Allele dataset of western grasswren for use in VORTEX (PVA analysis)

Conservation translocations have become an increasingly popular method to restore or secure vulnerable populations. However, translocations greatly vary in success. The use of population viability analysis (PVA) may increase the likelihood of meeting translocation goals. However, the quality of PVAs to inform translocations is dependent on the availability of ecological data and clear translocation objectives to guide them. Here, we used PVAs to inform the planned conservation translocation of the Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis textilis) from mainland Shark Bay onto Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia. A range of translocation scenarios was modelled and scored against success criteria as determined by translocation objectives. Simulations of 20-year outcomes found that a minimum founder population of 112 individuals meets all success criteria. PVA supported sourcing individuals from two subpopulations to maximise genetic diversity. No impact to source populations was detected for the proposed harvest quantities despite conservative estimates of initial source population sizes. Here we demonstrate that creating clear, measurable objectives alongside a PVA lessens ambiguity about which translocation scenarios could be viable. In doing so, we have identified the minimum translocation sizes needed to maintain genetic diversity and population growth, thus increasing the likelihood of translocation success without impacting the source population.

Methods
Allele dataset was generated through next generation SNP sequencing of blood samples from Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis textilis). After filtering SNPs in the methods described in Gibson Vega et al. 2023, a subset of 1000 neutral loci were extracted for use in the program VORTEX to model population genetic mixing. 

Gibson Vega, A., Hall, M. L., Ridley, A., Cowen, S. J., Slender, A. L., Burbidge, A. H., Louter, M., and Kennington, W. J. (2023). Population genetic structure associated with a landscape barrier in the Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis textilis). Ibis.

保护移殖（Conservation translocations）已逐渐成为修复或保护脆弱种群的主流手段之一。然而，各类移殖项目的成功率差异悬殊。种群生存力分析（Population Viability Analysis, PVA）或可提升达成移殖目标的概率，但此类用于指导移殖工作的PVA质量，取决于生态数据的可获得性与清晰的移殖目标导向。本研究借助PVA，为西草鹩指名亚种（Amytornis textilis textilis）的计划性保护移殖提供决策依据：该亚种原分布于澳大利亚西部鲨鱼湾大陆区域，本次移殖目的地为德克哈托格岛。研究针对一系列移殖场景构建模型，并依据移殖目标设定的成功标准进行评分。对20年周期的模拟结果显示，最低奠基种群规模为112只个体时，可满足全部成功标准。PVA分析建议从两个亚种群中获取个体，以最大化遗传多样性；且即便对初始源种群规模采用保守估算，本次提议的捕获数量亦不会对源种群造成负面影响。本研究证实，结合清晰可量化的目标与PVA分析，可有效降低关于可行移殖场景的认知歧义，进而明确维持遗传多样性与种群增长所需的最小移殖规模，在不损害源种群的前提下提升移殖项目的成功概率。

研究方法
本研究的等位基因数据集通过对西草鹩指名亚种的血液样本开展下一代单核苷酸多态性（Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, SNP）测序构建。参照Gibson Vega等人2023年的研究方法对单核苷酸多态性位点进行过滤后，提取1000个中性位点，用于VORTEX软件模拟种群遗传混合过程。

Gibson Vega, A., Hall, M. L., Ridley, A., Cowen, S. J., Slender, A. L., Burbidge, A. H., Louter, M., & Kennington, W. J. (2023). 西草鹩指名亚种中与景观屏障相关的种群遗传结构. 《朱鹭》（Ibis）.