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Genomic Evaluation of Assisted Gene Flow Options in an Endangered Rattlesnake
Samarth Mathur1,2, H Lisle Gibbs1,2
1Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Molecular Ecology
|July 7, 2025
Summary
Assisted gene flow can introduce new genetic issues in endangered species. Evaluating genetic compatibility is crucial to avoid increasing mutation load in populations like the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Genetics
- Population Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Assisted gene flow (AGF) is a conservation tool to combat genetic erosion in small, endangered populations.
- Evaluating genetic compatibility between donor and recipient populations for AGF is rarely performed.
- Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) populations face genetic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop novel metrics to assess the genetic impact of genetic augmentation.
- Evaluate AGF options for Ohio's Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake populations using these metrics.
- Examine genetic compatibility based on functional variants.
Main Methods:
- Developed metrics based on genotype identity of functional variants (deleterious and adaptive).
- Assessed three compatibility aspects: novel variant introduction, masking/unmasking of deleterious variants, and outbreeding depression potential.
- Applied metrics to evaluate AGF options for Sistrurus catenatus.
Main Results:
- Augmentation from diverse donors primarily introduced novel deleterious variants and some novel adaptive variants.
- Donor populations had a minor impact on masking existing deleterious variants.
- Low evidence (~7%) for local adaptation suggests minimal outbreeding depression risk.
Conclusions:
- AGF impacts must consider both deleterious and adaptive genetic variants.
- Proposed AGF for these rattlesnakes may increase overall mutation load.
- Novel metrics provide a framework for evaluating genetic compatibility in AGF.
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