Overview
- Peer-reviewed findings published January 22 in the Journal of Forest Research report a counterintuitive mechanism in Fukushima’s post-evacuation swine hybrids.
- Analysis of 191 wild boar and 10 domestic pigs collected in 2015–2018 combined maternal mitochondrial DNA with nuclear markers and population-genetics models.
- Hybrids carrying domestic pig mitochondrial DNA showed lower proportions of pig-derived nuclear genes than those with wild boar maternal lineages.
- Many individuals with pig maternal ancestry were already more than five generations from the original cross, indicating accelerated generational turnover through year-round breeding.
- Researchers stress Fukushima’s low-interference setting and lack of repeated pig introductions enabled the work, note the pattern is not a radiation effect, and suggest managers worldwide monitor maternal lineages for targeted invasive-swine control, though field trials have not yet been reported.