How genomics can help biodiversity conservation

Trends in Genetics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 39(7), P. 545 - 559

Published: Feb. 16, 2023

The availability of public genomic resources can greatly assist biodiversity assessment, conservation, and restoration efforts by providing evidence for scientifically informed management decisions. Here we survey the main approaches applications in conservation genomics, considering practical factors, such as cost, time, prerequisite skills, current shortcomings applications. Most perform best combination with reference genomes from target species or closely related species. We review case studies to illustrate how facilitate research across tree life. conclude that time is ripe view fundamental integrate their use a practice genomics.

Language: Английский

---

Biodiversity loss and climate extremes — study the feedbacks

Nature, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 612(7938), P. 30 - 32

Published: Nov. 29, 2022

Language: Английский

---

Long-term growth decline precedes sudden crown dieback of European beech

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 324, P. 109103 - 109103

Published: Aug. 9, 2022

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) has strongly suffered from the exceptional 2018 drought and subsequent dry years that hit Central Europe. While many trees showed severe signs of crown dieback or died following extreme drought, other co-occurring neighboring no sign only minor damage. The reasons why some were more severely impacted than others which predisposing factors make vulnerable are still poorly understood. Here, we analyzed differences in long-term growth trends, neighborhood composition (competition species diversity), early-warning signals, responses to past droughts vital declining at six sites Switzerland. We aimed connect tree vitality after with trajectories investigated whether had already been susceptible before occurred. Overall, a stronger decline last 50 years. Declining exhibited stagnating then decreasing even Interestingly, did not find significant response between classes, exception recovered faster droughts. Further, could neither detect any difference effect competition on response, nor predict based signals try regime shifts by sudden changes autoregressive coefficient lag 1, standard deviation skewness. Our results indicate unlike trees, for having lower rates during

Language: Английский

---

The application gap: Genomics for biodiversity and ecosystem service management

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 278, P. 109883 - 109883

Published: Jan. 4, 2023

The conservation of biodiversity from the genetic to community levels is fundamental for continual provision ecosystem services (ES), benefits that ecosystems provide people. Genetic and genomic diversity enhance resilience populations communities underpin functions services. We show genomics applications are mostly limited flagship species their ES management underachieved. propose a framework on how can guide sustainable bridge this genomics-ES 'application gap'. review knowledge in single (relatedness, potentially adaptive variants) or interacting (host-microorganism coevolution, hybridization) effective actions. These include population supplementation, assisted migration hybridization promote climate-adapted variants potential, control invasives, delimitation areas, provenancing strategies restoration, managing microbial function solving trade-offs. Genomics-informed actions improved outcomes supported through synergies between scientists managers at local, regional international levels, development standardized workflows, training incorporation local information. Such facilitate implementation policies such as UN 2030 goals EU Biodiversity strategy 2030, support inclusion ambitious new CBD post-2020 Global Framework hybrids.

Language: Английский

---

Rapid beech decline under recurrent drought stress: Individual neighborhood structure and soil properties matter

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 545, P. 121305 - 121305

Published: July 29, 2023

During the summer of 2022, an acute drought once more afflicted central and southern Europe. This marked third episode (after 2015 2018) severe aridity in large parts Germany within last decade, leading to increased soil water depletion. Consequently, from July 2022 onward, European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) exhibited early withering pronounced premature defoliation. Nevertheless, crown defoliation substantial variation among same forest stands, prompting questions regarding causal factors. In our study, we scrutinized twelve mature drought-impacted, beech-dominated stands northern Bavaria, arranged along a gradient different nutrient regime levels (base-rich, intermediate, base-poor), with co-occurring vital (≤40% defoliation) declining (≥60% trees. Within each stand, selected equal number trees, culminating total 332 target Dendrochronological patterns were analyzed identify potential timing growth separation between vitality classes. Moreover, used Bayesian modelling framework discern whether disparities tree hinged on competition, structure, small-scale differences plant-available capacity, spatial clustering competitors. We further explored factors influencing magnitude decline post-2018 how these modulated by site's regime. Our study unveiled that (i) low competition size diversity bolstered vitality; (ii) spatially aggregated; (iii) strikingly similar trajectories past, which underwent drastic shift following 2018, indicating for rapid under recurrent stress; (iv) capacity emerged as crucial determinant subsequent 2018; (v) was most at base-poor intermediate sites. findings underscore importance accommodating stand characteristics advocate silvicultural guidance towards reduced densities combination heterogenous structure mitigate dieback drought-prone stands.

