Passer domesticus: An evolutionary genomics perspective on adaptation, Allee effects

Abstract

Passer domesticus is an avian which is believed to be under extinction. In India, many Passerines existed, but urban life paving the way for, and the rural habitation dwindling, there is a threat for these birds to go under extinction. In recent years, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from mobile communication infrastructure and power systems has also been hypothesized as a contributing stressor, with reported associations between high EMR exposure and altered avian behaviour, reproductive success, and embryonic development in birds. This review integrates ecological, physiological, and genomic perspectives to evaluate potential mechanisms underlying Passer domesticus population decline. Particular emphasis is placed on urban ecological disruption, chronoecological mismatches affecting breeding cycles, and the Allee effect in small or fragmented populations. Overall, Passer domesticus emerges as both a sensitive bioindicator of urban environmental change and a valuable model for studying human-driven ecological and genomic impacts. The synthesis underscores the need for integrative conservation approaches combining ecological monitoring, reproductive biology, and genomic tools to better understand and mitigate ongoing population declines in urban avifauna.