A5002256941- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- melanin and skin pigmentation
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
University of Sheffield
2016-2025
NERC Environmental Omics Facility
2024
Australian National University
2017-2018
Université de Montpellier
2017-2018
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2017-2018
University of St Andrews
2017-2018
Utah State University
2017-2018
University of Oxford
2017-2018
Stockholm University
2018
University of Toronto
2017-2018
Paternity inference using highly polymorphic codominant markers is becoming common in the study of natural populations. However, multiple males are often found to be genetically compatible with each offspring tested, even when probability excluding an unrelated male high. While various methods exist for evaluating likelihood paternity nonexcluded male, interpreting these likelihoods has hitherto been difficult, and no method takes account incomplete sampling error‐prone genetic data typical...
The genome of the zebra finch — a songbird and model for study vertebrate brain, behaviour evolution has been sequenced. Its comparison with chicken genome, only other bird available, shows that genes neural function implicated in cognitive processing song have rapidly evolving lineage. also vocal communication engages much brain transcriptome identifies potential integrator microRNA signals linked to communication. studying Comparison are Moreover, brain. is an important organism several...
Abstract While genotyping wild red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) at microsatellite loci for paternity assignment, we found three (MAP65, BOVIRBP and CelJP23) with segregating nonamplifying alleles. Nonamplifying alleles were detected through mismatches between known mother‐offspring pairs by significant deviations from Hardy‐Weinberg equilibria. In a wide range of molecular ecology applications, especially in parentage the possible existence undetectable must be taken into account; this may...
Classical population genetics theory predicts that selection should deplete heritable genetic variance for fitness. We show here that, consistent with this prediction, there was a negative correlation between the heritability of trait and its association fitness in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) no evidence significant total However, decline caused, at least part, by increased levels residual longevity and, hence, fitness: population, is known to be heavily influenced environmental factors....
We present estimates of the selection on and heritability a male secondary sexual weapon in wild population: antler size red deer. Male deer with large antlers had increased lifetime breeding success, both before after correcting for body size, generating standardized gradient 0.44 (±0.18 SE). Despite substantial age‐ environment‐related variation, was also heritable (heritability mass =0.33 ±0.12). However observed did not generate an evolutionary response over study period nearly 30 years,...
Terry Burke, Mark Blaxter, David Lank and colleagues report a reference genome sequence of the ruff analysis three distinct male morphs this bird species. They identify 'supergene' consisting fixed inversion in two candidate reproductive trait genes region. Three strikingly different alternative mating (aggressive 'independents', semicooperative 'satellites' female-mimic 'faeders') coexist as balanced polymorphism ruff, Philomachus pugnax, lek-breeding wading bird1,2,3. Major differences...
The fitness consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding are poorly understood in natural populations. We explore two microsatellite–based variables, individual heterozygosity (likely to correlate with recent inbreeding) a new individual–specific internal distance measure, meand2 (focusing on events deeper the pedigree), relation measures expressed early life, birth weight neonatal survival, 670 red deer calves (Cervus elaphus) born Isle Rum between 1982 1996. For comparison, we also analyse...
Recent years have seen a rapid expansion in the scope of quantitative genetic analyses undertaken wild populations. We illustrate here potential for such studies to address fundamental evolutionary questions about maintenance diversity and reveal hidden conflicts or constraints not apparent at phenotypic level. Trade-offs between different components fitness, sexually-antagonistic effects, maternal genotype-by-environment interactions, genotype-by-age variation regions genome localized...
Bright-red colors in vertebrates are commonly involved sexual, social, and interspecific signaling [1Foote C.J. Brown G.S. Hawryshyn C.W. Female colour male choice sockeye salmon: implications for the phenotypic convergence of anadromous nonanadromous morphs.Anim. Behav. 2004; 67: 69-83Crossref Scopus (40) Google Scholar, 2Hill G.E. McGraw K.J. Bird Coloration, Volume 2, Function Evolution. Harvard University Press, 2006Google 3Khan S.A. Levine W.J. Dobson S.D. Kralik J.D. Red signals...
