Building meaningful collaboration in conservation genetics and genomics

Abstract Genetic diversity is the foundation of biodiversity, and preserving it is therefore fundamental to conservation practice. However, global conservation efforts face significant challenges integrating genetic and genomic approaches into applied management and policy. As collaborative partnerships are increasingly recognized as key components of successful conservation efforts, we explore their role and relevance in the Australian context, by engaging with key entities from across the conservation sector, including academia, botanic gardens, herbaria, seed banks, governmental/non-governmental organisations, private industry, museums, Traditional Owners, Indigenous rangers, and zoos and aquaria. By combining perspectives from these entities with comprehensive literature review, we identified five guiding principles for conservation genetic and genomic research and explored the different elements of, and approaches to, collaboration. Our reflections suggest that there is a substantial overlap in research interests across the Australian conservation sector, and our findings show that collaboration is increasing. We discuss approaches to building collaborative partnerships, the reciprocal benefits of collaborating, and some remaining challenges associated with data generation, data collection, and cross-cultural considerations. We emphasise the need for long-term national resourcing for sample and data storage and consistency in collecting, generating and reporting genetic data. While informed by the Australian experience, our goal is to support researchers and practitioners to foster meaningful collaborations that achieve measurable management outcomes in conservation genetics and genomics, both in Australia and globally.

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Publication Details

Journal
Conservation Genetics
Published
2024-09-10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-024-01636-4
Citations
12
Primary Topic
Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.51

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article

Building meaningful collaboration in conservation genetics and genomics

Linda E. Neaves, Catherine E. Grueber, Marissa L. Parrott, Margaret Byrne et al.
12 citations
Conservation Genetics
Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
5.51
article

Building meaningful collaboration in conservation genetics and genomics

Linda E. Neaves, Catherine E. Grueber, Marissa L. Parrott, Margaret Byrne, Kimberly A. Miller, M. Hutton, Hannah B. Cliff, Kym Ottewell, Nyangumarta Rangers, Maurizio Rossetto, Robyn E. Shaw, Emilie Ens, Caroline Chong, Bridget Campbell, Jennifer C. Pierson, Stephen D. Sarre, Emily Roycroft, Will Sowersby, Paul Sunnucks, Peter A. Harrison, Mark D. B. Eldridge, Carolyn J. Hogg, Brittany Brockett, Karajarri Rangers, Kiwirrkurra Rangers, Ngurrara Rangers, Ngururrpa Rangers, Sam C. Banks, Paula Doyle, P. Ferraro
article en
12 citations

Abstract

Abstract Genetic diversity is the foundation of biodiversity, and preserving it is therefore fundamental to conservation practice. However, global conservation efforts face significant challenges integrating genetic and genomic approaches into applied management and policy. As collaborative partnerships are increasingly recognized as key components of successful conservation efforts, we explore their role and relevance in the Australian context, by engaging with key entities from across the conservation sector, including academia, botanic gardens, herbaria, seed banks, governmental/non-governmental organisations, private industry, museums, Traditional Owners, Indigenous rangers, and zoos and aquaria. By combining perspectives from these entities with comprehensive literature review, we identified five guiding principles for conservation genetic and genomic research and explored the different elements of, and approaches to, collaboration. Our reflections suggest that there is a substantial overlap in research interests across the Australian conservation sector, and our findings show that collaboration is increasing. We discuss approaches to building collaborative partnerships, the reciprocal benefits of collaborating, and some remaining challenges associated with data generation, data collection, and cross-cultural considerations. We emphasise the need for long-term national resourcing for sample and data storage and consistency in collecting, generating and reporting genetic data. While informed by the Australian experience, our goal is to support researchers and practitioners to foster meaningful collaborations that achieve measurable management outcomes in conservation genetics and genomics, both in Australia and globally.

Conservation GeneticsVol. 25(6)
Australian National University (AU), The University of Sydney (AU), University of Tasmania (AU), Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AU), Australian Museum (AU), The University of Melbourne (AU), University of Canberra (AU), Charles Darwin University (AU), Tharawal Aboriginal (AU), Government of the Northern Territory (AU), Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (AU), IR Dynamics (United States) (US), Environs Kimberley (AU), Zoos Victoria (AU), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney (AU), Community of European Shipyards Associations (BE), Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (AU), Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (AU), Monash University (AU), Macquarie University (AU)
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
5.51
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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