Genetic diversity loss is happening globally and urgent action needs to be taken, according to the largest to date investigation into genetic diversity.
A study by researchers from Cardiff University and a large international team has looked at genetic diversity loss across 628 species (animals, plants, fungi and chromists), covering all terrestrial and most marine realms on Earth, spanning 141 countries.
The analysis investigated how genetic diversity has changed over time, based on all available studies reporting historical measures, spanning more than three decades of research.
Biodiversity continues to be lost worldwide at an unprecedented rate. Maintaining genetic diversity is central to protecting biodiversity against future environmental changes. Preventing the loss of genetic diversity is a major global biodiversity challenge. We found that genetic diversity loss is occurring globally. Our findings underscore the urgent need for active, genetically informed conservation interventions to halt genetic diversity loss.
The data showed that genetic diversity loss was observed across most terrestrial realms, whereas results across marine realms were more variable.
This new research indicates that further genetic diversity loss is likely if urgent action is not taken, as well as highlighting that current datasets on genetic diversity loss can help target biodiversity conservation actions effectively.
The loss of genetic diversity raises concerns over the resilience of our species populations across the world and highlights the threat to our ecosystems globally. These increasing concerns for the genetic diversity of our species should trigger intensified conservation management actions to halt genetic erosion before further losses occur. We show that genetic diversity is being lost over human-impacted timescales, we need to act now to mitigate further loss.
Professor Catherine Grueber, University of Sydney, said: "This kind of comprehensive global study would not have been possible even 10 years ago. Advances in genetics and statistics have given us new tools that mean we can continue to learn from studies long after they were carried out – a huge benefit when we are looking at populations and trends on a global scale."
Our findings also offer a pathway to how this global biodiversity loss can be mitigated. Our study identifies four types of conservation actions that offer the highest chance of success. There strategies are designed to improve environmental conditions, to increase population growth, as well as restoring connectivity among populations or performing translocations of individuals. All these actions may maintain or even increase genetic diversity.
This paper, Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss , was published in Nature, and was co-authored by the late Professor Mike Bruford, who dedicated his career to understanding and halting biodiversity loss. The research was conducted by a large international team of researchers, coordinated by Professor Catherine Gruber from the University of Sydney, and the lead authors are Dr Robyn Shaw and Dr Katherine Farquharson from the University of Sydney.
