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Tag: nature

Nature & Wildlife

Largest study on genetic diversity finds glimmers of hope amid general global decline

Before species go extinct, their populations often shrink and become isolated. Healthy populations tend to have a large gene pool with many genetic variants circulating. But the path to extinction erodes genetic diversity, because a species’ gene pool shrinks as the population declines. Losing genetic diversity limits the ability of populations to adapt to threats such as disease and climate change.

Opinion & Analysis

OPINION: The nature target shortfalls of COP16

The recent COP16 biodiversity conference in Colombia was a chance to check on targets aimed at rescuing the world’s threatened plants and animals. There were some successes but, ultimately, it did not deliver all that was hoped for, writes Dr James Fitzsimons.