Genomics used to find endangered fish populations most vulnerable to climate change

Scientists have demonstrated that genomics can help identify which wild populations are most vulnerable to climate change, offering practical guidance for conserving threatened species before declines become irreversible. A study led by researchers from Flinders University's Molecular Ecology Laboratory and published in the Journal of Heredity examined the endangered southern pygmy perch across Australia's Murray-Darling Basin, using climate modeling combined with genome-wide data from hundreds of fish to identify the populations most likely to struggle as the climate continues to warm.

Lead author Dr. Emily Booth highlighted how genomics is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for conservation, noting that climate change doesn't affect all populations equally and that combining genomic data with climate modeling can identify the populations most at risk, helping conservation managers prioritize where actions are likely to have the greatest impact.

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