Integrating Molecular Genetic and Geospatial Approaches for Advanced Monitoring of Plant Biodiversity

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, more than ever, plant biodiversity has an essential role in maintaining ecosystemic services and sustainable productions. Ongoing climate change, invasive/native biotic stress, and anthropogenic pressure are drastically reshaping biodiversity across spatial and temporal scales, despite efforts worldwide for effective monitoring, conservation, and sustainable use. The consequent erosion of genetic diversity within and between populations of wild, native, and domesticated plant species poses unprecedented challenges for the health of both natural and agroecosystems, exposing the next generation’s well-being to risk. In this context, molecular marker technologies, DNA polymorphism analysis, genomic and environmental (eDNA) approaches can provide powerful tools for the identification, characterization, and monitoring of plant genetic diversity.

To further enhance the application and interpretation of molecular data, spatial frameworks, including GIS-based analysis and remote sensing-derived environmental variables, can be integrated with genetic and genomic datasets. This integrative approach, often referred to as landscape or spatial genetics/genomics, allows the association between genetic data and environmental gradients for the detection of potentially adaptive genetic variation and supporting conservation strategies. Spatial analysis enables the visualization, mapping, and modeling of genetic diversity patterns while maintaining molecular markers as the primary focus for biodiversity assessment and monitoring.

This Special Issue aims to stimulate advanced approaches, mainly combining molecular genetic tools with spatiotemporal modeling, to increase our understanding of plant biodiversity dynamics, conservation strategies, early detection of decline signs, and mechanisms of resistance, resilience, and adaptation. Topics of interest mainly include, but are not limited to, original research and reviews addressing key questions in conservation biology and sustainable use, in addition to innovative methodological advances and case studies, emphasizing contributions on plant biodiversity monitoring programs, conservation policies, and bioresource management under current and future climate scenarios.

Dr. Luigi De Masi
Guest Editor

Dr. Marina Maura Calandrelli
Guest Editor Assistant

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