Biodiversity loss is a defining challenge of the Anthropocene, with species extinctions and population declines threatening ecosystem function and stability worldwide. Yet, beneath these visible impacts lies the silent erosion of genetic diversity, an often overlooked phenomenon. As the foundation of evolutionary potential, genetic variation is critical for population resilience, adaptation, and long-term survival. Despite its importance, genetic diversity is neglected in most conservation assessments and is rarely monitored over time. This thesis addresses both gaps by applying state-of-the-art genomic approaches to investigate the dynamics of genetic diversity in insect populations, a group with key roles in ecosystems that remains underrepresented in monitoring programs and policy frameworks.
In Chapter 1, the development of a new genomic monitoring framework based on ultra- conserved elements (UCEs) and universal single-copy orthologs (USCOs) is presented. This molecular tool was applied to Swiss Orthoptera during the latest Red List update. Drawing upon a sampling of 645 samples including all Orthoptera species in Switzerland, the study provided an updated phylogeny of the group, explored species structuring, and generated within-species genetic diversity estimates. Notably, we demonstrate that genetic diversity levels are not correlated with IUCN threat status, advocating for the integration of genetic indicators into risk assessments and providing a practical tool for future national biodiversity strategies.
In Chapter 2, we investigate the population dynamics through time and space in seven insect species considered as Least concern by the IUCN, all widely distributed and associated with agricultural landscapes, by combining historical DNA from museum specimens with contemporary genomic data. Using hybridization-based hyRAD sequencing on nearly 1,500 museum specimens and ddRAD sequencing on approximately 800 modern individuals, the study identifies signatures of genetic erosion. These include species-specific declines in genetic diversity, with tentative indications of recent recovery in some cases, and a trend toward both genetic homogenization and fragmentation over time. This work demonstrates that genetic erosion is not confined to rare or endangered species but also affects widespread taxa that appear demographically stable. It further shows how natural history collections can be leveraged for long-term genomic monitoring and calls for their broader inclusion in conservation frameworks.
Together, these findings highlight the urgent need to integrate genomic indicators into conservation policy, as outlined by the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which now explicitly includes the goal of maintaining and restoring genetic diversity as a core target of global conservation efforts. Genetic erosion reduces the capacity of populations to adapt to environmental change, including the many stressors driven by human activity. Though invisible to traditional monitoring, its loss is irreversible on evolutionary timescales. Detecting and preventing genetic erosion must therefore become a central pillar of conservation in the decades ahead.
