Tag: hybridization

January 13, 2022

Q&A: The ecology of domestic species versus their wild ancestors

Every domesticated animal on the planet has roots that trace back to a once-wild ancestor. Chickens are derived from red junglefowl. Holstein cattle were once aurochs, an extinct ox. But...

July 2, 2018

Study finds no domestic dogs in Mexican wolf lineage

Controversy has surrounded the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) into the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, including questions about the purity of their genetics. Are these...

May 1, 2018

Wolves and domestic dogs have crossbred for centuries

Across the globe, gray wolves (Canis lupus) carry slivers of chromosomes from domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), pointing to potential genetic hybridization that spans back many generations. Analyzing the canids’...

December 28, 2016

Twice as many bird species than previously thought

While scientists have agreed for many years that there are as many as 10,000 bird species in the world, recent research shows there might be more species than once thought...

September 1, 2016

Blue-winged, golden-winged warblers not all that different

After over 10 years of trying to determine genetic differences between golden-winged and blue-winged warblers, researchers discovered some surprising information. In a study published in the journal Current Biology, a...

August 23, 2016

WSB study: The key to distinguishing Florida mottled ducks

Following the introduction of mallards in Florida in the 1960s as a favorite in backyard ponds and other landscaped areas, the ducks took a liking to Florida mottled ducks. Now...