DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Investigating the genomic structure of speciation: a comparative approach using wagtails (Aves: Motacilla)

研究地理变异特征可以揭示推动进化的过程。广泛分布的物种是探索物理特征差异及其潜在遗传基础的有用系统，因为它们提供了物种形成连续体不同阶段的种群之间的比较。对共同特征的识别可能有助于洞察指导物种形成过程的基本原则，以及基因型和表型之间的关系。为了促进这项研究，私人投资机构在瑞典、中国、俄罗斯和美国建立了一个国际合作者网络。该项目还支持通过自然历史博物馆进行科学宣传和公众交流。在鸟类中，羽毛的颜色和图案在交配偏好中扮演着重要的角色。正因为如此，羽毛差异可能会迅速出现，并在基因组变化赶上之前被检测到。这个项目调查了欧亚小尾鸟是如何出现羽毛多样性的，这是一群羽毛颜色和图案差异很大，但遗传分化很小的鸟类。小尾辫的巨大颜色模式差异被认为是性别选择的结果，在这种情况下，表型的差异可能是少数基因变化的结果。该项目将使用全基因组测序来从整个基因组中识别高度遗传分化的区域。从欧亚大陆收集的小尾巴中对这些特定的分化区域进行测序，将增加关于羽毛图案遗传学的相对较小的文献主体。除了羽毛，我们的数据将使我们能够调查可能塑造了这一群体在欧洲、亚洲和非洲演变的历史事件。

Investigating geographically variable traits can reveal the processes driving evolution. Widespread species are useful systems for exploring differences in physical traits and their underlying genetic basis, because they offer comparisons among populations at different stages of the speciation continuum. The identification of common features may provide insight into the fundamental principles guiding the speciation process, as well as the relationship between genotype and phenotype. To facilitate this research, the PIs have developed an international network of collaborators in Sweden, China, Russia, and the USA. This project also supports outreach and the public communication of science through Natural History Museums. In birds, feather color and pattern can play an important role in mating preference. Because of this, plumage differences can arise rapidly and be detected before changes to the genome have time to catch up. This project investigates how plumage diversity emerges using Eurasian wagtails, a group of birds with large difference in plumage color and pattern, but with very little genetic differentiation. The drastic color pattern differences in wagtails are thought to be a result of sexual selection, in which case the differences in phenotypes could be the result of changes to a small number of genes. This project will use whole-genome sequencing to identify regions of high genetic differentiation from throughout the genome. Sequencing these specific regions of differentiation from wagtails collected across Eurasia will add to the relatively small body of literature on the genetics of plumage pattern. Beyond plumage, our data will allow us to investigate the historical events that likely shaped the evolution of this group in Europe, Asia, and Africa.