Language: Английский

---

Biodiversity and Climate Extremes: Known Interactions and Research Gaps

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Abstract Climate extremes are on the rise. Impacts of extreme climate and weather events ecosystem services ultimately human well‐being can be partially attenuated by organismic, structural, functional diversity affected land surface. However, ongoing transformation terrestrial ecosystems through intensified exploitation management may put this buffering capacity at risk. Here, we summarize evidence that reductions in biodiversity destabilize functioning facing extremes. We then explore if impaired could, turn, exacerbate argue only a comprehensive approach, incorporating both ecological hydrometeorological perspectives, enables us to understand predict entire feedback system between altered This ambition, however, requires reformulation current research priorities emphasize bidirectional effects link ecology atmospheric processes.

Language: Английский

---

A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Reveals Anomalies for Organelle DNA Integration, Repeat Content and Distribution of SNPs

Frontiers in Genetics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Feb. 8, 2022

The European Beech is the dominant climax tree in most regions of Central Europe and valued for its ecological versatility hardwood timber. Even though a draft genome has been published recently, higher resolution required studying aspects architecture recombination. Here, we present chromosome-level assembly more than 300 year-old reference individual, Bhaga, from Kellerwald-Edersee National Park (Germany). Its nuclear 541 Mb was resolved into 12 chromosomes varying length between 28 73 Mb. Multiple insertions parts chloroplast were observed, with one region on chromosome 11 spanning 2 which fragments up to 54,784 bp long covering whole inserted randomly. Unlike Arabidopsis thaliana , ribosomal cistrons are Fagus sylvatica only four major regions, line FISH studies. On assembled chromosomes, telomeric repeats found at both ends, while centromeric be scattered throughout apart their main occurrence per chromosome. genome-wide distribution SNPs evaluated using second individual Jamy Nature Reserve (Poland). SNPs, repeat elements duplicated genes unevenly distributed genomes, anomaly 4. presented here adds available highly plant genomes hope it will serve as valuable basis future research understanding past populations changing climate.

Language: Английский

---

First whole-genome sequence and assembly of the Ecuadorian brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps), a critically endangered species, using Oxford Nanopore Technologies

G3 Genes Genomes Genetics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(3)

Published: Jan. 19, 2024

Abstract The Ecuadorian brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps) is currently considered one of the most endangered primates in world and classified as critically [International union for conservation nature (IUCN)]. It faces multiple threats, significant being habitat loss due to deforestation western Ecuador. Genomic tools are keys management species, but this requires a reference genome, which until now was unavailable A. f. fusciceps. present study reports first whole-genome sequence assembly generated using Oxford Nanopore long reads. DNA extracted from subadult male, libraries were prepared sequencing following Ligation Sequencing Kit SQK-LSK112 workflow. performed MinION Mk1C sequencer. reads processed generate genome assembly. Two different assemblers used obtain draft genomes raw reads, Flye found be superior. final has total length 2.63 Gb contains 3,861 contigs, with an N50 7,560,531 bp. analyzed annotation completeness based on primate ortholog prediction high-resolution database, 84.3% complete, low number duplicated genes indicating precise predicted 31,417 protein-coding genes, comparable other mammal assemblies. A species will allow researchers gain insight into genetics its populations thus aid efforts vulnerable species.

Language: Английский

---

The effect of forest structure on drought stress in beech forests (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 554, P. 121667 - 121667

Published: Dec. 28, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Ecological assessment of forest management approaches to develop resilient forests in the face of global change in Central Europe

Basic and Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---