Genetics and the conservation of animals in fragmented habitats

Woodruff David S., . Genetics and the conservation of animals in fragmented habitats. pp. 258-272.

Traditionally threatened species conservation has involved ecological management as extinction is fundamentally a demographic event. In the future we will also have to consider genetic aspects of species endangerment as inbreeding and the loss of genetic variation erode the viability of small and fragmented populations. First the management options to maximize the genetically effective size of a population (N) are outlined together with other practices designed to conserve innate genetic variation. Second the increasing role of genetic data in the definition or characterization of evolutionary significant units for conservation management are illustrated; examples of the inadvertent mixing of genetically dissimilar populations are discussed. Existing techniques for monitoring genetic variation and assessing genetic relationships are reviewed and new methods based on non-invasive DNA sampling and direct sequencing are described. Recently initiated studies of genetic and demographic effects of rainforest fragmentation on the viability of small mammal populations in Thailand are outlined. As habitat fragmentation by outright deforestation and by forest degradation (albeit by selective logging) is proceeding at an alarming rate in Malaysia wildlife managers will soon have to cope with genetic consequences of these practices.

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Abstract

Traditionally threatened species conservation has involved ecological management as extinction is fundamentally a demographic event. In the future we will also have to consider genetic aspects of species endangerment as inbreeding and the loss of genetic variation erode the viability of small and fragmented populations. First the management options to maximize the genetically effective size of a population (N) are outlined together with other practices designed to conserve innate genetic variation. Second the increasing role of genetic data in the definition or characterization of evolutionary significant units for conservation management are illustrated; examples of the inadvertent mixing of genetically dissimilar populations are discussed. Existing techniques for monitoring genetic variation and assessing genetic relationships are reviewed and new methods based on non-invasive DNA sampling and direct sequencing are described. Recently initiated studies of genetic and demographic effects of rainforest fragmentation on the viability of small mammal populations in Thailand are outlined. As habitat fragmentation by outright deforestation and by forest degradation (albeit by selective logging) is proceeding at an alarming rate in Malaysia wildlife managers will soon have to cope with genetic consequences of these practices.

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Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	50 ref.; Summaries (En)
AGROVOC Term:	CONSERVACION DE LA NATURALEZA
AGROVOC Term:	VARIACION GENETICA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:56
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/20534

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