Genomics used to find endangered fish populations most vulnerable to climate change
Scientists have shown 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.
Genomics offers a powerful tool for identifying which fish populations are most at risk from climate change, according to a new study led by researchers at Flinders University. By merging climate models with genome-wide data from hundreds of endangered southern pygmy perch in Australia's Murray–Darling Basin, scientists pinpointed the populations most vulnerable to warming trends.
This approach demonstrates that conservation efforts can prioritize genetic management strategies to preserve the species' adaptability to future environmental shifts. Lead author Dr. Emily Booth emphasizes the growing role of genomics in conservation, revealing that upland streams across the Murray–Darling Basin were found to be more susceptible to climate change, with elevation serving as a key indicator of risk.
The study also highlights successful conservation breeding that maintained the adaptive capacity of reintroduced fish, offering hope for other threatened freshwater species worldwide.
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