Abstract For over 50 years, the great tit ( Parus major ) has been a model species for research in evolutionary, ecological and behavioural research; particular, learning cognition have intensively studied. Here, to provide further insight into molecular mechanisms behind these important traits, we de novo assemble reference genome whole-genome re-sequence another 29 individuals from across Europe. We show an overrepresentation of genes related neuronal functions, regions under positive...
Recent natural selection in a wild bird Many studies have found evidence of rapid evolution response to environmental change. In most cases, there has been some suggestion which traits might be responsive ahead time. Bosse et al. turn this approach on its head by using genomic regions with signature identify that are changing. great tits ( Parus major ) the United Kingdom, showing invariably contained genes associated bill growth. Indeed, U.K. birds not only longer bills, but these bills...
Size-selective harvesting is assumed to alter life histories of exploited fish populations, thereby negatively affecting population productivity, recovery, and yield. However, demonstrating that fisheries-induced phenotypic changes in the wild are at least partly genetically determined has proved notoriously difficult. Moreover, population-level consequences evolution still being controversially discussed. Using an experimental approach, we found five generations size-selective altered...
Abstract Meiotic recombination breaks down linkage disequilibrium (LD) and forms new haplotypes, meaning that it is an important driver of diversity in eukaryotic genomes. Understanding the causes variation rate interpreting predicting evolutionary phenomena understanding potential a population to respond selection. However, despite attention model systems, there remains little data on how varies at individual level natural populations. Here we used extensive pedigree high-density SNP...
The rate of adaptive evolution, the contribution selection to genetic changes that increase mean fitness, is determined by additive variance in individual relative fitness. To date, there are few robust estimates this parameter for natural populations, and it therefore unclear whether evolution can play a meaningful role short-term population dynamics. We developed applied quantitative methods long-term datasets from 19 wild bird mammal populations found that, while vary between fitness...
Temporal or spatial variation in selection has the potential to explain long standing evolutionary problems such as stasis and maintenance of genetic variation. Long-term field studies plants wild vertebrates have provided some insights, but multigenerational measures invertebrates remain scarce. Short-lived ectothermic animals are likely experience more pronounced environmental across generations than longer-lived endothermic species. As a result, may be particularly significant these...
Abstract cervus is a Windows‐based software package written to infer paternity in natural populations. It offers advantages over exclusionary‐based methods of inference that multiple nonexcluded males can be statistically distinguished, laboratory typing error considered and statistical confidence determined for assigned paternities through simulation. In this study we use panel 84 microsatellite markers retrospectively determine the accuracy when was used population red deer ( Cervus...
Evolutionary and conservation biologists have a long-standing interest in the consequences of inbreeding. It is generally recognized that inbred individuals may experience reduced fitness or inbreeding depression. By same token, relatively outbred can greater than average fitness, i.e. heterosis. However, nearly all empirical evidence for depression comes from laboratory domestic species. Inbreeding heterosis are difficult to detect natural populations due difficulties establishing...
Understanding the genetic architecture of phenotypic variation in natural populations is a fundamental goal evolutionary genetics. Wild Soay sheep (Ovis aries) have an inherited polymorphism for horn morphology both sexes, controlled by single autosomal locus, Horns. The majority males large normal horns, but small number vestigial, deformed known as scurs; females either scurs or no horns (polled). Given that scurred and polled reduced fitness within each sex, it counterintuitive persists...
The understanding of natural and sexual selection requires both field laboratory studies to exploit the advantages avoid disadvantages each approach. However, have tended be polarized among types organisms studied, with vertebrates studied in invertebrates lab. We used video monitoring combined DNA profiling all members a wild population crickets across two generations capture factors predicting reproductive success males females. that predict male's gaining mates differ from those how many...