Pervasive and recurrent hybridization prevents inbreeding in Europe's most threatened seabird.

ABSTRACT: Hybridization is a double-edged sword: While it can erode distinct evolutionary lineages, it can also introduce genetic diversity and adaptive potential into dwindling populations. In the Critically Endangered Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), this dilemma is exacerbated by a limited understanding of the extent and consequences of hybridization with the Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan). This knowledge gap has limited the scope of science-based conservation strategies to avoid the Balearic shearwater's imminent extinction. Here, we investigate shearwater hybridization dynamics and their effect on genome-wide diversity in the Balearic shearwater. Divergence dating, demographic modeling, and admixture analyses suggest that these two poorly differentiated shearw

SUBMITTER: Izquierdo-Aranega G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12402992 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature