Abstract

Adequate levels of genetic diversity are important for long term persistence of wildlife species, yet genetic principles have only been considered in the last few years when developing management plans for conservation purposes. We present here an example on how genetic management plans can be explicitly integrated into an adaptive management framework. This can be achieved by developing a predictive model to explore population responses to different management options, and by quantifying management targets that should be verified through monitoring programs. We apply this approach to the woylie or brush tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata); an Australian macropod, listed as Critically Endangered. Results suggest that discrete small populations (e.g. < 1000–3000 individuals) will require active management. Ongoing supplementation programs were the most promising management option. However, the translocation of a 1–4/year woylies would not improve the genetic profile of relatively small populations (< 1000 individuals). Overall, for supplementations to have a significant impact on genetic diversity, translocating > 30 woylies/year over the course of several years is recommended. Formal completion of the adaptive management approach would include, in addition to the stages presented here, a quantitative assessment of the outcome of management and continue refinement of the modelling framework on the basis of new data gained through ongoing monitoring. We encourage the formal inclusion of genetic management within the adaptive management framework as demonstrated in this study.

中文翻译：

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将种群遗传学整合到一个适应性管理框架中，以提供管理策略

摘要

足够的遗传多样性水平对于野生生物物种的长期存续至关重要，然而，仅在最近几年为保护目的制定管理计划时才考虑遗传原理。我们在这里提供一个示例，说明如何将遗传管理计划明确地整合到适应性管理框架中。这可以通过开发一个预测模型来探索人口对不同管理选项的反应，以及量化应通过监测计划验证的管理目标来实现。我们将这种方法应用于woylie或刷子尾的bettong（Bettongia penicillata）; 被列为“极度濒危”的澳大利亚大型脚架。结果表明，离散的小种群（例如，<1000–3000个人）将需要积极管理。正在进行的补充计划是最有前途的管理选择。但是，每年移位1–4个美洲豹不会改善相对较小的种群（<1000个个体）的遗传特征。总体而言，为使补充剂对遗传多样性产生重大影响，建议在几年的过程中每年转移> 30象草/年。除此处介绍的阶段外，适应性管理方法的正式完成将包括对管理结果的定量评估，并根据通过持续监控获得的新数据继续完善建模框架。