Falcon genomics in the context of conservation, speciation, and human culture.

Stéphane Boissinot,Youssef Idaghdour,Justin J. S. Wilcox

doi:10.1002/ece3.5864

Stéphane Boissinot, Youssef Idaghdour + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5864

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Abstract

Here, we review the diversity, evolutionary history, and genomics of falcons in the context of their conservation and interactions with humans, and provide a perspective on how new genomic approaches may be applied to expand our knowledge of these topics. For millennia, humans and falcons (genus Falco) have developed unique relationships through falconry, religious rituals, conservation efforts, and human lifestyle transitions. From an evolutionary perspective, falcons remain an enigma. Having experienced several recent radiations, they have reached an unparalleled and almost global distribution, with an intrageneric species richness that is roughly an order of magnitude higher than typical within their family (Falconidae) and across other birds (Phylum: Aves). This diversity has evolved in the context of unusual genomic architecture that includes unique chromosomal rearrangements, relatively low chromosome counts, extremely low microdeletion rates, and high levels of nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments (NUMTs). These genomic peculiarities combine with high levels of ecological and organismal diversity and a legacy of human interactions to make falcons obvious candidates for evolutionary studies, providing unique research opportunities in common topics, including chromosomal evolution, the mechanics of speciation, local adaptation, domestication, and urban adaptation.

Highlights

Throughout history and across the world, few animals have attained the cultural, political, and economic importance of falcons
Thousands of falcons are traded internationally each year (CITES Trade Database, 2019), and individual falcons are often sold for several thousands of dollars (Fleming, Douse, & Williams, 2011). This trade and the long history of falconry are intermingled with a complex past of direct conflicts between humans and falcons: Many falcon populations were threatened by hunting in the 18th century and 19th century, whereas many falcon populations were decimated in the mid-20th century as a result of DDT and other organochloride pesticides (Bagyura et al, 2012; Donlan et al, 2006; Holroyd & Bird, 2012)
These threats were remedied in part with some of the first massive and successful conservation-oriented captive breeding programs, which helped restore falcon populations to many wild areas

Summary

Introduction

Throughout history and across the world, few animals have attained the cultural, political, and economic importance of falcons (genus Falco). Genomic assessments of these fused regions within and across falcon species, and Falconidae at large (some genera of which have retained more typically avian chromosomal arrangements), may provide key insights into the causal mechanisms underlying chromosomal and genomic arrangements in birds.

Results

Conclusion