The meaning of wild: Genetic and adaptive consequences from large-scale releases of domestic mallards.

ABSTRACT: The translocation of individuals around the world is leading to rising incidences of anthropogenic hybridization, particularly between domestic and wild congeners. We apply a landscape genomics approach for thousands of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) samples across continental and island populations to determine the result of over a century of supplementation practices. We establish that a single domestic game-farm mallard breed is the source for contemporary release programs in Eurasia and North America, as well as for established feral populations in New Zealand and Hawaii. In particular, we identify central Europe and eastern North America as epicenters of ongoing anthropogenic hybridization, and conclude that the release of game-farm mallards continues to affect the genetic integrity of

SUBMITTER: Lavretsky P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10404241 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature