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Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
Published on: October 25, 2015
Elevation and connectivity define genetic refugia for mountain sheep as climate warms
Clinton W Epps1, Per J Palsbøll, John D Wehausen
1Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, 137 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA. buzzard@nature.berkeley.edu
Molecular Ecology
|November 17, 2006
Summary
Global warming impacts desert bighorn sheep genetic diversity. Low-elevation populations show reduced diversity, while higher elevations act as crucial genetic reservoirs. Restoring connectivity is vital for climate change adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Conservation Genetics
Background:
- Global warming poses a significant threat to the evolutionary capacity of natural populations.
- Desert ecosystems, like those inhabited by desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as rising temperatures and decreased precipitation.
- Understanding the genetic diversity within populations is crucial for assessing their adaptive potential and long-term survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the genetic diversity of 25 desert bighorn sheep populations in southeastern California.
- To investigate the influence of environmental factors, specifically temperature and precipitation changes, on genetic diversity.
- To determine the role of habitat elevation and population connectivity in maintaining genetic variation.
Main Methods:
- Genetic diversity was assessed across 25 distinct populations of desert bighorn sheep.
- Geographic and environmental data, including elevation and climate trends (temperature increase, precipitation decrease), were analyzed.
- Population connectivity was evaluated in relation to landscape features and human development.
Main Results:
- Populations inhabiting low-elevation habitats exhibited significantly lower genetic diversity compared to those in higher elevations.
- Higher-elevation habitats were identified as important reservoirs of genetic diversity for the species.
- Disruption of population connectivity due to human development negatively impacted genetic diversity.
Conclusions:
- Habitat elevation plays a critical role in maintaining genetic diversity in desert bighorn sheep populations under climate change.
- Low-elevation habitats may be less resilient due to reduced genetic diversity, potentially linked to historical population fluctuations and founder effects.
- Conservation strategies should focus on restoring and maintaining population connectivity to enhance the adaptive capacity of desert bighorn sheep to ongoing climate change.
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