Biased Hybridization and Its Impact on Adaptive Introgression

Gene exchange between species can influence ecological and evolutionary processes ranging from population rescue to adaptive radiation. Genomic tools have provided new insights into the prevalence and nature of gene exchange between species. However, much remains unknown of how ecological, behavioral, and evolutionary factors determine what genetic variation moves between species in the first place. In particular, more research is needed that evaluates whether such factors bias gene flow from one species to another, and whether any such biases affect how genetic variation from another species is ultimately retained in the genome of a given species. Addressing this issue is crucial in a changing world where hybridization and introgression might determine which species succeed and which become extinct.