Fuller S J, Wilson J C, Mather P B
School of Life Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
Mol Ecol. 1997 Feb;6(2):145-53. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.1997.00167.x.
Feral rabbit populations in Australia have generally been managed using localized control procedures. While these procedures may result in local extinctions, persistence of populations will depend on the probability of recolonization. Genetic markers developed using temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) combined with heteroduplex analysis (HA) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were used to characterize the degree of subdivision and extent of gene flow within and among rabbit populations distributed over large distances (up to 1000 km) in southern Queensland (QLD) and north-west New South Wales (NSW), Australia. TGGE analyses revealed significant heterogeneity in mtDNA control region haplotype frequencies. From heterogeneity chi 2 tests, it was evident that the differentiation observed was largely attributable to five sites which were located in the semiarid eastern region, whereas haplotype frequencies were homogeneous throughout the arid western region. These results suggest that there are independent population systems within the study area. The extent of gene flow among local populations within each system is related to the spatial configuration of acceptable habitat patches and the persistence of the populations is determined by the probability of recolonization following local extinction. These data suggest that to provide better overall control of rabbit populations, different management strategies may be necessary in arid and semiarid ecosystems. In arid south-west QLD and north-west NSW, where extensive gene flow occurs over large distances, rabbit populations should be managed at a regional level. In semiarid eastern QLD, where gene flow is restricted and populations are more isolated, localized control procedures may provide effective short-term relief. These results indicate that in nonequilibrium systems with patchy distribution of individuals, the interpretation of migration rate from estimates of gene flow obtained using existing genetic models must include an understanding of the spatial and temporal scales over which population processes operate.
澳大利亚的野生兔种群一般通过局部控制措施进行管理。虽然这些措施可能导致局部灭绝，但种群的持续存在将取决于重新定殖的概率。利用温度梯度凝胶电泳（TGGE）结合线粒体DNA（mtDNA）的异源双链分析（HA）开发的遗传标记，用于表征分布在澳大利亚昆士兰州南部（QLD）和新南威尔士州西北部（NSW）大距离（达1000公里）的兔种群内部和之间的细分程度和基因流动范围。TGGE分析揭示了mtDNA控制区单倍型频率的显著异质性。从异质性卡方检验可知，观察到的分化在很大程度上归因于位于半干旱东部地区的五个位点，而单倍型频率在整个干旱西部地区是均匀的。这些结果表明，研究区域内存在独立的种群系统。每个系统内当地种群之间的基因流动程度与可接受栖息地斑块的空间配置有关，种群的持续存在由局部灭绝后重新定殖的概率决定。这些数据表明，为了更好地全面控制兔种群，在干旱和半干旱生态系统中可能需要不同的管理策略。在昆士兰州西南部干旱地区和新南威尔士州西北部，那里远距离发生广泛的基因流动，兔种群应在区域层面进行管理。在昆士兰州东部半干旱地区，那里基因流动受到限制且种群更加孤立，局部控制措施可能提供有效的短期缓解。这些结果表明，在个体呈斑块状分布的非平衡系统中，从使用现有遗传模型获得的基因流动估计值来解释迁移率，必须包括对种群过程运作的空间和时间尺度的理解。
