Genetic insights on conserving species: connectivity versus numbers

ABSTRACT: 

Several species have experienced significant population declines in historical times. Coupled with decline in forest cover, this leaves us with small and isolated 'island'-like populations that exist within human dominated landscapes. How do we ensure survival of species under such conditions? I will start my talk with a some results on tigers. Current conservation efforts focus on increasing tiger numbers. While it is very difficult to monitor dispersal and connectivity using conventional ecological techniques, genetic data can be used to infer connectivity, and the influence of landscape elements on such connectivity.  We investigated connectivity between tiger populations using genetic methods in one of India’s largest tiger landscapes. Our results imply detrimental effects of large human settlements on long-distance connectivity.  I will also present ongoing research that aims to investigate connectivity as a function of body size for several carnivore species, as well as for birds in the Western ghats.