Sexual selection matters in genetic rescue, but productivity benefits fade over time: A multi-generation experiment to inform conservation

West, George, Pointer, Michael, Nash, Will, Lewis, Rebecca, Gage, Matt J. G. and Richardson, David S. (2025) Sexual selection matters in genetic rescue, but productivity benefits fade over time: A multi-generation experiment to inform conservation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 292 (2039). ISSN 0962-8452

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Abstract

Globally, many species are threatened by population decline because of anthropogenic changes leading to population fragmentation, genetic isolation and inbreeding depression. Genetic rescue, the controlled introduction of genetic variation, is a method used to relieve such effects in small populations. However, without understanding how the characteristics of rescuers impact rescue attempts interventions run the risk of being sub-optimal, or even counterproductive. We use the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) to test the impact of rescuer sex, and sexual selection background, on population productivity. We record the impact of genetic rescue on population productivity in 24 and 36 replicated populations for ten generations following intervention. We find little or no impact of rescuer sex on the efficacy of rescue but show that a background of elevated sexual selection makes individuals more effective rescuers. In both experiments, rescue effects diminish 6–10 generations after the rescue. Our results confirm that the efficacy of genetic rescue can be influenced by characteristics of the rescuers and that the level of sexual selection in the rescuing population is an important factor. We show that any increase in fitness associated with rescue may last for a limited number of generations, suggesting implications for conservation policy and practice.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Data accessibility statement: All data and scripts are available at Dryad [doi:10.5061/dryad.g1jwstr1f]. Supplementary material is available online [Figshare doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7634288]. Funding information: This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council, including an ARIES DTP PhD [NE/S007334/1] to George West, and a Research Grant (Understanding heatwave damage through reproduction in insect systems) [NE/T007885/1] to Matt Gage. The authors also acknowledge support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, Core Capability Grant BB/CCG2220/1 at the Earlham Institute (EI) and its constituent work packages (BBS/E/T/000PR9818 and BBS/E/T/000PR9819), and the Core Capability Grant BB/CCG1720/1 and the National Capability BBS/E/T/000PR9816 (NC1—Supporting EI’s ISPs and the UK Community with Genomics and Single Cell Analysis), BBS/E/T/000PR9811 (NC4—Enabling and Advancing Life Scientists in data-driven research through Advanced Genomics and Computational Training),and BBS/E/T/000PR9814 (NC 3—Development and deployment of versatile digital platforms for ‘omics-based data sharing and analysis). Also support from BBSRC Core Capability Grant BB/CCG1720/1 and the work delivered via the Scientific Computing group, and the physical HPC infrastructure and data centre delivered via the NBI Computing infrastructure for Science (CiS) group.
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Biosciences Teaching and Education Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Organisms and the Environment
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2025 15:36
Last Modified:	29 Jan 2025 16:37
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/98334
DOI:	issn:0962-8452

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