The long‐standing significance of genetic diversity in conservation

Autor:	Janna R. Willoughby, J. Andrew DeWoody, Avril M. Harder, Samarth Mathur
Rok vydání:	2021
Předmět:	Conservation genetics Genetic diversity Ecology business.industry media_common.quotation_subject respiratory system Biology Anthropocene Genetics Ecosystem Livestock Gene pool Conservation biology business human activities Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Diversity (politics) media_common
Zdroj:	Molecular Ecology. 30:4147-4154
ISSN:	1365-294X 0962-1083
DOI:	10.1111/mec.16051
Popis:	Since allozymes were first used to assess genetic diversity in the 1960s and 1970s, biologists have attempted to characterize gene pools and conserve the diversity observed in domestic crops, livestock, zoos and (more recently) natural populations. Recently, some authors have claimed that the importance of genetic diversity in conservation biology has been greatly overstated. Here, we argue that a voluminous literature indicates otherwise. We address four main points made by detractors of genetic diversity's role in conservation by using published literature to firmly establish that genetic diversity is intimately tied to evolutionary fitness, and that the associated demographic consequences are of paramount importance to many conservation efforts. We think that responsible management in the Anthropocene should, whenever possible, include the conservation of ecosystems, communities, populations and individuals, and their underlying genetic diversity.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::cb3cc5628a89a831414bd2bfce8914d0 https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16051 Zobrazit plný text záznamu Plný text