Structural genomic variants (SVs) are ubiquitous and play a major role in adaptation and speciation. Yet, comparative and population genomics have focused predominantly on gene duplications and large-effect inversions. The lack of a common framework for studying all SVs is hampering progress towards a more systematic assessment of their evolutionary significance. Here we (i) review how different types of SVs affect ecological and evolutionary processes; (ii) suggest unifying definitions and recommendations for future studies; and (iii) provide a roadmap for the integration of SVs in ecoevolutionary studies. In doing so, we lay the foundation for population genomics, theoretical, and experimental approaches to understand how the full spectrum of SVs impacts ecological and evolutionary processes.

结构基因组变体（SV）无处不在，在适应和物种形成中起主要作用。然而，比较基因组学和种群基因组学主要集中在基因重复和大面积反演上。缺乏用于研究所有SV的通用框架阻碍了对它们的进化重要性进行更系统的评估的进展。在这里，我们（i）回顾了不同类型的SV如何影响生态和进化过程；（ii）为将来的研究提出统一的定义和建议；（iii）提供了将SV整合到生态进化研究中的路线图。在此过程中，我们为种群基因组学，理论和实验方法奠定了基础，以了解SV的整个范围如何影响生态和进化过程。