Conservation evo-devo: preserving biodiversity by understanding its origins

Campbell, C. S., Adams, C. E. , Bean, C. W. and Parsons, K. J. (2017) Conservation evo-devo: preserving biodiversity by understanding its origins. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 32(10), pp. 746-759. (doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.07.002) (PMID:28797609)

Abstract

Unprecedented rates of species extinction increase the urgency for effective conservation biology management practices. Thus, any improvements in practice are vital and we suggest that conservation can be enhanced through recent advances in evolutionary biology, specifically advances put forward by evolutionary developmental biology (i.e., evo-devo). There are strong overlapping conceptual links between conservation and evo-devo whereby both fields focus on evolutionary potential. In particular, benefits to conservation can be derived from some of the main areas of evo-devo research, namely phenotypic plasticity, modularity and integration, and mechanistic investigations of the precise developmental and genetic processes that determine phenotypes. Using examples we outline how evo-devo can expand into conservation biology, an opportunity which holds great promise for advancing both fields.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: CAMPBELL, Calum and Bean, Professor Colin and Adams, Professor Colin and Parsons, Dr Kevin
• Authors: Campbell, C. S., Adams, C. E., Bean, C. W., and Parsons, K. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Trends in Ecology and Evolution
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0169-5347
• ISSN (Online): 1872-8383
• Published Online: 07 August 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution 32(10): 746-759
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy