From genomic threat assessment to conservation action

Area of Science:

• Conservation genomics
• Biodiversity science
• Population genetics

Background:

• Genomic approaches offer powerful tools for conservation biology.
• Understanding species' vulnerability and guiding restoration are key conservation goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate two subdisciplines within conservation genomics: vulnerability genomics and restoration genomics.
• To review current applications, challenges, and future directions for these genomic fields.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of current research in conservation genomics.
• Conceptual framework development to distinguish vulnerability and restoration genomics.

Main Results:

• Genomic applications in conservation are broadly categorized into assessing threats (vulnerability genomics) and facilitating recovery (restoration genomics).
• Current research highlights the utility of genomic data for population assessment, adaptation studies, and guiding reintroduction strategies.

Conclusions:

• Vulnerability and restoration genomics represent distinct yet complementary fields within the broader scope of conservation genomics.
• Further research is needed to fully realize the potential of genomic tools for effective biodiversity conservation and management.