Xian Li , Yanlin Wang , Jia Chen

Tropical Animal Resources Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572000, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 5   
Received: 06 Aug., 2024    Accepted: 17 Sep., 2024    Published: 09 Oct., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Phenotypic traits in bird populations are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, and understanding their heritability is crucial for evolutionary studies. This study explores the heritability of important phenotypic traits in bird populations, covering morphological, behavioral, and physiological traits, discusses factors that influence heritability, such as environmental effects and gene-environment interactions, and presents a case study on the heritability of plumage coloration in zebra finches, providing insights into the genetic and environmental contributions to this trait and comparing findings with other avian species. This study emphasizes the importance of heritability in natural selection, its impact on population dynamics, and implications for conservation strategies. Future research should focus on exploring the genetic basis of a broader range of traits and the interplay between genetics and environmental influences in various bird species.

Phenotypic traits; Heritability; Bird populations; Zebra finch; Evolutionary biology