Conservation Genetics

3 Reasons Genetics can Make a Significant Contribution to Conservation

–Maintaining genetic diversity is necessary for evolutionary change Evolution is the process that has taken life on earth from a single-celled bacteria to millions of plants and animals When genetic diversity is lost it reduces the future evolutionary options Large Ground FinchCactus FinchSmall Tree Finch REASON # 1

–High genetic variation is related to fitness Fitness is an individuals reproductive success over its lifetime REASON # 2

–The genetic diversity that spans the globe represents all of the information for all biological processes. The genetic information in a single mouse, translated into words, could fill 15 sets of encyclopedia Britannica Loss of potentially important information for humans REASON # 3

Why do populations decline? Habitat DestructionFragmentation Over-Harvesting PoachingExotic Species Disease

How is genetic variation lost from populations? ExtinctionEmigrationChance Hybridization

Where does genetic variation come from in populations? MutationImmigration

How is genetics used to minimize extinctions? –Reducing extinction risk by avoiding inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity –Understanding population structure –Resolving taxonomic uncertainties –Detecting hybridization –Species identification and forensics

Limits to Conservation Genetics –Not cheap –Plant and animal tissue or blood –Requires invasive sampling Non-invasive techniques avoids direct contact with animals.

Non-invasive Genetics –Collected as feces, urine, hair, shed skin, museum samples –DNA extracted –PCR –Sequencing Power of PCR –Tiny amounts of DNA –Amplification of original copy –Yields 1000s of copies

Non-invasive Genetics So? Hairs, Urine, Feces What is Non-Invasive Genetics? We get DNA without Catching Animals Genetic of Duikers (Antelopes) in Central Africa GABON

Non-invasive Genetics Fresh dung GPS coordinates Habitat Type Genetic of Duikers in Central Africa Cephalophus monticola Tube 1.5ml with storage element

Non-invasive Genetics 1) Minimal impact on the wildlife 2) Easy to sample 3) Intensive sampling What are the Advantages ?

Non-invasive Genetics DNA Stored at - 20°C Extraction of DNA: Vented hood Qiagen kit PCR ?

Non-invasive Genetics Thanks for your attention !

PCR Visualization

Agarose Gels - A visualization of PCR product - Electrical current applied to a matrix - DNA moves at rates according to size

After PCR -Turbopurification: “cleaning up” the PCR product leaving just DNA -Sequencing: -G is black, C is blue, T is red, and A is green

Phylogenetic Trees Figure 6. Preliminary control region bootstrap consensus phylogeny. Target species are in color. Fecal samples are in grey and were collected from Lopé N.P., Gabon (Site 2), Ndoki/Congo (Site 12) and Salonga, DRC (Site 13). The phylogeny was rooted with T. scriptus and T. spekii.

Species Identification These unknown fecal samples group with the samples we know to be C.monticola, so we are able to identify them as C.monticola as well. -recovery of unknown species identity using phylogenetic trees