Lessons Across Scales: Molecular Ecology and Wildlife Conservation

Abstract

We humans have single-handedly (as a species) changed the ecology of the planet; we are also learning why this, in the long term, is a terrible idea. As we grapple with the fallouts of increasing urbanization, deforestation, loss of wildlife, and human–wildlife confict, we are beginning to realize that conservation must use every tool available to protect what is left of our natural world. Since molecular ecology—a hybrid feld of molecular biology and ecology—is an invaluable tool in understanding how genetics affect animal populations, it has often been used to inform conservation efforts. Wildlife conservation has and will continue to depend heavily on molecular ecology to make predictions on species survival, decisions regarding conservation practices, and monitoring of conservation efforts. The infuences of molecular biology-based techniques and tools on various aspects of conservation, namely, population genetics and health, taxonomy, wildlife disease management, climate change, and changing landscapes, will be broadly examined in this article.