2024/04/22 by Hannah Justen, Wendy E. Easton, Kira E. Delmore · 1 voice · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Genetic diversity and population structure #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Avian ecology and behavior
paper · pdf · doi:10.1073/pnas.2313442121
openalex publication_date 2024/04/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Seasonal migration is a widespread behavior relevant for adaptation and speciation, yet knowledge of its genetic basis is limited. We leveraged advances in tracking and sequencing technologies to bridge this gap in a well-characterized hybrid zone between songbirds that differ in migratory behavior. Migration requires the coordinated action of many traits, including orientation, timing, and wing morphology. We used genetic mapping to show these traits are highly heritable and genetically correlated, explaining how migration has evolved so rapidly in the past and suggesting future responses to climate change may be possible. Many of these traits mapped to the same genomic regions and small structural variants indicating the same, or tightly linked, genes underlie them. Analyses integrating transcriptomic data indicate cholinergic receptors could control multiple traits. Furthermore, analyses integrating genomic differentiation further suggested genes underlying migratory traits help maintain reproductive isolation in this hybrid zone.