• Initial meeting to discuss the management needs and define important questions relevant to management

• Advice on genetic management from existing knowledge and/or on filling knowledge gaps 

• Co-design of sampling strategies for follow-up research

• Assistance with grant applications for genetic management and/or obtaining genomic data to inform management

• Advice on sample collection.

Example: Advancing genetic management for Malleefowl. Working with National Malleefowl Recovery Group, we assessed the likelihood of genetic issues using published studies, identified knowledge gaps and sample availability for a global study, and prepared the grant application to obtain genomic data to address immediate questions.

Outcomes: initial study design & acquisition of sequencing data funded by the Australian Avian Genomics Initiative. These data will help us find populations that experience health-harming inbreeding and inform us about the best ways to alleviate it. 

• Co-design of studies to address important management questions

• Coordination of genomic data-acquisition from genetic samples

• Analysis of genomic data and interpreting results together with managers

• Reporting to funders

• Validation and dissemination by peer-reviewed publications, co-authored with managers in open-access journals.

Example: Murrumbidgee population of Macquarie perch: Together with partners from New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and Fish Fondler Pty Ltd, we improved understanding of the negative effect of low river flows on population connectivity and health. We then designed effective population genetic management strategy to reconnect isolated population fragments to increase population health and chance of persistence. 

Output: published open-access scientific paper with management recommendations.

• Assessment of risks and benefits of metapopulation genetic management 

Example: Macquarie perch species-wide genetic management. With collaborators from Victorian Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), ACT government and other stakeholders, we integrated previous genetic research, conducted additional research, developed a framework for metapopulation genetic management and provided baseline estimates of population genetic diversity for future monitoring. 

Output: published open-access scientific paper with management recommendations, and a box explaining how population genetic parameters can be used to guide adaptive genetic management.

What managers say about this work:  "A mighty contribution to species conservation." - Felicity Sturgiss, Local Land Services, NSW government 

• Assessment of available information

• Development of data-based recommendations for species with data

• Using information from closely related species or general principles for species without data

Example: Melbourne Strategic Assessment. With collaborators from Victorian Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), we used existing information relevant to species of interest to develop an integrated approach for genetic management to support ecosystem restoration.

Output: governmental report with management recommendations.

• Assessment of applicability of current genetic management frameworks

• Working with on-ground managers, scientists specializing in spatial data representation, climate modelling and other system-specific characteristics and other stakeholders, to design targeted and scalable approach for genetic management and filling knowledge gaps.

Example: Genetic management of the Great Barrier Reef coral community. Genetic management approaches are mainly designed for land and freshwater cases with low gene flow. The Great Barrier Reef is under imminent threat from climate change and needs assistance with adaptation that could be scaled up. With collaborators from Australian Institute of Marine Science, we are developing a novel framework for genetic management of coral reef community.

Output: draft of the paper to be published in high-impact scientific journal 

• Designing framework for genetic monitoring.

• Estimating baseline genetic diversity.

• Monitoring impact of management.

• Adjusting management interventions based on results of monitoring.

• Using genetic diversity as a state of nature metric within the Nature Positive Initiative.

• Have you thought about an integrative database for ecological and genetic monitoring? We recommend APV Lab&Field for you.

Example: Re-establishment of the extinct Macquarie perch population in the Ovens River. After habitat restoration, the population is being re-established from 2010, through translocation by Victorian Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and captive breeding by Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA). Two sources have been used: the historically admixed translocated Yarra River population and the relatively large remnant population from Lake Dartmouth.

Outcomes: Offspring of Yarra and mixed pairs had best survival rates after stocking. Most locally-born fish and those that colonized local tributaries were of Yarra or mixed ancestry. These support benefits of genetic augmentation and using multiple sources in population restorations. Genetic augmentation is now applied in managing Macquarie perch across the range.

Outputs: several reports to the government, published open-access scientific paper with management recommendations.

• Developing pipelines to streamline genetic analyses targeting specific questions.

• Developing training material to help users understand why and how to run the pipelines.

• Making pipelines publicly available to simplify genetic management and enable free validation by peers. 

• Creating training material so anyone could use our resources.

Examples: 

• Simplifying sex identification with function infer.sex: tutorial, video

• Estimating unbiased genetic diversity with pipeline JeDi: a poster and a paper describing the pipeline, 

Creating unique opportunities for  

• collaboration with scientists, artists, performers etc

• fundraising

• raising awareness of conservation needs of wildlife

In development: Art for Conservation initiative. Together with Melbourne-based artist, Clementine Docherty, we are exploring how using nature themes and images of threatened species in art can raise awareness and create funding opportunities for threatened species.   

If you are an artist and would love to contribute to biodiversity conservation, please contact us.