Assessing the effectiveness of facilitated migration using genetic monitoring

Authors: Andrew P. Martin

Year: 2012 (xliv)

Abstract

Across the globe, wild populations of a large number of species are becoming increasingly fragmented and isolated as a consequence of human activities. Population fragmentation and isolation can intensify probabilities of extirpation and species extinction from demographic, ecological, genetic and stochastic effects. There is increasing interest in using facilitated migration as a means of mitigating the detrimental effects fragmentation and isolation of natural populations. Here I report on a study in which a small number of individuals of C. n.pectoralis were moved from North Indian to South Scruggs to investigate the effects of facilitated migration. Individuals were monitored every 4 months using genetic techniques. Mark recapture estimated provide the basis for estimating survivorship for three groups: migrants, residents, and admixed individuals. Intriguingly, the rank order of survivorship, from highest to lowest, was admixed, migrants, residents. The study demonstrates that it is possible to successfully monitor the fate of individuals and genome types in populations, a strategy that may become increasingly important as populations may be subject to increasing manipulation.