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Scent brings all the songbirds to the yard

Researchers from Lehigh University have found that songbirds prefer the scent of their own species over others, which could impact hybridization. The study, led by Amber Rice and Alex Van Huynh, used gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry to analyze natural oils produced by birds' uropygial glands.

SourceLehigh University·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateAug 12, 2019

Discovery: Rare three-species hybrid warbler

Scientists have identified a rare three-species hybrid warbler found in Pennsylvania, resulting from a Golden-winged/Blue-winged Warbler mother and a Chestnut-sided Warbler father. Genetic analysis revealed the unique combination of traits, shedding light on bird's adaptability and genetic diversity.

SourceCornell University·JournalBiology Letters·DateNov 7, 2018

How Darwin's finches diversify

A study on Darwin's finches reveals two pathways of species generation and diversification driven by selective mating based on body and beak size. The authors note that hybridization between similar lineages can drive speciation, highlighting the importance of conservation of diverse environmental conditions.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 22, 2018

Hybridization can give rise to different genome combinations

Swedish researchers study hybridization of Italian sparrows from Crete, Corsica, Sicily and Malta, finding independent events between house sparrow and Spanish sparrow. The populations have distinct genetic compositions due to limitations on genetic combinations, with certain genes always inherited from the house sparrow.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJan 18, 2018

The origin of a new species of Darwin's finches

Researchers from Princeton University and Uppsala University report the origin of a new lineage of Darwin's finches through hybridization between two distinct species. The study reveals that reproductive isolation was established in just two generations, with the new lineage becoming ecologically competitive and unique.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScience·DateNov 24, 2017

Scientists opened a new chapter in the study of malaria mosquitoes

Scientists have successfully cultivated a new species of malaria mosquito in the laboratory, allowing for more accurate investigation of their physiology and ability to transfer the disease. The study also found that the species has an expanded habitat range across Eurasia, with populations declining in some areas due to climate change.

SourceNational Research Tomsk State University·JournalJournal of Vector Ecology·DateDec 29, 2016

Warbler genomes look to be 99.97 percent alike

New research reveals that blue-winged and golden-winged warblers are almost identical genetically, with only six regions showing strong differences. The study suggests that conservation efforts should focus on preserving habitat for both species rather than worrying about hybridization.

SourceCornell University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 23, 2016

Big-data analysis reveals gene sharing in mice

Researchers detected three instances of cross-species mating that influenced the evolutionary paths of old world mice, suggesting hybridization may not be an evolutionary dead end. The study found shared genetic code between two species of mice from Europe and Africa, with implications for human genetics and health.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2014

Nature adores a hybrid

A Concordia University study reveals that hybrid fish become genetically robust like their purely wild counterparts within a few generations, providing hope for conservation efforts. This finding has implications beyond fish, with similar conclusions drawn about wolf species previously exposed to hybridization.

SourceConcordia University·JournalEvolutionary Applications·DateNov 4, 2014

Monkey business: What howler monkeys can tell us about the role of interbreeding in human evolution

A University of Michigan-led study found that individuals of mixed ancestry among hybrid howler monkeys are physically indistinguishable from pure individuals of each species. The findings suggest that the role of interbreeding in human evolution may have been underestimated due to limitations in the fossil record.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology·DateDec 7, 2012

Shared genes with Neanderthal relatives not unusual

A recent study published in PNAS reveals that people in East Asia carry genetic material from Denisovans, a previously unknown archaic human relative. This finding suggests that gene flow between humans and Denisovans occurred on the Asian mainland, contradicting previous theories about hybridization events.

SourceUppsala University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2011

Ancestry of polar bears traced to Ireland

A team of scientists has discovered that the female ancestor of all living polar bears was a brown bear that lived in Britain and Ireland during the last ice age. This hybridization event likely occurred due to climate changes affecting the North Atlantic ice sheet, leading to periods of overlap in bear habitats.

SourcePenn State·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 7, 2011