Inbreeding and testicular abnormalities in a bottlenecked population of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Romane H Cristescu; V Cahill; W B Sherwin; K Handasyde; K Carlyon; D Whisson; C A Herbert; B L J Carlsson; A N Wilton; D W Cooper

doi:10.1071/WR08010

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Inbreeding and testicular abnormalities in a bottlenecked population of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

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Inbreeding and testicular abnormalities in a bottlenecked population of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Romane H Cristescu, V Cahill, W B Sherwin, K Handasyde, K Carlyon, D Whisson, C A Herbert, B L J Carlsson, A N Wilton and D W Cooper

Wildlife Research, Vol.36(4), pp.299-308

2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/WR08010

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Abstract

Habitat destruction and fragmentation, interactions with introduced species or the relocation of animals to form new populations for conservation purposes may result in a multiplication of population bottlenecks. Examples are the translocations of koalas to French Island and its derivative Kangaroo Island population, with both populations established as insurance policies against koala extinction. In terms of population size, these conservation programs were success stories. However, the genetic story could be different. We conducted a genetic investigation of French and Kangaroo Island koalas by using 15 microsatellite markers, 11 of which are described here for the first time. The results confirm very low genetic diversity. French Island koalas have 3.8 alleles per locus and Kangaroo Island koalas 2.4. The present study found a 19% incidence of testicular abnormality in Kangaroo Island animals. Internal relatedness, an individual inbreeding coefficient, was not significantly different in koalas with testicular abnormalities from that in other males, suggesting the condition is not related to recent inbreeding. It could instead result from an unfortunate selection of founder individuals carrying alleles for testicular abnormalities, followed by a subsequent increase in these alleles' frequencies through genetic drift and small population-related inefficiency of selection. Given the low diversity and possible high prevalence of deleterious alleles, the genetic viability of the population remains uncertain, despite its exponential growth so far. This stands as a warning to other introductions for conservation reasons. © 2009 CSIRO.

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Title: Inbreeding and testicular abnormalities in a bottlenecked population of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Authors: Romane H Cristescu (Author) - University of New South Wales
V Cahill (Author)
W B Sherwin (Author) - University of New South Wales
K Handasyde (Author) - University of Melbourne
K Carlyon (Author) - University of New South Wales
D Whisson (Author) - Deakin University
C A Herbert (Author) - University of New South Wales
B L J Carlsson (Author) - University of New South Wales
A N Wilton (Author) - University of New South Wales
D W Cooper (Author) - University of New South Wales
Publication details: Wildlife Research, Vol.36(4), pp.299-308
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Date published: 2009
DOI: 10.1071/WR08010
ISSN: 1035-3712
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449320702621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology; Zoology