Genetic purging in an island-endemic pigeon recovering from the brink of extinction

A critically endangered pigeon, the red-headed wood pigeon, endemic to Japan's Ogasawara Islands, has defied expectations by recovering rapidly after predator removal despite extreme genetic inbreeding. Genomic analysis reveals that over 80% of its genome is homozygous, yet it harbors fewer highly deleterious mutations than widespread conspecifics—a phenomenon attributed to historical demographic shifts. Linkage disequilibrium suggests the population shrank from several thousand to under a hundred by the early 20th century due to human impacts, with gradual inbreeding likely purging harmful mutations over centuries. This study underscores how historical demography can mitigate mutation load in bottlenecked populations, offering critical insights for conservation strategies.

Tsujimoto, D., Takayanagi, M., Ishii, J., Sakashita, R., Horikoshi, K., Suzuki, H., & Isagi, Y. (2025). Genetic purging in an island-endemic pigeon recovering from the brink of extinction. Communications Biology, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08476-z