| Agriculture has been an integral part of our lives for thousands of years, shaping the landscape we live and thrive in. Demands to increase crop yields in a cost-effective way have, however, led to intensification of modern farming during the last century that no longer permits a suitable habitat for naturally occurring plants and animals therein. The deterioration and fragmentation of meadows and pastures has therefore resulted in large population declines of many sensitive species, such as the southern dunlin (sydlig kärrsnäppa, Calidris alpina schinzii). With less than 100 breeding pairs in Sweden, this charismatic shorebird is rapidly becoming a flagship species for the traditional Swedish agricultural landscape and its threatened biodiversity. To preserve species richness, which has become a major focus of conservation policies, we need detailed knowledge of factors influencing the persistence of local populations in fragmented landscapes. My collaborators and I have previously documented the detrimental consequences of reduced genetic variation (caused by e.g. inbreeding) on individual fitness in a rapidly declining population of southern dunlin on the Swedish west coast. In addition, with funds from Stiftelsen Oscar och Lili Lamms Minne (FO2009-0007), I found indications of genetic divergence in the 3 remaining populations of Swedish southern dunlins, suggesting a lack of much needed gene flow between them.
In this project, I will use this critically endangered farmland bird as a model to investigate two previously neglected factors that may also influence the survival prospect of such small and inbred populations, namely the rate of ageing and mate choice. Thus, a population might face a higher extinction risk than expected from its size, because individuals age and die faster with too many relatives around, or are choosier when selecting a partner (thereby reducing the effective population size). Building on our existing data set, I will test two hypotheses using a novel molecular indicator for individual quality, which my collaborators and I have recently developed.
By identifying factors critical for population development, the study will provide important scientific guidance for conservation agencies on the optimal management strategy for this and similar species in the agricultural landscape. The here proposed research is therefore highly relevant for the foundation’s aim to support a rich and healthy agricultural environment in Sweden for generations to come. |