An Investigation of Ecosystem Restoration through Facilitated Adaptation

Abstract

In what scientists are calling the "sixth mass extinction," thousands of species have gone extinct starting from the early Pleistocene, and many more are at risk of extinction each year due to human impacts on the global ecosystem. One potential intervention to slow this process is facilitated adaptation—the use of various methods to change a species' gene pool to display stronger, more adaptable traits. Some of the methods characterized by facilitated adaptation include selective breeding, facilitated migration, and gene editing. This research analyzes a number of select case studies that exemplify when to use one form over another—a decision that is further investigated through the creation of a decision matrix. Each scenario that could potentially benefit from intervention has many variables including species’ importance, lifespan, genetic diversity, and present alleles, emphasizing the careful consideration needed when choosing the most appropriate form. With these factors in mind, facilitated adaptation can be used to restore a habitat’s species interactions, and stronger connections between species can lead to a more stable environment.