The Evolutionary Dynamics of the Lion Revealed by Host and Viral Population Genomics

This study analyzed lion population structure and history using both the lions' own genetic markers and the genomes of feline immunodeficiency virus strains that infect them. By treating the virus as a fast-evolving tracer of host contact and demography, the authors gained finer resolution on lion population movements, admixture, and recent declines than host markers alone could provide. They identified distinct regional lion populations and reconstructed historical bottlenecks and expansions. The dual host-and-pathogen approach demonstrated how co-evolving viruses can illuminate the demographic history of their hosts, offering a creative tool for conservation genetics of social carnivores.