Stuttgart, 21 October 2025. Climate change is currently altering our environment faster than ever before. As a result, many animal and plant species are facing new challenges. Whether they can cope with these challenges and adapt depends largely on their genetic diversity. This is because new genetic diversity develops only slowly. Species that already have a wide range of genetic material today therefore have a better chance of adapting to a rapidly changing environment.
An international research team, including Dr Niloofar Alaei Kakhki an evolutionary biologist at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, has published a new study in the renowned journal Science that highights how important genetic exchange between species can be.
Genetic exchange as the key to rapid adaptation
The study examined various species of wheatears, small songbirds with striking black and white plumage patterns. The researchers found that closely related species were able to adapt quickly to new environmental conditions through the exchange of genetic materials responsible for plumage colour.
In the eastern black-eared wheatear, changes in a single color gene led to the development of white plumage on the throat and back. These genetic traits were passed on to the closely related western black-eared wheatear through hybridization. In both species, the white back coloration eventually replaced the original black. Today, both species show a mix of black and white throat coloration – a phenomenon known as polymorphism – which is linked to the birds’ preferred food sources.
Protecting genetic diversity
While newly developed genetic materials are usually responsible for the long-term evolution of plumage colouration in distantly related species, the study shows that species use all available genetic diversity – both within and between species – to adapt to their environment.
‘Our study shows that genetic exchange between species is an important mechanism that allows animals to adapt quickly to new environmental conditions. Especially in times of climate change, it is therefore crucial to protect this genetic diversity as best as possible,’ says Dr Niloofar Alaei Kakhki, one of the co-author of the study.
For editorial offices
Original publication:
Dave Lutgen et al. (2025): ‘A mosaic of modular variation at a single gene underpins convergent plumage coloration’ Science 390, eado8005 (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado8005
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado8005
Publication date: 16 October 2025
The study was led by the 'Schweizerische Vogelwarte'.
Contact:
Dr Niloofar Alaei Kakhki
State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany
Tel. +49/(0)711/89 36-2978
E-mail:niloofar.alaei@smns-bw.de
Dr Niloofar Alaei Kakhki is available for further information and interviews.
Press contact:
Meike Rech
State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany
Tel. ++49/(0)711/8936-107
E-mail: meike.rech(at)smns-bw.de
Images:
Image 1: 1_Melanoleuca_black-throated_Copyright_Reto Burri
Image description: Male eastern black-eared wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca) of the black-throated phenotype, Greece.
Copyright: Reto Burri
Image 2: 2_Collage_male wheatears_Copyright_Reto Burri
Image description: Male wheatears from the Oenanthe hispanica complex. Left, Western black-eared wheatear (O. hispanica) of the black-throated phenotype, Spian. Top right: Eastern black-eared wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca) of the black-throated phenotype, Greece. Centre right: Eastern black-eared wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca) of the black-throated phenotype, Greece. Bottom right: Pied wheatear (O. pleschanka) of the black-throated Pontic lineage, Romania.
Copyright: Reto Burri
Please note that the use of the image material is only permitted if the copyright is stated. Thank you.
State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart:
The State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart is a forward-looking research and communication institution. Its research collections, the archives of diversity, comprise over 12 million objects. The museum researches the evolution of life, analyses the biodiversity of various ecosystems and communicates research findings to the public.