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Contribution to the EPBRS e-conference March 2010 Title: Preserving ongoing evolutionary processes Andreas Tribsch, Sabine Hille, Matthias Kropf, Günter Gollman, Steven Weiss and Stefan Schindler Austrian Platform for Biodiversity Research (BDFA), Austria “The evolutionary basis of biodiversity - strategies to manage and preserve evolutionary processes, and their likely impact on biodiversity” As outcome of a national expert workshop on the three topics of the e-conference held at the 2nd annual meeting of the Austrian Platform for Biodiversity Research (BDFA), we present herewith the summary regarding the first topic “The evolutionary basis of biodiversity: strategies to manage and preserve evolutionary processes, and their likely impact on biodiversity”. Evolutionary responses include changes in the geographical distribution of populations and species. Such changes and resulting evolutionary processes are often related to socalled refugia, i.e. areas, where populations are able to survive climatic instabilities and unfavourable conditions in situ. Refugia hosting reservoir populations are often located in mountain areas resulting in high levels of biodiversity (e.g., endemism and high level of genetic diversity). To get a better insight into these topics, we recommend: • • • • Studies of natural populations of all groups of organisms Identifying evolutionary significant units (not necessarily species) including phylogeographical methods Studying the evolutionary potential of refugial populations by analysing genetic variation and distribution modelling under different climate change scenarios Research focus on endemic and IUCN listed species that are often located in refugia, which will result in data for targeted conservation efforts regarding these species The knowledge of the genetic diversity of populations is crucial for understanding adaptive capacities of organisms to changing environments. The mechanisms to understand how fast and effective organisms could deal with it by adaptation and selection is still poorly understood. Especially epigenetic changes in natural (!) populations that result in different evolutionary potentials are unknown. Therefore, we recommend: • • Studies of natural populations (e.g., along environmental gradients) by assessing present genetic variation in order to find biodiversity indicators representing future adaptive potential. Identifying epigenetic mechanisms as a potential for adaptation Phylogeographical studies have shown that genetic diversity is often unevenly distributed over a species’ geographical distribution. Conservation priorities, however, are usually based on ecosystem and/or species diversity. Given that intraspecific genetic diversity is most relevant for evolution, conservation strategies should also include measures of genetic diversity. Thus, we recommend: • • The integration of genetic variation in conservation measures (as the IUCN demands) and monitoring of populations of target species. The use of data on genetic diversity of multiple species for the systematic design of conservation areas and the comparison of the resulting conservation networks with the currently existing ones. The understanding of evolutionary mechanisms which does also include historical changes like environmental change is important for understanding biodiversity and the evolutionary potential of species. Training in these research areas, especially in identifying wild plants and animals, however, has often been cut down in universities. Thus, it must be guaranteed to: • Provide the educational basis in evolutionary biology and biodiversity (organismal biology) by promoting teaching of these subjects in, but also outside universities.