Evolutionary Potential Research Articles

Genetic Diversity and Evolutionary Biology of Indian Wildlife- A Review

The genetic diversity and evolutionary biology of Indian wildlife, emphasizing the critical role of genetic variability in ensuring species adaptability and long-term survival. India is one of the world’s megadiverse countries, home to a wide range of unique flora and fauna spread across its biodiversity hotspots, including the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalayas. However, rapid habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and poaching have severely impacted the genetic health of many wildlife species, leading to reduced gene flow, population bottlenecks, and increased inbreeding. This has heightened the risk of extinction for small, isolated populations such as the Asiatic lion and the Great Indian bustard. Genetic studies using advanced genomic tools have provided key insights into the population structure, phylogenetic relationships, and adaptive potential of species like the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, and snow leopard. Conservation strategies, including genetic rescue, habitat corridors, and the use of captive breeding programs, are recommended to preserve genetic diversity and prevent further genetic erosion. Technological advances, such as non-invasive sampling and bioinformatics, are transforming wildlife research, enabling more precise and less intrusive genetic monitoring. The integration of genetic data into conservation policies and practices is essential for developing targeted management plans that maintain the evolutionary potential of Indian wildlife.

Introduction of three cryptic lineages of invasive Nymphoides cristata in the southeastern United States

Abstract Crested floating heart [Nymphoides cristata (Roxb.) Kuntze] is an invasive aquatic plant in the southeastern United States. For clonal plants like N. cristata, clonal diversity may influence response to control tactics and/or evolutionary potential. However, little is known about the diversity of introduced N. cristata. In this study, we used genotyping-by-sequencing to quantify N. cristata diversity in the southeastern U.S. and determine how that diversity is distributed across the invaded range. Our results show that at least three distinct genetic lineages of N. cristata are present in the southeastern U.S. Geographic distribution of the lineages varied, with one widespread lineage identified across several states and others only found in a single waterbody. There is also evidence of extensive asexual reproduction, with invaded waterbodies often host to a single genetic lineage. The genetic diversity reported in this study likely results from multiple introductions of N. cristata to the southeastern U.S. and should be considered by managers when assessing control tactics such as screening for biocontrol agents or herbicide testing. The extent and distribution of genetic diversity should also be considered by researchers studying the potential for invasive spread of N. cristata within the U.S. or hybridization with native Nymphoides species.

Resilience of genetic diversity in forest trees over the Quaternary

The effect of past environmental changes on the demography and genetic diversity of natural populations remains a contentious issue and has rarely been investigated across multiple, phylogenetically distant species. Here, we perform comparative population genomic analyses and demographic inferences for seven widely distributed and ecologically contrasting European forest tree species based on concerted sampling of 164 populations across their natural ranges. For all seven species, the effective population size, Ne, increased or remained stable over many glacial cycles and up to 15 million years in the most extreme cases. Surprisingly, the drastic environmental changes associated with the Pleistocene glacial cycles have had little impact on the level of genetic diversity of dominant forest tree species, despite major shifts in their geographic ranges. Based on their trajectories of Ne over time, the seven tree species can be divided into three major groups, highlighting the importance of life history and range size in determining synchronous variation in genetic diversity over time. Altogether, our results indicate that forest trees have been able to retain their evolutionary potential over very long periods of time despite strong environmental changes.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Endangered Orchid Cypripedium flavum in Fragmented Habitat Using Fluorescent AFLP Markers

Genetic diversity is crucial for determining the evolutionary potential of a species and is essential for developing optimal conservation strategies. The impact of habitat fragmentation on the genetic diversity of food-deceptive orchids seems to be unpredictable because of their specialized seed and pollen dispersal mechanisms. The habitat of deceptive Cypripedium flavum was severely fragmented during the past half century. This study investigated the genetic diversity and structure of seven fragmented Cypripedium flavum populations in Shangrila County using AFLP markers. A total of 376 alleles were identified, with a range of 70 to 81 alleles per locus. The species exhibited considerable genetic diversity, as evidenced by an average Nei’s gene diversity (H) of 0.339 and a Shannon’s information index (I) of 0.505, with all loci being polymorphic. Based on Molecular Variance (AMOVA), 8.75% of the genetic differentiation was found among populations, while the remaining 91.25% of genetic variation occurred within populations. Population structure analysis revealed that the C. flavum germplasm can be categorized into five distinct groups, among which there was significant gene flow. Despite habitat fragmentation, C. flavum still retained a high level of genetic diversity, and the substantial gene flow (5.0826) is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity. These findings offer valuable insights for the conservation and potential use of C. flavum genetic resources.

