News

From 19/09 to 18/10/2022 Roberta Gargiulo conducted a short-term scientific mission (STSM) titled "Estimating effective population size in genomic datasets: test of methods and assumptions". The STSM was carried out at INRAE Biogeco, hosted by dr Myriam Heuertz, the leader of G-BiKE's Working Group 3. Results of this STSM are now available in preprint in the publication titled "Estimation of contemporary effective population size in plant populations: limitations of genomic datasets". Effective population size (Ne) is a pivotal evolutionary parameter with crucial implications in conservation practice and policy. Genetic methods to estimate Ne have been preferred over demographic methods because they rely on genetic data rather than time-consuming ecological monitoring. Methods based on linkage disequilibrium, in particular, have become popular in conservation as they require a single sampling and provide estimates that refer to recent generations. Gargiulo et al. show how accuracy and precision of Ne estimates potentially change with the following factors: occurrence of missing data, limited number of SNPs/individuals sampled, and lack of information about the location of SNPs on chromosomes, with the latter producing a significant bias, previously unexplored with empirical data.

The Final event of the COST Action G-BIKE (CA18134) took place on 27-29 June 2023, at the Fondazione Edmund Mach, in San Michele all'Adige (Trento, ITALY). What a way to finalize our exciting journey for the past four years! But given the sentiment at the last meeting of the G-BiKE - this is just a beginning of a beautiful friendship and collaborative network! We bike on!!!

Aaaaand the race is ending... Here is the finale of our Genes of Wheels series. Read the final episode to discover what family trees, building roads, fragmented populations, genetic diversity, adaptation, conservation, and decision-making have in common. Our G-BiKE team says farewell for now!!! Stay committed to safeguarding all genetic diversity!!!

What is the connection between DNA, adaptability traits, and conservation management? Find out in the latest adventure of Arlet and Cora in our Genes on Wheels series! Have fun solving the sequence puzzle and help Mr. Fagus manage his forest!

With profound sadness, we must communicate that our dear and esteemed G-BiKE colleague, friend, and Working Group 2 leader, Michael W Bruford, passed away on the 13th of April 2023.

G-BiKE's WG5 leader, Belma Kalamujić Stroil, was elected to the Ad hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Indicators, whose role is to advise on the further monitoring framework operationalization of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.