Academic Journal

Island survivors: population genetic structure and demography of the critically endangered giant lizard of La Gomera, Gallotia bravoana

التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
العنوان: Island survivors: population genetic structure and demography of the critically endangered giant lizard of La Gomera, Gallotia bravoana
المؤلفون: Gonzalez, Elena G., Ceron-Souza, Ivania, Mateo, Jose A., Zardoya, Rafael
بيانات النشر: BMC
سنة النشر: 2014
المجموعة: Universidade do Algarve: Sapienta
مصطلحات موضوعية: Pairwise relatedness estimators, Skinks Egernia-Cunninghami, Allele frequency data, Term sperm storage, Microsatellite Loci, Multiple paternity, Molecular markers, Computer-program, Canary-Iilands, Polymorphic Microsatellites
الوصف: Background: The giant lizard of La Gomera (Gallotia bravoana), is an endemic lacertid of this Canary Island that lives confined to a very restricted area of occupancy in a steep cliff, and is catalogued as Critically Endangered by IUCN. We present the first population genetic analysis of the wild population as well as of captive-born individuals (for which paternity data are available) from a recovery center. Current genetic variability, and inferred past demographic changes were determined in order to discern the relative contribution of natural versus human-mediated effects on the observed decline in population size. Results: Genetic analyses indicate that the only known natural population of the species shows low genetic diversity and acts as a single evolutionary unit. Demographic analyses inferred a prolonged decline of the species for at least 230 generations. Depending on the assumed generation time, the onset of the decline was dated between 1200-13000 years ago. Pedigree analyses of captive individuals suggest that reproductive behavior of the giant lizard of La Gomera may include polyandry, multiple paternity and female long-term sperm retention. Conclusions: The current low genetic diversity of G. bravoana is the result of a long-term gradual decline. Because generation time is unknown in this lizard and estimates had large credibility intervals, it is not possible to determine the relative contribution of humans in the collapse of the population. Shorter generation times would favor a stronger influence of human pressure whereas longer generation times would favor a climate-induced origin of the decline. In any case, our analyses show that the wild population has survived for a long period of time with low levels of genetic diversity and a small effective population size. Reproductive behavior may have acted as an important inbreeding avoidance mechanism allowing the species to elude extinction. Overall, our results suggest that the species retains its adaptive potential and could restore its ancient ...
نوع الوثيقة: article in journal/newspaper
اللغة: English
تدمد: 1471-2156
Relation: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/11548
DOI: 10.1186/s12863-014-0121-8
الاتاحة: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/11548
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-014-0121-8
Rights: openAccess ; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
رقم الانضمام: edsbas.59F8F31F
قاعدة البيانات: BASE
الوصف
تدمد:14712156
DOI:10.1186/s12863-014-0121-8