropogenic climate change: Conservation prioritization of Castanea sativa in the South Caucasus based on genetic and ecological metrics

Beridze

Sękiewicz

Walas

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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“…We estimated an effective population size ( N e ) for the SFKR of 17.2 (95% CI = 14.3–20.3). N e for upstream and downstream Big Double Creek sites were infinite, which can be caused by low sample size or large populations (Santos‐del‐Blanco et al., 2022; Table 3). Several sites also had infinite upper‐bound confidence intervals, indicating that our estimates of effective population size have low confidence, likely due to small sample sizes (Table 3).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Instream barriers contribute to population isolation of a small‐bodied, benthic, headwater‐specialist fish (Percidae)

Watson,

Culley,

Haase

et al. 2024

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Genetic differentiation in aquatic systems is often driven by geographic distance (isolation by distance) due to the linear and hierarchical distribution of populations, but habitat fragmentation often exacerbates this effect by decreasing population connectivity, leading to isolation by resistance. Stronghold populations of the Kentucky Arrow Darter (Etheostoma spilotum) in the South Fork Kentucky River system within the Daniel Boone National Forest of eastern Kentucky, USA have a high population structure not explained by distance alone. Higher than expected levels of genetic differentiation among proximate populations were hypothesized to be driven by land‐use change, but this was not previously tested. Here we use a riverscape genetics approach to test for the effects of natural landscape features including slope, elevation and stream size, and anthropogenically altered habitat features, including specific conductance (conductivity), culverts and forest cover, on population connectivity and genetic diversity of E. spilotum. We found isolation of populations among all tributary systems and a strong, positive relationship between genetic and geographic distances as expected. However, high conductivity levels due to surface coal mining best explain the population structure observed. We also found signatures of low genetic diversity overall and indicators that culverts may limit upstream movements of E. spilotum. This study provides a novel fine‐scale view of the effects of instream and landscape features on connectivity among, and genetic diversity within populations of an imperilled, small‐bodied, benthic fish.

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“…Effective population size ( Ne ) was assessed using the linkage disequilibrium method implemented in NeEstimator v2.1 (Do et al 2014). In forest tree species, due to their peculiar life-history traits, reliable estimates of Ne should be obtained only for isolated and small populations (typically less than 500 reproductive trees) (Santos-del-Blanco et al 2022). In our dataset, the populations that met such requirements are shown in Table 1.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The latitudinal trend in genetic diversity and distinctiveness ofQuercus roburrear edge forest remnants calls for new conservation priorities

Avanzi,

Bagnoli,

Romiti

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Knowledge of the spatial distribution of intraspecific genetic variation is essential for conserving biodiversity, designing rational networks of protected areas, and informing translocation strategies. Although the Italian peninsula likely harbours unique genetic variation as a legacy of Quaternary migrations towards southern Europe, few genetic data are available for many Italian forest tree species and populations.Here, we present the first, comprehensive characterisation of the nuclear genetic variation of Italian populations of pedunculate oak (Quercus roburL.), an iconic broadleaved species of lowland forests. A total of 745 individuals from 25 populations were sampled across the local range of the species and genotyped with 16 microsatellite markers. The genetic layout ofQ. roburpopulations was assessed through various metrics of diversity and distinctiveness, as well as by Bayesian clustering and multivariate methods. Based on the inferred genetic structure, the demographic history ofQ. roburgene pools was evaluated through Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) analysis.We found a clear spatial trend in the estimates of genetic diversity and distinctiveness of ItalianQ. roburpopulations. The genetic distinctiveness and private allelic richness values showed a linear decline with increasing latitude, while allelic richness reached its peak in central Italy. We also observed a south-to-north trend in the complexity of genetic structure, with peninsular Italy being characterised by a mosaic of gene pools, in contrast to the homogeneity exhibited by northern Italian populations. Demographic inference indicated that the southern gene pool has had separate dynamics for the last 135,000 years and, therefore, populations in central Italy did not originate from a northward migration route after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Therefore, they were not only a ‘melting pot’ of multiple recolonization routes, but most likely a mosaic of small refugia where pedunculate oak persisted during the LGM.Our results shed new light on conservation priorities for highly fragmentedQ. roburpopulations, and call for consideration of whether treating the southern and central Italian populations as independent conservation units, or intervening to increase their genetic connectivity, is the best strategy for their long-term conservation.

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On the feasibility of estimating contemporary effective population size (Ne) for genetic conservation and monitoring of forest trees

Cited by 17 publications

References 52 publications

Biodiversity protection against anthropogenic climate change: Conservation prioritization of Castanea sativa in the South Caucasus based on genetic and ecological metrics

Biodiversity protection against anthropogenic climate change: Conservation prioritization of Castanea sativa in the South Caucasus based on genetic and ecological metrics

Instream barriers contribute to population isolation of a small‐bodied, benthic, headwater‐specialist fish (Percidae)

The latitudinal trend in genetic diversity and distinctiveness ofQuercus roburrear edge forest remnants calls for new conservation priorities

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