CONSERVATION
GENETICS
Conservation genetics is the concept and practise of genetics for the protection of species as ever-changing individuals capable of evolving to survive environmental change to minimise their extinction risk. A number of techniques have made the new subject of conservation genetics possible which comprises population genetics, systematics, molecular ecology and evolutionary biology. The field of conservation genetics is growing rapidly and combines genetic data with biological concepts to advance the management of threatened, vulnerable and endangered species. Conservation genetics highlights the detrimental effects of inbreeding on the survival of species, the loss of genetic diversity, the ability of a species to adapt in response to changes in the environment, the reduction in gene flow and the fragmentation of populations, the determination of taxonomic uncertainties, and the defining of management units within a species.
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It is vital to understand the demographic history of a population when making informed, responsible management decisions. An understanding of a population’s genetic structure is imperative if one is to retain an accurate representation of the population’s genetic diversity. When considering conservation genetics as a management tool it is advised to use Futuyma’s definition of a population: “A group of conspecific organisms that occupy a more or less well-defined geographical region and exhibit reproductive continuity from generation to generation.”
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The movement of individuals between populations has the potential to increase the species’ genetic variability and have the knock-on effect of aiding the avoidance of inbreeding.
GENETICS FOR PROTECTING THE SPECIES.
Until recently only demographic data has been used to make management decisions concerning the South African wild dogs. The rate at which the wild dog subpopulations are increasing, combined with the different levels of monitoring at the various range expansion project reserves, is making it difficult to keep track of relatedness among the populations. This is likely to result in future inbreeding and subsequent loss of genetic diversity over time. Thus conservation management planning should involve aspects of demographic history and have an understanding of the genetic variation within the wild dog populations. Working with conservation genetics allows an understanding of genetic factors that affect extinction risks and management systems needed to reduce them.
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Information gathered about relatedness within and between reserves and populations can serve as an indicator of previous translocations but more importantly can suggest which reserves are potentially good for future translocations.
