Preserving Darwin’s fox: genomic tools for the conservation of South America’s most endangered canid
Advances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) have made it a powerful resource for the conservation of threatened species, providing information at both population and individual levels to inform management decisions. In South America, however, the application of HTS in conservation has been limited,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2025.1512531/full |
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| author | Cristóbal Valenzuela-Turner José Horacio Grau Jörns Fickel Jörns Fickel Daniel W. Förster |
| author_facet | Cristóbal Valenzuela-Turner José Horacio Grau Jörns Fickel Jörns Fickel Daniel W. Förster |
| author_sort | Cristóbal Valenzuela-Turner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Advances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) have made it a powerful resource for the conservation of threatened species, providing information at both population and individual levels to inform management decisions. In South America, however, the application of HTS in conservation has been limited, primarily due to challenges in funding and access to advanced genomic equipment and analytical expertise. Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes), endemic to Chile’s Valdivian Temperate Rainforest, is the most endangered canid in South America with a small and declining population estimated at less than 1000 mature individuals. Despite its endangered status, significant knowledge gaps remain. Here we highlight the potential of HTS to address these challenges, such as clarifying its taxonomy, demographic history, geographic distribution, population structure, genetic diversity, and pathogen exposure. Integrating molecular data into conservation planning will be pivotal in ensuring the long-term survival of Darwin’s fox by identifying priorities for targeted management interventions, highlighting areas of critical habitat for conservation, and guiding genetic rescue efforts to enhance genetic diversity and resilience. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-07395f5716b244219dfbf8f986e0c851 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-611X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-07395f5716b244219dfbf8f986e0c8512025-01-23T06:56:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Conservation Science2673-611X2025-01-01610.3389/fcosc.2025.15125311512531Preserving Darwin’s fox: genomic tools for the conservation of South America’s most endangered canidCristóbal Valenzuela-Turner0José Horacio Grau1Jörns Fickel2Jörns Fickel3Daniel W. Förster4Dept. of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, GermanySmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, Washington, DC, United StatesDept. of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, GermanyInstitute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, GermanyDept. of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, GermanyAdvances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) have made it a powerful resource for the conservation of threatened species, providing information at both population and individual levels to inform management decisions. In South America, however, the application of HTS in conservation has been limited, primarily due to challenges in funding and access to advanced genomic equipment and analytical expertise. Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes), endemic to Chile’s Valdivian Temperate Rainforest, is the most endangered canid in South America with a small and declining population estimated at less than 1000 mature individuals. Despite its endangered status, significant knowledge gaps remain. Here we highlight the potential of HTS to address these challenges, such as clarifying its taxonomy, demographic history, geographic distribution, population structure, genetic diversity, and pathogen exposure. Integrating molecular data into conservation planning will be pivotal in ensuring the long-term survival of Darwin’s fox by identifying priorities for targeted management interventions, highlighting areas of critical habitat for conservation, and guiding genetic rescue efforts to enhance genetic diversity and resilience.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2025.1512531/fullconservation genomicshigh-throughput sequencingLycalopex fulvipesgenetic diversityChile |
| spellingShingle | Cristóbal Valenzuela-Turner José Horacio Grau Jörns Fickel Jörns Fickel Daniel W. Förster Preserving Darwin’s fox: genomic tools for the conservation of South America’s most endangered canid Frontiers in Conservation Science conservation genomics high-throughput sequencing Lycalopex fulvipes genetic diversity Chile |
| title | Preserving Darwin’s fox: genomic tools for the conservation of South America’s most endangered canid |
| title_full | Preserving Darwin’s fox: genomic tools for the conservation of South America’s most endangered canid |
| title_fullStr | Preserving Darwin’s fox: genomic tools for the conservation of South America’s most endangered canid |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preserving Darwin’s fox: genomic tools for the conservation of South America’s most endangered canid |
| title_short | Preserving Darwin’s fox: genomic tools for the conservation of South America’s most endangered canid |
| title_sort | preserving darwin s fox genomic tools for the conservation of south america s most endangered canid |
| topic | conservation genomics high-throughput sequencing Lycalopex fulvipes genetic diversity Chile |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2025.1512531/full |
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