Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss
Mitigating loss of genetic diversity is a major global biodiversity challenge1,2,3,4. To meet recent international commitments to maintain genetic diversity within species5,6, 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
| Type | A1: Web of Science-article |
|---|---|
| Category | Research |
| Magazine | Nature |
| Language | English |
Bibtex
@misc{5fef04a2-f305-4641-8972-bee7a440bd07,
title = "Global meta-analysis shows action is needed to halt genetic diversity loss",
abstract = "Mitigating loss of genetic diversity is a major global biodiversity challenge1,2,3,4. To meet recent international commitments to maintain genetic diversity within species5,6, 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.",
author = "Robyn E. Shaw and Katherine A. Farquharson and Michael W. Bruford and D Coates and Carole P. Elliott and Joachim Mergeay and Kym M. Ottewell and Gernot Segelbacher and Sean Hoban and Christina Hvilsom and S Perez-Espona and Dainis Ruņģis and Filippos Aravanopoulos and Laura D. Bertola and Helena Cotrim and Karen Cox and Vlatka Cubric-Curik and Robert Ekblom and Jose A. Godoy and Maciej K. Konopinski and Linda Laikre and Isa-Rita M. Russo and Nevena Velickovic and Philippine Vergeer and Carles Vila and Vladimir Brajkovic and David L. Field and William P. Goodall-Copestake and Frank Hailer and Tara Hopley and Frank E. Zachos and Paulo C. Alves and Aleksandra Biedrzycka and Rachel M. Binks and Joukje Buiteveld and Elena Buzan and Margaret Byrne and Barton Huntley and Laura Lacolina and Naomi L. P. Keehnen and Peter Klinga and Alexander Kopatz and Sara Kurland and Jennifer A. Leonard and Chiara Manfrin and Alexis Marchesini and Melissa A. Millar and P Orozco-terWengel and Jente Ottenburghs and Diana Posledovich and Peter B. Spencer and Nikolaos Tourvas and Tina Unuk Nahberger and Pim van Hooft and Rita Verbylaitė and Cristiano Vernesi and Catherine E. Grueber",
year = "2025",
month = jan,
day = "29",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08458-x",
language = "English",
publisher = "Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek",
address = "Belgium,
type = "Other"
}
Authors
Robyn E. ShawKatherine A. Farquharson
Michael W. Bruford
D Coates
Carole P. Elliott
Joachim Mergeay
Kym M. Ottewell
Gernot Segelbacher
Sean Hoban
Christina Hvilsom
S Perez-Espona
Dainis Ruņģis
Filippos Aravanopoulos
Laura D. Bertola
Helena Cotrim
Karen Cox
Vlatka Cubric-Curik
Robert Ekblom
Jose A. Godoy
Maciej K. Konopinski
Linda Laikre
Isa-Rita M. Russo
Nevena Velickovic
Philippine Vergeer
Carles Vila
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 Lacolina
Naomi L. P. Keehnen
Peter Klinga
Alexander Kopatz
Sara Kurland
Jennifer A. Leonard
Chiara Manfrin
Alexis Marchesini
Melissa A. Millar
P Orozco-terWengel
Jente Ottenburghs
Diana Posledovich
Peter B. Spencer
Nikolaos Tourvas
Tina Unuk Nahberger
Pim van Hooft
Rita Verbylaitė
Cristiano Vernesi
Catherine E. Grueber