Genomic erosion across avifauna in a biodiversity hotspot sounds a conservation alarm.

Genomic diversity in 62 songbird species from the Gaoligong Mountains has eroded by an average 43–49%, with common species disproportionately affected despite apparent resilience.

• Why it matters: Hidden genetic erosion can undermine long-term survival, yet current extinction-risk monitoring may miss it when species still appear stable.
• What they did: The team compared historical versus modern genomes across 62 songbird species in the Gaoligong Mountains, quantifying percent loss of genetic diversity and testing links to habitat fragmentation and dispersal ability.
• The result: The observed 43–49% loss exceeds prior estimates and conservation policy thresholds, suggesting genomic metrics should be integrated into global frameworks to address this monitoring blind spot.

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