Scientists Hope Mapping Mangroves' DNA Will Save Them From Extinction

Coastal mangroves are some of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth, with the United Nations estimating that 67 percent of mangroves worldwide are already destroyed. Mangroves are famously difficult to restore due to their complexity and lack of genetic diversity. But a new partnership is leveraging genomic technology to reverse this. 

The partnership between MGI Tech — a global gene sequencing company — and the Thailand National Omics Center — a government agency focused on innovation in agriculture, health and environmental studies —  emphasizes resource and knowledge sharing. MGI provides cost-effective technology to a team of scientists seeking to restore coastal mangroves in Thailand, enabling a conservation approach that is usually costly. 

In addition to the human-caused destruction of mangroves, the lack of genetic diversity makes it difficult for coastal mangroves to adapt and thrive in changing environments. Through the use of genomics — a field of biology focused on mapping and studying all of an organism’s DNA — scientists in this project identify which species of mangroves are at risk and take targeted actions to protect them. 

MGI’s sequencer technology, a machine called the DNBSEQ-G400RS, allows the researchers to precisely evaluate the mangroves' genetic diversity and build a database of the information for the first time. 

The most important takeaway from the project is the importance of genetic diversity for efforts to mitigate climate change, Wirulda Nik Pootakham, head of the genomics research team at the National Omics Center, said in an email to TriplePundit. Genetic diversity is critical for the survival of species, which isn’t widely understood across the world but could change how conservation efforts are approached. 

“Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genetic information within a species, which determines its ability to adapt and thrive in changing environments,” Pootakham said. “Species with high genetic diversity are better equipped to withstand challenges such as diseases, pests and climate fluctuations. On the other hand, low genetic diversity makes a species more vulnerable to these threats, increasing the risk of extinction.” 

The risk of mangroves becoming extinct puts other species that use them as a habitat in danger, as well. So the stakes are high. 

“For mangroves, genetic diversity is not just about the survival of individual species. It also impacts the broader ecosystem they support, including marine life, coastal communities, and even global climate regulation,” Pootakham said. “Raising awareness about genetic diversity is essential, as it underpins effective conservation strategies and ensures these critical ecosystems remain resilient for generations to come.” 

The coastal trees also store up to 18 percent of the total carbon sequestered in the oceans, making them one of the most carbon-rich ecosystems. 

“Mangroves play an important role in combating climate change by acting as powerful carbon sinks,” Pootakham said. “Unlike some wetlands, they store carbon with minimal methane emissions, making them especially effective for climate mitigation. Additionally, they protect coastlines from erosion, storm surges, and flooding, reducing the impacts of extreme weather events. Protecting and restoring these ecosystems is crucial for reducing greenhouse gases and enhancing resilience against climate impacts.”

The MGI and National Omics Center partnership recognizes the role mangroves play in climate change mitigation and species survival by mapping the genetic diversity of mangrove species, which in turn, informs efforts to increase the likelihood that mangroves will adapt and survive to environmental stressors. 

“We collected leaf samples from hundreds of mangroves and analyzed their DNA to see how much variation exists,” Pootakham said. “If a species has low genetic diversity, it’s more vulnerable to things like disease or changes in the environment, which could lead to its extinction. When we identify a species exhibiting a low level of genetic diversity, it’s a sign that we need to focus our efforts on protecting it.” 

So far, the project has added 15 mangrove species in Thailand to a reference database, mapping genetic data that shows how species adapt to challenges such as rising sea levels, changes in salinity and habitat loss.

Mangroves also benefit humans, providing fish, wood, and economic stability for millions of people in Thailand whose livelihoods depend on the resources extracted from the ecosystems they create. The loss of these ecosystems results in diminishing numbers of marine life and collapsing shorelines, impacting local fishing communities’ economies and forcing residents to move away from their land. Restoring mangroves is key to ensuring that these communities can survive and thrive, as well as conserving native ways of living and extracting local resources.

While the MGI and National Omics Center project is currently only active in Thailand, the scientists are excited to give the world a successful blueprint for using genomic innovation to preserve biodiversity and support the resilience of ecosystems for future generations. 

“Governments and organizations should allocate funding and resources to support projects that protect and restore mangrove forests, using genomic technology or similar approaches,” Pootakham said. “Collaborative international initiatives and knowledge-sharing could also play a key role in scaling such efforts globally.”