Whole genome sequencing, assembly and annotation of the Southern Ground Hornbill - Bucorvus leadbeateri

The Southern Ground Hornbill (SGH - Bucorvus leadbeateri) is one of the largest hornbill species worldwide, known for its complex social structures and breeding behaviours. This bird has been of great interest due to its declining population and disappearance from historic ranges in southern Africa. Despite being the focus of numerous conservation efforts, with research forming an integral part of these initiatives, there is still a substantial lack of knowledge regarding the molecular biology aspects of this bird species. In this study, whole genome sequencing of the SGH was achieved using Illumina short-read (NovaSeq 6000) and Pacific Biosciences long-read technologies. A hybrid de novo genome assembly followed by reference-based refinement produced a 1.16 Gb high-quality draft genome assembly of the SGH comprised of 1,672 contigs (N50 value of 40.45 Mb). The availability of this genome will aid in improving our current understanding of this bird at a genomic level and provide a pivotal foundation for comparative genomic analysis with other hornbill species.