Small-scale geographic differences in multiple-driver environmental variability can modulate contrasting phenotypic plasticity despite high levels of gene flow

Climate change is altering not only the mean conditions of marine environments, but also their temporal variability and predictability. As these alterations are not uniform across seascapes, their biological effects are expected to accentuate intra-specific differences in the adaptive capacity (e.g., plasticity and evolutionary potential) of natural populations. To test this theoretical framework, we assessed the phenotypic and genetic profiles of mussel from three study sites across a multi-driver heterogeneous environmental mosaic in Chilean Patagonia. Our study reveals that temporal variability, predictability, and exposure to extreme events (low pH/low salinity), collectively, can modulate the plasticity and optimal conditions of mussels. Despite these phenotypic differences, we observed low genetic differentiation, likely resulting from significant gene flow induced by aquaculture, ultimately diminishing variation among individuals from different geographic areas. Our findings underscore how variability and predictability are essential factors shaping phenotypic diversity, even at small spatial scales. Balancing these factors could enhance species resilience and ecological success, crucial for biodiversity conservation amidst climate change.

Genomic adaptation to small population size and saltwater consumption in the critically endangered Cat Ba langur

Many mammal species have declining populations, but the consequences of small population size on the genomic makeup of species remain largely unknown. We investigated the evolutionary history, genetic load and adaptive potential of the Cat Ba langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus), a primate species endemic to Vietnam’s famous Ha Long Bay and with less than 100 living individuals one of the most threatened primates in the world. Using high-coverage whole genome data of four wild individuals, we revealed the Cat Ba langur as sister species to its conspecifics of the northern limestone langur clade and found no evidence for extensive secondary gene flow after their initial separation. Compared to other primates and mammals, the Cat Ba langur showed low levels of genetic diversity, long runs of homozygosity, high levels of inbreeding and an excess of deleterious mutations in homozygous state. On the other hand, genetic diversity has been maintained in protein-coding genes and on the gene-rich human chromosome 19 ortholog, suggesting that the Cat Ba langur retained most of its adaptive potential. The Cat Ba langur also exhibits several unique non-synonymous variants that are related to calcium and sodium metabolism, which may have improved adaptation to high calcium intake and saltwater consumption.

Population Size in Evolutionary Biology Is More Than the Effective Size.

In population genetics idealized Wright-Fisher (WF) populations are generally considered equivalent to real populations with regard to the major evolutionary processes that influence genotype and allele frequencies. As a result we often model the response of populations by focusing on the effective size N e . The Diversity Partitioning Theorem (DPT) shows that you cannot model the behavior of a system solely on the basis of a diversity (accounting for unevenness among items) without taking richness into account. I show that the census population size (the number of adults, N c ) is equivalent to a richness, and that the effective size N e is equivalent to a true diversity. It follows logically from the DPT that we require both N e and N c to understand how drift, selection, mutation, and gene flow interact to shape the course of evolution of populations. Here I review evidence that both N c and N e affect evolutionary trajectories of populations for neutral and adaptive processes. This also influences how we should consider evolutionary potential and genetic criteria for conservation of populations. The effective size of a population is of huge importance in evolutionary biology, but it should not be the sole focus when population size is concerned. Applied evolutionary studies need to integrate N c in the equation more consistently when modeling the response to selection, mutation, migration, and drift.

Racial composition and variability of the <i>ToxA</i> gene in geographically distant populations of <i>Pyrenophora tritici-repentis</i>

