RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Drilling down hotspots of intraspecific diversity to bring them into on-ground conservation of threatened species
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 419788
DO 10.1101/419788
A1 Mauro Zampiglia
A1 Roberta Bisconti
A1 Luigi Maiorano
A1 Gaetano Aloise
A1 Antonino Siclari
A1 Francesco Pellegrino
A1 Giuseppe Martino
A1 Alice Pezzarossa
A1 Andrea Chiocchio
A1 Chiara Martino
A1 Giuseppe Nascetti
A1 Daniele Canestrelli
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/09/18/419788.abstract
AB Unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss rise the urgency for preserving species ability to cope with ongoing global changes. An approach in this direction is to target intra-specific hotspots of genetic diversity as conservation priorities. However, these hotspots are often identified by sampling at a spatial resolution too coarse to be useful in practical management of threatened species, hindering the long-appealed dialog between conservation stakeholders and conservation genetic researchers. Here, we investigated the spatial and temporal variation in species presence, genetic diversity, as well as potential risk factors, within a previously identified hotspot of genetic diversity for the endangered Apennine yellow bellied toad Bombina pachypus. Our results show that this hotspot is neither a geographically homogeneous nor a temporally stable unit. Over a time-window spanning 10-40 years since previous assessments, B. pachypus populations declined in large portions of its hotspot, and their genetic diversity levels decreased. Considering the demographic trend, genetic and epidemiological data, and models of current and future climatic suitability, populations at the extreme south of the hotspot area still qualify for urgent in-situ conservation actions, whereas northern populations would be better managed through a mix of in-situ and ex-situ actions. Our results emphasize that identifying hotspot of genetic diversity, albeit essential step, does not suffice to warrant on-ground conservation of threatened species. Hotspots should be analysed at finer geographic and temporal scales, to provide conservation stakeholders with key knowledge to best define conservation priorities, and to optimize resource allocation to alternative management practices.