A Comprehensive Cytogenetic Analysis of Several Members of the Family Columbidae (Aves, Columbiformes)

Abstract

The Columbidae species (Aves, Columbiformes) show considerable variation in their diploid numbers (2n = 68–86), but there is limited understanding of the events that shaped the extant karyotypes. Hence, we performed whole chromosome painting (wcp) for paints GGA1-10 and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes for chromosomes GGA11-28 for Columbina passerina, Columbina talpacoti, Patagioenas cayennensis, Geotrygon violacea and Geotrygon montana. Streptopelia decaocto was only investigated with paints because BACs for GGA10-28 had been previously analyzed. We also performed phylogenetic analyses in order to trace the evolutionary history of this family in light of chromosomal changes using our wcp data with chicken probes and from Zenaida auriculata, Columbina picui, Columba livia and Leptotila verreauxi, previously published. G-banding was performed on all these species. Comparative chromosome paint and G-banding results suggested that at least one interchromosomal and many intrachromosomal rearrangements had occurred in the diversification of Columbidae species. On the other hand, a high degree of conservation of microchromosome organization was observed in these species. Our cladistic analysis, considering all the chromosome rearrangements detected, provided strong support for L. verreauxi and P. cayennensis, G. montana and G. violacea, C. passerina and C. talpacoti having sister taxa relationships, as well as for all Columbidae species analyzed herein. Additionally, the chromosome characters were mapped in a consensus phylogenetic topology previously proposed, revealing a pericentric inversion in the chromosome homologous to GGA4 in a chromosomal signature unique to small New World ground doves.

The mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic characteristics of the Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, Treron curvirostra: the first sequence for the genus

“…All these tests were negative, indicating the validity of T. curvirostra mitogenome. The phylogenetic trees also highlighted the stable relationships among the same genera within Columbidae, which was consistent with previous studies from analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes (Kan et al 2010;Pacheco et al 2011;Hung et al 2013;Mlíkovský 2016;Soares et al 2016;Kretschmer et al 2020;Liu et al 2020) (Fig. 5).…”

Interspecies Chromosome Mapping in Caprimulgiformes, Piciformes, Suliformes, and Trogoniformes (Aves): Cytogenomic Insight into Microchromosome Organization and Karyotype Evolution in Birds

“…In previous studies, BAC probes have been used for inter-cross FISH mapping to comprehend the structure and organization of the chromosomes in species from 12 orders ( Table S2 ), and interchromosomal rearrangements were reported only in Falconiformes, Psittaciformes and Cuculiformes species [ 15 , 16 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] ( Table S2 ). Here we cytogenomically analyzed five species from four Neoaves orders (Caprimulgiformes, Piciformes, Suliformes, and Trogoniformes), expanding the results to a total of 16 orders.…”

“…Recently, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes from the genomic libraries of chicken and zebra finch ( Taeniopygia guttata , Passeriformes, Neoaves) have been applied successfully across multiple avian species totaling chromosome maps for 36 species from 12 different orders [ 15 , 16 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Results from these studies suggested evolutionary stability in avian microchromosome organization, except in Falconiformes, Psittaciformes, and Cuculiformes species, in which microchromosomal fusions were found [ 15 , 16 , 24 , 25 , 27 , 28 ], demonstrating the usefulness of microchromosome BAC probes to provide a more extensive analysis of chromosomal evolution in birds.…”

Chromosomal Analysis in Crotophaga ani (Aves, Cuculiformes) Reveals Extensive Genomic Reorganization and an Unusual Z-Autosome Robertsonian Translocation

“…In the last decades, whole chromosome painting data (WCP) has been used to investigate the chromosome evolution of both autosomes and sex chromosomes of birds and has provided important insights into the chromosome evolution of this group [ 3 , 20 ]. Using this approach, chromosome signatures were identified, representing useful characters both for phylogenetic considerations and deciphering the avian genome evolution [ 3 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. However, most of these studies are restricted to chicken chromosomes 1–10, limiting our understanding to macrochromosomes [ 3 , 20 ].…”

“…Although at first glance most species show the typical avian karyotype, such as seen in chicken (2n = 78) [ 3 , 20 , 21 ], some degree of variation is found among cuckoos (order Cuculiformes). Cuckoos are cosmopolitan birds, widely distributed on all tropical and temperate continents, comprising only one family (Cuculidae) with 32 genera and 149 species [ 26 ].…”