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Call for papers - Genomics of endangered species

Guest Editors

Balaji Chattopadhyay, PhD, Ashoka University, India
Nicolas Dussex, PhD, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden 
Elspeth Ann McLennan, PhD, The University of Sydney, Australia

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 13 August 2025

This Collection invites researchers to contribute to the growing field of genomics of endangered species, focusing on the genetic diversity, evolutionary history, and conservation strategies for species at risk of extinction. BMC Genomics welcomes submissions that explore population genomics, genetic bottlenecks, and the application of genomic tools in conservation management, aiming to enhance our understanding and preservation of biodiversity.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Balaji Chattopadhyay, PhD, Ashoka University, India

Balaji Chattopadhyay is an evolutionary biologist whose research incorporates high-throughput genomic data alongside biological and ecological data to study the evolution of wildlife under fluctuating climate regimes.

Nicolas Dussex, PhD, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden

Dr Dussex is an evolutionary biologist with a strong interest in the evolution of small populations, the effects of population declines on population fitness and persistence and the adaptive responses of species to climate change. He obtained his PhD at the University of Otago where he worked on endemic New Zealand parrots. He then joined the Swedish Museum of Natural history and Centre for Palaeogenetics (Stockholm University) to study the genomic consequences of population declines and the genomic basis of adaptation in several endangered and extinct species (e.g., Sumatran rhinoceros, kākāpō, Svalbard reindeer, woolly rhinoceros). He is experienced in using temporal genomics approaches, relying on modern, historical and ancient genomes as well as simulations (i.e., Slim) to study the evolution of populations in real time.

Elspeth Ann McLennan, PhD, The University of Sydney, Australia

Dr Elspeth McLennan is a postdoctoral associate in the Australasian Wildlife Genomics Group at the University of Sydney. Her research is focused on using genomics for the conservation of Australia’s threatened fauna. She is currently working on the Koala Sentinel Program which uses whole genomes to investigate neutral and functional diversity, selection and adaptation across the koala’s range. Dr McLennan has expertise in population genomics, small population management, and translocation science.

About the Collection

BMC Genomics is calling for submissions to our Collection on Genomics of endangered species, a rapidly evolving field that combines molecular biology, genetics, and conservation science to understand the drivers of genetic diversity and evolutionary history of species at risk of extinction. By analyzing the genomes of these species, researchers can identify critical adaptive genetic variation, assess genetic indicators of population health, and inform conservation strategies. This area of study is crucial for developing effective management plans that can help preserve biodiversity and ensure the survival of endangered species in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other anthropogenic pressures.

Advancing our collective understanding of the genomics of endangered species is vital for implementing informed conservation efforts. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have enabled researchers to generate high-quality genomic data, revealing insights into the genetic consequences of population bottlenecks as well as into the genetic structure and adaptive potential of endangered populations. These findings have also contributed to the development of targeted breeding programs aimed at maintaining or enhancing genetic diversity, thereby producing tangible results for conservation. Continued research in this area will further refine our understanding of the evolutionary processes that shape species resilience and adaptability.

As research in the genomics of endangered species progresses, we can anticipate significant advances in conservation strategies. Future studies may lead to the development of genomic tools that facilitate real-time monitoring of genetic health in populations, enabling proactive management interventions. Additionally, integrating genomic data with ecological and environmental information could enhance our ability to predict species responses to changing habitats, ultimately guiding more effective conservation policies and practices. 

This Collection invites contributions across a spectrum of topics, including but not limited to:

  • Population genomics of endangered species
  • Conservation strategies for bottlenecked populations
  • Evolutionary adaptations in threatened species
  • Genomic tools for conservation management
  • Genomic insights into species resilience and adaptability
  • The role of epigenetics in conservation biology
  • Conservation genomics and landscape genetics
  • Genomic approaches to understanding disease    susceptibility in endangered species
  • The impact of climate change on genetic diversity
  • Integrating traditional ecological knowledge with  genomic data


This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land.  

Image credit: © Uryadnikov Sergey / Stock.adobe.com 

  1. The genus Virescentia is a significant member of the Batrachospermaceae, exhibiting distinctive life history characteristics defined by alternating generations. This group of taxa has specific environmental requi...

    Authors: Weinan Guo, Fangru Nan, Xudong Liu, Qi Liu, Jia Feng and Shulian Xie
    Citation: BMC Genomics 2025 26:202
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Genomics of endangered species" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.