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Los Angeles’s Urban Cores Absorb and Pass On Coyote Gene Variants

Coyote (Canis latrans) @ Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA. Photo: Håvard Rosenlund
Research: Ecology, Genetics & genomics, Evolution & taxonomy

Major highways and dense development have not divided coyotes (Canis latrans) across Greater Los Angeles into genetically isolated populations. A study found gene flow across the region, including across four major highways. Its striking finding: the urban cores received genetic variants from surrounding populations but also passed them onward.

Researchers compared genetic markers from coyotes in urban areas and the less-developed outskirts. Genetic differences between locations were weak, and much of the structure that did appear was associated with family groups. The urban landscape was not a set of disconnected population islands.

Urban cores take in and pass on variants

Gene flow occurs when animals reproduce outside their population of origin, introducing their genetic variants into another population. The researchers found strongly asymmetric flow from less-developed outskirts toward the urban cores. This pattern supports the idea of an ecological sink: an area where local losses exceed local replacement, leaving the population dependent on immigrants. Genetic patterns support this interpretation but do not directly measure local births and deaths.

The cores were not genetic dead ends. Both exported gene flow to other parts of the region, while one also absorbed distinctive, transient variants from several surrounding sources. The authors describe these urban areas as “leaky sinks”: populations may depend on newcomers yet still connect other populations genetically.

Connections across the city

When gene flow is restricted, populations can become isolated and lose genetic variation. In Los Angeles, built-up areas and highways pose barriers, but do not prevent all genetic exchange. The findings point to the importance of permeability through the urban landscape and connections between habitat patches for maintaining regional genetic diversity. Genetic connectivity reflects successful reproduction over generations; it does not mean every highway crossing is safe.

The study was posted as a preprint on September 29, 2026, and had not yet been peer reviewed.

Sources and image credit

  1. Rethink the Sink: Urban cores act as leaky sinks to maintain regional gene flow in coyotesPrimary preprint record. The accessible article record, abstract and publication date were verified.
  2. Rethink the Sink: Urban cores act as leaky sinks to maintain regional gene flow in coyotesCorroborates the authors, abstract and bioRxiv posting date.

Image: Wild coyote in Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA. Photo: Håvard Rosenlund / Wildlife Vagabond. Representative image. · © Håvard Rosenlund. All rights reserved · Source

About this content: This story was produced with AI assistance within an editorial workflow developed by Wildlife Vagabond. Editorial responsibility remains with Wildlife Vagabond.How AI is used

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