Pyrenophora tritici-repentis causing the tan spot of wheat produces specific necrotrophic effectors Ptr ToxA, Ptr ToxB and Ptr ToxC, inducing necrosis and chlorosis on the leaves of susceptible varieties. Based on the ability of P. tritici-repentis strains to produce specific necrotrophic effectors or their combinations, the eight races of the pathogen are distinguished. Monitoring the race composition of P. tritici-repentis populations is necessary to assess the evolutionary potential of the pathogen and develop a methodology for breeding wheat cultivars with long-term resistance. We analyzed 179 monoconidial P. tritici-repentis strains from Kazakhstan and Russia populations in 2020–2022. The widespread distribution of races 2 and 4 was revealed, strains of which were present in each analyzed P. tritici-repentis population with a frequency of 2–36% and 7–82%, respectively. The dominance of avirulent race 4 was noted: the strains of this race accounted for 27% of all analyzed P. tritici-repentis strains. Molecular identification of the ToxA and ToxB genes, as well as toxb, a homolog of the ToxB gene, in 118 P. tritici-repentis strains from six populations revealed the presence of the ToxA gene in 69% of the analyzed strains. The ToxB gene was not detected in any strains, while the toxb gene was found sporadically and was identified in the genome of 18 P. tritici-repentis strains (9%), most of which were avirulent and belonged to race 4. In PCR with specific primers for ToxA gene of ten P. tritici-repentis strains a product of ≈ 800 bp was amplified, which turned out to be significantly larger than expected. This was explained by the presence of an insertion in the amplified region of the ToxA gene. All P. tritici-repentis strains with the ToxAL were assigned to races 4 and 5, which do not form the necrotrophic effector Ptr ToxA. The structure of the ToxAL gene and its protein product is the subject of further research.

Variation in the Local Grey Mullet Populations (Mugil cephalus) on the Western Pacific Fringe

Background: Understanding population genetic structures is crucial for planning and implementing conservation programmes to preserve species’ adaptive and evolutionary potential and thus ensure their long-term persistence. The grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) is a globally distributed coastal fish. Its populations in waters surrounding Taiwan on the western Pacific fringe are divided into at least two stocks (migratory and residential), but questions remain regarding their genetic divergence and gene flow. Methods and Results: To cast more light on this, allozyme variations at 21 presumptive gene loci of 1217 adult grey mullets from 15 localities in Japan, Taiwan and mainland China, and four gene loci from 1470 juveniles from three localities in Taiwan were used to investigate patterns of genetic variation. The mean expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.128—ranging from 0.031 (Matsu) to 0.442 (Kaoping)—and the mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) was 0.086—ranging from 0.017 (Kaohsiung) to 0.215 (Kaoping). Both AMOVA and the high overall mean FST of 0.252 indicated enormous genetic differentiation among populations and the positive mean value of FIS was 0.328, indicating a deficiency of heterozygotes. PCoA indicated that the samples of M. cephalus could be split into three groups and STRUCTURE analysis showed that all individuals were grouped into three genetic clusters. The results of mutation-drift equilibrium tests did not suggest that the populations experienced any recent genetic bottleneck. The results from all localities in the present investigation showed significant change in the GPI-A genotype frequencies with latitudes—e.g., increases in GPI-A*135/135 homozygote frequencies and GPI-A*100/100 frequencies were highly correlated with latitudinal cline. All migratory populations with the GPI-A genotype were almost exclusively the GPI-A*100/100 homozygote. During the life history of M. cephalus, the GPI-A*100/135 heterozygote frequency significantly decreases with age. Conclusions: Based on these data, we suggest that each GPI-A genotype represents trait combinations of higher fitness in some portions of the environment. Furthermore, the genotypic frequencies change in accordance with life stages, suggesting that selection occurs throughout the life span.

Evolutionary potential and direction of evolution

The article defines evolutionary potential as a reserve of resources (substrate, energy and information) of an evolving system and as something that can be «produced» by this system using available reserves under the influence of various factors. In relation to evolutionary processes, the evolutionary potential of the functioning (stability, tolerance) of the species and the evolutionary potential of its development are distinguished. From the point of view of the possibilities (potential) for a species to transition into a new form (new species), we should talk about pluripotent and unipotent (monopotent) species, which probably depends on the potential of the eco-niche occupied (or mastered) by the species. Polypotent species give rise to several species through divergence, and monopotent species are transformed into a new single species when the evolutionary branch does not split. The connection between evolutionary potential and evolutionary orientation is considered, which is proposed to be understood not only (and not so much) as the implementation of internal processes (mechanisms), but also as a consequence of the influence of external factors that adapt the organism “to itself.” The set of potential directions of variability may not contain the desired (adaptive) option. Attention is drawn to the fact that the element of chance to a certain extent neutralizes the nomogenetic character of evolution. On the other hand, the direction of evolution to a certain extent reduces evolutionary chaos, the success of which is most manifested in the cognitive evolution of Man.

