title: Rapid loss of genetic variation in an endangered possum.
abstract: The endangered mountain pygmy possum is the only Australian marsupial that hibernates under snow cover. Most of its alpine habitat was burnt by a rare fire in 2003, and habitat loss and disturbance have also occurred owing to ski resort development. Here we show that there has been a rapid loss of genetic variation following habitat loss associated with resort development, but no detectable loss of alleles or decrease in heterozygosity following the fire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, CESAR, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitrovski
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Heinze
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Weeks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D014644:Genetic Variation; D048329:Phalangeridae / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors