Avian Population Genomics: Latest Findings and Future Prospects

Georg Langebrake , Kira Delmore, Miriam Liedvogel

Birds are one of the most recognizable and diverse groups of organisms on Earth. This group has played an important role in many fields, including the development of methods in behavioral ecology and evolutionary theory. The use of population genomics took off following the increased accessibility of high-throughput sequencing across taxa. Several features of bird genomes make them particularly amenable to these approaches, including their nucleated red blood cells, permitting easy DNA extraction, and their small, compact genomes. Here we review the latest findings in the population genomics of birds, emphasizing questions related to behavior, ecology, evolution, and conservation. Additionally, we include insights in trait mapping and the ability to obtain accurate estimates of important summary statistics for conservation (e.g., genetic diversity and inbreeding). We highlight current topics in population genomics that are starting to be adopted in bird studies, such as the use of ancestral recombination graphs, a focus on more than just single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and interpreting results in a polygenic framework in general. Prospects also include integrating population genomics with other fields.