Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1893/36955
Appears in Collections: | Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal Articles |
Peer Review Status: | Refereed |
Title: | Incorporating Genetic Diversity to Optimize the Plant Conservation Network in the Third Pole |
Author(s): | Wambulwa, Moses C. Zhu, Guang‐Fu Luo, Ya‐Huang Wu, Zeng‐Yuan Provan, Jim Cadotte, Marc W. Jump, Alistair S. Wachira, Francis N. Gao, Lian‐Ming Yi, Ting‐Shuang Cai, Jie Wang, Hong Li, De‐Zhu Liu, Jie |
Contact Email: | a.s.jump@stir.ac.uk |
Keywords: | conservation network ecological niche modeling genetic diversity genetic erosion National Park Cluster protected areas systematic conservation planning Tibetan Plateau |
Issue Date: | Mar-2025 |
Date Deposited: | 24-Mar-2025 |
Citation: | Wambulwa MC, Zhu G, Luo Y, Wu Z, Provan J, Cadotte MW, Jump AS, Wachira FN, Gao L, Yi T, Cai J, Wang H, Li D & Liu J (2025) Incorporating Genetic Diversity to Optimize the Plant Conservation Network in the Third Pole. <i>Global Change Biology</i>, 31 (3). https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70122 |
Abstract: | Climate change poses a significant threat to the survival of many species. Although protected areas can slow down biodiversity loss, they often lack systematic planning and do not integrate genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is a key prerequisite for species survival and the ability to tolerate new conditions. Using population genetic and distribution data from 96 plant species in the Third Pole (encompassing the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent mountains), we mapped patterns of genetic diversity, projected climate-driven range dynamics and future genetic erosion, and designed an optimal conservation framework for the region. We identified several patches of high haplotype diversity (HD), with a relatively high number of haplotypes in southeastern Third Pole. Regression models revealed that climate and topography have interacted to shape patterns of genetic diversity, with latitude and precipitation being the best predictors for HD of cpDNA and nrDNA, respectively. Ecological niche modeling predicted an approximate 43 km northwestward and 86 m upward shift in suitable habitats under future climate scenarios, likely leading to a significant loss of up to 13.19% and 15.49% of cpDNA and nrDNA genetic diversity, respectively. Alarmingly, 71.20% of the newly identified conservation priority areas fall outside of the existing protected areas and planned National Park Clusters. Therefore, we recommend expanding the network by 2.02 × 105 km2 (5.91%) in the Third Pole, increasing the total conserved area to 1.36 × 106 km2 (39.93%) to effectively preserve the evolutionary potential of plants. This study represents an innovative attempt to incorporate genetic diversity into biodiversity conservation efforts. |
DOI Link: | 10.1111/gcb.70122 |
Rights: | This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided theoriginal work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. © 2025 The Author(s). Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd |
Licence URL(s): | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Incorporating Genetic Diversity to Optimize the Plant Conservation Network in the Third Pole.pdf | Fulltext - Published Version | 3 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
This item is protected by original copyright |
A file in this item is licensed under a Creative Commons License
Items in the Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
The metadata of the records in the Repository are available under the CC0 public domain dedication: No Rights Reserved https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
If you believe that any material held in STORRE infringes copyright, please contact library@stir.ac.uk providing details and we will remove the Work from public display in STORRE and investigate your claim.