Whole-Genome Assessment of Endangered Species for Conservation Success and Biodiversity Reporting

ECH Project | Biodiversity and Ecosystems

ECH members Daria Shipilina at the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research and Arne Langlet at the Department of Political Science are working together with Botany and Biodiversity researcher Norman Wickett in this project to not only understand the genome of endangered species better, but also to translate their findings into policy-relevant outpots to improve Austria's CBD/KMGBF reporting and conservation practice.

Barbara Knickmann

Overview

Genetic diversity is one of the three foundational pillars of biodiversity, alongside species and ecosystems, as it provides the raw material species need to adapt to environmental change. The 196 parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Austria included, formally committed to safeguarding it under the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Yet in practice, genetic diversity remains the neglected pillar: data are scarce for most endangered species, and national reporting relies on indirect proxies such as population counts rather than direct DNA-based measures. As a result, a population can appear healthy while quietly accumulating inbreeding and harmful mutations that erode its long-term viability.​​

This is especially pressing in Austria, where nearly 37% of plant species are threatened with extinction and whole-genome data are missing for the majority of them. Our project closes this gap by combining cutting-edge population genomics with political science expertise on biodiversity policy, in partnership with Krissa Skogen and Barbara Knickmann at the Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna. The aim is to generate both accurate genomic assessments for an endangered Austrian species serving as a case study and actionable insights that feed directly into national conservation decisions and international reporting.

Investigators

Project Partners