Correction: DNA-based studies and genetic diversity indicator assessments are complementary approaches to conserving evolutionary potential

Correction: DNA-based studies and genetic diversity indicator assessments are complementary approaches to conserving evolutionary potential

The Innovative Construction of Provinces, Regional Artificial Intelligence Development, and the Resilience of Regional Innovation Ecosystems: Quasi-Natural Experiments Based on Spatial Difference-in-Differences Models and Double Machine Learning

Based on the theory of regional innovation niches, this study calculates the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems and constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system for regional artificial intelligence development, resulting in a panel dataset for 30 provinces in China from 2009 to 2021 (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Within the framework of the construction of innovative provinces, regional artificial intelligence, and the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems, spatial double-difference and double machine learning models are employed for a quasi-natural experiment. The main research conclusions are as follows: (1) Both the construction of innovative provinces and artificial intelligence have a significant positive impact on the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems. (2) However, regional artificial intelligence exhibits a negative spatial spillover effect on the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems. (3) The construction of innovative provinces can positively moderate the effect of artificial intelligence on the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems. (4) Through the promotion of regional artificial intelligence, the construction of innovative provinces can indirectly enhance the diversity, evolutionary potential, buffering capacity, fluidity, and coordination of regional innovation ecosystems, thereby driving a leap in resilience. (5) The mechanisms by which the construction of innovative provinces stimulates regional intelligent input, application, innovation, and market dynamics to further enhance the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems are effective not only in the treatment group but also in the control group.

A haplotype-resolved genome assembly of Coptis teeta, an endangered plant of significant medicinal value

Coptis teeta Wall. (Ranunculaceae), an endangered plant species of significant medicinal value, predominantly undergoes clonal propagation, potentially compromising the species’ evolutionary potential and ultimately increase its risk of extinction. In this study, we successfully assembled two sets of haploid genomes (Hap1 and Hap2) for C. teeta, comprising nine homologous chromosome pairs, by employing Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies. The genome annotation identified a total of 43,979 and 46,311 protein-coding genes in Hap1 and in Hap2, and most of them were functionally annotated. The high-quality reference genome will serve as an indispensable genomic resource for conservation and comprehensive exploitation of this endangered species. Between the two haploid genomes, numerous structural alterations were detected within the nine homologous chromosome pairs, potentially resulting in aberrant synapsis and irregular chromosomal segregation and thus contributing to the sustained preservation of clonal propagation in C. teeta. The findings offer new perspective for elucidating the genetic mechanism underlying the compromised sexual reproductive capacity of C. teeta, thereby facilitating its enhancement though molecular breeding and genetic improvement.

A decision-making framework to maximise the evolutionary potential of populations - Genetic and genomic insights from the common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) at its range limits

Anthropogenic habitat modification and climate change are fundamental drivers of biodiversity declines, reducing the evolutionary potential of species, particularly at their distributional limits. Supportive breeding or reintroductions of individuals are often made to replenish declining populations, sometimes informed by genetic analysis. However, most approaches utilised (i.e. single locus markers) do not have the resolution to account for local adaptation to environmental conditions, a crucial aspect to consider when selecting donor and recipient populations. Here, we incorporate genetic (microsatellite) and genome-wide SNP (ddRAD-seq) markers, accounting for both neutral and putative adaptive genetic diversity, to inform the conservation management of the threatened common midwife toad, Alytes obstetricans at the northern and eastern edges of its range in Europe. We find geographically structured populations (n = 4), weak genetic differentiation and fairly consistent levels of genetic diversity across localities (observed heterozygosity and allelic richness). Categorising individuals based on putatively adaptive regions of the genome showed that the majority of localities are not strongly locally adapted. However, several localities present high numbers of private alleles in tandem with local adaptation to warmer conditions and rough topography. Combining genetic diversity and local adaptations with estimates of migration rates, we develop a decision-making framework for selecting donor and recipient populations which maximises the geographic dispersal of neutral and putatively adaptive genetic diversity. Our framework is generally applicable to any species, but especially to amphibians, so armed with this information, conservationists may avoid the reintroduction of unsuitable/maladapted individuals to new sites and increase the evolutionary potential of populations within species.

Genomic Diversity as a Key Conservation Criterion: Proof-of-Concept From Mammalian Whole-Genome Resequencing Data.

