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Population genetic structure of island and mainland populations of the quokka, Setonix brachyurus (Macropodidae): a comparison of AFLP and microsatellite markers

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Abstract

Translocation and reintroduction are important tools for the conservation or recovery of species threatened with extinction in the wild. However, an understanding of the potential genetic consequences of mixing populations requires an understanding of the genetic variation within, and similarities among, donor and recipient populations. Genetic diversity was measured using two independent marker systems (microsatellites and AFLPs) for one island and four small remnant mainland populations of Setonix brachyurus, a threatened medium sized macropod restricted to fragmented habitat remnants and two off-shore islands in southwest Australia. Microsatellite diversity in the island population (R s = 3.2, H e = 71%) was similar to, or greater than, all mainland populations (R s = 2.1–3.9, H e = 34-71%). In contrast, AFLP diversity was significantly lower in the island population (PPL = 20.5; H j = 0.118) compared to all mainland populations (mean PPL = 79.5–89.7; mean H j = 0.23–0.29). Microsatellites differentiated all (mainland and island) populations from each other. However, AFLP only differentiated the island population from the mainland populations—all mainland populations were not significantly differentiated from each other for this marker. Given a known time since isolation of the island population from the mainland (6,000 years ago), and an overall more conservative rate of evolution of AFLP markers, our results are consistent with mainland populations fragmenting thousands of years ago (but <6,000 years), probably as a consequence of reduced rainfall and the constriction of the preferred mesic habitat of quokkas. Our results also support a recent history of severe population bottlenecks in mainland populations, and a long history of bottlenecks of the island population, but reflect a recent explosion in numbers since European occupation of the island. Our results indicate that translocation of island populations to supplement mainland populations would introduce genetically markedly differentiated, and possibly maladapted, individuals.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Pest Animal Control Co-operative Research Centre. We thank Mike Calver, Liz Sinclair and the reviewers for suggestions that improved the manuscript and also gratefully acknowledge support from Matt Hayward, the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), and the Marsupial CRC.

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  1. Erika A. Alacs

    Present address: Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia

    Erika A. Alacs & Peter B. S. Spencer

  2. Department of Environment and Conservation, Wildlife Research Centre, P.O. Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia, 6946, Australia

    Paul J. de Tores

  3. Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, Fraser Ave, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, Australia

    Siegfried L. Krauss

  4. School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia

    Siegfried L. Krauss

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  1. Erika A. Alacs
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  4. Siegfried L. Krauss
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Correspondence to Siegfried L. Krauss.

Appendix

Appendix

See also Table 7.

Table 7 Observed allele frequencies at five polymorphic loci from four mainland (Chandler Road, Kesners Swamp, Victor Road and Hadfield) and one (Rottnest) island population of the quokka (S. brachyurus)
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Alacs, E.A., Spencer, P.B.S., de Tores, P.J. et al. Population genetic structure of island and mainland populations of the quokka, Setonix brachyurus (Macropodidae): a comparison of AFLP and microsatellite markers. Conserv Genet 12, 297–309 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-010-0140-6

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