Genome-wide evolutionary analysis of natural history and adaptation in the world's tigers

This study sequenced whole genomes from tigers representing the major living populations and found strong genomic support for distinct subspecies despite the tiger's recent origin. The authors detected six clearly differentiated groups corresponding to traditional subspecies, with low gene flow among them, and identified signatures of local adaptation, including genes linked to body size in the small Sumatran tiger. Their results pushed back against the two-subspecies lumping proposal by showing measurable, conservation-relevant genomic distinctiveness. The paper reframed the tiger taxonomy debate around the question of how much differentiation warrants a name, and it argued for preserving the genetic integrity of separate populations. It is a key piece of evidence for those favoring recognition of multiple tiger subspecies.