Satellite-observed mountain greening predicts genomic erosion in a grassland medicinal herb over half a century
Current Biology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 1, 2025
Mountains
are
biodiversity
hotspots
contributing
essential
benefits
to
human
societies,
but
global
environmental
change
is
rapidly
altering
their
habitats.
During
the
past
five
decades,
increasing
temperatures
and
land-use
in
montane
subalpine
elevations
facilitated
productivity
expansion
of
competitive
vegetation,
termed
as
"greening,"
with
adverse
effects
on
open
grassland
Although
vegetation
greening
well-documented
through
satellite
observations,
its
impact
populations
genomic
integrity
affected
species
remains
underexplored.
Here,
we
address
this
challenge
by
integrating
40
years
remote
sensing
data
museum
genomics
fieldwork
assess
mountain
diversity
plants
southern
Balkan
peninsula.
We
sequenced
genomes
historical
modern
Ironwort,
a
plant
significant
medicinal
value,
demonstrate
widespread
erosion
across
populations.
Our
results
show
that,
average,
6%
(0%-20%)
Ironwort's
genome
inbreeding
accumulation
over
half
century,
indicating
various
degrees
population
declines.
Importantly,
that
highly
predictable
normalized
difference
index
(NDVI)
rates
change.
models
suggest
faster
increases
density
associated
higher
declines
species,
revealing
negative
impacts
ecosystems.
By
linking
two
independent
disparate
monitoring
indicators,
ability
predict
consequences
temporal
far-reaching
implications
for
protecting
natural
resources
these
fragile
Language: Английский
Satellite-observed land cover change predicts plant genomic erosion over half a century
Research Square (Research Square),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 23, 2024
Abstract
Human
induced
land-cover
change
within
the
past
decades
has
resulted
in
severe
biodiversity
loss,
adversely
affecting
ecosystems
and
their
contributions
to
human
societies
1,2
.
Addressing
crisis
requires
development
of
monitoring
frameworks
that
can
reliably
detect
inform
conservation
actions
3,4,5
Satellite
observations
have
revolutionized
our
ability
monitor
species
ecosystem
dynamics
response
anthropogenic
pressures,
yet,
a
last
frontier
remains:
detecting
genetic
diversity
from
space
6
Here,
we
address
this
challenge
by
utilizing
remote
sensing
predict
genomic
erosion
over
half
century
global
change.
We
sequenced
historical
modern
genomes
medically
important
mountain
plant,
show
is
highly
predictable
velocity
land
cover
Our
models
reveal
faster
vegetation
“greening”
leads
higher
inbreeding
accumulation
affected
species.
By
linking
satellite
data
with
erosion,
demonstrate
impact
environmental
on
diversity,
far
reaching
implications
for
protecting
basal
level
biodiversity.
Language: Английский