Genetic Dynamics of Game Bird Populations

Game bird populations exhibit complex genetic dynamics shaped by natural selection, human activity and historical processes. Understanding these dynamics demands elucidation of gene flow, population structure, adaptation and genetic integrity across wild, feral and farmed populations. Studies have revealed that demographic events such as post-glacial recolonisation, habitat fragmentation and intensive restocking for hunting have left distinct signatures in genomes. Key patterns include varying levels of genetic diversity, the formation of hybrid zones between native and introduced lineages, and the emergence of selective sweeps associated with feral or domesticated environments. These genetic insights inform conservation strategies by identifying reservoirs of genetic variation, monitoring introgression of domestic alleles and guiding restocking practices to preserve evolutionary potential. The global significance of this research spans species as diverse as chickens, partridges and pheasants, with practical applications in wildlife management, restoration of wild-type populations and reduction of genetic pollution.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent analyses of feral chicken populations using whole-genome sequencing have distinguished genomic regions under selection during feralisation from those targeted by domestication, demonstrating that adaptation to wild environments involves distinct loci related to reproduction and sexual selection. Complementary investigations of introduced common pheasants combining mitochondrial and microsatellite markers have revealed cryptic genetic structure across Central and Southeast Europe, identifying two divergent clades and evidence of recent demographic expansion. These studies underscore the dual influence of introduction history and local selection on game bird genomes, offering a framework to assess the genetic health of introduced populations and to devise regionally tailored conservation measures.

Genetic Dynamics of Game Bird Populations publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic dynamics of game bird populations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Admixture: The interbreeding of two or more previously isolated populations, resulting in mixed ancestry.

Introgression: The incorporation of genes from one population into another through repeated backcrossing.

Selective sweep: A process in which beneficial mutations increase in frequency, reducing genetic variation at linked loci.

Microsatellite marker: A short, repetitive DNA sequence used to assess genetic variability and population structure.

Haplotype: A set of genetic variants inherited together on a single chromosome segment.

Demographic expansion: An increase in population size often inferred from genetic data as a signal of past growth events.

References

1. Feralisation targets different genomic loci to domestication in the chicken. Nature Communications (2016).
2. Assessing the origin, genetic structure and demographic history of the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in the introduced European range. Scientific Reports (2021).
3. Population structure and hybridisation in a population of Hawaiian feral chickens. Heredity (2023).
4. Geographic Genetic Structure of Alectoris chukar in Türkiye: Post-LGM-Induced Hybridization and Human-Mediated Contaminations. Biology (2023).