How and why should we implement genomics into conservation?

Conservation genetics has provided important information into the dynamics of endangered populations. The rapid development of genomic methods has posed an important question, namely where do genetics and genomics sit in relation to their application in the conservation of species? Although genetics...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evolutionary applications 2014-11, Vol.7 (9), p.999-1007
Main Authors: McMahon, Barry J., Teeling, Emma C., Höglund, Jacob
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adaptation
conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation genetics
conservation prior
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Emergency medical care
Endangered & extinct species
Endangered populations
Estimates
Genetic research
Genomes
Genomics
next generation sequencing
Population
Review and Synthesis
Studies
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Summary:Conservation genetics has provided important information into the dynamics of endangered populations. The rapid development of genomic methods has posed an important question, namely where do genetics and genomics sit in relation to their application in the conservation of species? Although genetics can answer a number of relevant questions related to conservation, the argument for the application of genomics is not yet fully exploited. Here, we explore the transition and rationale for the move from genetic to genomic research in conservation biology and the utility of such research. We explore the idea of a ‘conservation prior’ and how this can be determined by genomic data and used in the management of populations. We depict three different conservation scenarios and describe how genomic data can drive management action in each situation. We conclude that the most effective applications of genomics will be to inform stakeholders with the aim of avoiding ‘emergency room conservation’.
ISSN:1752-4571
1752-4571
DOI:10.1111/eva.12193