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Evidence that disease-induced population decline changes genetic structure and alters dispersal patterns in the Tasmanian devil
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 02:27 authored by Lachish, S, Miller, KJ, Storfer, A, Goldizen, AW, Menna JonesMenna JonesInfectious disease has been shown to be a major cause of population declines in wild animals. However, there remains little empirical evidence on the genetic consequences of disease-mediated population declines, or how such pertur- bations might affect demographic processes such as dispersal. Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) has resulted in the rapid decline of the Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, and threatens to cause extinction. Using 10 micro- satellite DNA markers, we compared genetic diversity and structure before and after DFTD outbreaks in three Tasmanian devil populations to assess the genetic con- sequences of disease-induced population decline. We also used both genetic and demographic data to investigate dispersal patterns in Tasmanian devils along the east coast of Tasmania. We observed a signiï¬cant increase in inbreed- ing in devil populations after just 2�3 generations of disease arrival, but no detectable change in genetic diversity. Furthermore, although there was no subdivision apparent among pre-disease populations (y � 0.005, 95% conï¬dence interval (CI) ô°0.003 to 0.017), we found signiï¬cant genetic differ- entiation among populations post-disease (y � 0.020, 0.010� 0.027), apparently driven by a combination of selection and altered dispersal patterns of females in disease-affected populations. We also show that dispersal is male-biased in devils and that dispersal distances follow a typical leptokurtic distribution. Our results show that disease can result in genetic and demographic changes in host populations over few generations and short time scales. Ongoing manage- ment of Tasmanian devils must now attempt to maintain genetic variability in this species through actions designed to reverse the detrimental effects of inbreeding and subdivision in disease-affected populations.
History
Publication title
HeredityVolume
106Pagination
172-182ISSN
0018-067XDepartment/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Nature Publishing GroupPlace of publication
Macmillan Building, 4 Crinan St, London, England,Repository Status
- Restricted