A groundbreaking study published in Nature underscores the urgent need to address the global loss of genetic diversity - a crisis that could have profound implications for species survival and ecosystem stability. Prof Frank E Zachos, an Affiliated Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of the Free State (UFS), was among the esteemed coauthors of this significant research. 

This milestone study represents an unprecedented international collaboration in the field of conservation genetics. Prof Zachos was one of 57 authors from 55 institutions across 24 countries and five continents, who collectively analysed data from over 34 000 scientific papers spanning more than 30 years. The large-scale meta-analysis synthesised nearly 900 studies, compiling over 4 000 data points - an unparalleled scope that distinguishes this research from previous studies.

Despite the logistical challenges, the global shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated seamless collaboration, explains Prof Zachos, who is also a scientist and curator of mammals at the Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria. He credits the additional time available during lockdowns as a key factor in deepening the research process. "The lead author team in Australia did a fantastic job coordinating the effort, and having more time to immerse ourselves in the research during 2020 was a significant advantage,” he said.

The study highlights a worrying global trend: a significant decline in genetic diversity, particularly in mammal and bird populations. Human-driven factors such as land use changes, harvesting, and habitat destruction have been major contributors to this loss over recent decades and centuries. However, the research also demonstrates the positive impact of targeted conservation strategies. Effective interventions - including habitat restoration, controlling invasive species, and facilitating genetic exchange between populations through translocation - have been shown to mitigate genetic erosion. 

Prof Zachos elaborates: “Mammals and birds are particularly vulnerable to genetic diversity loss. However, our findings show that targeted conservation efforts can reverse some of the damage, proving that we have the tools to halt this decline.”

Implications for the field of Genetics

The publication of this paper elevates the profile of genetic diversity research, an area often overshadowed by discussions on species extinction. Prof Zachos emphasises: “Everyone talks about extinction, but before a species disappears entirely, its population declines, and genetic diversity is lost. As long as a single individual remains, the species does not appear in extinction statistics, yet from a conservation standpoint, this is already a catastrophe.”

This study is a landmark contribution to conservation genetics and serves as a crucial warning about the broader implications of biodiversity collapse. This is a seminal paper in our field, and I am proud that the UFS Department of Genetics is associated with it,” he remarks.