Nuclear and mitochondrial genetic structure in the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) - implications for future reintroductions.

Helen Senn,Alius Ulevicius,Alexander P Saveljev,Pavel Munclinger,Vladimir Lavrov,Christiane Frosch,Johan Michaux,Rob Ogden,Alena Syrůčková,Carsten Nowak,Walter Durka,Annegret Stubbe,Roisin Campbell‐Palmer,Robert H S Kraus,Frank Rosell,Michael Stubbe,Ravchig Samiya

doi:10.1111/eva.12162

Abstract

Many reintroduction projects for conservation fail, and there are a large number of factors that may contribute to failure. Genetic analysis can be used to help stack the odds of a reintroduction in favour of success, by conducting assessment of source populations to evaluate the possibility of inbreeding and outbreeding depression and by conducting postrelease monitoring. In this study, we use a panel of 306 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) markers and 487–489 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA control region sequence data to examine 321 individuals from possible source populations of the Eurasian beaver for a reintroduction to Scotland. We use this information to reassess the phylogenetic history of the Eurasian beavers, to examine the genetic legacy of past reintroductions on the Eurasian landmass and to assess the future power of the genetic markers to conduct ongoing monitoring via parentage analysis and individual identification. We demonstrate the capacity of medium density genetic data (hundreds of SNPs) to provide information suitable for applied conservation and discuss the difficulty of balancing the need for high genetic diversity against phylogenetic best fit when choosing source population(s) for reintroduction.

Highlights

At least a third of reintroduction projects for conservation purposes fail (Fischer and Lindenmayer 2000; Germano and Bishop 2009; Godefroid et al 2011)
In a study conducted in support of the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver, Castor fiber, to Scotland, we demonstrate the capacity of medium -density SNP genotyping derived from RAD sequencing data (Senn et al 2013), to deliver genetic information appropriate for planning and monitoring a reintroduction
This study has demonstrated through additional sampling and nuclear genetic analysis that the evolutionary significant units (ESU) division suggested by Durka et al (2005) is not as obvious as previously thought

Summary

Introduction

At least a third of reintroduction projects for conservation purposes fail (Fischer and Lindenmayer 2000; Germano and Bishop 2009; Godefroid et al 2011). Species of conservation concern were not traditionally the subject of detailed genomic studies and have, in the past, relied on cross-fostering of genetic resources from closely related species of interest to medicine and agriculture. This is changing due to the ever-increasing number of whole-genome sequencing studies of nonmodel species (Haussler et al 2009) and due to the advent of reduced representation/next-generation/genotype-by-sequencing technologies (Narum et al 2013). In a study conducted in support of the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver, Castor fiber, to Scotland, we demonstrate the capacity of medium -density SNP (hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms) genotyping derived from RAD sequencing data (Senn et al 2013), to deliver genetic information appropriate for planning and monitoring a reintroduction

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Conclusion