A new era of genetic diversity conservation through novel tools and accessible data

Abstract

Due to increasing alarm over lost diversity, the past few years have seen quantum leaps in making genetics more accessible and relevant for use in practice and policy. A historic advance for conservation was made at the 2022 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity COP15, when genetic diversity was protected for all species—not just socioeconomically and culturally valuable ones—in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Here, we highlight new, affordable, and inclusive tools for measuring genetic diversity and emphasize the importance of their use to benefit nature and society.

Improved application of genetic diversity data to conservation and management first requires documenting change across space and time. Meta-analyses have shown substantial genetic losses—incurred during the past century—in many species, especially those endemic to islands or that are heavily harvested (eg commercial fisheries). Genomic patterns across thousands of DNA nucleotides (eg runs of homozygosity) can now provide deeper insight into demographic histories, inbreeding, and the effects of natural selection. New models such as the mutations–area relationship can quantify the effects of habitat loss on genetic diversity at the population level, thereby helping to approximate the impacts of both threats and management (including restoration) activities.

Meanwhile, Genetic Composition Essential Biodiversity Variables were developed to standardize the reporting of genetic diversity and to facilitate comparisons across studies (Biol Rev 2022; doi.org/10.1111/brv.12852). FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) have also been embraced to enable better comparisons across species and regions and to allow for more transparent and rigorous conclusions. Major efforts have focused on compiling, aggregating, and creating detailed metadata for thousands of previously produced genetic datasets. Through such efforts, an entirely new discipline—macrogenetics, which involves analyzing thousands of datasets to identify ecological drivers of genetic change in space and time—has arisen. Macrogenetics can empower systematic conservation planning, while also enabling the comparison of global genetic diversity maps to species-richness maps (Nat Rev Genet 2021; doi.org/10.1038/s41576-021-00394-0).

Even as genetic data become more available, >99% of described species have yet to be studied genetically. Consequently, scalable and affordable non-DNA–based indicators were built on core evolutionary principles (eg maintaining sufficiently large distinct populations to prevent genetic erosion) and adopted by the GBF. These indicators enable rapid estimation of genetic diversity for more inclusive assessment and conservation action at large scales, including within developing and megadiverse countries (Conserv Lett 2023; doi.org/10.1111/conl.12953). Inclusivity is an important emphasis for the field of conservation genetics, with CARE principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics) adopted/adhered to during the collection, analysis, storage, and interpretation of genetic data, and linkage to other biodiversity information (eg occurrence data in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility).

For decades, analyses of DNA sequences have helped guide ecological restoration, assess population resilience, and track processes like inbreeding or hybridization to address applied management questions. Formalized genetic monitoring programs at regional or national levels can be used to repeatedly and systematically assess populations through time to detect deleterious changes in genetic diversity that may require urgent protections. Genetic monitoring across species and ecosystems has identified areas undergoing rapid habitat loss or climate change—for example, by highlighting the importance of niche margins to protect unique genetic diversity (Nat Ecol Evol 2024; doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02260-0).

Moving forward, genetic diversity assessments are likely to include more remote data collection, like environmental DNA (eDNA), to infer species’ presence through the analysis of DNA shed into the environment (for example, in water, soil, or air). The field of eDNA is experiencing rapid technological advances that include abundance estimations and the sequencing of genetic diversity within populations. Simultaneously, high-resolution satellite imagery and deep learning can be used to estimate genetic diversity and population differentiation, without the need to physically sample DNA.

We have entered a new era of transparent and inclusive analysis of the world's genetic diversity with advancements in macrogenetics, proxy-based tools, FAIR and CARE standards, and novel technologies. Uptake of new approaches can be amplified by collaborating through regional and global initiatives, such as the Coalition for Conservation Genetics (Conserv Sci Pract 2022; doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12635). Additional resources, along with new legal frameworks, tools, and policies, can help to advance the contributions of genetics in applied ecology and biodiversity conservation.