Sir Otto Frankel, an Austrian-born Australian, was largely responsible
for recognizing the importance of genetic factors in conservation
biology, beginning with papers in the early 1970s (Frankel 1970, 1974;
see Soulé & Frankham 2000 for biographical information).
Subsequently, Frankel collaborated with Michael Soulé of the USA on
the first conservation book that clearly discussed the contribution of
genetic factors (Frankel & Soulé 1981).