Monday, 29 January 2024 Authors, including UP FAMNIT researchers, propose new approach for monitoring genetic diversity in Europe to help species adapt to climate change
Genetic diversity is crucial if species are to adapt to climate change. An international study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution that includes researchers from the University of Primorska (FAMNIT) shows that current efforts to monitor genetic diversity in Europe are incomplete and insufficient. The study, proposing a novel approach, aims to identify and pinpoint important geographical areas on which to focus.
Distinguished from its fellow creatures by small differences in its hereditary material, every living thing on our planet faces challenges when the environment becomes unfavourable to populations of species, such as plants and animals. This genetic variability becomes crucial for enabling adaptation to new conditions, preventing extinction, or migration to other habitats.
In simple terms, gene diversity emerges as one of the keys to species survival. In 2022, the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) emphasized the increased need to protect genetic diversity found in wild species, a fundamental component of biological diversity that had been generally neglected before.
Already, global warming is exerting significant pressure on numerous species in Europe, especially those with populations at the climatic limits of their range. The survival of these species is contingent on their ability to withstand increased heat or drought, as well as the introduction of new species into their environment. In these critical borderline situations, the urgency to measure genetic diversity becomes paramount, allowing for an assessment of the species' ability to persist in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Through a comprehensive analysis of all genetic monitoring programs in Europe, the study has identified specific geographic areas that require increased monitoring efforts.
Geographic distribution of effort to monitor population genetic diversity (GME), for purposes of conservation or management, among COST full-member countries
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-02260-0
»Without better European monitoring of genetic diversity, we risk losing important genetic variants,« says Prof. Dr. Peter Pearman, lead author of the study.
Enhanced monitoring efforts would facilitate the identification of areas favorable to genetic variants, allowing for their protection. This is crucial in maintaining the genetic diversity essential for the long-term survival of species. Additionally, some of these threatened species play vital roles in providing valuable services to humans, including crop pollination, pest control, water purification, and climate regulation.
The full study, co-authored by Prof. Dr. Elena Bužan, also a member of the European Reference Consortium Genome Atlas (ERGA), and Laura Iacolina, visiting researcher, both from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT, can be found here. A summary of the findings is available here.
