Genetic rescue to the rescue

Andrew R. Whiteley; Sarah W. Fitzpatrick; W. Chris Funk; David A. Tallmon

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2014.10.009

Genetic rescue to the rescue

Andrew R. Whiteley, Sarah W. Fitzpatrick, W. Chris Funk, David A. Tallmon

W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

652 Scopus citations

Abstract

Genetic rescue can increase the fitness of small, imperiled populations via immigration. A suite of studies from the past decade highlights the value of genetic rescue in increasing population fitness. Nonetheless, genetic rescue has not been widely applied to conserve many of the threatened populations that it could benefit. In this review, we highlight recent studies of genetic rescue and place it in the larger context of theoretical and empirical developments in evolutionary and conservation biology. We also propose directions to help shape future research on genetic rescue. Genetic rescue is a tool that can stem biodiversity loss more than has been appreciated, provides population resilience, and will become increasingly useful if integrated with molecular advances in population genomics.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	42-49
Number of pages	8
Journal	Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Volume	30
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2014.10.009
State	Published - Jan 1 2015

Funding

We thank Ryan Kovach, Fred Allendorf, and anonymous reviewers for helpful suggestions that improved this paper. This research was supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) graduate research fellowship (S.W.F.), the US Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Environmental Conservation Department of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, under project number MAS # 14 (A.R.W.), and NSF DEB grants 1146489 and 1413925 (W.C.F.).

Funder number
1146489
1413925

Keywords

Adaptive evolution
Endangered species
Evolutionary rescue
Genetic rescue
Heterosis
Inbreeding depression
Outbreeding depression

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10.1016/j.tree.2014.10.009

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abstract = "Genetic rescue can increase the fitness of small, imperiled populations via immigration. A suite of studies from the past decade highlights the value of genetic rescue in increasing population fitness. Nonetheless, genetic rescue has not been widely applied to conserve many of the threatened populations that it could benefit. In this review, we highlight recent studies of genetic rescue and place it in the larger context of theoretical and empirical developments in evolutionary and conservation biology. We also propose directions to help shape future research on genetic rescue. Genetic rescue is a tool that can stem biodiversity loss more than has been appreciated, provides population resilience, and will become increasingly useful if integrated with molecular advances in population genomics.",

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AB - Genetic rescue can increase the fitness of small, imperiled populations via immigration. A suite of studies from the past decade highlights the value of genetic rescue in increasing population fitness. Nonetheless, genetic rescue has not been widely applied to conserve many of the threatened populations that it could benefit. In this review, we highlight recent studies of genetic rescue and place it in the larger context of theoretical and empirical developments in evolutionary and conservation biology. We also propose directions to help shape future research on genetic rescue. Genetic rescue is a tool that can stem biodiversity loss more than has been appreciated, provides population resilience, and will become increasingly useful if integrated with molecular advances in population genomics.

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KW - Outbreeding depression

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Genetic rescue to the rescue

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