International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 69-77 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 72 Studies have found that the genetic diversity of domestic goose populations has declined and changed, which is usually caused by long-term inbreeding and artificial selection (Abdel-Kafy et al., 2021; Gao et al., 2023). However, through pan-genome analysis and whole-genome resequencing, scientists have discovered many new core genes, as well as candidate genes related to economic traits such as growth, reproduction, and feather color, such as KIT, MITF, and TYR (Ren et al., 2021; Wen et al., 2021; Azalou et al., 2024; Qi et al., 2025). These achievements are of great value for future breeding improvement, resource conservation and understanding the impact of domestication on evolution. 4 Global Transmission Routes 4.1 The early expansion of eurasia and the role of the silk road Domestic geese have been familiar to humans in Eurasia for a long time, which is closely related to early commercial activities and population mobility, especially in the famous Silk Road area. This vast transportation network has facilitated the exchange of goods, people and livestock (including geese) among East Asia, Central Asia and Europe. The Silk Road not only facilitated the flow of genes and breeding techniques among domestic geese in different regions, but also supported the integration of goose flocks and the emergence of new breeds (Zhang et al., 2023; He and Li, 2025). The spread of geese not only promoted agricultural progress but also enabled them to better adapt to the climates and breeding methods of different regions. Wild geese and domestic geese have also played a role in the ecological environment and cultural life of Eurasia. They can adapt to the living environment modified by humans and have strong resistance as hosts of avian diseases, which indicates that they have successfully integrated into different agricultural ecosystems (Hill et al., 2022). The population of geese is still spreading along the passage of Eurasia, laying the foundation for their subsequent global spread and the emergence of unique breeds in different regions. 4.2 Global distribution during the colonial period During the colonial era, the European powers transported the geese they raised to overseas colonies, accelerating the spread of this type of poultry around the world. After being introduced to America, Africa and Oceania, geese adapted to the local environment in these places and also contributed to the agricultural economy of the colonies. During this period, due to encountering new environments and survival pressures, domestic geese formed new breeding groups and the breeds became more diverse (Hill et al., 2022; Li and Xuan, 2025). During this period, the global distribution of geese has been continuously affected by changes in land use patterns and the expansion of agricultural areas. In the 20th century, the number of geese in North America and Europe increased significantly. One of the reasons was the formation of new habitats, such as farmlands and areas around cities (Hill et al., 2022). These changes have led to an overpopulation of some goose flocks and triggered new problems. When managing the breeding of geese, people also need to pay attention to their impact on the ecological environment. 4.3 Local adaptation and variety development in various regions As domestic geese spread all over the world, they gradually adapted to the environments of various regions and developed unique breeds in different places. People breed by selecting geese with specific characteristics. Based on the geese 'body size, feather color, egg-laying ability and other features, they develop the geese in a direction suitable for the local climate, agricultural model and people's cultural preferences. Genetic studies have shown that gene exchange and fusion often occur among different groups of domestic geese, which further enhances their adaptability and breed diversity (Zhang et al., 2023). The ecological role of geese in different regions also shows the characteristics of adapting to the local environment. For instance, in North America and Europe, geese have become an important species that helps spread plant seeds and maintain ecological functions. In Asia, they remain a common part of agricultural production (Hill et al., 2022; Jim Samnez-Martin et al., 2024). With the changes in the environment and survival
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