Limited domestic introgression in a final refuge of the wild pigeon

Smith, W. J. Bernhard; Sendell‐Price, Ashley T.; Fayet, Annette L.; Schweizer, Teia M.; Jezierski, Michał T.; Kerkhof, Charles van de; Sheldon, Ben C.; Ruegg, Kristen; Kelly, Steven; Turnbull, Lindsay A.; Clegg, Sonya M.

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.104620

Cited by 10 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Using flock assessments to infer geographical variation in the extent of introgression has allowed a more comprehensive and fine-scale coverage of the Rock Dove range than was possible in the recent genomic assessments. Genomic work shows that northern Scotland and Orkney are home to hybrid swarms (Smith et al 2022b). Our phenotypic assessments corroborate this, as there is variable morphology and wild type population plumage percentages in these regions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…At most of the revisited Hewson sites, there has been a decrease in the percentage of birds with wild type plumage. This reflects high levels of domestic admixture, which will almost certainly, in the absence of conservation intervention, lead to the replacement of Rock Doves with birds of hybrid ancestry and eventually with feral populations, as predicted previously (Johnston et al 1988) and observed in England, Wales (Brown & Grice 2010, Lovegrove et al 2010) and, more recently, north-east Scotland and parts of Orkney (Smith et al 2022b). The four individual sites where there was no evidence of introgression in either the 1960s or 2017-2020 are islands, but it is important to note that many islands, including Fair Isle, North Ronaldsay and Skye, held populations which showed evidence of admixture, indicating that although the relative isolation clearly delays contact, it is unlikely to prevent it in the long term.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…The persistence of the wild Rock Dove Columba livia across most of its native range is uncertain following hybridization with feral pigeons (Baldaccini 2020). Genomic analysis has revealed that Scotland and Ireland harbour relict Rock Dove populations that have experienced variable levels of gene flow from feral pigeons, with Outer Hebridean birds experiencing little introgression (Smith et al 2022b). This corroborates the view of the range of the Rock Dove in the British Isles as encompassing northern Scotland and the western fringe of Ireland (Hewson 1967, Goodwin & Gillmor 1970.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Rapid assessment of the extent of feral introgression in British and Irish Rock Dove (Columba livia) populations

Smith

2023

Ibis

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Interbreeding of related forms following anthropogenic activity can lead to genomic homogenization, contributing to decreasing biodiversity. Assessing spatiotemporal variation in the extent of introgression is important for conservation but can be expensive and logistically complex. The Rock Dove Columba livia is threatened by interbreeding with its feral conspecific and it is difficult to identify wild birds when wild, feral and mixed populations exist. Here, using British and Irish populations, I assess whether the proportion of birds with wild type plumage corresponds to distinctive head morphotypes differing between Rock Doves and feral pigeons, and whether plumage can be used to identify Rock Dove flocks and infer the extent of hybridization. I also determine whether plumage proportions have changed since a prior study was carried out in the 1960s. I show that flocks in which > 75% of individuals have wild type plumage consist of Rock Doves, as determined by head morphotype. Plumage proportions vary geographically, corroborating known genomic assessments of Scottish and Irish Rock Doves. Finally, the number of birds with aberrant plumages has increased since the 1960s, even in regions where no such birds were identified previously. This highlights the value of the Rock Dove as a current case study with which to explore the process of extinction by hybridization.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

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confidence: 99%

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Rapid assessment of the extent of feral introgression in British and Irish Rock Dove (Columba livia) populations

Smith

2023

Ibis

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“…Furthermore, it has even been suggested that true wild rock dove populations only remain in locations that are outside of the range of feral populations (Johnston and Janiga 1995;Johnston 1988). However, one recent genomic study on rock doves from the British Isles suggests this may not be the case, as all samples analysed from one of the regions believed to harbour wild populations contained genetic admixture from feral and/or domestic pigeons (Smith et al 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Redefining rock doves,Columba livia, using historical whole genome sequences

Hernández-Alonso

Ramos‐Madrigal

Pacheco

et al. 2023

Preprint

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SummaryThe domestic pigeon’s exceptional phenotypic diversity was key in developing Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and establishing the concept of artificial selection in domestic species. However, unlike its domestic counterpart, its wild progenitor, the rock doveColumba livia, has received considerably less attention. Therefore, questions regarding their domestication, evolution, taxonomy, and conservation status remain unresolved. We generated whole-genome sequencing data from 65 historical rock dove samples representing all currently recognised subspecies and spanning the species’ original geographic distribution. Our dataset includes three specimens from Darwin’s collection and the type specimens of five different taxa. We characterised rock doves’ population structure, genomic diversity and gene-flow patterns. We show the West African subspeciesC. l. gymnocyclusis basal to rock doves and domestic pigeons. Our results show gene-flow signals between the rock dove’s sister speciesC. rupestrisand all rock doves except the West African populations. Our results led us to propose an evolutionary model for the rock dove considering the Pleistocene refugia theory. We propose that today’s rock dove genetic diversity and introgression patterns derive from a history of allopatric cycles and dispersion waves during the Quaternary glacial and interglacial periods. To explore the rock dove domestication history, we combined our new dataset with available genomes from domestic pigeons. Our results point to at least one domestication event in the Levant region that gave rise to all domestic breeds analysed in this study. Finally, we propose a species-level taxonomic arrangement to reflect the evolutionary history of the West African rock dove populations.

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“…Sampled hosts included racing and urban feral pigeons as well as other highly urbanized or pet columbiform bird species (Eurasian collared doves: Streptopelia decaocto , common wood pigeons: C. palumbus and ring doves: S. risoria , respectively). The nomenclature used in the context of feral pigeons complies with genetic and ornithological studies on this species ( 11 , 12 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular epidemiological study of Trichomonas gallinae focusing on central and southeastern Europe

Tuska-Szalay

Sipos²,

Takács³

et al. 2022

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Trichomonas gallinae is a geographically widespread protozoan parasite of birds. In this study, oropharyngeal swab samples were collected in Hungary and Romania from 99 columbiform birds, including 76 feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica: 42 kept for racing, 32 with urban and two with rural habitat), four common wood pigeons (C. palumbus), 16 ring doves (Streptopelia risoria) and three Eurasian collared doves (S. decaocto). These samples were analyzed for the presence of T. gallinae using molecular methods. Racing feral pigeons had significantly higher prevalence of T. gallinae infection than urban feral pigeons. The rate of PCR-positivity was the highest among wood pigeons and ring doves. Based on 18S rRNA gene, T. gallinae was the most heterogenous among racing feral pigeons sampled in a trading-breeding place. Clinical signs were associated with only one 18S rRNA gene subtype. The most divergent 18S rRNA gene subtype, Trichomonas sp. Hu-TG37 clustered with T. canistomae and T. tenax and represents probably a new species. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the genetic diversity of T. gallinae in the southeastern European region. The results suggest that most detected T. gallinae 18S rRNA gene subtypes are not host-specific and do not cause clinical signs. The highest number of 18S rRNA gene subtypes was demonstrated among racing feral pigeons. Significantly more captive than free-living columbiform birds had T. gallinae infection. These data highlight the importance of epizootic monitoring of the genetic diversity and presence of T. gallinae in trading-breeding places of pigeons and doves.

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Limited domestic introgression in a final refuge of the wild pigeon

Cited by 10 publications

References 53 publications

Rapid assessment of the extent of feral introgression in British and Irish Rock Dove (Columba livia) populations

Rapid assessment of the extent of feral introgression in British and Irish Rock Dove (Columba livia) populations

Redefining rock doves,Columba livia, using historical whole genome sequences

Molecular epidemiological study of Trichomonas gallinae focusing on central and southeastern Europe

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