Genomic trajectories of a near-extinction event in the Chatham Island black robin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding the micro--evolutionary response of populations to demographic declines is a major goal in evolutionary and conservation biology. In small populations, genetic drift can lead to an accumulation of deleterious mutations, which will increase the risk of extinction. However, demographic recovery can still occur after extreme declines, suggesting that natural selection may purge deleterious mutations, even in extremely small populations. The Chatham Island black robin (Petroica traversi) is arguably the most inbred bird species in the world. It avoided imminent extinction in the early 1980s and after a remarkable recovery from a single pair, a second population was established and the two extant populations have evolved in complete isolation since then. Here, w

SUBMITTER: von Seth J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9647977 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature