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Genetic Basis and Evolution of Structural Color Polymorphism in an Australian Songbird.

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The white-winged fairywren

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genomics
  • Animal coloration

Background:

  • Island populations often exhibit unique traits compared to mainland relatives.
  • The white-winged fairywren (Malurus leucopterus) displays distinct plumage coloration between island and mainland subspecies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic basis of melanism and color divergence in Malurus leucopterus subspecies.
  • To understand the evolutionary history of plumage color in this species.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome resequencing of blue and black Malurus leucopterus subspecies.
  • Identification of highly divergent genomic regions and candidate genes for pigmentation and feather nanostructure.

Main Results:

  • Identified the pigmentation gene ASIP and four candidate genes for feather nanostructure.
  • Detected signatures of a selective sweep in the blue subspecies, suggesting re-evolution of blue plumage from a black ancestor.
  • Found derived SNPs in ASIP and SCUBE2 in the blue subspecies.

Conclusions:

  • The mainland blue plumage likely re-evolved from a black ancestor, contrary to convergent evolution predictions.
  • Female preference may have driven the re-evolution of blue plumage.
  • Identified candidate genes involved in feather structural coloration evolution.