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Cited by 916Genetic diversity and population structureWildlife Ecology and ConservationFish Ecology and Management Studies

Assessing the benefits and risks of translocations in changing environments: a genetic perspective

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Weeks, Andrew R., Sgro, Carla M., Young, Andrew G., Frankham, Richard, Mitchell, Nicki J., Miller, Kim A., Byrne, Margaret, Coates, David J. +5 more·2011·Evolutionary Applications
DOI 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2011.00192.xPMC PMC3265713
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Abstract

Translocations are being increasingly proposed as a way of conserving biodiversity, particularly in the management of threatened and keystone species, with the aims of maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function under the combined pressures of habitat fragmentation and climate change. Evolutionary genetic considerations should be an important part of translocation strategies, but there is often confusion about concepts and goals. Here, we provide a classification of translocations based on specific genetic goals for both threatened species and ecological restoration, separating targets based on ‘genetic rescue’ of current population fitness from those focused on maintaining adaptive potential. We then provide a framework for assessing the genetic benefits and risks associated with translocations and provide guidelines for managers focused on conserving biodiversity and evolutionary processes. Case studies are developed to illustrate the framework.

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  • Introducing SVs into small populations may carry evolutionary risks, particularly if they alter regulatory architecture.

    “However, introducing SVs into small populations may carry evolutionary risks, particularly if they alter regulatory architecture, which underscores the importance of weighing potential benefits against the disruption of locally adapted genomic configurations (198).”

    From Topological Approaches in Animal Comparative Genomics (2026) · cites this paper as [198]

    The “Weighing the risks” section says translocations can cause outbreeding depression, particularly when populations have fixed chromosomal differences or are adapted to different environments. The Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides case study also warns that mixing chromosome races could harm fitness in small populations. Our copy does not attribute that risk specifically to introduced structural variants altering regulatory architecture. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
Weeks, A. R., Sgro, C. M., Young, A. G., Frankham, R., Mitchell, N. J., Miller, K. A., Byrne, M., Coates, D. J., Eldridge, M. D. B., Sunnucks, P., Breed, M. F., James, E. A., & Hoffmann, A. A.
Affiliations
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
  • Macquarie University (AU)
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
  • Monash University (AU)
  • Australian Museum (AU)
  • The University of Adelaide (AU)
Corresponding author
Weeks, Andrew R.
ORCID
Venue
Evolutionary Applications
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2011-06-18
Volume
4
Issue
6
Pages
709-725
ISSN
  • 1752-4563 (ISSN-L)
  • 1752-4571
DOI
10.1111/j.1752-4571.2011.00192.x
PMC
PMC3265713
OpenAlex
W2142398490
Cited by
916
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 51 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 76 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 80 · 2020: 77 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 59 · 2017: 85 · 2016: 51 · 2015: 57 · 2014: 53 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 22
FWCI
24.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Evolutionary Applications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
  • Uppsala University Publications (Uppsala University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish Ecology and Management Studies
Keywords
translocation, genetic rescue, adaptive potential, threatened species, ecological restoration, climate change, habitat fragmentation, conservation genetics, population fitness, biodiversity conservation, evolutionary processes

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