Phenotypic differentiation is associated with divergent sexual selection among closely related barn swallow populations

0462699 - ÚBO 2017 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Wilkins, M. R. - Karaardic, H. - Vortman, Y. - Parchman, T. L. - Albrecht, Tomáš - Petrželková, Adéla - Özkan, L. - Pap, P. L. - Hubbard, J. K. - Hund, A. K. - Safran, R. J.
Phenotypic differentiation is associated with divergent sexual selection among closely related barn swallow populations.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology. Roč. 29, č. 12 (2016), s. 2410-2421. ISSN 1010-061X. E-ISSN 1420-9101
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LH14045
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : birds * natural selection * population genetics * sexual selection & conflicts * speciation
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 2.792, year: 2016

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.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0262096


Research data: Dryad