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Conservation concerns associated with low genetic diversity for K’gari–Fraser Island dingoes
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Conservation concerns associated with low genetic diversity for K’gari–Fraser Island dingoes

Gabriel Conroy, Robert Lamont, Leanne Bridges, D Stephens, A Wardell-Johnson and S. M Ogbourne
Scientific Reports, Vol.11(1), pp.1-10
2021
PMCID: PMC8097078
PMID: 33947920
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Conservation concerns associated with low genetic diversity for K’gari-Fraser Island dingoes2.11 MBDownloadView
Published Version Open Access CC BY V4.0
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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89056-zView
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Abstract

Conservation biology Genetic variation Ecological genetics
The dingo population on world heritage-listed K’gari-Fraser Island (K’gari) is amongst the most wellknown in Australia. However, an absence of population genetic data limits capacity for informed conservation management. We used 9 microsatellite loci to compare the levels of genetic diversity and genetic structure of 175 K’gari dingo tissue samples with 264 samples from adjacent mainland regions. Our results demonstrated that the K’gari population has signifcantly lower genetic diversity than mainland dingoes (AR, HE, PAR; p < 0.05) with a fourfold reduction in efective population size (Ne= 25.7 vs 103.8). There is also strong evidence of genetic diferentiation between the island and mainland populations. These results are in accordance with genetic theory for small, isolated, island populations, and most likely the result of low initial diversity and founder efects such as bottlenecks leading to decreased diversity and drift. As the frst study to incorporate a large sample set of K’gari dingoes, this provides invaluable baseline data for future research, which should incorporate genetic and demographic monitoring to ensure long-term persistence. Given that human-associated activities will continue to result in dingo mortality, it is critical that genetic factors are considered in conservation management decisions to avoid deleterious consequences for this iconic dingo population.

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Ecology
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