Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity Genomics
Authors: Marques João Pedro , Alves Paulo Célio , Amorim Isabel R. , Lopes Ricardo J. , Moura Mónica , Meyers Gene , Sim-Sim Manuela , Sousa-Santos Carla , Alves Maria Judite , Borges Paulo AV , Brown Thomas , Carneiro Miguel , Carrapato Carlos , Ceríaco Luís , Ciofi Claudio , da Silva Luís , Diedericks Genevieve , Diroma Maria Angela , Farelo Liliana , Formenti Giulio , Gil Fátima , Grilo Miguel , Ianucci Alessio , Leitão Henrique , Máguas Cristina , Mc Cartney Ann , Mendes Sofia , Moreno João , Morselli Marco , Mouton Alice , Natali Chiara , Pereira Fernando , Rego Rúben , Resendes Roberto , Roxo Guilherme , Svardal Hannes , Trindade Helena , Vicente Sara , Winkler Sylke , Alvarenga Marcela , Amaral Andreia , Antunes Agostinho , Campos Paula , Canário Adelino , Castilho Rita , Castro L. Filipe , Crottini Angelica , Cunha Mónica , Themudo Gonçalo , Esteves Pedro , Faria Rui , Fernandes Carlos , Ledoux Jean-Baptiste , Louro Bruno , Magalhães Sara , Paulo Octávio , Pearson Gareth , Pimenta João , Pina-Martins Francisco , Santos Teresa , Serrão Ester , Melo-Ferreira José , Sousa Vítor 
Published: July 2023

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.