Genomic signals of selection predict climate-driven population declines in a migratory bird

Abstract

Yellow warblers already in decline As the climate changes, species' ability to adapt to changing conditions may relate directly to their future persistence. Determining whether and when this will happen is challenging, however, because it is difficult to tease apart the causes of decline or maintenance. Bay et al. looked at the relationship between genomic variation and the environment in North American populations of the yellow warbler (see the Perspective by Fitzpatrick and Edelsparre). Genes linked to exploratory and migratory behavior were important for successful climate adaptation. Furthermore, populations identified as “genetically vulnerable” because of limited climate-associated genomic variation were already declining. Science , this issue p. 83 ; see also p. 29