The establishment and application of Genomic Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) in support of multiple biodiversity management goals.

ID: 613 / 373

Category: Abstract

Track: Pending

Proposed Symposium Title: The establishment and application of Genomic Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) in support of multiple biodiversity management goals.

Authors:

Maurizio Rossetto

Affiliations: Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Australia

Abstract:

The COP15 resolutions and UN decade of restoration are stimulating increasing interest in the critical role of genetic diversity in biodiversity conservation and management. Scientist and practitioners must ensure that targeted initiatives are contributing positively to the conservation of gene-level biodiversity, and that managed populations are fit and resilient. However, without the necessary genetic information, establishing and monitoring relevant targets can be challenging, especially when responding to a range of objectives, constraints, and trade-offs. Following ever increasing cost efficiencies, it is now conceivable that genomic information should be regularly used to improve the effectiveness of most biodiversity conservation programs. The establishment of genomic knowledge infrastructure (GKI) is achievable by striking a balance between informativeness and resource availability. We have developed a standardized, broadly applicable workflow to sample, database, manage and analyse multispecies datasets for genomic research. So far, we have obtained distribution-wide reduced representation genomic data for close to 200 plant species (as well as leaf samples for many more). The interpretative power of GKI can directly support on-ground applied activities while allowing for flexible inputs, the imposition of realistic constraints, and the examination of conflicting goals. Using examples, I will show how We use GKI across a range of application from guiding provenancing strategies for a wide range of restoration and revegetation practices (e.g., https://www.restore-and-renew.org.au/), to supporting threatened species in situ and ex situ conservation (so far over 30 practical management plans have been developed), to directing biodiversity policy and monitoring success.

: 36, 154,

: Genomics; Measuring biodiversity; Multispecies workflows; Restoration; Conservation; Monitoring.