Tag Archives: Biodiversity Conservation

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Why should we care about koalas?

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by Lily Munro

Koalas are one of Australia’s most unique species. Their cute and cuddly appearance has captured the hearts of many tourists and locals alike. Since being listed as Endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in 2022, they have also become one of the most well-funded species, with government and conservation organisations scrambling to save them. But what is the value of koalas within the Australian landscape beyond them being living proof that not all creatures in this country are dangerous or strange? Why should we care about koalas at all?

Koalas have an intriguing survival strategy. They sleep for 18-20 hours per day, they almost exclusively eat Eucalyptus, and they can only produce one joey, once a year on average. To me, this does not seem like a very strong template for survival. Additionally, human activity is increasing the pressure on koalas. Historically, koalas were hunted extensively for their fur in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Presently, koala habitats are being destroyed to clear land for housing and to feed our ever increasing population, as well as being impacted by climate change with the increasing frequency of natural disasters like the 2019-2020 bushfires. These factors combined mean that many koala populations are under pressure, with their habitats and food sources shrinking.

Additionally, genetic diversity of koalas is quite varied across their range. Lower genetic diversity is seen in koalas in the southern part of their range, and we have also observed that individual koalas with lower genetic diversity, are more likely to be impacted by  Chlamydia and Koala RetroVirus (KoRV). Koalas are an ancient species, and are not thriving in a modern environment, yet Australians truly care for them, and are continuously funding measures to improve their survival. Why?

The conservation of koalas also helps to improve the outcomes of many other flora and fauna species. Conserving their habitat helps to save the many tree species, and also the homes of other native animals. Koala conservation can also bring attention to other native species that are in need of assistance, but are lesser known, such as greater gliders and regent honeywaters. Through their international platform, koalas bring attention to all the weird and wonderful creatures found in Australia, and emphasise the need for their conservation.

In my Honours year, I am focusing on the reproductive genetics of koalas. I am looking at male reproductive genes that relate to testes development and function, spermatogenesis and sperm quality. I am lucky enough to be undertaking Honours at a time when genomics research is more accessible than ever before. Using previous research from the lab as a springboard (namely the Koala Genome Survey), I will (hopefully!) be able to provide some new evidence as to why koala populations breed differently, as has been observed across their range. Koalas are kooky, but iconic and I believe the focus on their conservation is warranted.

Author

Lily Munro (Honours Student) is characterising the reproductive genes of koalas. She will also be comparing the diversity of these genes at a population level across the species range. She aims to find some correlation between the known breeding success rates of koalas, and the genetic differences between populations and to contribute to the species’ ongoing conservation programs.

Lily Munro @ Linkedin

The Amphibian Genomics Consortium: advancing genomic and genetic resources for amphibian research and conservation

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Type: Journal article

Reference: Kosch, T.A., Torres-Sánchez, M., Liedtke, H.C. et al. The Amphibian Genomics Consortium: advancing genomic and genetic resources for amphibian research and conservation. BMC Genomics 25, 1025 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10899-7

Abstract

Amphibians represent a diverse group of tetrapods, marked by deep divergence times between their three systematic orders and families. Studying amphibian biology through the genomics lens increases our understanding of the features of this animal class and that of other terrestrial vertebrates. The need for amphibian genomic resources is more urgent than ever due to the increasing threats to this group. Amphibians are one of the most imperiled taxonomic groups, with approximately 41% of species threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, changes in land use patterns, disease, climate change, and their synergistic effects. Amphibian genomic resources have provided a better understanding of ontogenetic diversity, tissue regeneration, diverse life history and reproductive modes, anti-predator strategies, and resilience and adaptive responses. They also serve as essential models for studying broad genomic traits, such as evolutionary genome expansions and contractions, as they exhibit the widest range of genome sizes among all animal taxa and possess multiple mechanisms of genetic sex determination. Despite these features, genome sequencing of amphibians has significantly lagged behind that of other vertebrates, primarily due to the challenges of assembling their large, repeat-rich genomes and the relative lack of societal support. The emergence of long-read sequencing technologies, combined with advanced molecular and computational techniques that improve scaffolding and reduce computational workloads, is now making it possible to address some of these challenges. To promote and accelerate the production and use of amphibian genomics research through international coordination and collaboration, we launched the Amphibian Genomics Consortium (AGC, https://mvs.unimelb.edu.au/amphibian-genomics-consortium) in early 2023. This burgeoning community already has more than 282 members from 41 countries. The AGC aims to leverage the diverse capabilities of its members to advance genomic resources for amphibians and bridge the implementation gap between biologists, bioinformaticians, and conservation practitioners. Here we evaluate the state of the field of amphibian genomics, highlight previous studies, present challenges to overcome, and call on the research and conservation communities to unite as part of the AGC to enable amphibian genomics research to “leap” to the next level.

The Conversation: Strong progress – from a low base: here’s what’s in NSW’s biodiversity reforms

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Professor Carolyn Hogg from the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney, Jaana Dielenberg from Charles Darwin University and Professor Hugh Possingham from the University of Queensland discuss the NSW Government’s proposed major overhaul of the Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Find the full article here: https://theconversation.com/strong-progress-from-a-low-base-heres-whats-in-nsws-biodiversity-reforms-234917

Australia’s ‘Easter bunny’, the bilby, has had its genome fully sequenced

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Under pressure from predatory foxes and cats and competing with feral rabbits, the Greater bilby has lost more than 80 percent of its habitat. Conservation work led by Professor Carolyn Hogg is designed to help save the bilby from extinction.

Read the full article here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/07/01/australia-greater-bilby-genome-sequenced-marsupial-conservation.html

Translating genomic advances into biodiversity conservation

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Type: Journal Article

Reference: Hogg, C.J. Translating genomic advances into biodiversity conservation. Nat Rev Genet (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-023-00671-0

Abstract

A key action of the new Global Biodiversity Framework is the maintenance of genetic diversity in all species to safeguard their adaptive potential. To achieve this goal, a translational mindset, which aims to convert results of basic research into direct practical benefits, needs to be applied to biodiversity conservation. Despite much discussion on the value of genomics to conservation, a disconnect between those generating genomic resources and those applying it to biodiversity management remains. As global efforts to generate reference genomes for non-model species increase, investment into practical biodiversity applications is critically important. Applications such as understanding population and multispecies diversity and longitudinal monitoring need support alongside education for policymakers on integrating the data into evidence-based decisions. Without such investment, the opportunity to revolutionize global biodiversity conservation using genomics will not be fully realized.