Gene flow, the exchange of genetic material between populations is an important biological process, which shapes and maintains biodiversity. The successful movement of individuals between populations depends on multiple factors determined by species biology and the environment. One of the most important factors regulating gene flow is the ability to move, and flight allows individuals to easily move across geographical barriers. Volant vertebrates are found on some of the remotest islands and contribute significantly to the biodiversity and ecosystem. The availability of next-generation sequencing data for non-model animals has substantially improved our understanding of gene flow and its consequences, allowing us to look at fine-scale patterns. However, most of our understanding regarding gene flow comes from the temperate regions and the Neotropics. The lack of studies from species-rich Asia is striking. In this review, we outline the importance of gene flow and the factors affecting gene flow, especially for volant vertebrates. We especially discuss research studies from tropical biomes of South and Southeast Asia, highlight the lacuna in literature and provide an outline for future studies in this species-rich region.

基因流动，即种群间遗传物质的交换，是塑造和维持生物多样性的重要生物过程。个体在种群间的成功迁移取决于多种因素，这些因素由物种生物学和环境决定。调节基因流动的最重要因素之一是移动能力，而飞行使个体能够轻松跨越地理障碍。在一些最偏远的岛屿上发现了飞翔的脊椎动物，它们对生物多样性和生态系统做出了重大贡献。非模型动物的下一代测序数据的可用性大大提高了我们对基因流动及其后果的理解，使我们能够观察精细的模式。然而，我们对基因流动的大部分理解来自温带地区和新热带地区。对物种丰富的亚洲缺乏研究是惊人的。在这篇综述中，我们概述了基因流动的重要性和影响基因流动的因素，尤其是对于展翅脊椎动物。我们特别讨论了来自南亚和东南亚热带生物群落的研究，强调了文献中的空白，并为这一物种丰富地区的未来研究提供了纲要。