The Exciting Potential and Remaining Uncertainties of Genetic Rescue

Donovan A. Bell; Zachary L. Robinson; W. Chris Funk; Sarah W. Fitzpatrick; Fred W. Allendorf; David A. Tallmon; Andrew R. Whiteley

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2019.06.006

The Exciting Potential and Remaining Uncertainties of Genetic Rescue

Donovan A. Bell
, Zachary L. Robinson
, W. Chris Funk
, Sarah W. Fitzpatrick
, Fred W. Allendorf
, David A. Tallmon
, Andrew R. Whiteley

W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

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

208 Scopus citations

Abstract

Restoring gene flow into small, isolated populations can alleviate genetic load and decrease extinction risk (i.e., genetic rescue), yet gene flow is rarely augmented as a conservation strategy. Due to this discrepancy between opportunity and action, a recent call was made for widespread genetic rescue attempts. However, several aspects of augmenting gene flow are poorly understood, including the magnitude and duration of beneficial effects and when deleterious effects are likely to occur. We discuss the remaining uncertainties of genetic rescue in order to promote and direct future research and to hasten progress toward implementing this potentially powerful conservation strategy on a broader scale.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1070-1079
Number of pages	10
Journal	Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Volume	34
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2019.06.006
State	Published - Dec 2019

Funding

We thank R. Kovach, S. Smith, G. Barber, L. Corrigans, S. Pannoni, and M. Kardos for providing helpful feedback on our manuscript. D. Bell, Z. Robinson, and A. Whiteley were supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER grant ( DEB-1652278 ) during the preparation of this manuscript.

Funder number
1652278, DEB-1652278

Keywords

evolutionary rescue
extinction
genetic rescue
habitat loss
inbreeding depression
outbreeding depression

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10.1016/j.tree.2019.06.006

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title = "The Exciting Potential and Remaining Uncertainties of Genetic Rescue",

abstract = "Restoring gene flow into small, isolated populations can alleviate genetic load and decrease extinction risk (i.e., genetic rescue), yet gene flow is rarely augmented as a conservation strategy. Due to this discrepancy between opportunity and action, a recent call was made for widespread genetic rescue attempts. However, several aspects of augmenting gene flow are poorly understood, including the magnitude and duration of beneficial effects and when deleterious effects are likely to occur. We discuss the remaining uncertainties of genetic rescue in order to promote and direct future research and to hasten progress toward implementing this potentially powerful conservation strategy on a broader scale.",

keywords = "evolutionary rescue, extinction, genetic rescue, habitat loss, inbreeding depression, outbreeding depression",

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AU - Bell, Donovan A.

AU - Robinson, Zachary L.

AU - Funk, W. Chris

AU - Fitzpatrick, Sarah W.

AU - Allendorf, Fred W.

AU - Tallmon, David A.

AU - Whiteley, Andrew R.

PY - 2019/12

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N2 - Restoring gene flow into small, isolated populations can alleviate genetic load and decrease extinction risk (i.e., genetic rescue), yet gene flow is rarely augmented as a conservation strategy. Due to this discrepancy between opportunity and action, a recent call was made for widespread genetic rescue attempts. However, several aspects of augmenting gene flow are poorly understood, including the magnitude and duration of beneficial effects and when deleterious effects are likely to occur. We discuss the remaining uncertainties of genetic rescue in order to promote and direct future research and to hasten progress toward implementing this potentially powerful conservation strategy on a broader scale.

AB - Restoring gene flow into small, isolated populations can alleviate genetic load and decrease extinction risk (i.e., genetic rescue), yet gene flow is rarely augmented as a conservation strategy. Due to this discrepancy between opportunity and action, a recent call was made for widespread genetic rescue attempts. However, several aspects of augmenting gene flow are poorly understood, including the magnitude and duration of beneficial effects and when deleterious effects are likely to occur. We discuss the remaining uncertainties of genetic rescue in order to promote and direct future research and to hasten progress toward implementing this potentially powerful conservation strategy on a broader scale.

KW - evolutionary rescue

KW - extinction

KW - genetic rescue

KW - habitat loss

KW - inbreeding depression

KW - outbreeding depression

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AN - SCOPUS:85068487120

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EP - 1079

JO - Trends in Ecology and Evolution

JF - Trends in Ecology and Evolution

IS - 12

ER -

The Exciting Potential and Remaining Uncertainties of Genetic Rescue

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