Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss

Robyn E Shaw; Katherine A Farquharson; Michael W Bruford; David J Coates; Carole P Elliott; Joachim Mergeay; Kym M Ottewell; Gernot Segelbacher; Sean Hoban; Christina Hvilsom; Sílvia Pérez-Espona; Dainis Ruņģis; Filippos Aravanopoulos; Laura D Bertola; Helena Cotrim; Karen Cox; Vlatka Cubric-Curik; Robert Ekblom; José A Godoy; Maciej K Konopiński; Linda Laikre; Isa-Rita M Russo; Nevena Veličković; Philippine Vergeer; Carles Vilà; Vladimir Brajkovic; David L Field; William P Goodall-Copestake; Frank Hailer; Tara Hopley; Frank E Zachos; Paulo C Alves; Aleksandra Biedrzycka; Rachel M Binks; Joukje Buiteveld; Elena Buzan; Margaret Byrne; Barton Huntley; Laura Iacolina; Naomi L P Keehnen; Peter Klinga; Alexander Kopatz; Sara Kurland; Jennifer A Leonard; Chiara Manfrin; Alexis Marchesini; Melissa A Millar; Pablo Orozco-terWengel; Jente Ottenburghs; Diana Posledovich; Peter B Spencer; Nikolaos Tourvas; Tina Unuk Nahberger; Pim van Hooft; Rita Verbylaite; Cristiano Vernesi; Catherine E Grueber

doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08458-x

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Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss

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Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss

Robyn E Shaw, Katherine A Farquharson, Michael W Bruford, David J Coates, Carole P Elliott, Joachim Mergeay, Kym M Ottewell, Gernot Segelbacher, Sean Hoban, Christina Hvilsom, …

Nature (London), Vol.638, 8051

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08458-x

PMID: 39880948

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Abstract

Mitigating loss of genetic diversity is a major global biodiversity challenge 1,2,3,4. To meet recent international commitments to maintain genetic diversity within species 5,6, we need to understand relationships between threats, conservation management and genetic diversity change. Here we conduct a global analysis of genetic diversity change via meta-analysis of all available temporal measures of genetic diversity from more than three decades of research. We show that within-population genetic diversity is being lost over timescales likely to have been impacted by human activities, and that some conservation actions may mitigate this loss. Our dataset includes 628 species (animals, plants, fungi and chromists) across all terrestrial and most marine realms on Earth. Threats impacted two-thirds of the populations that we analysed, and less than half of the populations analysed received conservation management. Genetic diversity loss occurs globally and is a realistic prediction for many species, especially birds and mammals, in the face of threats such as land use change, disease, abiotic natural phenomena and harvesting or harassment. Conservation strategies designed to improve environmental conditions, increase population growth rates and introduce new individuals (for example, restoring connectivity or performing translocations) may maintain or even increase genetic diversity. Our findings underscore the urgent need for active, genetically informed conservation interventions to halt genetic diversity loss.

