A5079170551- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genetic and Environmental Crop Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Gut microbiota and health
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
2015-2024
Uppsala University
2013-2024
University of Helsinki
2014-2022
Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre
2019-2021
University of Edinburgh
2009-2011
Detailed linkage and recombination rate maps are necessary to use the full potential of genome sequencing population genomic analyses. We used a custom collared flycatcher 50 K SNP array develop high-density map with 37 262 markers assigned 34 groups in 33 autosomes Z chromosome. The best-order contained 4215 markers, total distance 3132 cM mean genetic between 0.12 cM. Facilitated by being designed include from most scaffolds, we obtained second-generation assembly that approaches...
Abstract The mammalian gut teems with microbes, yet how hosts acquire these symbionts remains poorly understood. Research in primates suggests that microbes can be picked up via social contact, but the role of interactions non-group-living species underexplored. Here, we use a passive tracking system to collect high resolution spatiotemporal activity data from wild mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Social network analysis revealed association strength strongest predictor microbiota similarity...
Phenotypic plasticity is an important mechanism via which populations can respond to changing environmental conditions, but we know very little about how natural vary with respect plasticity. Here use random-regression animal models understand the multivariate phenotypic and genetic patterns of variation in two key life-history traits, laying date clutch size, using data from long-term studies great tits The Netherlands (Hoge Veluwe [HV]) UK (Wytham Woods [WW]). We show that, while...
The authors show that environmental variation may lead to a positive association between the annual strength of selection and expression genetic variance in wild bird population, which can speed up microevolution have important consequences for how fast natural populations adapt changes.
Climate change has differentially affected the timing of seasonal events for interacting trophic levels, and this often led to increased selection on timing. Yet, environmental variables driving have rarely been identified, limiting our ability predict future ecological impacts climate change. Using a dataset spanning 31 years from natural population pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), we show that directional reproduction intensified in first two decades (1980-2000) but weakened during...
Dissecting the genetic basis of phenotypic variation in natural populations is a long-standing goal evolutionary biology. One open question whether quantitative traits are determined only by large numbers genes with small effects, or also exists large-effect loci. We conducted genomewide association analyses forehead patch size (a sexually selected trait) on 81 whole-genome-resequenced male collared flycatchers extreme phenotypes, and 415 males sampled independent genotyped 50K SNP chip. No...
Inbreeding may increase the extinction risk of small populations. Yet, studies using modern genomic tools to investigate inbreeding depression in nature have been limited single populations, and little is known about dynamics subdivided populations over time. Natural often experience different environmental conditions differ demographic history genetic composition, characteristics that can affect severity depression. We utilized extensive long-term data on more than 3,100 individuals from...
For multiple-brooded species, the number of reproductive events per year is a major determinant an individual's fitness. Where multiple brooding facultative, its occurrence likely to change with environmental conditions, and, as consequence, current rates could have substantial impacts on breeding patterns. Here we examine temporal population-level trends in proportion female great tits ( Parus ) producing two clutches (‘double brooding’) four long-term study populations The Netherlands, and...
The brain is one of the most energetically expensive organs in vertebrate body. Consequently, energetic requirements encephalization are suggested to impose considerable constraints on size evolution. Three main hypotheses concerning how might affect evolution predict covariation between investment and (1) into other costly tissues, (2) overall metabolic rate, (3) reproductive investment. To date, these have mainly been tested homeothermic animals existing data inconclusive. However, there...
In seasonal environments, timing of reproduction is a trait with important fitness consequences, but we know little about the molecular mechanisms that underlie variation in this trait. Recently, several studies put forward DNA methylation as mechanism regulating both plants and animals. To understand involvement reproduction, it necessary to examine within-individual temporal changes methylation, such are very rare. Here, use sampling approach throughout breeding season female great tits...
Summary Genomewide association studies (GWAS) enable detailed dissections of the genetic basis for organisms' ability to adapt a changing environment. In long‐term natural populations, individuals are often marked at one point in their life and then repeatedly recaptured. It is therefore essential that method GWAS includes process repeated sampling. GWAS, effects thousands single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) need be fitted any model development constrained by computational requirements. A...
Linking genetic diversity to extinction is a common goal in genomic studies. Recently, debate has arisen regarding the importance of variation conservation as some studies have failed find associations between genome-wide and risk. However, only rarely are fitness measured together wild, typically demographic history environment ignored. It therefore difficult infer whether lack an association real or obscured by confounding factors. To address these shortcomings, we analyzed data from 7,501...
Bergmann's rule predicts a decrease in body size with increasing temperature and has much empirical support. Surprisingly, we know very little about whether "Bergmann clines" are due to genetic response or consequence of phenotypic plasticity. Here, use data on (mass tarsus length) from three long-term (1979-2008) study populations great tits (Parus major) that experienced increase examine mechanisms behind rule. We show adult mass decreased over the period all length increased one...
Knowledge of the genetic variances and covariances traits (the G-matrix) is fundamental for understanding evolutionary dynamics populations. Despite its essential importance in studies, empirical tests temporal stability G-matrix natural populations are few. We used a 25-year-long individual-based field study on almost 7000 breeding attempts collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) to estimate over time. Using animal models G several time periods, we show that structure time-specific...
Abstract With the access to draft genome sequence assemblies and whole‐genome resequencing data from population samples, molecular ecology studies will be able take truly genome‐wide approaches. This now applies an avian model system in ecological evolutionary research: Old World flycatchers of genus F icedula , for which we recently obtained a 1.1 Gb collared flycatcher assembly identified 13 million single‐nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP )s this species its sister species, pied flycatcher....
Understanding the genetic basis of traits involved in adaptation is a major challenge evolutionary biology but remains poorly understood. Here, we use genome-wide association mapping using custom 50 k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array natural population collared flycatchers to examine clutch size, an important life-history trait many animal species. We found evidence for on chromosome 18 where one SNP significant at level explained 3.9% phenotypic variance. also detected two...
Epigenetic mechanisms can alter gene expression without a change in the nucleotide sequence and are increasingly recognized as important that generate phenotypic diversity. Most of our current knowledge regarding origin role epigenetic variation comes from research on plants or mammals, often controlled rearing conditions. birds their natural habitats is still its infancy, but needed to answer questions marks evolution. Here we review potential for studying bird systems. We aim provide...
Abstract The molecular characteristics of the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) sex chromosomes remain elusive. Despite significant genome-sequencing efforts, PAR highly differentiated avian remains to be identified. Here we use linkage analysis together with whole-genome re-sequencing uncover 630-kb an ecological model species, collared flycatcher. contains 22 protein-coding genes and is GC rich. genetic length 64 cM in female meiosis, consistent obligate crossing-over event. Recombination...
Abstract Understanding the genetic architecture of quantitative traits can provide insights into mechanisms driving phenotypic evolution. Bill morphology is an ecologically important and phenotypically variable trait, which highly heritable closely linked to individual fitness. Thus, bill are suitable candidates for gene mapping analyses. Previous studies have revealed several genes that may influence morphology, but similarity allele effects between species populations unknown. Here, we...
Abstract Background DNA methylation is likely a key mechanism regulating changes in gene transcription traits that show temporal fluctuations response to environmental conditions. To understand the transcriptional role of we need simultaneous within-individual assessment and expression over time. Within-individual repeated sampling tissues, which are essential for trait is, however, unfeasible (e.g. specific brain regions, liver ovary reproductive timing). Here, explore what extend...