The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Geographic patterns of genetic differentiation and plumage colour variation are different in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

Author

  • Paula K. Lehtonen
  • Toni Laaksonen
  • Aleksandr V. Artemyev
  • Eugen Belskii
  • Christian Both
  • Stanislav Bures
  • Andrey V. Bushuev
  • Indrikis Krams
  • Juan Moreno
  • Marko Mägi
  • Andreas Nord
  • Jaime Potti
  • Pierre-Alain Ravussin
  • Päivi M. Sirkiä
  • Glenn-Peter Saetre
  • Craig R. Primmer

Summary, in English

The pied flycatcher is one of the most phenotypically variable bird species in Europe. The geographic variation in phenotypes has often been attributed to spatial variation in selection regimes that is associated with the presence or absence of the congeneric collared flycatcher. Spatial variation in phenotypes could however also be generated by spatially restricted gene flow and genetic drift. We examined the genetic population structure of pied flycatchers across the breeding range and applied the phenotypic Q(ST) (P(ST))-F(ST) approach to detect indirect signals of divergent selection on dorsal plumage colouration in pied flycatcher males. Allelic frequencies at neutral markers were found to significantly differ among populations breeding in central and southern Europe whereas northerly breeding pied flycatchers were found to be one apparently panmictic group of individuals. Pairwise differences between phenotypic (P(ST)) and neutral genetic distances (F(ST)) were positively correlated after removing the most differentiated Spanish and Swiss populations from the analysis, suggesting that genetic drift may have contributed to the observed phenotypic differentiation in some parts of the pied flycatcher breeding range. Differentiation in dorsal plumage colouration however greatly exceeded that observed at neutral genetic markers, which indicates that the observed pattern of phenotypic differentiation is unlikely to be solely maintained by restricted gene flow and genetic drift.

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

4463-4476

Publication/Series

Molecular Ecology

Volume

18

Issue

21

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Biological Sciences

Keywords

  • genetic differentiation
  • phylogeography
  • passerine birds
  • microsatellites
  • pigmentation
  • PST–FST
  • colonization

Status

Published

Research group

  • Life History and Functional Ecology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0962-1083