Feather function and the evolution of birds

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 98(2), P. 540 - 566

Published: Nov. 24, 2022

ABSTRACT The ability of feathers to perform many functions either simultaneously or at different times throughout the year life a bird is integral evolutionary history birds. Many studies focus on single feathers, but any given feather performs over its lifetime. These necessarily interact with each other evolution and development birds, so our knowledge avian incomplete without understanding multifunctionality how may act synergistically antagonistically during natural selection. Here, we review evolution, recent technological discovery‐based advances. By synthesising research into hierarchical scales (pattern, arrangement, macrostructure, microstructure, nanostructure, molecules), aim provide broad context for adaptability have allowed birds diversify an astounding array environments life‐history strategies. We suggest that future involving function should consider multiple aspects feather, including functions, seasonal wear renewal, ecological mechanical interactions. With this more holistic view, processes such as coloration flight can be understood in broader nuanced context.

Language: Английский

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Evolution and genetic architecture of sex-limited polymorphism in cuckoos

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(17)

Published: April 24, 2024

Sex-limited polymorphism has evolved in many species including our own. Yet, we lack a detailed understanding of the underlying genetic variation and evolutionary processes at work. The brood parasitic common cuckoo (

Language: Английский

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Male-like ornamentation in female hummingbirds results from social harassment rather than sexual selection

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(19), P. 4381 - 4387.e6

Published: Aug. 26, 2021

Language: Английский

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Partial honesty in a hummingbird polymorphism provides evidence for a hybrid equilibrium

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 222, P. 123104 - 123104

Published: Feb. 19, 2025

Language: Английский

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A shared gene but distinct dynamics regulate mimicry polymorphisms in closely related species

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 4, 2025

Sex-limited polymorphisms, such as mating strategies in male birds and mimicry female butterflies, are widespread across the tree of life frequently adaptive. Considerable work has been done exploring ecological pressures evolutionary forces that generate maintain genetic variation resulting alternative sex-limited morphs, yet little is known about their molecular developmental basis. A powerful system to investigate this Papilio butterflies: within subgenus Menelaides, multiple closely related species have female-limited polymorphism, with females developing either derived mimetic or ancestral non-mimetic wing color patterns. While patterns different between species, each polymorphism controlled by allelic doublesex ( dsx ). Across several we found develop male-like when knockdown expression, establishing controls both sexual dimorphism polymorphism. We also alleles unique spatiotemporal expression two lowii alphenor. To uncover downstream genes involved pattern switch used RNA-seq P. compared results previous alphenor . some canonical patterning differentially expressed temporal differential notably different. Our indicate that, despite putative co-option shared use among functions through distinct underlying mechanisms. Understanding how a largely genome can encode potential morphs while simultaneously restricting one sex long interest biologists. This phenomenon, called widespread, occurring organisms like crustaceans, insects, fish, birds, mammals. Recent empirical begun identify controlling phenotypes, but differences programs leading those phenotypes remain unclear. Here classic example - swallowtail butterflies compare evolved same gene, , development morphs. Using combination functional experiments, show genetics function quite differently last common ancestor approximately 15 million years ago.

Language: Английский

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Male-like female morphs in hummingbirds: the evolution of a widespread sex-limited plumage polymorphism

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 288(1945)

Published: Feb. 24, 2021

Differences in the way males and females look or behave are common animals. However, discrete variation within sexes (sex-limited polymorphism) also occurs several vertebrate invertebrate lineages. In birds, female-limited polymorphism (FLP) which some resemble coloration is most prominent hummingbirds, a group known for its morphological behavioural sexual dimorphism. Yet, it remains unclear whether this intrasexual colour hummingbirds arises through direct selection on females, indirectly as non-adaptive byproduct resulting from males. Here, we analysed specimens more than 300 hummingbird species to determine extent, evolutionary history function of FLP. We found that FLP evolved independently every major clade nearly 25% species. Using phylogenetically informed analyses, rejected hypotheses result indirect pleiotropy across Instead, associated with ecology, migratory status, marginally social dominance, suggesting socioecological benefit females. Ultimately, show not only widespread likely adaptive, but may be useful understanding evolution female ornamentation systems under strong selection.

