Genomics and conservation: Guidance from training to analyses and applications

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Genetics
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• The escalating biodiversity crisis, driven by environmental change, threatens global species diversity.
• Conservation genomics presents a powerful approach to inform and implement effective conservation strategies.
• Current application of conservation genomics is limited by needs in training, methodological rigor, and interdisciplinary communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical guidance for improving applied conservation genomics.
• To enhance the effectiveness of conservation actions through genomic insights.
• To bridge the gap between researchers and conservation managers.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and best practices in conservation genomics.
• Identification of key areas for improvement: pedagogy, population genomic analyses, and communication.
• Synthesis of insights for students and professionals in the field.

Main Results:

• Outlines strategies for improving training and education in conservation genomics, including for online audiences.
• Details best practices for conducting robust population genomic analyses, emphasizing theory, marker selection, and interpretation.
• Provides recommendations for fostering better communication and collaboration between scientists and conservation managers.

Conclusions:

• Effective conservation genomics requires enhanced training, rigorous application of genomic methods, and strong researcher-manager partnerships.
• Updating professionals with genomic principles is crucial for expanding the conservation toolkit.
• International collaboration and continuous learning are essential to combat the global biodiversity crisis.