Approach
Some areas of the landscape are natural "hotspots" of biodiversity, which may include phylogenetic diversity (diversity based on evolutionary history), phenotypic diversity (diversity of expressed characteristics), or endemism (species being unique to only one area). Conserving these locations of high diversity can help ensure that genetic diversity is maintained, which may enhance adaptive capacity as the climate changes (Dawson et al. 2014, Cobben et al. 2011).
Tactics
- Establish new protected areas in areas of high phylogenetic diversity.
- Prioritize phylogenetic diversity hotspots when designing fuel breaks for wildfire protection.
Strategy Text
Genetic diversity within a population or across an entire species provides the basis for adaptability through time. Maintaining and enhancing genetic diversity in wildlife species may become even more important as a climate adaptation strategy, as populations and species may be required to adapt to novel climatic conditions through time (Greenwood et al. 2016, Razgour et al. 2018). The following Approaches offer different opportunities to incorporate aspects of genetic diversity into management.
Citation
Handler, S.D., Ledee, O.E., Hoving, C.L., Zuckerberg, B., and Swanston, C.W. 2022. A menu of climate change adaptation actions for terrestrial wildlife management. Wildlife Society Bulletin e1331. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1331