Development and application of genomic resources for the greater sage-grouse
The greater sage-grouse is a sagebrush-obligate species that has experienced dramatic range-wide declines since the 1960s, causing significant conservation concern. Genetic information has refined our understanding of population structure, the levels of inbreeding or relatedness, allowed the ability to monitor for change over time, and has been used to understand the outcome of management actions. Technological advancements have recently led to a genomics revolution in conservation, allowing us to incorporate genome-wide patterns of population structure and explore genetic signs of adaptation more comprehensively. We developed an annotated genome sequence and a range-wide whole-genome sequence dataset for the greater sage-grouse that can inform conservation and management of the species in multiple ways.
Background
The dramatic declines experienced by greater sage-grouse have largely been attributed to decades of habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation from human development and agricultural practices. The species range includes the sagebrush steppe across 11 western US states and one Canadian province. This range coincides with variation in habitat, topography, and elevation. Although the sagebrush steppe is considered one ecosystem, there are five recognized ecoregions within this ecosystem. Each ecoregion has its own weather patterns and distinct compositions of sagebrush shrub species and subspecies, potentially leading to further fragmentation of greater sage-grouse into distinct populations, if they have adapted to their local conditions.
The formation of isolated greater sage-grouse populations has led to concern about the potential for loss of genetic diversity, as well as interest in their genetic uniqueness in relationship to the local environment. There is some evidence of genetic adaptation to local environmental conditions for the few populations that have been studied. Additionally, there is a growing body of work suggesting they may be locally adapted to the local suite of sagebrush species and subspecies. As a sagebrush obligate, greater sage-grouse eat nearly exclusively sagebrush leaves in the winter months. Unlike other species, they have mechanisms to deal with the toxins present in sagebrush leaves that vary in composition and concentration by sagebrush species or subspecies.
Our study
Understanding the degree to which different greater sage-grouse populations might be uniquely adapted to local conditions and to tolerate local sagebrush toxins is critical for developing management plans and monitoring frameworks that will help preservation of important functional genetic variation.
Research Objectives
We are leveraging our new greater sage-grouse genomic resources for three main goals:
- Characterize range-wide patterns of climate-associated genetic variation.
- Evaluate evidence for range-wide genetic variation associated with sagebrush detoxification.
- Develop a new molecular tool (panel of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of SNPs) that can be used to monitor changes in connectivity and adaptation.
Management Implications
- Comprehensive management of a species often includes understanding population structure and monitoring programs that measure changes in population parameters, including genetic change.
- Historically, genetic information on greater sage-grouse has primarily focused on processes like population connectivity and gene flow, and less so on adaptive processes.
- Neutral and adaptive genetic variation together provide vital information for conservation and management.
- Understanding patterns of environmental adaptation can help identify appropriate source and recipient populations for translocations or identify distinct populations.
- A SNP panel can directly inform change over-time and be incorporated into any framework such as the Genetic Warning System to inform prioritization of management resources.
Characterizing greater sage-grouse climate-driven maladaptation
The greater sage-grouse is a sagebrush-obligate species that has experienced dramatic range-wide declines since the 1960s, causing significant conservation concern. Genetic information has refined our understanding of population structure, the levels of inbreeding or relatedness, allowed the ability to monitor for change over time, and has been used to understand the outcome of management actions. Technological advancements have recently led to a genomics revolution in conservation, allowing us to incorporate genome-wide patterns of population structure and explore genetic signs of adaptation more comprehensively. We developed an annotated genome sequence and a range-wide whole-genome sequence dataset for the greater sage-grouse that can inform conservation and management of the species in multiple ways.
Background
The dramatic declines experienced by greater sage-grouse have largely been attributed to decades of habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation from human development and agricultural practices. The species range includes the sagebrush steppe across 11 western US states and one Canadian province. This range coincides with variation in habitat, topography, and elevation. Although the sagebrush steppe is considered one ecosystem, there are five recognized ecoregions within this ecosystem. Each ecoregion has its own weather patterns and distinct compositions of sagebrush shrub species and subspecies, potentially leading to further fragmentation of greater sage-grouse into distinct populations, if they have adapted to their local conditions.
The formation of isolated greater sage-grouse populations has led to concern about the potential for loss of genetic diversity, as well as interest in their genetic uniqueness in relationship to the local environment. There is some evidence of genetic adaptation to local environmental conditions for the few populations that have been studied. Additionally, there is a growing body of work suggesting they may be locally adapted to the local suite of sagebrush species and subspecies. As a sagebrush obligate, greater sage-grouse eat nearly exclusively sagebrush leaves in the winter months. Unlike other species, they have mechanisms to deal with the toxins present in sagebrush leaves that vary in composition and concentration by sagebrush species or subspecies.
Our study
Understanding the degree to which different greater sage-grouse populations might be uniquely adapted to local conditions and to tolerate local sagebrush toxins is critical for developing management plans and monitoring frameworks that will help preservation of important functional genetic variation.
Research Objectives
We are leveraging our new greater sage-grouse genomic resources for three main goals:
- Characterize range-wide patterns of climate-associated genetic variation.
- Evaluate evidence for range-wide genetic variation associated with sagebrush detoxification.
- Develop a new molecular tool (panel of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of SNPs) that can be used to monitor changes in connectivity and adaptation.
Management Implications
- Comprehensive management of a species often includes understanding population structure and monitoring programs that measure changes in population parameters, including genetic change.
- Historically, genetic information on greater sage-grouse has primarily focused on processes like population connectivity and gene flow, and less so on adaptive processes.
- Neutral and adaptive genetic variation together provide vital information for conservation and management.
- Understanding patterns of environmental adaptation can help identify appropriate source and recipient populations for translocations or identify distinct populations.
- A SNP panel can directly inform change over-time and be incorporated into any framework such as the Genetic Warning System to inform prioritization of management resources.