A

How genomics can help biodiversity conservation

Trends in Genetics, vol. 39, pp. 545–559

Abstract

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 and applications in biodiversity and conservation genomics, considering practical factors, such as cost, time, prerequisite skills, and current shortcomings of applications. Most approaches perform best in combination with reference genomes from the target species or closely related species. We review case studies to illustrate how reference genomes can facilitate biodiversity research and conservation across the tree of life. We conclude that the time is ripe to view reference genomes as fundamental resources and to integrate their use as a best practice in conservation genomics.

Authors 100

  1. Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre · LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics

    Affiliation as printed

    LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Georg-Voigt-Str. 14-16, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany

  2. University of Lisbon

    Affiliation as printed

    CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal

    CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal

    Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal

  3. Rockefeller University

    Affiliation as printed

    The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA

  4. Naturalis Biodiversity Center · Wellcome Sanger Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333, CR, Leiden, The Netherlands; Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333, CR, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK

  5. University of Oslo · University of Agder · Norwegian Institute for Water Research

    Affiliation as printed

    NIVA - Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien, 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway; Centre for Coastal Research, University of Agder, Gimlemoen 25j, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO BOX 1066 Blinderm, 0316 Oslo, Norway

    Centre for Coastal Research, University of Agder, Gimlemoen 25j, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway

    Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO BOX 1066 Blinderm, 0316 Oslo, Norway

    NIVA - Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien, 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway

  6. University of Göttingen

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Göttingen, Department of Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Untere Karspüle, 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

  7. University of Milan

    Affiliation as printed

    Universita degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy

  8. Universidade do Porto · Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos

    Affiliation as printed

    CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 7, 4485-661, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal

    BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal

    CIBIO/InBio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 7, 4485-661, Portugal

    Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal

  9. University of Milan

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

  10. Estación Biológica de Doñana

    Affiliation as printed

    Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Calle Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevillle, Spain

  11. University of Oslo

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO BOX 1066 Blinderm, 0316 Oslo, Norway

  12. German Primate Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Primate Genetics Laborator, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

  13. University of Liège

    Affiliation as printed

    InBios - Conservation Genetics Lab, University of Liege, Chemin de la Vallée 4, 4000, Liege, Belgium

  14. University of Oslo · University of Agder

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Coastal Research, University of Agder, Gimlemoen 25j, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO BOX 1066 Blinderm, 0316 Oslo, Norway

    Centre for Coastal Research, University of Agder, Gimlemoen 25j, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway

    Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO BOX 1066 Blinderm, 0316 Oslo, Norway

  15. Rockefeller University

    Affiliation as printed

    The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA

  16. University of Groningen · Center for Coastal Studies

    Affiliation as printed

    Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands; Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA 02657, USA

    Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA 02657, USA

    Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands

  17. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Fornubúðir, 5,220, Hanafjörður, Iceland

  18. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas · Estación Biológica de Doñana · Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

    Affiliation as printed

    Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Calle Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevillle, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain

    CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain

    Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Calle Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevillle, Spain

  19. University of Milan

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

  20. University of Antwerp

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium

  21. City University of New York · Hunter College · Rockefeller University

    Affiliation as printed

    The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA; Hunter College, City University of New York, NY, USA

    Hunter College, City University of New York, NY, USA

    The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA

  22. Campus-Institut Data Science (CIDAS) · University of Göttingen

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Goettingen, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), Goldschmidtstr. 1, 37077, Goettingen, Germany

  23. University of Cologne

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicherstrasse 47b, D-50674, Cologne, Germany

  24. University of Copenhagen · Kunming Institute of Zoology · Chinese Academy of Sciences · State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution · Zhejiang University

    Affiliation as printed

    Evolutionary & Organismal Biology Research Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Villum Center for Biodiversity Genomics, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China

    Evolutionary & Organismal Biology Research Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China

    Villum Center for Biodiversity Genomics, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

  25. Rockefeller University

    Affiliation as printed

    The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA

  26. Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre · LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics

    Affiliation as printed

    LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Georg-Voigt-Str. 14-16, 60325 Frankfurt/Main, Germany

  27. University of Florence

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Florence, Department of Biology, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, (FI) 50019, Italy

  28. SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics · University of Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

    Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

    University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

  29. Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research · Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research (BeGenDiv), Koenigin-Luise-Str 6-8, 14195 Berlin, Germany

    Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research (BeGenDiv), Koenigin-Luise-Str 6-8, 14195 Berlin, Germany

    Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany

  30. ‎Jacob Höglund corresponding

    Uppsala University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75246, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: jacob.hoglund@ebc.uu.se

    Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75246, Uppsala, Sweden

  31. University of Lisbon

    Affiliation as printed

    CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal

    Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal

  32. SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics · University of Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

    University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

  33. Estación Biológica de Doñana · Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

    Affiliation as printed

    CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain

    Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Calle Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevillle, Spain

  34. University of Liège

    Affiliation as printed

    InBios - Conservation Genetics Lab, University of Liege, Chemin de la Vallée 4, 4000, Liege, Belgium

  35. Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive

    Affiliation as printed

    LBBE - Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive - UMR 5558 (43 Bld du 11 Novembre 1918 69622 VILLEURBANNE CEDEX - France)

  36. Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Ressources génomique-info

    Affiliation as printed

    URGI - Unité de Recherche Génomique Info (INRAE, Centre de recherche de Versailles, bat.18 Route de Saint Cyr 78000 Versailles - France)

  37. University of Cologne

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicherstrasse 47b, D-50674, Cologne, Germany

  38. Estación Biológica de Doñana

    Affiliation as printed

    Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Calle Americo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevillle, Spain

  39. SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics · University of Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

    UNIL-Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

    University of Lausanne, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore,

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References 152