Species assignment and conservation genetics of giraffe in the Republic of Malawi

Winter, Sven; Coimbra, Raphael T. F.; Bronec, Anna; Hay, Craig; Salb, Amanda; Fennessy, Julian; Janke, Axel

doi:10.1007/s10592-018-01142-4

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most populations of giraffes have declined in recent decades, leading to the recent decision to upgrade the species to vulnerable status, and some subspecies as endangered, on the IUCN Red List (Muller et al 2018). Translocations have been used as conservation tools to re-introduce giraffes to previously occupied areas or establish new populations (Winter et al 2019), but quantitative guidelines for establishing viable populations of translocated giraffes do not exist.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Giraffe Translocation Population Viability Analysis

Lee

Fienieg²,

Oosterhout

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Most populations of giraffes have declined in recent decades, leading to the recent 24 decision to upgrade the species to vulnerable status, and some subspecies to endangered.25 1 Email: dereklee@psu.edu 2 | Lee et al. • Giraffe PVATranslocations have been used as a conservation tool to re-introduce giraffes to previously 26 occupied areas or establish new populations, but guidelines for founding populations are lacking. 27 To provide general guidelines for translocation projects regarding feasibility, we simulated 28 various scenarios of translocated giraffe populations to identify viable age and sex distributions 29 of founding populations using Population Viability Analysis (PVA) implemented in Vortex 30 software. We explored the parameter space for demography (population growth rates: λ = 1.001, 31 1.010, 1.024), and the genetic load (number of lethal equivalents: LE = 2.5, 6.29, 12.6), 32 examining how variation in founding numbers (N = 5 to 80 females) and sex ratios (M:F = 0.1 to 33 0.5) affected 100-year probability of extinction and genetic diversity. We found that even very 34 small numbers of founders (N ≤10 females) can appear to be successful in the first decades due 35 to transient positive population growth, but with moderate population growth rate and moderate 36 genetic load, long-term population viability (probability of extinction <0.01) was only achieved 37 with ≥30 females and ≥3 males released. To maintain >95% genetic diversity of the source 38 population in an isolated population, 50 females and 5 males are recommended to comprise the 39 founding population. Sensitivity analyses revealed first-year survival and reproductive rate were 40 the simulation parameters with the greatest proportional influence on probability of extinction 41 and genetic diversity. These simulations highlight important considerations for translocation 42 success, and data gaps including true genetic load in wild giraffe populations.43 viability 45 Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) are endemic African ruminant ungulates, and one of only a 46 handful of extant terrestrial megaherbivores (Owen-Smith 1988). Most populations of giraffes 47 2018). Translocations have been used as conservation tools to re-introduce giraffes to previously 50 occupied areas or establish new populations (Winter et al. 2019), but quantitative guidelines for 51 establishing viable populations of translocated giraffes do not exist. 52 General guidelines for translocations suggest population modelling should be used to assist in the 53 assessment of project feasibility (IUCN 2013). Population modelling for translocation projects 54 can offer guidance on age-and sex-classes for founder populations by providing estimates of 55 population persistence, long-term viability, and genetic diversity (Seddon et al. 2007).56 Population viability analysis (PVA) is commonly used to predict the likely future status of a 57 population and thus offers a quantitative basis for evaluating alternative management strategies 58 (Boyce 1992, Morris and Doak 200...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Giraffe Translocation Population Viability Analysis

Lee

Fienieg²,

Oosterhout

et al. 2019

Preprint

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show abstract

“…result in more severe inbreeding de pression. Published accounts of translocation outcomes including annual demographic rates of age-specific survival and reproduction, genetic diversity, and long-term population viability are also needed as giraffe translocations are typically not well documented (Winter et al 2019). It is unlikely that this specific PVA will apply to other species of ungulate due to giraffe's unusual delayed maturity and slow reproduction rate.…”

Section: Parametermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most populations of giraffes have declined in recent decades, leading to the recent decision to upgrade the species to Vulnerable and some subspecies as Endangered on the IUCN Red List (Muller et al 2018). Translocations have been used as a conservation tool to re-introduce giraffes to previously occupied areas or establish new populations (Winter et al 2019), but quantitative guidelines for establishing viable populations of translocated giraffes do not exist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giraffe translocation population viability analysis

Lee

Fienieg

Oosterhout

et al. 2020

Endang. Species. Res.

