DNA-based studies and genetic diversity indicator assessments are complementary approaches to conserving evolutionary potential
Abstract Genetic diversity is essential for maintaining healthy populations and ecosystems. Several approaches have recently been developed to evaluate population genetic trends without necessarily collecting new genetic data. Such “genetic diversity indicators” enable rapid, large-scale evaluation across dozens to thousands of species. Empirical genetic studies, when available, provide detailed information that is important for management, such as estimates of gene flow, inbreeding, genetic erosion and adaptation. In this article, we argue that the development and advancement of genetic diversity indicators is a complementary approach to genetic studies in conservation biology, but not a substitute. Genetic diversity indicators and empirical genetic data can provide different information for conserving genetic diversity. Genetic diversity indicators enable affordable tracking, reporting, prioritization and communication, although, being proxies, do not provide comprehensive evaluation of the genetic status of a species. Conversely, genetic methods offer detailed analysis of the genetic status of a given species or population, although they remain challenging to implement for most species globally, given current capacity and resourcing. We conclude that indicators and genetic studies are both important for genetic conservation actions and recommend they be used in combination for conserving and monitoring genetic diversity.
Authors
- Julia C. Geue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1038-8614)
- Robert Ekblom (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2222-1966)
- Catherine E. Grueber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8179-1822)
- Joachim Mergeay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6504-0551)
- David O’Brien (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7901-295X)
- Cristiano Vernesi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-5669)
- Linda Laikre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9286-3361)
- Anna J. MacDonald (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2972-200X)
- Christina Hvilsom (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7870-6888)
- Víctor J. Rincón-Parra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8910-0072)
- Margaret E. Hunter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4760-9302)
- Brenna R. Forester (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1608-1904)
- Meredith C. Schuman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3159-3534)
- Robyn E. Shaw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7899-1743)
- Rebecca Jordan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4048-6792)
- Ancuța Fedorca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5828-5422)
- Jessica M. da Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8385-1166)
- J. Andrew DeWoody (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7315-5631)
- Myriam Heuertz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6322-3645)
- Paul Sunnucks (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8139-7059)
- W. Chris Funk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6466-3618)
- Francine Kershaw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2146-8094)
- Gernot Segelbacher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8024-7008)
- Mariah H. Meek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3219-4888)
- Colin K. Khoury (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7893-5744)
- Alicia Mastretta‐Yanes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2951-6353)
- Fumiko Ishihama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8515-5914)
- Rebecca S. Taylor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8916-4858)
- Henrik Thurfjell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9261-7654)
- Ivan Paz‐Vinas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0043-9289)
- Sean Hoban (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0348-8449)
- Alice C. Hughes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4899-3158)
- Viktoria Köppä
- Belma Kalamujić Stroil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4539-1266)
- Maria Rodriguez‐Morales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4075-294X)
- Luis Castillo‐Reina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3477-5097)
- Katie L. Millette (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9638-1538)
- Peter M. Hollingsworth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0602-0654)
Institutions
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (FR)
- Fondazione Edmund Mach (IT)
- University of Sarajevo (BA)
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Natural Resources Defense Council (US)
- Australian Antarctic Division (AU)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada (CA)
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service (US)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- University of Freiburg (DE)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (GB)
- Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (MX)
- University of Canberra (AU)
- National Institute for Environmental Studies (JP)
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (BE)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (CO)
- Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute (CO)
- Society for Conservation Biology (US)
- Morton Arboretum (US)
- Copenhagen Zoo (DK)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (US)
- Transylvania University of Brașov (RO)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry "Marin Drăcea" (RO)
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SE)
- Swedish Species Information Centre (SE)
- UMR BIOdiversity, GEnes & Communities (FR)
- Department of Forestry (MW)
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (CH)
- Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación (MX)
- McGill University (CA)
- Monash University (AU)
- Trent University (CA)
- International Space Science Institute (CH)
- Michigan State University (US)
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
- University of Palermo (IT)
- Colorado State University (US)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Conservation Genetics
- Published
- 2024-08-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-024-01632-8
- Citations
- 25
- Primary Topic
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 13.76
Funders
- University of Sydney