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Conservation strategies for species under threat of extinction are founded on various lines of biological insight. The advent of high throughput sequencing technology and population level sampling are enabling genomic data to drive informed conservation and management strategies.
With this Collection, the editors of Communications Biology, Nature Communications and Scientific Reports welcome the submission of primary research articles utilizing genomic data in conservation research. We particularly encourage population-level genomic studies of wild animal health, and studies demonstrating the application impact of genomic data on conservation strategies in the field. We also encourage submission of reference genomes for endangered species of conservation concern.
A near-complete genome assembly generated from a well-preserved great bustard provides further insight into the evolutionary history of this vulnerable bird species.
Major dams are found to disrupt platypus gene flow and dispersal, with higher genetic differentiation found across dams than along similar stretches of undammed rivers, indicating that they act as significant barriers to platypus movement.
Comparisons of genomic and methylomic changes during the conservation of indigenous chicken breeds in China provide insight into conservation programmes for these breeds and their adaptations to unique environments.
Based on genomic data, the Galapagos giant tortoise species native to Fernandina Island appears to be alive and well, survived by at least one female after being considered extinct since 1906.
Although there is extensive theory predicting the effects of population bottlenecks on mutation load, there is little empirical evidence from recent bottlenecks. Here, Grossen et al. compare the consequences of population bottlenecks in six ibex species for genome-wide variation and mutation load.
The evolutionary genetics of a keystone savannah species the blue wildebeest, and the related black wildebeest, remain largely unexplored. This study finds evidence for archaic introgression of black wildebeest to blue wildebeest and detrimental effects of human activities on migratory populations.
The brushtail possum is a treasured Australian marsupial, but also a harmful pest introduced into New Zealand. Here, using functional genomics and a new chromosome-level genome assembly of New Zealand possums, Bond et al. quantify their genome admixture and identify unique parent-specific and weaning associated gene expression.