How do genetic questions enter into restoration?
The genetic principles outlined above have a direct bearing on the practice of ecological restoration (Falk and Holsinger 1991; Young and Clarke 2000). In this section we summarize how restoration practitioners and researchers can (and should) take population genetics into account. 3a. Accuracy and functionality of restored populations. Sophisticated restoration practitioners recognize that the starting pool of genetic variation to be used is a critical element in design and implementation. However, opinions abound on how to select a suitable source pool for a restoration project (Landis and Thompson 1997). The current debate often confuses two related, but distinct issues: the accuracy (“authenticity”) of a restoration project, and its functionality (Clewell, 2000). A reintroduction project is genetically accurate (“authentic”) if it replicates the original gene pool of the population it replaces. If the original population has been destroyed, then perfect accuracy is strictly speakin
