Conservation and Ecology of Polymorphic Animal Populations

Dear Colleagues,

The conservation of polymorphic animal populations is an important topic and one that emphasizes that biodiversity is not only about species richness but also about protecting phenotypic diversity within species. Polymorphisms—variations in traits such as color, shape, size, or behavior within a single species—play a crucial role in enabling populations to adapt to changing environments and ecological pressures.

For instance, color polymorphism in certain lizard or moth species can offer camouflage in different habitats, enhancing survival against predators. Similarly, behavioral polymorphisms, such as differences in foraging strategies or social behavior, allow for more flexible responses to environmental variability and resource availability. These differences are not just curiosities—they contribute directly to the resilience and stability of populations over time.

Protecting this within-species variation is vital in ensuring the long-term health of ecosystems. The loss of polymorphism, often due to habitat destruction, climate change, or selective hunting, can lead to reduced adaptability and greater vulnerability to disease or environmental change. In some cases, human activities inadvertently select against certain morphs, narrowing the gene pool and undermining evolutionary potential.

Conservation efforts must therefore go beyond simply preventing species extinction. They should aim to preserve the ecological and evolutionary processes that generate and maintain polymorphism. This might include protecting diverse habitats, minimizing artificial selection pressures, and incorporating phenotypic monitoring into wildlife management strategies.

Ultimately, maintaining polymorphism enriches biodiversity in a deeper sense—it ensures that nature’s adaptive toolkit remains robust and flexible in the face of global environmental challenges. By recognizing the value of variation within species, conservation biology moves closer to a holistic understanding of biodiversity, one that reflects the full spectrum of life’s complexity and adaptability.

This Special Issue will explore how intraspecific phenotypic diversity affects ecological dynamics, evolutionary processes, species resilience in changing environments, and conservation strategies for polymorphic animals.

Prof. Dr. Luca Luiselli
Dr. Massimiliano Di Vittorio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Conservation is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• polymorphism
• phenotypic diversity
• genetic variation
• adaptation
• conservation genetics
• evolutionary ecology
• intraspecific variation
• anthropogenic impacts
• habitat heterogeneity
• behavioral polymorphism