Reacción a "Genetic diversity has decreased in more than 600 species in the last three decades"

Biodiversity has been internationally recognized at three different levels: ecosystem diversity, species diversity and within-species genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is crucial for the long-term survival of population and species, as it helps them adapt to future environmental changes, such as disease outbreaks. By compiling and analysing more than three decades of research, this study shows that genetic diversity is decreasing worldwide for more than 600 species from a wide range of organisms (animals, plants, fungi and chromists) and it is not exclusive to rare and threatened species. 

Genetic diversity can be lost due to population decline and fragmentation generated through human activities, such as habitat degradation, unsustainable harvest or introduction of invasive species. This research shows that these threats directly affect genetic diversity, not only species diversity. Authors highlight that conservation actions such as promoting population growth and connectivity between populations could reduce further genetic diversity loss or even increase it. 

This study demonstrates that genetic diversity loss is a reality and it is occurring at a broad scale to many species around the world. Genetic diversity accumulates over thousands of years, and once it is lost, it is very difficult to get it back. Therefore, it is urgent to target conservation measures to safeguard the genetic diversity in order to ensure adaptive potential of populations and species.