The Contribution of Genomics to Bird Conservation

Abstract

The world's birds are in trouble, and scientific research, including genetic and genomic methods, can play an important role in understanding and mitigating these problems. In this review, we summarize several ways that the concepts and methods of genomics can help with bird conservation and how the dramatically increasing power and decreasing costs of these methods may allow an even greater role in the future. We assess six primary, not exhaustive, and not mutually exclusive research areas, including avian forensics, captive management, infectious disease and vector interactions, metagenomic and microbiome applications, systematics and the definition of conservation units, and the genomics of adaptation. We conclude that the uses of genomics to identify, understand, and in some cases reduce anthropogenic impacts on bird populations are well underway. And the future holds great promise that developments in our understanding of avian genomes and tools to modify them will play an increasingly important role in future attempts to alleviate these impacts.