Many international, national, state, and local organizations prioritize the ranking of threatened and endangered species to help direct conservation efforts. For example, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assesses the Green Status of species and publishes the influential Red List of threatened species. Unfortunately, such conservation yardsticks do not explicitly consider genetic or genomic diversity (GD), even though GD is positively associated with contemporary evolutionary fitness, individual viability, and with future evolutionary potential. To test whether populations of genome sequences could help improve conservation assessments, we estimated GD metrics from 82 publicly available mammalian datasets and examined their statistical association with attributes related to conservation. We also considered intrinsic biological factors, including trophic level and body mass, that could impact GD and quantified their relative influences. Our results identify key population GD metrics that are both reflective and predictive of IUCN conservation categories. Specifically, our analyses revealed that Watterson's theta (the population mutation rate) and autozygosity (a product of inbreeding) are associated with the current Red List categorization, likely because demographic declines that lead to "listing" decisions also reduce levels of standing genetic variation. We argue that by virtue of this relationship, conservation organizations like IUCN could leverage emerging genome sequence data to help categorize Red List threat rankings (especially in otherwise data-deficient species) and/or enhance Green Status assessments to establish a baseline for future population monitoring. Thus, our paper (1) outlines the theoretical and empirical justification for a new GD-based assessment criterion, (2) provides a bioinformatic pipeline for estimating GD from population genomic data, and (3) suggests an analytical framework that can be used to measure baseline GD while providing quantitative GD context for consideration by conservation authorities.

Genetic structure and climate niche differentiation among populations of Leopardus geoffroyi.

Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) is a small-sized felid native to South America. Given the species' distribution covering a wide variety of habitats, and the presence of high levels of anthropization in part of its range, it is possible that genetically differentiated groups exist and that they occupy different climatic niches. We assessed patterns of contemporary genetic diversity and structure in the species across most of its range, characterizing each inferred genetic group based on ecological niche models. We genotyped 11 microsatellites for 142 samples covering most of Geoffroy's cat distribution, and investigated patterns of genetic structure and diversity, applying spatial and nonspatial Bayesian clustering methods and a spatial principal component analysis. We created ecological niche models for each genetic cluster, evaluating whether these clusters occupy different climatic spaces and display differences in the suitability of different values of the climatic variables analyzed. We identified two genetic clusters, one in the north-northeast and the other in the south-southwest of the species' distribution. These clusters showed moderate FST values between them and differences in dispersal/genetic diversity. We found isolation-by-distance patterns globally and within each cluster. We observed lower expected heterozygosity compared with other studies and a north-south gradient in allelic richness. The southern cluster showed lower genetic variability and a more restricted climatic niche suggesting that this group is more vulnerable to the effects of the current context of climate change. Individuals from the southern genetic cluster are under different pressures, likely a product of the particularly dry habitat they occupy. Climatic variables associated with habitat suitability suggest the southern cluster has affinity for the arid and semiarid conditions present in its distribution. Conservation measures should consider the genetic structure observed and differences in climatic spaces to maintain the evolutionary potential of the species.

The Genetic Architecture of Recombination Rates is Polygenic and Differs Between the Sexes in Wild House Sparrows (Passer domesticus).

Meiotic recombination through chromosomal crossing-over is a fundamental feature of sex and an important driver of genomic diversity. It ensures proper disjunction, allows increased selection responses, and prevents mutation accumulation; however, it is also mutagenic and can break up favorable haplotypes. This cost-benefit dynamic is likely to vary depending on mechanistic and evolutionary contexts, and indeed, recombination rates show huge variation in nature. Identifying the genetic architecture of this variation is key to understanding its causes and consequences. Here, we investigate individual recombination rate variation in wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We integrate genomic and pedigree data to identify autosomal crossover counts (ACCs) and intrachromosomal allelic shuffling (r¯intra) in 13,056 gametes transmitted from 2,653 individuals to their offspring. Females had 1.37 times higher ACC, and 1.55 times higher r¯intra than males. ACC and r¯intra were heritable in females and males (ACC h2 = 0.23 and 0.11; r¯intra h2 = 0.12 and 0.14), but cross-sex additive genetic correlations were low (rA = 0.29 and 0.32 for ACC and r¯intra). Conditional bivariate analyses showed that all measures remained heritable after accounting for genetic values in the opposite sex, indicating that sex-specific ACC and r¯intra can evolve somewhat independently. Genome-wide models showed that ACC and r¯intra are polygenic and driven by many small-effect loci, many of which are likely to act in trans as global recombination modifiers. Our findings show that recombination rates of females and males can have different evolutionary potential in wild birds, providing a compelling mechanism for the evolution of sexual dimorphism in recombination.

