Polygenic basis for adaptive morphological variation in a threatened Aotearoa New Zealand bird, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta)

To predict if a threatened species can adapt to changing selective pressures, it is crucial to understand the genetic basis of adaptive traits, especially in species historically affected by severe bottlenecks. In this research, genomic data was used to reveal previously undiscovered genetic patterns underlying three adaptive morphological phenotypes in the Tiritiri Matangi population of the threatened Aotearoa New Zealand bird, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta).