Table 5. Life history trait values used for proving ecological restoration and conservation management recommendations for plants adapted from Neaves (2019). 2a. Life history trait values to predict organisation of genetic diversity. 2b. Life history trait values to predict organisation of genetic differentiation. 2c. Life history trait values to predict vulnerability to negative outcomes of mixing populations. Used for the decision-making process of the conservation assessments. 2d. Life history trait values to predict the inbreeding EBV. 2e. Conservation management recommendations summarised from Ottewell et al. (2016).
5a. Organisation of genetic diversity (Genetic Diversity EBV)
Attribute or trait Higher genetic diversity Lower genetic diversity
Mode of reproduction Sexual Asexual, selfing
Dispersal ability Effective Poor
Longevity Long-lived Short-lived
Distribution Not rare Rare
Fragmentation or scattered distribution No evidence of scattered distribution Scattered distribution
Recruitment, turnover Effective Limited
Demography Stable Decline
5b. Organisation of genetic differentiation (Genetic Differentiation EBV)
Attribute or trait Lower genetic differentiation Higher genetic differentiation
Mode of reproduction Sexual Asexual, selfing
Dispersal ability Effective Poor
Longevity Long-lived Short-lived
Distribution Not rare Rare
Fragmentation or scattered distribution No evidence of scattered distribution Scattered distribution
Ecological amplitude Limited Broad
5c. Inbreeding EBV
Attribute or Trait Lower inbreeding potential Higher inbreeding potential
Genetic diversity High Low
Fragmentation or scattered distribution No evidence of scattered distribution Scattered distribution
Population Sizes Large Reduced or decreasing
5d. Negative outcomes of mixing
Attribute or trait Less vulnerable More vulnerable
Mode of reproduction Asexual, selfing Sexual
Longevity Long-lived Short-lived
Reproductive output Prolific Limited
Fragmentation, scattered distribution or ecological amplitude No evidence of scattered distribution. Limited ecological amplitude Scattered distribution. Broad ecological amplitude.
Known genetic incompatibilities None Yes
5e. Conservation management recommendations
Genetic differentiation / Genetic diversity / Inbreeding Conservation strategy
Low / High / Low Populations have historically been connected maintaining high levels of gene flow and are genetically healthy. Translocation between populations is a viable option. No expected negative effects from local adaptation or outbreeding depression unless there are strong environmental gradients. No management needed at this time. Only if management is to be considered: maintain population sizes and gene flow.
Low / High / High Populations have historically been connected maintaining high levels of gene flow. Risk of population declines due to inbreeding depression. No expected negative effects from local adaptation or outbreeding depression unless there are strong environmental gradients. Manage populations to reduce breeding between genetically related individuals: facilitate pollen and seed immigration, translocations to increase population sizes and introduce new genetic diversity.
Low / Low / Low Populations have historically been connected. Mating patterns are maintained but diversity has eroded due to low population size, founder, or bottleneck effects. No expected negative effects from local adaptation or outbreeding depression unless there are strong environmental gradients. Manage to increase genetic diversity: in-situ conservation action (reduce disturbance), increase recruitment, facilitate pollen and seed immigration, translocations.
Low / Low / High Populations have historically been connected. Inbreeding is present and exacerbated by low genetic diversity. Populations are not genetically differentiated. Manage to increase genetic diversity: in-situ (recovery from soil seedbank), facilitate immigration, translocations.
High / High / Low Populations historically isolated, little, or no current gene flow. Healthy genetic diversity but populations genetically differentiated. Populations are divergent and considered as conservation units: higher risk of outbreeding depression. Manage to maintain as many populations across the species range as possible and to maintain large size. Translocations not recommended. Manage habitat and ecological threats to maintain population size and number.
High / High / High Populations historically isolated, little, or no current gene flow, thus genetically divergent. Populations retain high genetic diversity but are inbred. Manage populations to increase breeding between genetically unrelated individuals. Translocations would be risky due to potential outbreeding depression. Manage to increase breeding of unrelated individuals.
High / Low / Low Populations historically isolated. Mating patterns maintained but gene flow and genetic diversity are low. Manage to increase genetic diversity. Consider composite provenancing translocation if outbreeding risk is low or apply in-situ conservation action.
High / Low / High Populations historically isolated, little, or no current gene flow, thus genetically divergent. Genetic diversity low and unlikely to be resilient to environmental changes. Intensive and costly management. Recover diversity in-situ and consider translocations if outbreeding depression risks can be managed.