Editorial: Population genomics and adaptation to novel environments: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Understanding how organisms adapt to novel environments is an active Research Topic in ecological and evolutionary studies. Most ecological and evolutionary studies focus on how organisms find food (utilization of ecological resources), how they avoid being the food (avoidance of predators), or form the next generation (reproductive strategies) in changing environmental conditions. Yet, some novel environments may present with extreme challenges that organisms may need to evolve novel metabolic pathways even just to exist. Population genomics methods can offer reliable estimates of basic population characteristics such as effective population size, inbreeding, demographic history, and population structure, all of which are also important for conservation efforts. Furthermore, population genomics studies can pinpoint specific genetic loci and variants that are under selection for a populations’ ability to evolve and adapt in response to environmental change and manage adaptive variation. The last 10 years have seen a rise in the study of population genetics of non-model organisms, and the findings of this research are increasingly being applied to the conservation and management of wildlife. To understand population genetics and adaptations, it is equally crucial to share and disseminate the research done using these techniques.