Conservation geneticists apply genetic theory and techniques to preserve endangered species as dynamic entities, capable of coping with environmental change and thus minimizing their risk of extinction. Snow leopards are an umbrella species of High Asia, and a keystone for maintaining biodiversity within this fragile ecosystem. A clear understanding of patterns of snow leopard genetic diversity is critical for guiding conservation initiatives that will ensure their long-term persistence. Yet, a comprehensive analysis of snow leopard genetic variation is lacking. The number of published snow leopard genetic studies is far fewer than for other imperiled big cats. Here, I review the limited genetic work to date on snow leopards and the significant knowledge gaps to be filled. An emphasis must be placed on describing and understanding population genetic dynamics within and among meta-populations to provide information about the interactions between landscapes and the micro-evolutionary processes of gene flow and genetic drift. These results can be used to evaluate the levels and dynamics of genetic and demographic connectivity. A lack of connectivity, particularly in the low density, small populations that typify snow leopards, can lead to multiple demographic and genetic consequences, including inbreeding depression, loss of adaptive potential, and heightened susceptibility to demographic and environmental stochasticity. New efforts in conservation research on snow leopards should focus on this line of inquiry, and the opportunities and challenges for that are outlined and discussed to encourage the required, and considerable, transboundary partnerships and collaborations needed to be successful.

保护遗传学家运用遗传理论和技术将濒临灭绝的物种保存为动态实体，能够应对环境变化，从而将其灭绝的风险降至最低。雪豹是高亚洲的保护伞物种，是在这个脆弱的生态系统中维持生物多样性的基石。清楚了解雪豹遗传多样性的模式对于指导保护措施以确保其长期持久性至关重要。然而，缺乏对雪豹遗传变异的全面分析。雪豹遗传学研究的公开数量远远少于其他濒临灭绝的大型猫科动物。在这里，我回顾了迄今为止有关雪豹的遗传工作有限以及需要填补的重大知识空白。必须重点描述和理解元种群内部和之间的种群遗传动态，以提供有关景观与基因流动和遗传漂移的微进化过程之间相互作用的信息。这些结果可用于评估遗传和人口统计连通性的水平和动态。缺乏连通性，特别是在以雪豹为代表的低密度，小种群中，可能导致多种人口和遗传后果，包括近交衰退，适应潜力的丧失以及对人口和环境随机性的易感性增加。在雪豹保护研究方面的新努力应集中在这方面的研究上，并概述和讨论了这方面的机遇和挑战，以鼓励必要的，