Sydney, 30 January (IANS). An Australian research published on Thursday found that the genetic diversity of plants and animals has declined in the last three decades.
The study was conducted by the University of Sydney and according to the Xinhua News Agency, it analyzed the genetic diversity of 628 organisms, plants and fungus between 1985 and 2019. The research also included scientists from China, Britain, Greece, Spain, Sweden and Poland.
Researchers found that the genetic diversity of two-thirds of species is decreasing. Genetic diversity is very important for adaptation of organisms according to changes in the environment. If the diversity persists, the organisms can easily mold themselves in changing conditions.
Catherine Graruber, the lead writer of research from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney, says that efforts of protection have maintained some extent genetic diversity and have also increased in some cases. Hence there are also reasons for expectations.
He said, “Biodiversity is rapidly decreasing all over the world, but some expectations are also left. Efforts of environmental protection are preventing these losses and helping to maintain biodiversity.”
Research found that the loss of genetic variety has been the highest in birds and mammals. The main causes of this are changes in land use, diseases, natural disasters (such as forest fire, floods, rivers change and climate change) and human activities such as indiscriminate hunting and destroying housing.
According to the researchers, several measures can be taken to maintain genetic diversity, such as: controlling insects or wild species, limiting the number of some organisms so that better conditions can be created for the rest of the organisms and include new species So that variety in reproduction remains.
The author of this study hopes that his discovery will intensify efforts to save biodiversity.
-IANS
AS/
