Phenotypic differentiation is associated with divergent sexual selection among closely related barn swallow populations
Loading...
Files
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Access Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Abstract
Sexual selection plays a key role in the diversification of numerous animal clades and may accelerate trait divergence during speciation. However, much of our understanding of this process comes from phylogenetic comparative studies, which rely on surrogate measures such as dimorphism that may not represent selection in wild populations. In this study, we assess sexual selection pressures for multiple male visual signals across four barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) populations. Our sample encompassed 2400 linear km and two described subspecies: European H. r. rustica (in the Czech Republic and Romania) and eastern Mediterranean H. r. transitiva (in Israel), as well as a potential area of contact (in Turkey). We demonstrate significant phenotypic differentiation in four sexual signalling axes, despite very low-level genomic divergence and no comparable divergence in an ecological trait. Moreover, the direction of phenotypic divergence is consistent with differences in sexual selection pressures among subspecies. Thus, H. r. transitiva, which have the darkest ventral plumage of any population, experience directional selection for darker plumage. Similarly, H. r. rustica, which have the longest tail feathers of any population, experience directional selection for elongated tail feathers and disruptive selection for ventral plumage saturation. These results suggest that sexual selection is the primary driver of phenotypic differentiation in this species. Our findings add to growing evidence of phenotypic divergence with gene flow. However, to our knowledge, this is the first study to relate direct measures of the strength and targets of sexual selection to phenotypic divergence among closely related wild populations.
Description
Albrecht, Tomas/0000-0002-9213-0034; Karaardic, Hakan/0000-0001-9839-4201; Hubbard, Joanna/0000-0002-7234-8001; Wilkins, Matthew/0000-0002-3162-6749
WOS: 000389844700006
PubMed: 27538265
WOS: 000389844700006
PubMed: 27538265
Keywords
birds, natural selection, population genetics, sexual selection & conflicts, speciation
Journal or Series
Journal Of Evolutionary Biology
WoS Q Value
Q2
Scopus Q Value
Q1
Volume
29
Issue
12
