A research team including Aotearoa scientists looked at 15 species worldwide, finding their genetic variation was two to four times wider than previously thought, meaning they have more “fuel for evolution” to adapt to a changing environment. One of the species was the New Zealand hihi, however its capacity to adapt was low, and the bird remains reliant on human conservation efforts.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2022/05/27/wild-animals-may-adapt-faster-than-thought-but-bad-news-for-hihi-expert-reaction/