Genomic information can help predict which mammal species are more likely to face extinction, a study has shown.
The study found that species with smaller historical populations carry higher burdens of damaging mutations and have an elevated extinction risk.
The findings, which could change how conservation actions and resources are strategically applied to help save endangered wildlife, are part of a series of papers from the Zoonomia Consortium that will be published this spring in a special issue of the journal Science.
The planet is experiencing rapid biodiversity loss, with tens of thousands of species at risk of dying out, and identifying the ones in most urgent need is a long and costly process.
But there is little known about thousands of species, which makes it difficult to allocate limited conservation resources to help those closest to the brink.
To help circumvent these limitations, the scientists — led by researchers at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and University of California, Santa Cruz — examined 240 mammal species, from tiny tree shrews to towering giraffes, killer whales and even humans.
They found that the DNA encoded within a single genome — reflecting the species' history over millions of years — can provide a rapid, cost-effective conservation risk assessment, even when we know little about the animals' physiological, behavioural and life history characteristics, or even how many remain.
Aryn Wilder, a conservation scientist at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and one of the paper’s two lead authors said: “These results show that genetic information, even if only from a single individual for a given species, offers immediate, actionable guidance for scientists designing conservation strategies as well as those with boots on the ground.”
Megan Supple, a research scientist with the UCSC Paleogenomics Lab and co-lead of the project, said: “The limited resources available for the conservation of wildlife species requires triage.
“Our genomic assessment provides a relatively inexpensive method to rapidly identify species at risk of becoming endangered in the future, even when little else is known about that species.
“This genomic triage enables managers to target limited resources towards species most in need.”
The research was used to train models that quickly distinguish between threatened and non-threatened species based on demography, diversity and mutations that affect biological fitness.
This will help assess extinction risk and identify which of the thousands of threatened species stand to benefit the most from conservation support, especially as the number of sequenced genomes grows and the models continue to improve.
Three species — the Upper Galilee Mountains blind mole rat, lesser chevrotain and orca — are highlighted as only three examples of the thousands of species lacking information on whether they are threatened.
The scientists applied their models to these “data-deficient” species to demonstrate how a genomic risk assessment could work.
The overall number of species included in the study is the largest of its kind. By examining 240 species, scientists were able to estimate the genomic characteristics that best predict extinction risk and build genomic risk assessment models that can be used when other information is lacking.
That led the paper’s authors to call for genomic information to be included in conservation status assessments of species to bridge the gap between geneticists and conservation managers and provide a framework for using money and resources for species at the highest risk.
Beth Shapiro, professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, said: “Many potentially endangered species are classified as ‘data deficient’, meaning that we simply have too little information to determine whether immediate conservation action is required.
“Our results show that a genome from a single individual can be sufficient to identify the most threatened of these ‘data deficient’ species, enabling us to focus our limited resources where they can be most impactful.”
Conservation geneticist Oliver Ryder said that genomics is a powerful tool that can be used to protect animals and plants from extinction
“We are in an unprecedented era of discovery — a whole new way of seeing the world,” he said.
“We’ve long thought this potential existed, but it’s profound to see it crystallise into a catalyst that will help conservationists make crucial decisions that may save the world as we know it.”
The genomics manuscript is part of the work of the Zoonomia Consortium, the largest comparative mammalian genomics resource in the world.
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Two stars
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David Haye record
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Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
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Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
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- 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
- 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
- 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
- 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
- 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
- 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
- 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
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Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
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