Science

Species in peril

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Species in Peril
Extinction is taking its toll on the creatures of earth. Because of deforestation, climate change, and pollution, species today are disappearing at a rate that hasn’t been experienced since the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs. The process of extinction begins long before the disappearance of the last individual of a species; as populationsand unique individuals perish they take with them their genes—forever. This reduces genetic diversity, or the pool of genes in a species. In fact, without this diversity, a species is unable to adapt to a changing world. This means that as genes are lost, a species becomes more and more vulnerable to extinction.

This means that to protect a species, we have to protect its genetic diversity. But how do we know which species are at risk of losing this diversity? And how can we take actions to ensure that species maintain the genetic diversity that they currently have? We invite you to join us as we delve into the genetics of species in peril, to understand the present, and gaze towards the future of biodiversity. Our journey first takes us to the tropical agricultural fields of southern Costa Rica. Typical of many tropical regions, Coto Brus has undergone substantial change in the last century; forest has been converted into farmland, fragmenting populations of birds, bats, and frogs. Each year, we capture, mark, and release thousands of these animals to monitor their population responses to these changes. We obtain genetic samples from each animal so we can test which land uses best maintain genetic diversity; using these data, we can develop strategies to harmonize human food production with the conservation of biodiversity.

Next we head to the peaks of the Rocky Mountains to understand the effects of a warming climate on the charming, alpine, rabbit-relative, the American pika (Ochotona princeps). This ball of fluff cannot handle the heat and has been heading to higher and higher altitudes in the past decades because of climate change. With no place to go but up, the pika populations that once ranged freely throughout the lowland Great Basin are now restricted to separate, isolated mountaintops. Our team is examining how this fragmentation is affecting their genetic diversity in an effort to inform management protocols.

Finally, our journey ends in Argentina at the base of an erupting volcano. After more than 1,000 years of dormancy, the Puyehue volcano is threatening to wipe out the social rodent, tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis), for a second time. This endemic tuco-tuco population is genetically identical to the few individuals that survived the last Puyehue eruption over 1,000 years ago. Our team is racing to the scene to investigate whether this eruption has further reduced their already low genetic diversity and assess whether intervention is needed to prevent the untimely demise of this gregarious mammal. 

While our “species in peril” face unique threats (deforestation, climate change, and volcanic activity), genetic diversity is a tool that can be used in each of these cases to predict their future and identify the best practices to aid in their recovery.


How will we use your funds
Your funds will help us monitor populations of pikas and tuco-tucos, watch over Costa Rican bats and birds, and venture into the rainforest in search of elusive frogs. Back at the Stanford labs, your money will allow us to extract DNA sequence for the samples we took in the field. For $15, you can fund the costs of uncovering one animal’s unique genes, from the initial capture to the final molecular analyses. By understanding how much genetic diversity there is in these populations of organisms you’ll help us answer critical questions: which species are at the greatest risk of losing genetic diversity? What attributes do they have in common? Which populations are essential for preserving genetic diversity? How can we minimize diversity loss in humanized areas? Join us in our quest to document and preserve these animals genetic heritage!