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Genetics and evidence for balancing selection of a sex-linked colour polymorphism in a songbird

Author

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  • Kang-Wook Kim

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Benjamin C. Jackson

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Hanyuan Zhang

    (University of Sheffield)

  • David P. L. Toews

    (Cornell University
    Cornell University, Corson Hall
    The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Scott A. Taylor

    (Cornell University
    Cornell University, Corson Hall
    University of Colorado Boulder)

  • Emma I. Greig

    (Cornell University)

  • Irby J. Lovette

    (Cornell University
    Cornell University, Corson Hall)

  • Mengning M. Liu

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Angus Davison

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Simon C. Griffith

    (Macquarie University)

  • Kai Zeng

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Terry Burke

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

Colour polymorphisms play a key role in sexual selection and speciation, yet the mechanisms that generate and maintain them are not fully understood. Here, we use genomic and transcriptomic tools to identify the precise genetic architecture and evolutionary history of a sex-linked colour polymorphism in the Gouldian finch Erythrura gouldiae that is also accompanied by remarkable differences in behaviour and physiology. We find that differences in colour are associated with an ~72-kbp region of the Z chromosome in a putative regulatory region for follistatin, an antagonist of the TGF-β superfamily genes. The region is highly differentiated between morphs, unlike the rest of the genome, yet we find no evidence that an inversion is involved in maintaining the distinct haplotypes. Coalescent simulations confirm that there is elevated nucleotide diversity and an excess of intermediate frequency alleles at this locus. We conclude that this pleiotropic colour polymorphism is most probably maintained by balancing selection.

Suggested Citation

  • Kang-Wook Kim & Benjamin C. Jackson & Hanyuan Zhang & David P. L. Toews & Scott A. Taylor & Emma I. Greig & Irby J. Lovette & Mengning M. Liu & Angus Davison & Simon C. Griffith & Kai Zeng & Terry Bur, 2019. "Genetics and evidence for balancing selection of a sex-linked colour polymorphism in a songbird," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09806-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09806-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Josephine R. Paris & James R. Whiting & Mitchel J. Daniel & Joan Ferrer Obiol & Paul J. Parsons & Mijke J. Zee & Christopher W. Wheat & Kimberly A. Hughes & Bonnie A. Fraser, 2022. "A large and diverse autosomal haplotype is associated with sex-linked colour polymorphism in the guppy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Xiao Zhang & Mark Blaxter & Jonathan M. D. Wood & Alan Tracey & Shane McCarthy & Peter Thorpe & Jack G. Rayner & Shangzhe Zhang & Kirstin L. Sikkink & Susan L. Balenger & Nathan W. Bailey, 2024. "Temporal genomics in Hawaiian crickets reveals compensatory intragenomic coadaptation during adaptive evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.

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