The Spiral Model of Evolution: Stable Life Forms of Organisms and Unstable Life Forms of Cancers.

If one must prioritize among the vast array of contributing factors to cancer evolution, environmental-stress-mediated chromosome instability (CIN) should easily surpass individual gene mutations. CIN leads to the emergence of genomically unstable life forms, enabling them to grow dominantly within the stable life form of the host. In contrast, stochastic gene mutations play a role in aiding the growth of the cancer population, with their importance depending on the initial emergence of the new system. Furthermore, many specific gene mutations among the many available can perform this function, decreasing the clinical value of any specific gene mutation. Since these unstable life forms can respond to treatment differently than stable ones, cancer often escapes from drug treatment by forming new systems, which leads to problems during the treatment for patients. To understand how diverse factors impact CIN-mediated macroevolution and genome integrity-ensured microevolution, the concept of two-phased cancer evolution is used to reconcile some major characteristics of cancer, such as bioenergetic, unicellular, and multicellular evolution. Specifically, the spiral of life function model is proposed, which integrates major historical evolutionary innovations and conservation with information management. Unlike normal organismal evolution in the microevolutionary phase, where a given species occupies a specific location within the spiral, cancer populations are highly heterogenous at multiple levels, including epigenetic levels. Individual cells occupy different levels and positions within the spiral, leading to supersystems of mixed cellular populations that exhibit both macro and microevolution. This analysis, utilizing karyotype to define the genetic networks of the cellular system and CIN to determine the instability of the system, as well as considering gene mutation and epigenetics as modifiers of the system for information amplification and usage, explores the high evolutionary potential of cancer. It provides a new, unified understanding of cancer as a supersystem, encouraging efforts to leverage the dynamics of CIN to develop improved treatment options. Moreover, it offers a historically contingent model for organismal evolution that reconciles the roles of both evolutionary innovation and conservation through macroevolution and microevolution, respectively.

Genomic implications of the repeated shift to self-fertilization across a species' geographic distribution.

The ability to self-fertilize often varies among closely related hermaphroditic plant species, though, variation can also exist within species. In the North American Arabidopsis lyrata, the shift from self-incompatibility (SI) to selfing established in multiple regions independently, mostly since recent postglacial range expansion. This has made the species an ideal model for the investigation of the genomic underpinnings of the breakdown of SI and its population genetic consequences. By comparing nearby selfing and outcrossing populations across the entire species' geographic distribution, we investigated variation at the self-incompatibility (S-)locus and across the genome. Furthermore, a diallel crossing experiment on one mixed-mating population was performed to gain insight in the genetics of mating system variation. We confirmed that the breakdown of SI had evolved in several S-locus backgrounds. The diallel suggested the involvement of binuclearly expressed parental genes with dominance relations. Though, the population-level genome-wide association study did not single out clear-cut candidate genes but several regions with one near the S-locus. On the implication side, selfing as compared to outcrossing populations had less than half of the genomic diversity, while the number of runs of homozygosity and their length scaled with the degree of inbreeding. The results highlight that mating system shifts to selfing, its genetic underpinning and the likely negative genomic consequences for evolutionary potential can be strongly interlinked with past range dynamics.

DNA-based studies and genetic diversity indicator assessments are complementary approaches to conserving evolutionary potential

AbstractGenetic diversity is essential for maintaining healthy populations and ecosystems. Several approaches have recently been developed to evaluate population genetic trends without necessarily collecting new genetic data. Such “genetic diversity indicators” enable rapid, large-scale evaluation across dozens to thousands of species. Empirical genetic studies, when available, provide detailed information that is important for management, such as estimates of gene flow, inbreeding, genetic erosion and adaptation. In this article, we argue that the development and advancement of genetic diversity indicators is a complementary approach to genetic studies in conservation biology, but not a substitute. Genetic diversity indicators and empirical genetic data can provide different information for conserving genetic diversity. Genetic diversity indicators enable affordable tracking, reporting, prioritization and communication, although, being proxies, do not provide comprehensive evaluation of the genetic status of a species. Conversely, genetic methods offer detailed analysis of the genetic status of a given species or population, although they remain challenging to implement for most species globally, given current capacity and resourcing. We conclude that indicators and genetic studies are both important for genetic conservation actions and recommend they be used in combination for conserving and monitoring genetic diversity.