GENDANGERED - GENomic diversity change over time in avian enDANGERED species
The main objective of GENDANGERED was to elucidate how genetic diversity is lost in response to population decline using a combination of simulation approaches and empirical genomic data.
The project focused on two main actions:
The project focused on two main actions:
- Obtaining empirical estimates of genomic diversity change over time by sequencing whole genomes of historical (museum-preserved, 100+ year old) and contemporary (< 10 years old) samples
- Developing a modelling framework to perform forward-in-time simulations to understand how genomic diversity changes over time in response to habitat degradation and population decline to make predictions into future conditions
A total of 12 species (8 endangered and 4 non-endangered) species were used. These species have different trajectories of ancestral population sizes, magnitudes of population collapse and trends of recovery. Endangered species include (top to bottom and left to right): Regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), Swift parrot (Lathamus discolor), Seychelles paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone corvina), Echo Parakeet (Psittacula eques), Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri), Whooping crane (Grus americana), Orange bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus)