Facilitated Adaptation as A Conservation Tool in the Present Climate Change Context: A Methodological Guide

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Climate change presents a significant threat to global biodiversity.
• Organisms adapt to environmental shifts via migration or evolutionary adaptation.
• Assisted migration is an established conservation strategy, while facilitated adaptation is emerging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a conceptual framework for facilitated adaptation.
• To integrate methodologies from various scientific disciplines.
• To propose practical approaches for implementing facilitated adaptation.

Main Methods:

• Facilitated adaptation involves population reinforcement with beneficial alleles.
• Two approaches are proposed: pre-existing adaptation and de novo adaptation.
• Each approach includes stage-by-stage procedures and implementation techniques.

Main Results:

• The pre-existing adaptation approach utilizes existing adapted genotypes.
• The de novo adaptation approach generates new adapted genotypes via artificial selection.
• Both approaches outline implementation steps and discuss associated risks.

Conclusions:

• Facilitated adaptation offers a novel strategy for biodiversity conservation under climate change.
• The proposed methods provide a roadmap for practical implementation.
• Careful consideration of risks and challenges is crucial for successful application.