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Most populations of giraffes have declined in recent decades, leading to the recent IUCN decision to upgrade the species to Vulnerable status, and some subspecies to Endangered. Translocations have been used as a conservation tool to re-introduce giraffes to previously occupied areas or establish new populations, but guidelines for founding populations are lacking. To provide general guidelines for translocation projects regarding feasibility, we simulated various scenarios of translocated giraffe populations to identify viable age and sex distributions of founding populations using population viability analysis (PVA) implemented in Vortex software. We explored the parameter space for demography and the genetic load, examining how variation in founding numbers and sex ratios affected 100 yr probability of population extinction and genetic diversity. We found that even very small numbers of founders (N ≤ 10 females) can appear to be successful in the first decades due to transient positive population growth, but with moderate population growth rate and moderate genetic load, long-term population viability (probability of extinction <0.01) was only achieved with ≥30 females and ≥3 males released. To maintain >95% genetic diversity of the source population in an isolated population, 50 females and 5 males are recommended to compose the founding population. Sensitivity analyses revealed first-year survival and reproductive rate were the simulation parameters with the greatest proportional influence on probability of extinction and genetic diversity. These simulations highlight important considerations for translocation success and data gaps including true genetic load in wild giraffe populations.

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“…Hence, there is a need for a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge on lion genetic variation and the translation of this genetic information into a decision‐making tool for managers. Scattered data, as well as poor documentation of previous translocation efforts, have also been identified as a management challenge for other species, such as black rhinoceros (Moodley et al, 2017), giraffe (Muller, 2019; Winter et al, 2019) and wildebeest (Grobler et al, 2011). Considering the similarity in phylogeographic patterns across African mammals (Bertola et al, 2016), well‐designed recommendations for lions may also indirectly provide guidelines for other species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic guidelines for translocations: Maintaining intraspecific diversity in the lion (Panthera leo)

Bertola

Miller

Williams

et al. 2021

Evolutionary Applications

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Conservation translocations have become an important management tool, particularly for large wildlife species such as the lion (Panthera leo). When planning translocations, the genetic background of populations needs to be taken into account; failure to do so risks disrupting existing patterns of genetic variation, ultimately leading to genetic homogenization, and thereby reducing resilience and adaptability of the species. We urge wildlife managers to include knowledge of the genetic background of source/target populations, as well as species‐wide patterns, in any management intervention. We present a hierarchical decision‐making tool in which we list 132 lion populations/lion conservation units and provide information on genetic assignment, uncertainty and suitability for translocation for each source/target combination. By including four levels of suitability, from ‘first choice’ to ‘no option’, we provide managers with a range of options. To illustrate the extent of international trade of lions, and the potential disruption of natural patterns of intraspecific diversity, we mined the CITES Trade Database for estimated trade quantities of live individuals imported into lion range states during the past 4 decades. We identified 1056 recorded individuals with a potential risk of interbreeding with wild lions, 772 being captive‐sourced. Scoring each of the records with our decision‐making tool illustrates that only 7% of the translocated individuals were ‘first choice’ and 73% were ‘no option’. We acknowledge that other, nongenetic factors are important in the decision‐making process, and hence a pragmatic approach is needed. A framework in which source/target populations are scored based on suitability is not only relevant to lion, but also to other species of wildlife that are frequently translocated. We hope that the presented overview supports managers to include genetics in future management decisions and contributes towards conservation of the lion in its full diversity.

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Species assignment and conservation genetics of giraffe in the Republic of Malawi

Cited by 5 publications

References 31 publications

Giraffe Translocation Population Viability Analysis

Giraffe Translocation Population Viability Analysis

Giraffe translocation population viability analysis

Genetic guidelines for translocations: Maintaining intraspecific diversity in the lion (Panthera leo)

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