In a new study, experts report that a boost in the number of pink pigeons in recent decades will not be enough to save the species from a high risk of extinction.
An international team of researchers led by the University of East Anglia worked with organizations in Mauritius to investigate the impacts of what ultimately became a genetic bottleneck across the wild population of pink pigeons.
Across Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, there was a rapid collapse in numbers of the pink pigeon in the late 1980s. The decline worsened until there were only 12 birds surviving in the wild.
Since then, conservation efforts by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and the Government of Mauritius National Parks and Conservation Service paid off. The number of wild pink pigeons reached around 500 birds.
The experts analyzed genetic samples that were collected from 175 pink pigeons over nearly two decades, as conservation efforts took place. Based on the analysis of the DNA, the experts found some disappointing news.
The researchers discovered that, despite an increase in population, the pink pigeon now has a high genetic load of bad mutations. They explained that these mutations put the birds at considerable risk of extinction in the wild within 100 years without continued conservation actions.
By studying the genome of a recovered species that was once critically endangered, we can learn how to help other species to bounce back from a population collapse, said study co-lead author Professor Cock van Oosterhout.
During the pigeons population bottleneck, the gene pool lost a lot of variation, and many bad mutations increased in frequency. This genetic load still poses a severe threat, even though the population has recovered in numbers.
The problem is that all individuals are somehow related to each other. They are the descendants of the few ancestors that managed to survive the bottleneck. Hence, it becomes virtually impossible to stop inbreeding, and this exposes these bad mutations. In turn, this can increase the mortality rate, and it could cause the population to collapse again.
The researchers warn that genetic rescue is needed to recover lost genetic variation caused by inbreeding and to reduce the effects of the harmful mutations. This could be achieved by releasing captive-bred birds from UK and EU zoos, they said.
A captive population of pink pigeons in the Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary in Mauritius, jointly managed by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and the National Parks and Conservation Service, was established in the 1970s, said Professor Jim Groombridge from the University of Kent.
This was used to breed birds for release into the wild, which boosted population numbers. The team also restored habitat by controlling introduced species and provided supplementary food as part of a field programme of intensive conservation management, which further increased the free-living population.
We didnt know how many bad mutations the population carried initially, before the bottleneck, said co-author Dr. Hernan Morales from University of Copenhagen. We first had to simulate the ancestral population to find out how many bad mutations could have evolved. We then checked this data with data on inbreeding depression data from zoo populations of the pink pigeon.
The researchers compared pedigree and fitness data to that of more than 1,000 birds at the Jersey Zoo. The analysis showed that the pink pigeon carried a high genetic load of 15 lethal equivalents.
The computer simulations clearly show that just boosting numbers isnt enough, said Dr. Morales. The population also needs genetic rescue from more genetically diverse birds bred in European zoos. These birds are not as closely related, and they can help to reduce the level of inbreeding. However, there is a risk that we could introduce other bad mutations from the zoo population into the wild.
According to study co-author Sam Speak, the team is now analyzing the genome of the pink pigeon from zoo populations in the UK, trying to locate these bad mutations. We can do this now using bioinformatics tools developed for studying human genetics and the genomes of other model bird species such as the chicken.
By using conservation genomics, future reintroduction programmes can avoid releasing individuals with high genetic load, said Speak. This would help reduce inbreeding and improve the long-term recovery of threatened species such as the pink pigeon.
The study is published in the journal Conservation Biology.
By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
View post:
Pink pigeons need a "genetic rescue" to survive extinction - Earth.com
- Seattle Genetics Reports Fourth Quarter and Year 2011 Financial Results [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics Loss Narrows; But Stock Down - Update [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics Highlights Updated Survival Data from ADCETRIS® Pivotal Trial in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory ... [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2012]
- A Growth-Free Quarter -- and That's OK [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics and Millennium Complete Enrollment in Phase III AETHERA Trial of ADCETRIS® for Post-Transplant ... [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2012]
- ORF Genetics to Offer endotoxin- and Animal-free FGFb and mLIF for Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2012]
- FAQ-4 of 19: What Chance That Stem Cells Will Help Me When I Get Stem Cell Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- FAQ-4 of 19: What Is My Chance of Success With Stem Cells in Stem Cell Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- FAQ-3 of 19 -How Do Stem Cells Work in Stem Cell Therapy? - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- Stem Cell Therapy for osteoarthritis Cosmetic Surgery Thailand Review - Urban Beauty Thailand - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- [RMS] C-Class Stem Cell Processing Center (SPC) - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- FAQ-4 19- What Chances for Stem Cell Success When I Get Stem Cell Therapy? - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- FAQ-4 19- What Chance Stem Cells Can Help Me After Stem Cell Therapy? - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- Is stem cell therapy really effective? - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- STEM CELL THERAPY cure HIV patient - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics Announces ADCETRIS® Receives European Commission Conditional Marketing Authorization [Last Updated On: November 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 6th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics Highlights ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) Data in Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma and Other CD30-Positive ... [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics Highlights Data Presentations from Genentech ADC Collaborator Programs at ASH Annual Meeting [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics Highlights Next Generation Antibody-Drug Conjugate SGN-CD33A at ASH Annual Meeting [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2012]
- Clinical Data from NewLink Genetics' HyperAcute Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy Published in Journal of Immunotherapy [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics Announces Data from Investigator-Sponsored Trials of ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) in Cutaneous T ... [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics Reports Data from Phase I Trial of ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) in Front-line Hodgkin Lymphoma at ... [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2012]
- Seattle Genetics to test possible new Adcetris use [Last Updated On: December 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 16th, 2012]
- Myriad Genetics to Present at the 2013 J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2012]
- Data From SGEN on Cancer Candidate [Last Updated On: January 30th, 2013] [Originally Added On: January 30th, 2013]
- Health Canada Approves ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma ... [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2013]
- Canada Approves Seattle Genetics' Adcetris [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2013]
- Canada Approves Seattle Genetics' Adcetris - Analyst Blog [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2013]
- ADC Data from Seattle Genetics [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2013]
- Genetics of alcoholism research [Last Updated On: April 16th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 16th, 2013]
- Genetics Policy Institute and univerCELLmarket to co-publish 360 – the Free Newsletter Covering Stem Cells and ... [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2013]
- Genetics Policy Institute and univerCELLmarket to co-publish 360 – the Free Newsletter Covering Stem Cells and ... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2013]
- Genetics Policy Institute Opens Washington, D.C. Office [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2013]
- Seattle Genetics Announces Initiation of Phase 1/2 Trial of ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) in Combination with ... [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2013] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2013]
- Seattle Genetics Announces Initiation of Phase 1/2 Trial of ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) in Combination with ... [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2013] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2013]
- Takeda and Seattle Genetics Highlight Post-Hoc Analysis Examining Progression-free Survival with ADCETRIS® ... [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2013] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2013]
- Seattle Genetics Highlights ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) Clinical Data at International Conference on Malignant ... [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2013]
- SGEN/Astellas to Co-Develop Another ADC [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2013] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2013]
- Life Stem Genetics is Pleased to Announce That It Has Completed the First $500,000 Private Placement of the Recently ... [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2013]
- Life Stem Genetics Strengthens Its Executive Advisory Board by Adding MBAs Matthew Sullivan and Shahab Bakhtyar [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2013] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2013]
- Seattle Genetics, Inc. Posts Record Adcetris Sales [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2014]
- Inbreeding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2015]
- Genetics of Colorectal Cancer - National Cancer Institute [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2015]
- Seattle Genetics: Advancing Antibody-Drug Conjugates for ... [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2015]
- genetics | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2015]
- Genetics and Genetic Disorders and Diseases - WebMD [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2015]
- Genetics - Biology [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2015]
- Genetics: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2015]
- Genetics of Skin Cancer - National Cancer Institute [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2015]
- Genetics in Georgia | New Georgia Encyclopedia [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2015]
- Faculty & Staff | Directory | Medical Partnership [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2015]
- Genetics | Learn Science at Scitable [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2015]
- Genetics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2015]
- Department of Genetics || University of Pennsylvania [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- Genetics News - Genetics Science, Genetics Technology, Genetics [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- Home > Genetics | Yale School of Medicine [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- Ology Genetics - AMNH [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- About Genetics | Understanding Genetics [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- Genetics | Article about genetics by The Free Dictionary [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- Genetics - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2015]
- Cell Size and Scale - Learn Genetics [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2016]
- Genetics of Prostate Cancer (PDQ)Health Professional ... [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2016]
- Genetics of Skin Cancer (PDQ)Health Professional Version ... [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2016]
- Basic Genetics [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2016]
- genetics facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com ... [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2016]
- Genetics - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2016]
- How culture, passion and genetics are fueling a Nigerian takeover of US sports - CBS sports.com (blog) [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2017]
- After vote, Accelerated Genetics slated to merge - La Crosse Tribune [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2017]
- Autism genetics, explained | Spectrum | Autism Research News - Spectrum [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2017]
- The problematics of genetics and the Aryan issue - The Hindu [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2017]
- North American genetics take centre stage in Wicklow - Agriland [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Genetics may lie at the heart of crop yield limitation - Phys.org - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Research in genetics promises a long-term cure to diseases : Tony Mira, CEO at Ajuba International LLC - ETHealthworld.com [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- NewLink Genetics to Host Its Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results Conference Call on July 28, 2017 - GlobeNewswire (press release) [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Immunotherapy drug targets tumor's genetics instead of body part - Monroe Evening News [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Getting tumors tested for genetics is the latest theory to help drugs target cancer - The Denver Post [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Konica Minolta, With Eye on Health Care, Nears Deal for US Genetics Firm - New York Times [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Memphis Researchers Planning Big Upgrades to Online Genetics Database - Memphis Daily News [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Mosaic (genetics) - Simple English Wikipedia, the free ... [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Is There a Genetic Limit to Milk Production? - Dairy Herd Management [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2017]