Xinghao  Li , Jia Xuan

Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 2   
Received: 12 Feb., 2024    Accepted: 28 Mar., 2024    Published: 10 Apr., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reptiles are facing global ecological and genetic threats, leading many species to endangered status. Habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and overexploitation are the primary ecological factors con-tributing to the decline of these species. Concurrently, genetic mechanisms such as genetic drift, reduced gene flow, genetic bottlenecks, and hybridization further exacerbate the extinction risks for these species. This study explores the ecological and genetic mechanisms driving reptile endangerment, analyzing how different ecological factors and genetic changes work together to lead to species decline and extinction. Through case studies, current conservation strategies and management approaches are discussed, and future research direc-tions are proposed. The study reveals that the intertwined ecological and genetic threats are collectively driv-ing the rapid decline of reptile species. The integration of landscape genetics and conservation genomics pro-vides new approaches and methods for the long-term conservation of these species. Understanding the eco-logical and genetic mechanisms of reptile endangerment is crucial for developing effective conservation measures. Combining ecological and genetic data analyses can help identify high-risk species and provide scientific evidence for formulating targeted conservation plans. Therefore, future research should focus on the application of emerging technologies, such as CRISPR and environmental DNA (eDNA), to enhance our un-derstanding of reptile genetic diversity and ecological adaptation.

Large reptiles; Endangerment mechanisms; Ecological genetics; Conservation genomics; Ecological threats