Language: Английский

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The evolutionary history and mechanistic basis of female ornamentation in a tropical songbird

Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 76(8), P. 1720 - 1736

Published: June 24, 2022

Ornamentation, such as the showy plumage of birds, is widespread among female vertebrates, yet evolutionary pressures shaping ornamentation remain uncertain. In part this due to a poor understanding mechanistic route in females. To address issue, we evaluated history ornament expression tropical passerine bird, White-shouldered Fairywren, whose females, but not males, strongly vary between populations occurrence ornamented black-and-white plumage. We first use phylogenomic analysis demonstrate that derived and evolves independently changes male then exogenous testosterone field experiment induce partial naturally unornamented By sequencing transcriptome experimentally induced natural feathers, identify genes expressed during production evaluate degree which system associated with elevated testosterone, common males. reveal some females linked sexes differ ornament-linked gene expression. Lastly, using genomic outlier candidate melanogenesis lies region high divergence also differentially feather follicles different plumages. Taken together, these findings are consistent sex-specific selection favoring evolution ornaments key role for generating population through regulation. More broadly, our work highlights similarities differences how sexes.

Language: Английский

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Intersexual social dominance mimicry drives female hummingbird polymorphism

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1982)

Published: Sept. 7, 2022

Female-limited polymorphisms, where females have multiple forms but males only one, been described in a variety of animals, yet are difficult to explain because selection typically is expected decrease rather than maintain diversity. In the white-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora), all and approximately 20% express an ornamented plumage type (androchromic), while other non-ornamented (heterochromic). Androchrome benefit from reduced social harassment, it remains unclear why both morphs persist. Female may represent balanced alternative behavioural strategies, hypothesis that androchrome mimicking males. Here, we test critical prediction these hypotheses by measuring morphological, physiological traits relate resource-holding potential (RHP), or competitive ability. traits, find little difference between female types, higher RHP These results, together with previous findings this species, indicate increase access food resources through mimicry more aggressive Importantly, provides clear theoretical pathway for polymorphism maintenance frequency-dependent selection. Social dominance mimicry, long suspected operate can therefore also within leading perhaps similarities sexes generally.

Language: Английский

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Reproductive and ecological adaptations to climate underpin the evolution of sociality in lizards

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 3, 2024

Abstract Identifying the environmental factors associated with group living is important for understanding how social systems originate, persist and diversify. In endothermic birds mammals, in groups habitat constraints harsh climatic conditions. We use phylogenetic comparative analyses to test whether climate have played similar roles evolution of grouping a globally distributed clade ectothermic vertebrates, lizards (N species = 1696). Social was strongly cool, dry climates across lizard phylogeny. However, this signature arose indirectly, by association live birth (common cool climates) reliance on rock crevices climates), traits which increase parent-offspring associations reduce offspring dispersal. contrast, direct effects temperature were marginal restricted bearing species. Our results demonstrate that relationships between sociality may result from adaptations go promote emergence behaviour.

Language: Английский

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The Ancestral Modulation Hypothesis: Predicting Mechanistic Control of Sexually Heteromorphic Traits Using Evolutionary History

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 202(3), P. 241 - 259

Published: April 12, 2023

AbstractAcross the animal kingdom there are myriad forms within a sex across, and even within, species, rendering concepts of universal traits moot. The mechanisms that regulate development these trait differences varied, although in vertebrates, common pathways involve gonadal steroid hormones. Gonadal steroids often associated with heteromorphic development, where found at higher circulating levels is one involved for sex. Occasionally, situations which or monomorphic another We propose verbal hypothesis, ancestral modulation hypothesis (AMH), uses evolutionary history trait-particularly ancestrally possessed values-to predict regulatory pathway governs expression. AMH predicts genomic architecture appears first to resolve sexual conflict an initially trait. This takes advantage existing sex-biased signals, pathway, generate heteromorphism. In cases other experiences pressure new phenotype, will co-opt by altering its signal match original high-trait-value describe integrated needed produce this pattern what expected outcomes be given present framework as testable scientific community investigate create further engagement analysis both ultimate proximate approaches

Language: Английский

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