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Brown JI, Hernández F, Engilis A, Hernández-Baños BE, Collins D, Lavretsky P. Genomic and morphological data shed light on the complexities of shared ancestry between closely related duck species. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10212. [PMID: 35715515 PMCID: PMC9205961 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14270-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Causes for genomic and morphological similarities among recently radiated species are often multifaceted and are further convoluted among species that readily interbreed. Here, we couple genomic and morphological trait comparisons to test the extent that ancestry and gene flow explain the retention of mallard-like traits within a sister species, the Mexican duck. First, we confirm that these taxa remain genetically structured, and that Mexican ducks exhibit an isolation-by-distance pattern. Despite the assumption of wide-spread hybridization, we found only a few late-stage hybrids, all from the southwestern USA. Next, assessing 23 morphological traits, we developed a genetically-vetted morphological key that is > 97% accurate in distinguishing across sex-age cohorts of Mexican ducks, mallards, and hybrids. During key development, we determined that 25% of genetically pure, immature male Mexican ducks of the northern population naturally displayed mallard-like traits in their formative plumage. In fact, applying this key to 55 museum specimens, we identified that only four of the 14 specimens originally classified as phenotypic hybrids were truly hybrids. We discuss how genomic and morphological comparisons shed light into the mechanism(s) underlying the evolution of complex phenotypic traits in recent radiations, and how misunderstanding the true morphological diversity within Mexican ducks resulted in taxonomic revisions that hindered conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua I Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
| | - Flor Hernández
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Andrew Engilis
- Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.,Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Blanca E Hernández-Baños
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - Dan Collins
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Region 2 Migratory Bird Program, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Philip Lavretsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
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2
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Lindsay WR, Barron DG, Webster MS, Schwabl H. Testosterone activates sexual dimorphism including male-typical carotenoid but not melanin plumage pigmentation in a female bird. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 219:3091-3099. [PMID: 27707865 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.135384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In males it is frequently testosterone (T) that activates the expression of sexually selected morphological and behavioral displays, but the role of T in regulating similar traits in females is less clear. Here, we combine correlational data with results from T and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) manipulations in both sexes to assess the role of T in mediating sexually dimorphic coloration and morphology in the red-backed fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus). We show that: (1) natural variation in female expression of ornamental traits (darkened bills and red back feathers) is positively associated with age and circulating androgen titres, (2) females have the capacity to express most male-typical traits in response to exogenous T, including carotenoid-pigmented body plumage, shorter feathers, darkened bill and enlarged cloacal protuberance, but (3) appear constrained in production of male-typical melanin-pigmented plumage, and (4) low androgen levels during the pre-nuptial molt, probably because of low ovarian capacity for steroid production (or luteinizing hormone sensitivity), prevent females from developing male-like ornamentation. Thus, females appear to retain molecular mechanisms for hormonally regulated male-typical ornamentation, although these are rarely activated because of insufficient production of the hormonal signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willow R Lindsay
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Göteborg University, Box 463, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden School of Biological Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99163, USA
| | - Douglas G Barron
- School of Biological Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99163, USA Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR 72801, USA
| | - Michael S Webster
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and Cornell Laboratory for Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Hubert Schwabl
- School of Biological Sciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99163, USA
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de Jong B, Lens L, van der Velde M, Korsten P, Groothuis T, Komdeur J. Testosterone Reduces Promiscuity of Female Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): An Experimental Study. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Berber de Jong
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
- Behavioural Biology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit; Department Biology; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit; Department Biology; Ghent University; Ghent Belgium
| | - Marco van der Velde
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Peter Korsten
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; Bielefeld Germany
| | - Ton Groothuis
- Behavioural Biology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences; University of Groningen; Groningen The Netherlands
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Griggio M, Hoi H, Lukasch B, Pilastro A. Context-dependent female preference for multiple ornaments in the bearded reedling. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:493-501. [PMID: 26843933 PMCID: PMC4729251 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
While it is well established that females prefer to mate with well‐ornamented males, the influence of perceptive and cognitive processes on the expression of female mate choice is still poorly known. It has been suggested that the female perception of a male's attractiveness is not absolute, but depends on the other males with which he is compared that have been previously encountered (comparative evaluation). We investigated whether mate preference in bearded reedlings (Panurus biarmicus) is dependent on or independent of social context in relation to two different traits: beard and tail lengths. Each female had a choice between two to three males with different modifications of beard and tail. For each female, three different experiments were conducted (one binary and two trinary tests). We found that when females are presented with options that vary antagonistically with respect to two ornaments (binary test), some individuals prefer one trait while others the other trait. This indicates that in our bearded reedlings population exists a mate preference polymorphisms. Moreover, we found that the presence of a third stimulus, irrespective of the initial preference, reduced the strength of the initial preference – what we can call a “preference dilution effect.” Our results suggest that the female's choice may be constrained by her cognitive abilities when she is simultaneously presented with several options varying for two uncorrelated traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Griggio
