PubMed · 12288797
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
N Myers. 1993. Population, environment, and development.. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0376892900022980
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
De-extinction, once the realm of science fiction, has evolved into a tangible scientific endeavor thanks to breakthroughs in genome sequencing, engineering, advanced assisted reproductive technologies, and stem cell biology. Alongside this work are innovations in reintroduction science and artificial intelligence, which are refining strategies for species translocations, rewilding, and long-term ecosystem monitoring of de-extinct species and populations. While the primary motivation for de-extinction is restoring lost ecological functions to eroded ecosystems, each of these technologies can also be applied to conservation biology for de-endangerment, offering new solutions for biodiversity preservation. This review synthesizes the technological advancements emerging from de-extinction science and explores their broad applications in conservation, demonstrating how de-extinction is both about resurrecting lost species and about expanding the conservation toolkit to sustain and rebuild biodiversity in the face of accelerating environmental change.
Conservation biology and restoration ecology are two essential yet distinct disciplines that address the growing challenge of biodiversity loss. Traditionally, these fields have relied on ecological principles and management practices aimed at protecting or reestablishing natural systems. The crisis is no longer just ecological; it is evolutionary and genomic. The accelerating pace of environmental change has outstripped the capacity of conventional approaches, creating a pressing need for innovative solutions. Biotechnology offers potentially transformative tools that can enhance the effectiveness and precision of both conservation and restoration efforts, especially for species where conventional conservation approaches have proved insufficient. Techniques such as genetic rescue, synthetic biology, and gene editing are increasingly being explored to address critical challenges, such as invasive species control, genetic diversity loss, and habitat fragmentation, to both invigorate endangered species and restore historical biodiversity. Despite its promise, the integration of biotechnology into conservation and restoration has raised ethical, ecological, and regulatory concerns. These include ecological unpredictability and public resistance to genetic interventions in wild populations. This perspective examines the current landscape of biotechnological applications in conservation and restoration, highlighting successful case studies, ongoing controversies, and optimism for additional progress. We argue that thoughtful, transparent integration of biotechnology that is grounded in ecological knowledge and stakeholder engagement can reconcile the goals of conservation and restoration. As ecosystems face mounting pressures, biotech-enabled strategies may prove essential for fostering resilience and ensuring long-term ecological sustainability.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: For rare endemics or endangered plant species that reproduce both sexually and vegetatively it is critical to understand the extent of clonality because assessment of clonal extent and distribution has important ecological and evolutionary consequences with conservation implications. A survey was undertaken to understand clonal effects on fine-scale genetic structure (FSGS) in two populations (one from a disturbed and the other from an undisturbed locality) of Echinosophora koreensis, an endangered small shrub belonging to a monotypic genus in central Korea that reproduces both sexually and vegetatively via rhizomes. METHODS: Using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) as genetic markers, the spatial distribution of individuals was evaluated using Ripley's L(d)-statistics and quantified the spatial scale of clonal spread and spatial distribution of ISSR genotypes using spatial autocorrelation analysis techniques (join-count statistics and kinship coefficient, F(ij)) for total samples and samples excluding clones. KEY RESULTS: A high degree of differentiation between populations was observed (phi(ST(g)) = 0.184, P < 0.001). Ripley's L(d)-statistics revealed a near random distribution of individuals in a disturbed population, whereas significant aggregation of individuals was found in an undisturbed site. The join-count statistics revealed that most clones significantly aggregate at < or = 6-m interplant distance. The Sp statistic reflecting patterns of correlograms revealed a strong pattern of FSGS for all four data sets (Sp = 0.072-0.154), but these patterns were not significantly different from each other. At small interplant distances (< or = 2 m), however, jackknifed 95% CIs revealed that the total samples exhibited significantly higher F(ij) values than the same samples excluding clones. CONCLUSION: The strong FSGS from genets is consistent with two biological and ecological traits of E. koreensis: bee-pollination and limited seed dispersal. Furthermore, potential clone mates over repeated generations would contribute to the observed high F(ij) values among genets at short distance. To ensure long-term ex situ genetic variability of the endangered E. koreensis, individuals located at distances of 10-12 m should be collected across entire populations of E. koreensis.