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Looking back to go forward: genetics informs future management of captive and reintroduced populations of the black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis

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Abstract

Active management is essential to the survival of many threatened species globally. Captive breeding programmes can play an important role in facilitating the supplementation, translocation and reintroduction of wild populations. However, understanding the genetic dynamics within and among wild and captive populations is crucial to the planning and implementation of ex situ management, as adaptive potential is, in part, driven by genetic diversity. Here, we use 14 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial Control Region sequence to examine the population genetics of both wild populations and captive colonies of the endangered warru (the MacDonnell Ranges race of the black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis) in central Australia, to understand how historical evolutionary processes have shaped current diversity and ensure effective ex situ management. Whilst microsatellite data reveal significant contemporary differentiation amongst remnant warru populations, evidence of contemporary dispersal and relatively weak isolation by distance, as well as a lack of phylogeographic structure suggests historical connectivity. Genetic diversity within current captive populations is lower than in the wild source populations. Based on our genetic data and ecological observations, we predict outbreeding depression is unlikely and hence make the recommendation that captive populations be managed as one genetic group. This will increase genetic diversity within the captive population and as a result increase the adaptive potential of reintroduced populations. We also identify a new site in the Musgrave Ranges which contains unique alleles but also connectivity with a population 6 km away. This novel genetic diversity could be used as a future source for supplementation.

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Acknowledgements

Approvals to conduct the project were granted by the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Executive Board, South Australia Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wildlife Ethics Committee (15/2007) and University of Adelaide Animal Ethics Committee (S-2011-9). Funding for the study was provided by the Warru Recovery Team, Norman Wettenhall Foundation, Margaret Middleton Fund, Sir Mark Mitchell Research Foundation, Nature Foundation SA (Edwards Majory Scholarship) and Adelaide Off Road. Fieldwork was conducted by various members of the Warru Recovery Team and a fantastic team of volunteers. We thank Anangu tjuta for supporting the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Rebecca West & D. Taggart

  2. University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW, 2002, Australia

    Rebecca West

  3. Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia

    S. Potter

  4. Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia

    S. Potter & M. D. B. Eldridge

  5. Fauna Research Alliance Ltd, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    D. Taggart

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  1. Rebecca West
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Correspondence to Rebecca West.

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West, R., Potter, S., Taggart, D. et al. Looking back to go forward: genetics informs future management of captive and reintroduced populations of the black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis . Conserv Genet 19, 235–247 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-017-1030-y

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