Human-Induced Selection

Knowledge of how humans impact the animals around us is increasingly relevant as our modalities of influence expand. There are many familiar examples of humans impacting the behavior of wild animals: deer in hunted areas being warier of humans, light pollution impacting the migratory behavior of birds, and non-native gardens altering the feeding and reproductive choices of native species. However, there are far fewer investigations into the genomic changes of animals due to unintentional human selection. One important exception is the extensive knowledge of genetic changes and gene function alterations that were selected during the process of domestication. Genomic information is an important tool for conservation because incorporation of local genetic adaptation and inbreeding can improve management outcomes when individuals are being considered for translocation or release from captive breeding programs. Through genomic analyses of a species that has been domesticated, but also lives in the wild and with humans in different contexts, unparalleled information about the impact humans have on the evolution of species can be uncovered.

Urban Wild Turkeys

Wild turkeys live in a variety of human-altered environments, but turkeys that live in urban areas where common roosting sites and food sources are novel are particularly interesting. Turkeys will be drawn to a given area/neighborhood because of an abundant food source (intentionally or unintentionally provided by humans). While a few turkeys eating birdseed is cute, dozens to hundreds of turkeys feeding on lawns and roosting on cars and roofs can cause damage and be a daily annoyance for the people that live there. For unknown reasons, some individual turkeys in urban populations across the US become aggressive towards humans which occasionally requires intervention. I personally captured and sampled urban birds in Davis, CA and Port Mansfield, TX, while collaborators assisted in collecting additional samples from urban populations in California, South Dakota, and Utah.

Some news articles about urban wild turkeys

Captive Wild Turkeys

Using turkeys as my study species also provides the unique opportunity to study domestication in progress. Gene and Cindy at Bird and Bee Farm in Rockdale, TX have sold thousands of Rio Grande wild turkey poults to backyard poultry hobbyists and landowners that want to enjoy turkeys on their property. Their original turkeys were purchased from a different poultry hatchery in 2015, which allows me to study the early genetic changes associated with domestication. If you are interested in purchasing your own Rio Grande turkeys check out their website.

Photos from Bird and Bee's website of their captive wild turkeys

Feral Domestic Turkeys

When domestic turkeys are released back to wild conditions and no longer depend on humans for safety and food, they are considered feral. Similar to feral cats and dogs, the behavior of feral turkeys can be noticeably different from their domestic counterparts in as little as one generation.

One population of feral turkeys is located in Staten Island, NY. Their story is that approximately 20 years ago pet domestic turkeys were turned loose, and potentially hybridized with native eastern wild turkeys. In 2013, Kurt Andernach was able to convince the NY Department of Environmental Conservation to relocate 100 of the Staten Island turkeys to his animal sanctuary in Catskill, NY instead of culling them. In 2021 I was able to visit the And-Hof Animal Sanctuary and collect samples from the relocated birds and assist in trimming the turkey's wing feathers to prevent them from leaving his property. Due to COVID and other bureaucratic issues, no additional turkeys have been relocated to his property despite the population on Staten Island growing, and he has not received additional funding to take care of the turkeys which has added financial strain. If you have the means and love animals, Kurt could always use additional donations to support the sanctuary.

Information about the Staten Island feral turkeys and And-Hof Animal Sanctuary

I also located a second population of feral turkeys on King Island, which is between the islands of Australia and Tasmania. Turkeys were a common farm animal on the island dating back to the 1900s. In 1927 the local newspaper reported that a prized bronze turkey was imported and the remaining non-bronze turkeys were killed off. Since they live on an isolated island, it is believed that the King Island turkeys are a heritage turkey bloodline that has been maintained for almost 100 years, until relatively recently when other varieties of domestic turkeys were imported. I could not find a reliable source for the approximate year the turkeys were considered feral, but for several decades most of the turkey population free-roams throughout the island and do not rely on humans for food. I collaborated with the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, who were able to send me feathers from some feral turkeys on the island.

Information about King Island feral turkeys

Domestic Turkeys

Last but not least, I also collected samples from domestic turkeys. These samples represent an important point of comparison for the other populations of turkeys mentioned above. Luckily, my co-advisor Dr. Sarah Hamer owns a backyard flock of domestic turkeys that I was able to sample.