Genomics Reveal Population Structure and Intergeneric Hybridization in an Endangered South American Bird: Implications for Management and Conservation
Genomics is an invaluable tool for conservation, particularly for endangered species impacted by wildlife trafficking. This study uses genomic data to provide new insights to aid conservation and management of endangered species, using as a case study the Yellow cardinal (<i>Gubernatrix cristata</i>), a bird endemic to southern South America severely affected by illegal trade and the transformation of its natural habitat. We explore population structure within the Yellow cardinal, delimiting management units and describing connectivity among them. Additionally, we develop and assess the accuracy of a panel of 189 informative SNPs, and demonstrate how these can reliably assign confiscated individuals to one of the management units established. Lastly, we assess hybridization between the Yellow cardinal and the Diuca finch (<i>Diuca diuca</i>), which is reported to occur in regions of sympatry. We confirm that hybridization occurs, although it is not as common as previously thought, and that hybrids might be fertile, as we found evidence of backcrossing with Yellow cardinals. We discuss the implications of this introgression for the evolution and conservation of Yellow cardinals. Our study provides new, valuable information that can guide conservation efforts, comprising a test case for the use of genomics in combating illegal trafficking, with potential application beyond the case of the Yellow cardinal.
Authors
- Susan Mbedi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9633-5045)
- Sarah Sparmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9278-4081)
- Ralph Tiedemann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2604-6336)
- Bettina Mahler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2873-0067)
- Darío A. Lijtmaer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2036-3541)
- Pablo D Lavinia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3583-9637)
- Camila J. Mazzoni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6758-5427)
- Larissa Souza Arantes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1374-6701)
- Marisol Domínguez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8491-8561)
- Pablo Andrés Fracas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1707-6699)
- Pablo L. Tubaro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6460-0844)
- Nicole Bergjürgen
- Agustín I. Casale (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9103-0628)
Institutions
- Museum für Naturkunde (DE)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
- University of Potsdam (DE)
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (AR)
- National University of Río Negro (AR)
- Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum (AR)
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (DE)
- Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research (DE)
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Ecology and Evolution
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70820
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.82
Funders
- Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
- Ministry of Environment
- Universität Potsdam
- Agencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación
- Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development