genetic impacts and climate change part c, aceas grand, vicki thomson

Using genetics to understand the impacts of climate change on Australian endemicsPart C

Vicki Thomson, Alan Cooper, Jeremy Austin, Corey Bradshaw, Leo Joseph, Margaret Byrne, Craig Moritz, Steve Donnellan, Marc Suchard, Mike Hickerson, Tanya Laity

Why have reptiles been stable?

• Is it due to where they live now?

Why have reptiles been stable?

• Is it due to where they live now?

• Is it due to where they lived in the pasti.e. the location of their refugia?

Why have reptiles been stable?

• Is it due to where they live now?

• Is it due to where they lived in the pasti.e. the location of their refugia?

• What life history traits do the stable reptiles have in common?

Why have reptiles been stable?Is it due to where they live now?

Why have reptiles been stable?

Wet tropics

Is it due to where they live now?

SoutheastSemi-arid

Why have reptiles been stable?

Wet tropics

Frogs also live in high numbers in the wet tropics and Victoria

Southeast

Why have reptiles been stable?Birds also live in relatively high numbers in the semi-arid

Semi-arid

Why have reptiles been stable?Is it due to refugia in the past?

Why have reptiles been stable?Is it due to refugia in the past?

Hotspot in reptilediversity = refugium

What do the species have in common?

Stable reptile life history traits

Stable reptile life history traits

• Smaller body size

• Smaller body size

• Smaller range size

Stable reptile life history traits

• Smaller body size

• Smaller range size

Stable reptile life history traits

White’s Skinkhttp://www.parks.tas.gov.au/

Stable25 g body mass34,000 km2 range size

King Brown Snakehttp://www.aussiepythons.com/gallery/image/2778

Decline-rebound1.4 kg body mass142,000 km2 range size

• Smaller body size

• Smaller range size

• Refugium in southeast corner preserved some reptile diversity

Stable reptile life history traits

White’s Skinkhttp://www.parks.tas.gov.au/

Stable25 g body mass34,000 km range size

King Brown Snakehttp://www.aussiepythons.com/gallery/image/2778

Decline-rebound1.4 kg body mass142,000 km range size

• Smaller body size

• Smaller range size

• Refugium in southeast corner preserved some reptile diversity

• Stable demography yielded high diversity levels

Stable reptile life history traits

White’s Skinkhttp://www.parks.tas.gov.au/

Stable25 g body mass34,000 km range size

King Brown Snakehttp://www.aussiepythons.com/gallery/image/2778

Decline-rebound1.4 kg body mass142,000 km range size

Will they remain stable?

http://www.about-australia.com/facts/australia-demographics/

Will they remain stable?

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/21587

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/21587

Challenges in data synthesis

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/21587

Challenges in data synthesis• Lack of adequate metadata• DNA sequences• Location information

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/21587

Challenges in data synthesis• Lack of adequate metadata• DNA sequences• Location information

• Contacting authors

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/21587

Challenges in data synthesis• Lack of adequate metadata• DNA sequences• Location information

• Contacting authors• Formatting data

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/21587

Challenges in data synthesis• Lack of adequate metadata• DNA sequences• Location information

• Contacting authors• Formatting data• Writing code

Publication(s) to come…

http://www.environment.gov.au/node/21587

Predicting effects of future climateson Australian biodiversity

AcknowledgementsInter-disciplinary team:Jeremy Austin, Uni of AdelaideCorey Bradshaw, Uni of AdelaideMargaret Byrne, WA DECAlan Cooper, Uni of AdelaideGabriela Cybis, UCLASteve Donnellan, South Australian Museum and Uni of AdelaideMike Hickerson, City College of New YorkLeo Joseph, Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIROCraig Moritz, ANUJulien Soubrier, Uni of AdelaideMarc Suchard, UCLAXander Xue, City College of New York

This work was funded by ACEAS.

ACEAS team:Alison SpechtPauline RuntingSiddeswara GuruEstelle Weber

Wet Tropics

Restricted species had hotspots/melting pots in subregions within Wet tropics i.e. microrefugiae.g.

Why have reptiles been stable?What do the species have in common?

Why have reptiles been stable?

Rosenberg’s Goanna or MonitorPhoto by Peter Robertson © Museum Victoria

2.6 kg body mass22,400 km range size

Cunningham’s SkinkPhotographer: Peter Robertson. Source: Wildlife Profiles Pty. Ltd.

277 g body mass21,800 km range size

White’s Skinkhttp://www.parks.tas.gov.au/

25 g body mass34,000 km range size

White-lipped SnakePhotographer: Peter Robertson. Source: Wildlife Profiles Pty. Ltd.

12 g body mass52,900 km range size

Eastern Three-lined Skinkhttp://www.parks.tas.gov.au/

9 g body mass68,800 km range size

Delicate SkinkPhoto by Peter Robertson © Museum Victoria

2 g body mass142,900 km range size