Genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in plant populations: susceptible signals in plant traits and methodological approaches

By R. Aguilar, M. Quesada, L. Ashworth, Y. Herrerías-Diego, J. Lobo. Molecular Ecology, 2008

767 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Conservation of genetic diversity, one of the three main forms of biodiversity, is a fundamental concern in conservation biology as it provides the raw material for evolutionary change and thus the potential to adapt to changing environments. By means of meta‐analyses, we tested the generality of the hypotheses that habitat fragmentation affects genetic diversity of plant populations and that certain life history and ecological traits of plants can determine differential susceptibility to genetic erosion in fragmented habitats. Additionally, we assessed whether certain methodological approaches used by authors influence the ability to detect fragmentation effects on plant genetic diversity. We found overall large and negative effects of fragmentation on genetic diversity and outcrossing rates but no effects on inbreeding coefficients. Significant increases in inbreeding coefficient in fragmented habitats were only observed in studies analyzing progenies. The mating system and the rarity status of plants explained the highest proportion of variation in the effect sizes among species. The age of the fragment was also decisive in explaining variability among effect sizes: the larger the number of generations elapsed in fragmentation conditions, the larger the negative magnitude of effect sizes on heterozygosity. Our results also suggest that fragmentation is shifting mating patterns towards increased selfing. We conclude that current conservation efforts in fragmented habitats should be focused on common or recently rare species and mainly outcrossing species and outline important issues that need to be addressed in future research on this area.

Subfields: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Genetics, Nature and Landscape Conservation

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/56102fa16f96dc336ea6e2abba0c9894b9f73389

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Citations in the corpus

Genetic diversity targets and indicators in the CBD post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework must be improved (2020, background): “Genetic diversity has been assessed for thousands of species, and meta-analyses of hundreds of datasets show that genetic diversity is decreasing, especially since the industrial revolution, because of habitat degradation and population loss, unsustainable harvest, invasive species and increasing ex”
Genetic considerations in ecosystem restoration using native tree species (2014, unknown): “…trees may be inbred, have reduced fitness, or exhibit other negative consequences of small population size, and may not constitute good seed sources (Honnay et al., 2005; Lowe et al., 2005; Aguilar et al., 2008; Eckert et al., 2010; Szulkin et al., 2010; Vranckx et al., 2012; Breed et al., 2012).”
Genetic diversity is considered important but interpreted narrowly in country reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Current actions and indicators are insufficient (2021, unknown): “Major drivers of genetic diversity loss include climate change, habitat fragmentation and destruction, over-harvest, and reduction of population sizes (IPBES, 2019; CBD, 2014; DiBattista, 2008; Aguilar et al., 2008; Pinsky and Palumbi, 2014; Schlaepfer et al., 2018).”
Do linear landscape elements in farmland act as biological corridors for pollen dispersal? (2010, background): “Habitat fragmentation is considered to undermine interpopulation gene flow (Young, Boyle & Brown 1996; Aguilar et al. 2008).”
Predicting the Probability of Outbreeding Depression (2011, background): “Fragmented populations of many species have reduced genetic diversity relative to historic levels (Tallmon et al. 2004; Aguilar et al. 2008).”
Impacts of global climate change on the floras of oceanic islands – Projections, implications and current knowledge (2015, background): “Nevertheless, declines of common species (by local human action, but prospectively also by climate change impacts) should be taken more into consideration for conservation plans as those species can be inherently prone to genetic erosion (Aguilar et al., 2008).”
Evolutionary changes in plant reproductive traits following habitat fragmentation and their consequences for population fitness (2012, background): “…susceptible to loss of genetic diversity resulting from habitat fragmentation, and the extent of changes in local genetic variation is strongly mediated by plant traits such as pollination mode and mating system (Aguilar et al. 2008), or the presence of a persistent seed bank (Honnay et al. 2008).”
Quasi in situ: a bridge between ex situ and in situ conservation of plants (2010, background): “, they are comprised of a limited number of genetically different individuals (Aguilar et al. 2008).”
Environment‐enhanced self‐fertilization: implications for niche shifts in adjacent populations (2010, result): “The result is consistent with that from another large meta-analysis which showed that the inbreeding coefficient of progeny tended to be higher in small populations than in large populations of the same species (Aguilar et al. 2008).”
Short distance pollen movement in a wind-pollinated tree, Quercus lobata (Fagaceae). (2009, background): “Given the localized nature of both pollen and acorn dispersal, combinedwith progressively decimated populations, increasing population subdivision and genetic drift are probable (see Aguilar et al., 2008).”