Genetic diversity of a species may not necessarily be a key indicator of extinction.
New research suggests focusing on habitat protection, not genetic diversity. Human activity threatens around one million species with extinction, some within decades.
How do we assess extinction risk?
Conservation geneticists believe that species genetically different from one another will have enough genetic diversity to survive adverse conditions. Species with little genetic diversity are fragile and will likely become extinct.
Researchers show that the relationship between genetic diversity and survival is often wrong. Most genetic diversity within a genome does not affect an individual’s ability to survive or reproduce. Stop fixating on genetic diversity and instead, focus on the bigger problem - habitat destruction.
Since 2000, we have lost around eight United Kingdoms in terms of wildlife habitat area. No habitat means no wildlife. No wildlife means no ecosystem services means us risking our own survival on Earth.
Original study:
DON’T FOCUS ON GENETIC DIVERSITY TO SAVE OUR SPECIES
Original paper:
The inflated significance of neutral genetic diversity in conservation genetics