All articles tagged with #red headed wood pigeon
Removing feral cats from Japan's Ogasawara Islands led to a dramatic rebound in the critically endangered red-headed wood pigeon, revealing that despite high inbreeding, the species has undergone genetic purging, which may have helped it survive despite low genetic diversity. This case challenges traditional views on small population vulnerability and highlights complex dynamics in conservation biology.
The red-headed wood pigeon, critically endangered on Japan’s Ogasawara Islands, has experienced a remarkable recovery after feral cats were removed, with its population rebounding rapidly. Genetic analysis revealed that this species has a lower load of harmful mutations due to long-term genetic purging, which contributed to its resilience despite a small population size. This case challenges the common belief that inbreeding always hampers recovery, highlighting the importance of genetic factors in conservation success.