Details

Title: Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss
Authors/Creators: Robyn E Shaw - Australian National University
Katherine A Farquharson - The University of Sydney
Michael W Bruford - International Union for Conservation of Nature (Bangladesh)
David J Coates - School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
Carole P Elliott - Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
Joachim Mergeay - Research for Action
Kym M Ottewell - School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
Gernot Segelbacher - Research for Action
Sean Hoban - Research for Action
Christina Hvilsom - Research for Action
Sílvia Pérez-Espona - International Union for Conservation of Nature (Bangladesh)
Dainis Ruņģis - Research for Action
Filippos Aravanopoulos - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Laura D Bertola - International Union for Conservation of Nature (Bangladesh)
Helena Cotrim - Research for Action
Karen Cox - Research Institute for Nature and Forest
Vlatka Cubric-Curik - Research for Action
Robert Ekblom - Research for Action
José A Godoy - Research for Action
Maciej K Konopiński - Research for Action
Linda Laikre - Research for Action
Isa-Rita M Russo - European Cooperation in Science and Technology
Nevena Veličković - Research for Action
Philippine Vergeer - Research for Action
Carles Vilà - Research for Action
Vladimir Brajkovic - University of Zagreb
David L Field - Edith Cowan University
William P Goodall-Copestake - Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Frank Hailer - Cardiff University
Tara Hopley - Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Frank E Zachos - Research for Action
Paulo C Alves - EBM, Biological Station of Mértola, Mértola, Portugal
Aleksandra Biedrzycka - Research for Action
Rachel M Binks - Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
Joukje Buiteveld - Research for Action
Elena Buzan - Research for Action
Margaret Byrne - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Barton Huntley - Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
Laura Iacolina - Research for Action
Naomi L P Keehnen - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Peter Klinga - Research for Action
Alexander Kopatz - Research for Action
Sara Kurland - Stockholm University
Jennifer A Leonard - Estación Biológica de Doñana
Chiara Manfrin - University of Trieste
Alexis Marchesini - Research for Action
Melissa A Millar - Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
Pablo Orozco-terWengel - Cardiff University
Jente Ottenburghs - Wageningen University & Research
Diana Posledovich - Stockholm University
Peter B Spencer - School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Nikolaos Tourvas - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Tina Unuk Nahberger - Slovenian Forestry Institute
Pim van Hooft - Wageningen University & Research
Rita Verbylaite - Research for Action
Cristiano Vernesi - Research for Action
Catherine E Grueber - The University of Sydney
Publication Details: Nature (London), Vol.638, 8051
Publisher: Springer Nature
Number of pages: 24
Grant note: Australian Research Council Linkage ProjectAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein ScienceCroatian Science FoundationUppsala UniversityInstitute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of SciencesSwedish Research Council FormasSwedish Research CouncilRoyal Society International Exchanges grantDutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and NatureCOST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology): P1-0386, N1-0281, P1-0314 Slovenian Research and Innovation AgencyUniversity of Sydney: 1/0328/22 Scientific Grant Agency VEGANorges forskningsrad (the Research Council of Norway): 160022/F40 NINA Italian Ministry of University and Research: CN00000033 Horizon Europe Framework Programme of the European Union: 101059492 ARIS Research Group: P4-0107 University of Sydney Robinson FellowshipCOST Action G-BiKE: CA 18134 COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)University of Sydney
R.E.S. acknowledges funding from an Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP170100061). K.A.F. acknowledges funding from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CE20010012). V.C.-C. acknowledges funding support from the Croatian Science Foundation (grant IP-2018-01-8708). R.E. acknowledges funding support from Uppsala University. A.B. and M.K.K. acknowledge funding support from Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences. L.L. acknowledges funding support from the Swedish Research Council Formas (grant 2020-01290) and the Swedish Research Council (grant 2019-05503). F.H. was supported by a Royal Society International Exchanges grant (IEC\NSFC\181744). J.B. acknowledges funding support from the Fundamental Research Programme 'Circular and Climate Neutral' (KB-34-013-003) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature. E.B. acknowledges funding support from Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (programme group P1-0386 and project N1-0281). L.I. acknowledges funding support from Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (programme group P1-0314). N.L.P.K. was supported by funding to L.L. from the Swedish Research Council Formas (grant 2020-01290) and the Swedish Research Council (grant 2019-05503). P.K. was supported from the Scientific Grant Agency VEGA (1/0328/22). A.K. was supported by Norges forskningsrad (the Research Council of Norway) (project no. 160022/F40 NINA). S.K. was supported by funding to L.L. from the Swedish Research Council Formas (grant 2020-01290) and the Swedish Research Council (grant 2019-05503). A.M. acknowledges the support of NBFC, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, P.N.R.R., Missione 4 Componente 2, "Dalla ricerca all'impresa", Investimento 1.4, Project CN00000033. D.P. was supported by funding to L.L. from the Swedish Research Council Formas (grant 2020-01290) and the Swedish Research Council (grant 2019-05503). F.A., W.P.G.-C., E.B. and J.A.L. acknowledge the support of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme of the European Union under grant agreement 101059492 (Biodiversity Genomics Europe). T.U.N. was financed through ARIS Research Group P4-0107. C.E.G. acknowledges funding support from a University of Sydney Robinson Fellowship. We thank the undergraduate students of M.W.B. at Cardiff University who participated in earlier parts of this project. This Article is based on work from COST Action G-BiKE, CA 18134, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology; https://www.cost.eu). We thank Tovetorp Research Station, Stockholm University, for hosting the initial project workshop. Further information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting summary linked to this article.Open access funding provided by the University of Sydney.
Identifiers: 991005738243207891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.64 Phylogenetics & Genomics; 3.64.71 Genetic Diversity
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology