Nerkowski Stacey A, Hohenlohe Paul A, Rachlow Janet L, Warheit Kenneth I, Gallie Jonathan A, Waits Lisette P
Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Fishery Center, Lamar, PA 16848, USA.
Genes (Basel). 2025 Aug 13;16(8):956. doi: 10.3390/genes16080956.
Loss and fragmentation of habitat from agricultural conversion led to the near extirpation of the pygmy rabbit ( Merriam, 1891) population in the Columbia Basin (CB) of Washington, USA. Recovery efforts began in 2002 and included captive breeding, translocations from other regions for genetic rescue, and reintroduction into native habitat in three sites: Sagebrush Flat (SBF), Beezley Hills (BH), and Chester Butte (CHB). We used noninvasive and invasive genetic sampling to evaluate demographic and population genetic parameters on three translocated populations of pygmy rabbits over eight years (2011-2020). For each population, our goal was to use fecal DNA sampling and 19 microsatellite loci to monitor spatial distribution, apparent survival rates, genetic diversity, reproduction, effective population size, and the persistence of CB ancestry. Over the course of this study, 1978 rabbits were reintroduced as part of a cooperative conservation effort between state and federal agencies. Through winter and summer monitoring surveys, we detected 168 released rabbits and 420 wild-born rabbits in SBF, 13 released rabbits and 2 wild-born in BH, and 16 released rabbits in CHB. Observed heterozygosity (H) values ranged from 0.62-0.84 (SBF), 0.59-0.80 (BH), and 0.73-0.77 (CHB). Allelic richness (AR) ranged from 4.67-5.35 (SBF), 3.71-5.41 (BH), and 3.69-4.65 (CHB). Effective population (N) within SBF varied from 12.3 (2012) to 44.3 (2017). CB ancestry persisted in all three wild populations, ranging from 15 to 27%. CB ancestry persisted in 99% of wild-born juveniles identified in SBF. Apparent survival of juvenile rabbits differed across years (1-39%) and was positively associated with release date, release weight, and genetic diversity. Survival of adults (0-43%) was positively influenced by release day, with some evidence that genetic diversity also positively influenced adult apparent survival. Noninvasive genetic sampling has proven to be an effective and efficient tool in monitoring this reintroduced population, assessing both demographic and genetic factors. This data has helped managers address the goals of the Columbia Basin recovery program of establishing multiple sustainable wild populations within the sagebrush steppe habitat of Washington.
农业开垦导致栖息地丧失和破碎化，致使美国华盛顿州哥伦比亚盆地（CB）的侏兔（Merriam，1891）种群几近灭绝。2002年开始了恢复工作，包括圈养繁殖、从其他地区进行基因拯救的种群转移，以及在三个地点重新引入原生栖息地：鼠尾草平原（SBF）、比兹利山（BH）和切斯特巴特（CHB）。我们使用非侵入性和侵入性基因采样，在八年时间（2011 - 2020年）内评估了三个转移的侏兔种群的人口统计学和种群遗传学参数。对于每个种群，我们的目标是使用粪便DNA采样和19个微卫星位点来监测空间分布、表观存活率、遗传多样性、繁殖、有效种群大小以及CB血统的持续性。在这项研究过程中，作为州和联邦机构之间合作保护努力的一部分，共重新引入了1978只兔子。通过冬季和夏季监测调查，我们在SBF检测到168只放归兔子和420只野生出生的兔子，在BH检测到13只放归兔子和2只野生出生的兔子，在CHB检测到16只放归兔子。观察到的杂合度（H）值范围为0.62 - 0.84（SBF）、0.59 - 0.80（BH）和0.73 - 0.77（CHB）。等位基因丰富度（AR）范围为4.67 - 5.35（SBF）、3.71 - 5.41（BH）和3.69 - 4.65（CHB）。SBF内的有效种群（N）从12.3（2012年）到44.3（2017年）不等。CB血统在所有三个野生种群中都持续存在，范围从15%到27%。在SBF鉴定出的99%的野生出生幼兔中，CB血统持续存在。幼兔的表观存活率在不同年份有所不同（1% - 39%），并且与放归日期、放归体重和遗传多样性呈正相关。成年兔的存活率（0% - 43%）受到放归日的积极影响，有一些证据表明遗传多样性也对成年兔的表观存活率有积极影响。事实证明，非侵入性基因采样是监测这个重新引入种群、评估人口统计学和遗传因素的一种有效且高效的工具。这些数据有助于管理人员实现哥伦比亚盆地恢复计划的目标，即在华盛顿州的鼠尾草草原栖息地内建立多个可持续的野生种群。
