A closer look at “Swiss Barn Owls Turn Redder and Spottier in 30 Years, Genome Study Shows Rapid Evolution”, exactly as the source publishes it. Over the past three decades, barn owls in Switzerland have become noticeably more reddish-brown and heavily spotted, according to a new study from the University of Lausanne. Researchers analyzed the genomes of more than 3,000 birds and identified specific genetic variants associated with these plumage changes. The findings, published in Nature Communications, demonstrate that natural selection can drive visible evolutionary shifts in wild populations within just a few generations.
The study provides a rare, detailed look at how genetic variation and environmental pressures interact to shape animal appearance over short timescales. The color changes may be linked to climate, habitat, or other ecological factors, though the exact selective advantages are still being explored. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.