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<p>High-elevation areas pose several challenges for the specialist organisms that inhabit them. For example, lowland valleys with unsuitable habitat can prevent dispersal—effectively stranding organisms on ‘sky-islands’. Isolation can cause or exacerbate inbreeding, erode genetic diversity and increase competition as competitors move to higher elevations in response to a warming climate. The mountain skink, <i>Liopholis montana</i>, is an endangered montane specialist from the sky-islands of the mainland Australian Alps. We found evidence that four discrete high-elevation areas hosted isolated populations of <i>L. montana</i>. The metapopulation displayed relatively high genetic diversity (autosomal Ho = 0.0005), however, its isolated populations contained reduced allelic diversity and a high proportion of private alleles (11–27%, mean = 21%). Currently, small effective population sizes (mean Ne = 8–105) and the lack of dispersal among discrete populations add to the mountain skink’s vulnerability. <i>Liopholis montana</i> populations currently face several ongoing preventable threats. For example, ongoing logging in Victoria (despite supposed cessation in 2021) threatens the recently discovered Wombat State Forest population—a population that we identify as a conservation priority. Improved habitat condition and protection, removal of invasive predators, and establishing breeding programs that promote genetic diversity and population sizes will help to reduce the vulnerability of this endangered skink.</p>

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Isolation has led to reduced genetic diversity among populations of an endangered mountain specialist

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年3月31日

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  • Michael D. Amor,
  • Zak Atkins,
  • Nick Clemann

摘要

High-elevation areas pose several challenges for the specialist organisms that inhabit them. For example, lowland valleys with unsuitable habitat can prevent dispersal—effectively stranding organisms on ‘sky-islands’. Isolation can cause or exacerbate inbreeding, erode genetic diversity and increase competition as competitors move to higher elevations in response to a warming climate. The mountain skink, Liopholis montana, is an endangered montane specialist from the sky-islands of the mainland Australian Alps. We found evidence that four discrete high-elevation areas hosted isolated populations of L. montana. The metapopulation displayed relatively high genetic diversity (autosomal Ho = 0.0005), however, its isolated populations contained reduced allelic diversity and a high proportion of private alleles (11–27%, mean = 21%). Currently, small effective population sizes (mean Ne = 8–105) and the lack of dispersal among discrete populations add to the mountain skink’s vulnerability. Liopholis montana populations currently face several ongoing preventable threats. For example, ongoing logging in Victoria (despite supposed cessation in 2021) threatens the recently discovered Wombat State Forest population—a population that we identify as a conservation priority. Improved habitat condition and protection, removal of invasive predators, and establishing breeding programs that promote genetic diversity and population sizes will help to reduce the vulnerability of this endangered skink.