- Dipartimento di Biologia Università di Padova Via U. Bassi 58/B I-35131 Padova Italy
| | - Herbert Hoi
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna Savoyenstrasse 1/A A-1160 Vienna Austria
| | - Barbara Lukasch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna Savoyenstrasse 1/A A-1160 Vienna Austria
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- Dipartimento di Biologia Università di Padova Via U. Bassi 58/B I-35131 Padova Italy
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Lahaye SEP, Eens M, Iserbyt A, Groothuis TGG, de Vries B, Müller W, Pinxten R. Influence of mate preference and laying order on maternal allocation in a monogamous parrot species with extreme hatching asynchrony. Horm Behav 2015; 71:49-59. [PMID: 25870020 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that in many avian species, prenatal maternal resource allocation varies both between and within clutches and may affect offspring fitness. Differential allocation of maternal resources, in terms of egg weight and yolk composition, may therefore allow the female to adjust brood reduction and to fine-tune reproductive investment in accordance with the expected fitness returns. The adaptive value of such maternal resource allocation is thought to be context-dependent as well as species-specific. We investigated the effects of female preference for her mate on the allocation of prenatal maternal resources in the budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus, a monogamous species of parrot that shows an extreme hatching asynchrony. We assessed mate preferences in a two-way preference test and allowed females two breeding rounds: one with the preferred and one with the non-preferred partner. We found no effect of preference on either latency to lay or clutch size, but females mated with the preferred partner laid eggs that contained significantly more yolk. Their eggs also contained significantly more androstenedione but not testosterone. Our results suggest that in this species, female preference may influence maternal resource allocation, and that the functional roles of each androgen in the yolk should be considered separately. In addition, we found a significant effect of laying order on egg and yolk weight as well as on yolk testosterone and androstenedione levels. These measures, however, did not change linearly with the laying order and render it unlikely that female budgerigars compensate for the extreme hatching asynchrony by adjusting within-clutch allocation of prenatal maternal resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie E P Lahaye
- Department of Biology, Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology, Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Arne Iserbyt
- Department of Biology, Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ton G G Groothuis
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Centre for Behaviour and Neurosciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bonnie de Vries
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Centre for Behaviour and Neurosciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wendt Müller
- Department of Biology, Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Institute for Education and Information Sciences, Research Unit Didactica, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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6
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Kraaijeveld K. Reversible Trait Loss: The Genetic Architecture of Female Ornaments. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2014. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of female ornamentation has been subject to considerable debate. Although originally thought to be by-products of selection on males, recent studies have emphasized the adaptive nature of female ornaments. Here, I review current knowledge on the genetic architecture of ornamental traits and how their expression is (or is not) restricted to one sex. Ornament development typically involves deeply conserved developmental genes. Their expression is modified by pre-existing sexually dimorphic signals, such as hormones in vertebrates or doublesex gene products in insects. Changes in dosage and binding affinities in these systems apparently allow frequent switches between sexually dimorphic and monomorphic ornament expression. However, early-developing ornaments may be difficult to modulate, as this would result in severe pleiotropic effects. Comparative studies on the molecular structure of the sex-specific modulating signals and their receptors should provide detailed insight into the mechanisms underlying the loss and gain of female ornaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Kraaijeveld
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Lahaye SEP, Eens M, Darras VM, Pinxten R. Bare-part color in female budgerigars changes from brown to structural blue following testosterone treatment but is not strongly masculinized. PLoS One 2014; 9:e86849. [PMID: 24475184 PMCID: PMC3901734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Whereas several studies have shown that experimentally increased levels of the androgenic steroid testosterone can affect female behavior, fewer studies have focused on the activational effects of exogenous testosterone on female morphology. With respect to colorful displays in birds, almost exclusively the effects of testosterone manipulation on female carotenoid-based colorations have been studied. Other color types such as structural colors (i.e. UV, blue and violet colors that result from differential light reflection in the nanostructures of the tissue) remain largely unstudied. Here, we investigated the short- and long-term effects of exogenous testosterone on the expression of structural bare-part coloration in female budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus. In this parrot species, bare-part coloration is expressed in the cere, a structure over the beak which is brown in females and structural blue in males. We experimentally increased plasma testosterone levels in testosterone-treated females (T-females) compared to controls (C-females) and we performed weekly spectrophotometric measurements of the cere for five weeks after implantation and one measurement after ten weeks. We also estimated the extent to which testosterone masculinized female cere color by comparing the experimental females with untreated males. We found significant effects of testosterone on cere color from week four after implantation onwards. T-females expressed significantly bluer ceres than C-females with higher values for brightness and UV reflectance. T-female cere color, however, remained significantly less blue than in males, while values for brightness and UV reflectance were significantly higher in T-females than in males. Our quantitative results show that exogenous testosterone induces the expression of structural blue color in females but does not strongly masculinize female cere coloration. We provide several potential pathways for the action of testosterone on structural color.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcel Eens
- Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Veerle M. Darras
- Laboratory of Comparative Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Research Group Ethology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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