Tools
Tools
Geue, Julia C., Bertola, Laura D., Bloomer, Paulette, Brüniche-Olsen, Anna, da Silva, Jessica M., DeWoody, J. Andrew, Fedorca, Ancuta, Godoy, José A., Grueber, Catherine E., Hunter, Margaret E., Hvilsom, Christina, Jensen, Evelyn L., Kopatz, Alexander, MacDonald, Anna J. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8873-003X, Pérez-Espona, Silvia, Piaggio, Antoinette J., Pierson, Jennifer, Russo, Isa Rita M., Senn, Helen, Segelbacher, Gernot, Sunnucks, Paul, van Oosterhout, Cock ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5653-738X and Leigh, Deborah M.
(2026)
A practical framework for identifying genetic subpopulations and ESUs: Insights for IUCN assessments and broader management.
Bioscience, 76 (8).
pp. 714-730.
ISSN 0006-3568
Preview |
PDF (biag042)
- Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Species conservation assessments evaluate extinction risk, and recovery potential, advancing species persistence through guiding resource prioritization and planning. Assessment frameworks, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and Green Status of Species, typically focus on species as a whole. Importantly, they do not routinely account for genetically distinct units or do not have standardized methods of unit delineation. This limits the representation of genetically distinct components, including adaptive genetic diversity that underpins long-term resilience and recovery. Incorporating standardized within-species units like subpopulations and Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) into species assessments could help address this oversight. However, identifying and delineating such units remain challenging, particularly when molecular data are limited. Here, we propose a flexible framework that integrates molecular and non-molecular evidence to identify both subpopulations and ESUs across taxa, providing a practical tool to incorporate within-species diversity into conservation assessments.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | conservation policy,evolutionarily significant unit,genetic diversity,iucn species assessments,subpopulations,general agricultural and biological sciences,das to be completed,2026 ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1100 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development) |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Nov 2026 16:51 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Nov 2026 16:54 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104970 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/biosci/biag042 |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |