telonisscott-usinggenomics-2014.pdf (366.86 kB)
Using genomics to characterize evolutionary potential for conservation of wild populations
journal contribution
posted on 2014-11-01, 00:00 authored by Katherine A Harrisson, Alexandra Pavlova, Marina Telonis-ScottMarina Telonis-Scott, Paul SunnucksGenomics promises exciting advances towards the important conservation goal of maximizing evolutionary potential, notwithstanding associated challenges. Here, we explore some of the complexity of adaptation genetics and discuss the strengths and limitations of genomics as a tool for characterizing evolutionary potential in the context of conservation management. Many traits are polygenic and can be strongly influenced by minor differences in regulatory networks and by epigenetic variation not visible in DNA sequence. Much of this critical complexity is difficult to detect using methods commonly used to identify adaptive variation, and this needs appropriate consideration when planning genomic screens, and when basing management decisions on genomic data. When the genomic basis of adaptation and future threats are well understood, it may be appropriate to focus management on particular adaptive traits. For more typical conservations scenarios, we argue that screening genome-wide variation should be a sensible approach that may provide a generalized measure of evolutionary potential that accounts for the contributions of small-effect loci and cryptic variation and is robust to uncertainty about future change and required adaptive response(s). The best conservation outcomes should be achieved when genomic estimates of evolutionary potential are used within an adaptive management framework.
History
Journal
Evolutionary applicationsVolume
7Issue
9Season
Special issue: evolutionary conservationPagination
1008 - 1025Publisher
John Wiley & SonsLocation
Chichester, Eng.Publisher DOI
Link to full text
ISSN
1752-4571Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2014, The AuthorsUsage metrics
Keywords
climate changegenetic variationgenome-wide diversitylocal adaptationnatural selectionpolygenic adaptationpopulation persistencewildlife managementScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEvolutionary BiologyQUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCIPINE PINUS-TAEDAGENE-EXPRESSIONCLIMATE-CHANGEPHENOTYPIC ASSOCIATIONSECOLOGICAL EPIGENETICSADAPTIVE EVOLUTIONWIDE ASSOCIATIONDNA METHYLATIONFRESH-WATEREvolutionary BiologyGenetics
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC