TY - JOUR

T1 - Monitoring of species’ genetic diversity in Europe varies greatly and overlooks potential climate change impacts

AU - Pearman, Peter B.

AU - Broennimann, Olivier

AU - Aavik, Tsipe

AU - Albayrak, Tamer

AU - Alves, Paulo C.

AU - Aravanopoulos, F. A.

AU - Bertola, Laura D.

AU - Biedrzycka, Aleksandra

AU - Buzan, Elena

AU - Cubric-Curik, Vlatka

AU - Djan, Mihajla

AU - Fedorca, Ancuta

AU - Fuentes-Pardo, Angela P.

AU - Fussi, Barbara

AU - Godoy, José A.

AU - Gugerli, Felix

AU - Hoban, Sean

AU - Holderegger, Rolf

AU - Hvilsom, Christina

AU - Iacolina, Laura

AU - Kalamujic Stroil, Belma

AU - Klinga, Peter

AU - Konopiński, Maciej K.

AU - Kopatz, Alexander

AU - Laikre, Linda

AU - Lopes-Fernandes, Margarida

AU - McMahon, Barry John

AU - Mergeay, Joachim

AU - Neophytou, Charalambos

AU - Pálsson, Snæbjörn

AU - Paz-Vinas, Ivan

AU - Posledovich, Diana

AU - Primmer, Craig R.

AU - Raeymaekers, Joost A.M.

AU - Rinkevich, Baruch

AU - Rolečková, Barbora

AU - Ruņģis, Dainis

AU - Schuerz, Laura

AU - Segelbacher, Gernot

AU - Kavčič Sonnenschein, Katja

AU - Stefanovic, Milomir

AU - Thurfjell, Henrik

AU - Träger, Sabrina

AU - Tsvetkov, Ivaylo N.

AU - Velickovic, Nevena

AU - Vergeer, Philippine

AU - Vernesi, Cristiano

AU - Vilà, Carles

AU - Westergren, Marjana

AU - Zachos, Frank E.

AU - Guisan, Antoine

AU - Bruford, Michael

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024, The Author(s).

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. However, genetic diversity has been largely neglected in biodiversity monitoring, and when addressed, it is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat alteration due to climate change. We report an accounting of efforts to monitor population genetic diversity in Europe (genetic monitoring effort, GME), the evaluation of which can help guide future capacity building and collaboration towards areas most in need of expanded monitoring. Overlaying GME with areas where the ranges of selected species of conservation interest approach current and future climate niche limits helps identify whether GME coincides with anticipated climate change effects on biodiversity. Our analysis suggests that country area, financial resources and conservation policy influence GME, high values of which only partially match species’ joint patterns of limits to suitable climatic conditions. Populations at trailing climatic niche margins probably hold genetic diversity that is important for adaptation to changing climate. Our results illuminate the need in Europe for expanded investment in genetic monitoring across climate gradients occupied by focal species, a need arguably greatest in southeastern European countries. This need could be met in part by expanding the European Union’s Birds and Habitats Directives to fully address the conservation and monitoring of genetic diversity.

AB - Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. However, genetic diversity has been largely neglected in biodiversity monitoring, and when addressed, it is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat alteration due to climate change. We report an accounting of efforts to monitor population genetic diversity in Europe (genetic monitoring effort, GME), the evaluation of which can help guide future capacity building and collaboration towards areas most in need of expanded monitoring. Overlaying GME with areas where the ranges of selected species of conservation interest approach current and future climate niche limits helps identify whether GME coincides with anticipated climate change effects on biodiversity. Our analysis suggests that country area, financial resources and conservation policy influence GME, high values of which only partially match species’ joint patterns of limits to suitable climatic conditions. Populations at trailing climatic niche margins probably hold genetic diversity that is important for adaptation to changing climate. Our results illuminate the need in Europe for expanded investment in genetic monitoring across climate gradients occupied by focal species, a need arguably greatest in southeastern European countries. This need could be met in part by expanding the European Union’s Birds and Habitats Directives to fully address the conservation and monitoring of genetic diversity.

U2 - 10.1038/s41559-023-02260-0

DO - 10.1038/s41559-023-02260-0

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38225425

AN - SCOPUS:85182481927

VL - 8

SP - 267

EP - 281

JO - Nature Ecology & Evolution

JF - Nature Ecology & Evolution

SN - 2397-334X

ER -