Perspectives of genomics for genetic conservation of livestock

Genomics provides new opportunities for conservation genetics. Conservation genetics in livestock is based on estimating diversity by pedigree relatedness and managing diversity by choosing those animals that maximize genetic diversity. Animals can be chosen as parents for the next generation, as donors of material to a gene bank, or as breeds for targeting conservation efforts. Genomics provides opportunities to estimate diversity for specific parts of the genome, such as neutral and adaptive diversity and genetic diversity underlying specific traits. This enables us to choose candidates for conservation based on specific genetic diversity (e.g. diversity of traits or adaptive diversity) or to monitor the loss of diversity without conservation. In wild animals direct genetic management, by choosing candidates for conservation as in livestock, is generally not practiced. With dense marker maps opportunities exist for monitoring relatedness and genetic diversity in wild populations, thus enabling a more active management of diversity

Fragmentation genetics in the tropics

On the 23rd of February, some 50 Conservation Geneticists from around the global gathered for a half day symposium entitled ‘Fragmentation Genetics in the Tropics' held at the Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany as part of the German Tropical Ecology Society annual meeting 2012. The overall aim of this symposium was to showcase the latest novel research applying molecular methods (landscape genetics, conservation genetics and phylogeography) to advance our understanding of genetic consequences of fragmentation in the tropics, particularly in the context of how population size and isolation influences population and species extinction. I provide a brief overview of the symposium and finish with a call for papers for a special issue of the sister journal Conservation Genetics, for which submission is now ope

Biodiversity and sustainable use of fish in the coastal zone: proceedings of an international workshop

A compilation of paper presented in the workshop entitled Biodiversity and Sustainable Use of Fish in the Coastal Zone. The workshop was convened in May 1999 at WRI, to give the project team, invited expert and participants from Ghana and other sub-Saharan Africa countries an opportunity to discuss common interest in tilapia biodiversity and genetic resources conservation and sustainable use, and to consider further research and training needs.Population genetics, Conservation, Sustainability, Fish culture, Fisheries, Africa,

Conservation genetics of Iberian raptors

Genética de la conservación de rapaces ibéricas En este artículo se da una visión global de lo que es la genética de la conservación y cuáles son las acciones de manejo en la naturaleza que pueden beneficiarse de los estudios genéticos. Se presentan en primer lugar los factores genéticos de riesgo para la supervivencia de las especies y cuáles son las consecuencias de la pérdida de diversidad genética y de la depresión tanto por endogamia como por exogamia. Se explica el uso de las herramientas genéticas en la delimitación de las unidades de conservación. Tras ello se explica cuáles son las aplicaciones más comunes de la genética de la conservación en el manejo de poblaciones silvestres. En una segunda parte del artículo se hace una revisión de los estudios en genética de la conservación llevados a cabo en rapaces ibéricas. Se explican varios estudios llevados a cabo sobre el águila imperial ibérica, el quebrantahuesos, el buitre negro y el milano real usando marcadores en microsatélites autosomales y secuencias de ADN mitocondrial (mtDNA). Se describen estudios sobre el cernícalo primilla y el alimoche que han utilizado adicionalmente marcadores en el complejo de histocompatibilidad mayor (MHC) con el propósito de incorporar el estudio de variación no neutral. Para cada una de las especies se explica cómo estos estudios se pueden aplicar y/o se aplican en las estrategias de conservación de dichas especies en la naturaleza. Palabras clave: Genética de la conservación, Genómica de la conservación, Marcadores moleculares, Rapaces ibéricas, Manejo de poblaciones amenazadas.In this paper I provide an overview of conservation genetics and describe the management actions in the wild that can benefit from conservation genetic studies. I describe the genetic factors of risk for the survival of wild species, the consequences of loss of genetic diversity, inbreeding and outbreeding depression, and the use of genetic tools to delimitate units of conservation. Then I introduce the most common applications of conservation genetics in the management of wild populations. In a second part of the paper I review the conservation genetic studies carried on the Iberian raptors. I introduce several studies on the Spanish imperial eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture and the red kite that were carried out using autosomal microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing. I describe studies on the lesser kestrel and Egyptian vulture that additionally applied major histocompatibility complex (MHC) markers, with the purpose of incorporating the study of non–neutral variation. For every species I explain how these studies can be and/or are applied in the strategy of conservation in the wild. Key words: Conservation genetics, Conservation genomics, Molecular markers, Iberian raptors, Management of threatened populations.Genética de la conservación de rapaces ibéricas En este artículo se da una visión global de lo que es la genética de la conservación y cuáles son las acciones de manejo en la naturaleza que pueden beneficiarse de los estudios genéticos. Se presentan en primer lugar los factores genéticos de riesgo para la supervivencia de las especies y cuáles son las consecuencias de la pérdida de diversidad genética y de la depresión tanto por endogamia como por exogamia. Se explica el uso de las herramientas genéticas en la delimitación de las unidades de conservación. Tras ello se explica cuáles son las aplicaciones más comunes de la genética de la conservación en el manejo de poblaciones silvestres. En una segunda parte del artículo se hace una revisión de los estudios en genética de la conservación llevados a cabo en rapaces ibéricas. Se explican varios estudios llevados a cabo sobre el águila imperial ibérica, el quebrantahuesos, el buitre negro y el milano real usando marcadores en microsatélites autosomales y secuencias de ADN mitocondrial (mtDNA). Se describen estudios sobre el cernícalo primilla y el alimoche que han utilizado adicionalmente marcadores en el complejo de histocompatibilidad mayor (MHC) con el propósito de incorporar el estudio de variación no neutral. Para cada una de las especies se explica cómo estos estudios se pueden aplicar y/o se aplican en las estrategias de conservación de dichas especies en la naturaleza. Palabras clave: Genética de la conservación, Genómica de la conservación, Marcadores moleculares, Rapaces ibéricas, Manejo de poblaciones amenazadas

Fish genetics research in member countries and institutions of the International Network on Genetics in Aquaculture: Proceedings of the Fifth Steering Committee Meeting of INGA

A conference proceedings of the Fifth Steering Committee Meeting of the International Network on Genetics in Aquaculture (INGA), this publication incorporates information drawn from aquaculture genetics research undertaken or in progress in member countries and associate member institutions of INGA. The papers in this publication examine progress in aquaculture genetics research in developing countries and identify areas for possible collaboration between institutions in developing and developed countries towards developing better breeds of fish that can contribute to increased production and food security while ensuring the conservation of aquatic biodiversity.Fishery resources, Genetics, INGA, Information networks, ICLARM, SEAFDEC, FAO, Bangladesh, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam, Israel, UK, Netherlands,

Conservation Genetics

Exam paper for second semester (Supplementary Exam

Inference of Population History using Coalescent HMMs: Review and Outlook

Studying how diverse human populations are related is of historical and anthropological interest, in addition to providing a realistic null model for testing for signatures of natural selection or disease associations. Furthermore, understanding the demographic histories of other species is playing an increasingly important role in conservation genetics. A number of statistical methods have been developed to infer population demographic histories using whole-genome sequence data, with recent advances focusing on allowing for more flexible modeling choices, scaling to larger data sets, and increasing statistical power. Here we review coalescent hidden Markov models, a powerful class of population genetic inference methods that can effectively utilize linkage disequilibrium information. We highlight recent advances, give advice for practitioners, point out potential pitfalls, and present possible future research directions.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure