LEAPING A CONSERVATION GENETICS GAP: COMBINING POPULATION GENETICS AND SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS FOR LUPINUS PERENNIS RESTORATION

Abstract

Genomic data can assist conservation planning, but implementation of genetic-based recommendations is rare. Closing this "conservation genetics gap" is crucial for restoration and translocation decisions, particularly for highly fragmented ecosystems like pine barrens. We first analyze the conservation genetics gap in pine barren management organizations using a survey. We then analyze whole-genome data to characterize population structure and diversity in the pine barren keystone plant Lupinus perennis. We find little genetic difference among L. perennis populations in the Northeast United States. While populations show signs of isolation by distance (rho = 0.785, p = 0.001), we find no correlation between population size and heterozygosity (Estimate = 0.003, p = 0.357) or inbreeding (Estimate = 0.028, p = 0.416). We also find no effect of seed source population on forecasted effective population size in restoration simulations. These findings and our recommendation that managers consider non-local seed provenancing for L. perennis restorations in the Northeast have been integrated into SWAP policy in two states. We generally recommend practitioners record seed provenance, save genetic material for future testing, and incorporate fitness metrics into restoration monitoring. To effectively close the conservation genetics gap, researchers providing conservation recommendations must consult with practitioners before designing experiments.