Genetic rescue increases fitness and aids rapid recovery of an endangered marsupial population

Andrew R. Weeks (), Dean Heinze, Louise Perrin, Jakub Stoklosa, Alex Hoffmann (), Anthony Rooyen, Tom Kelly and Ian Mansergh
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Andrew R. Weeks: Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne
Dean Heinze: La Trobe University
Louise Perrin: Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management
Jakub Stoklosa: The University of New South Wales
Anthony Rooyen: cesar Pty Ltd
Tom Kelly: cesar Pty Ltd
Ian Mansergh: La Trobe University

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Genetic rescue has now been attempted in several threatened species, but the contribution of genetics per se to any increase in population health can be hard to identify. Rescue is expected to be particularly useful when individuals are introduced into small isolated populations with low levels of genetic variation. Here we consider such a situation by documenting genetic rescue in the mountain pygmy possum, Burramys parvus. Rapid population recovery occurred in the target population after the introduction of a small number of males from a large genetically diverged population. Initial hybrid fitness was more than two-fold higher than non-hybrids; hybrid animals had a larger body size, and female hybrids produced more pouch young and lived longer. Genetic rescue likely contributed to the largest population size ever being recorded at this site. These data point to genetic rescue as being a potentially useful option for the recovery of small threatened populations.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01182-3

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