Assisted gene flow

Assisted gene flow (AGF) is a conservation management strategy that moves individuals or gametes between populations of plant or animal species within the species’s existing range. This strategy responds to the effects of climate change by facilitating adaptation to projected local climate conditions. For example, an AGF management plan may move individuals from a source population (or populations) living in a warm region to a target population in a colder, but rapidly warming region. Not to be confused with assisted migration, AGF is a strategy focused on gene flow between existing populations rather than an introduction of individuals to new or restored habitat. AGF is also similar to genetic rescue, a conservation technique intended to prevent species extinction; however, AGF emphasizes long-term conservation and has broader applications. For species that experience local adaptation to historical climate conditions and have populations with genetic compatibility, AGF can be an effective climate change mitigation strategy to help maintain genetic fitness in threatened species.