Digital photography quantifies plumage variation and salt marsh melanism among Song Sparrow (<i>Melospiza melodia</i>) subspecies of the San Francisco Bay

Luttrell, Sarah A. M.; Gonzalez, Sara T.; Lohr, Bernard; Greenberg, Russell

doi:10.1642/auk-14-107.1

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Saltmarsh and Nelson's sparrows have subtle plumage differenceswith saltmarsh sparrows showing darker breast and flank streaking and face coloration than Nelson's sparrows (Shriver et al, 2007)consistent with phenotypic patterns observed in other vertebrates spanning tidal marsh gradients (Grinnell, 1913;Luttrell et al, 2014).…”

Section: Ta B L E 3 (Continued)supporting

confidence: 56%

Divergent selection and drift shape the genomes of two avian sister species spanning a saline–freshwater ecotone

Walsh

Clucas

MacManes

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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The role of species divergence due to ecologically based divergent selection—or ecological speciation—in generating and maintaining biodiversity is a central question in evolutionary biology. Comparison of the genomes of phylogenetically related taxa spanning a selective habitat gradient enables discovery of divergent signatures of selection and thereby provides valuable insight into the role of divergent ecological selection in speciation. Tidal marsh ecosystems provide tractable opportunities for studying organisms' adaptations to selective pressures that underlie ecological divergence. Sharp environmental gradients across the saline–freshwater ecotone within tidal marshes present extreme adaptive challenges to terrestrial vertebrates. Here, we sequence 20 whole genomes of two avian sister species endemic to tidal marshes—the saltmarsh sparrow (Ammospiza caudacutus) and Nelson's sparrow (A. nelsoni)—to evaluate the influence of selective and demographic processes in shaping genome‐wide patterns of divergence. Genome‐wide divergence between these two recently diverged sister species was notably high (genome‐wide F ST = 0.32). Against a background of high genome‐wide divergence, regions of elevated divergence were widespread throughout the genome, as opposed to focused within islands of differentiation. These patterns may be the result of genetic drift resulting from past tidal march colonization events in conjunction with divergent selection to different environments. We identified several candidate genes that exhibited elevated divergence between saltmarsh and Nelson's sparrows, including genes linked to osmotic regulation, circadian rhythm, and plumage melanism—all putative candidates linked to adaptation to tidal marsh environments. These findings provide new insights into the roles of divergent selection and genetic drift in generating and maintaining biodiversity.

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Section: Ta B L E 3 (Continued)supporting

confidence: 56%

Divergent selection and drift shape the genomes of two avian sister species spanning a saline–freshwater ecotone

Walsh

Clucas

MacManes

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…In a male-territorial species, this is a male strategy to gain the benefits of a familiar nest location and, according to the bet-hedging hypothesis, potentially gain the benefits of reunion with his former mate by means of establishing a ''meeting place'' at which to reunite. Male Piping Plovers have relatively high site fidelity (Wilcox 1959, Haig and Oring 1988, Cohen and Gratto-Trevor 2011, which may be advantageous because of known foraging areas (Davies and Houston 1981) and predator locations (Yoder et al 2004) as well as established relationships with neighbors at a familiar site (Krebs 1982). Our results reinforce this idea because male Piping Plovers exhibited strong site fidelity in consecutive breeding seasons on the river, despite experiencing a significant reduction in nest site quality that mirrored the overall decline in plover habitat quality during the majority of the study period (Catlin et al 2011(Catlin et al , 2014.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

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2015

The Auk

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“…Song sparrow populations in the San Francisco Bay area show adaptations to the local abiotic conditions (i.e. salinity) over a fine geographical scale [51,52]. Among song sparrows on Mandarte Island, meanwhile, male first-generation immigrants are less likely to breed, and female immigrants breed later and lay fewer clutches, relative to birds born on Mandarte, perhaps owing to lack of familiarity with the site [53].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Song sparrowsMelospiza melodiahave a home-field advantage in defending against sympatric malarial parasites

Sarquis‐Adamson¹,

MacDougall‐Shackleton²

2016

R. Soc. open sci.

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Hosts and parasites interact on both evolutionary and ecological timescales. The outcome of these interactions, specifically whether hosts are more resistant to their local parasites (sympatric) than to parasites from another location (allopatric), is likely to affect the spread of infectious disease and the fitness consequences of host dispersal. We conducted a cross-infection experiment to determine whether song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) have an advantage in dealing with sympatric parasites. We captured birds from two breeding sites 437 km apart, and inoculated them with avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.) cultured either from their capture site or from the other site. Infection risk was lower for birds exposed to sympatric than to allopatric Plasmodium lineages, suggesting that song sparrows may have a home-field advantage in defending against local parasite strains. This pattern was more pronounced at one capture site than at the other, consistent with mosaic models of host–parasite interactions. Home-field advantage may arise from evolutionary processes, whereby host populations become adapted to their local parasites, and/or from ecological interactions, whereby host individuals develop resistance to the local parasites through previous immune exposure. Our findings suggest that greater susceptibility to novel parasites may represent a fitness consequence of natal dispersal.

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Digital photography quantifies plumage variation and salt marsh melanism among Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) subspecies of the San Francisco Bay

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 17 publications

References 34 publications

Divergent selection and drift shape the genomes of two avian sister species spanning a saline–freshwater ecotone

Divergent selection and drift shape the genomes of two avian sister species spanning a saline–freshwater ecotone

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Song sparrowsMelospiza melodiahave a home-field advantage in defending against sympatric malarial parasites

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