Darwin Finches (1 Viewer)

Daniela H. Palmer and Marcus R. Kronforst 2015. Divergence and gene flow among Darwin's finches: A genome-wide view of adaptive radiation driven by interspecies allele sharing. BioEssays 37: 968–974. [pdf]

abstract
A recent analysis of the genomes of Darwin's finches revealed extensive interspecies allele sharing throughout the history of the radiation and identified a key locus responsible for morphological evolution in this group. The radiation of Darwin's finches on the Galápagos archipelago has long been regarded as an iconic study system for field ecology and evolutionary biology. Coupled with an extensive history of field work, these latest findings affirm the increasing acceptance of introgressive hybridization, or gene flow between species, as a significant contributor to adaptive evolution. Here, we review and discuss these findings in relation to both classical work on Darwin's finches and contemporary work showing similar evolutionary signatures in other biological systems. The continued unification of genomic data with field biology promises to further elucidate the molecular basis of adaptation in Darwin's finches and well beyond.

Markus Sällman Almén, Sangeet Lamichhaney, Jonas Berglund, B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, Matthew T. Webster and Leif Andersson 2016. Adaptive radiation of Darwin's finches revisited using whole genome sequencing. BioEssays 38: 14–20.

abstract
We recently used genome sequencing to study the evolutionary history of the Darwin's finches. A prominent feature of our data was that different polymorphic sites in the genome tended to indicate different genetic relationships among these closely related species. Such patterns are expected in recently diverged genomes as a result of incomplete lineage sorting. However, we uncovered conclusive evidence that these patterns have also been influenced by interspecies hybridisation, a process that has likely played an important role in the radiation of Darwin's finches. A major discovery was that segregation of two haplotypes at the ALX1 locus underlies variation in beak shape among the Darwin's finches, and that differences between the two haplotypes in a 240 kb region in blunt and pointed beaked birds involve both coding and regulatory changes. As we review herein, the evolution of such adaptive haplotypes comprising multiple causal changes appears to be an important mechanism contributing to the evolution of biodiversity.

George Sangster said:

Markus Sällman Almén, Sangeet Lamichhaney, Jonas Berglund, B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, Matthew T. Webster and Leif Andersson 2016. Adaptive radiation of Darwin's finches revisited using whole genome sequencing. BioEssays 38: 14–20.

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[abstract] [supp.info] [pdf]

(Thanks, George)

McKay & Zink 2015

Mysticete said:

Sisyphean evolution in Darwin's finches - McKay and Zink 2014
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/brv.12127/abstract

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McKay & Zink 2015. Biol Rev 90(3): 689–698. [pdf]

COS 2016. Katma Award 2015, to Bailey McKay and Robert Zink. Condor 118(1): 209–210. [pdf]

Richard Klim said:

McKay & Zink 2015. Biol Rev 90(3): 689–698. [pdf]

COS 2016. Katma Award 2015, to Bailey McKay and Robert Zink. Condor 118(1): 209–210. [pdf]

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....and then there was one!:eek!:
MJB

Sangeet Lamichhaney, Fan Han, Jonas Berglund, Chao Wang, Markus Sällman Almén, Matthew T. Webster, B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, Leif Andersson, 2016. A beak size locus in Darwin’s finches facilitated character displacement during a drought. Science 22 Apr 2016: Vol. 352, Issue 6284, pp. 470-474, DOI: 10.1126/science.aad8786

[abstract]

Jaime A. Chaves, Elizabeth A. Cooper, Andrew P. Hendry, Jeffrey Podos, Luis F. De León, Joost A. M. Raeymaekers, Owen W. McMillan and J. Albert C. Uy. Genomic variation at the tips of the adaptive radiation of Darwin's finches. Molecular Ecology, Accepted manuscript online: 1 July 2016.

[abstract]

Jente Ottenburghs, Pim van Hooft, Sipke E. van Wieren, Ronald C. Ydenberg, and Herbert H. T. Prins (2016) Birds in a bush: Toward an avian phylogenetic network. The Auk: October 2016, Vol. 133, No. 4, pp. 577-582.

abstract and pdf here

Peter Kovalik said:

Proposal (676) to SACC

Split the Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch (Geospiza difficilis) and the Large Cactus-Finch (Geospiza crassirostris) into multiple species

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PASSED (15 July 2016) (awaiting English name proposal before implementation)

Sangeet Lamichhaney, Jonas Berglund, Makus Sällman Almen, Fan Han, Matthew T. Webster, B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, Leif Andersson. The genetic basis for beak diversification and adaptive evolution in Darwin’s finches. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution Conference 2016.

Abstract:

Darwin’s finches from the Galápagos are a celebrated study model regarding the processes of natural selection and adaptive evolution. Adaptation to the striking ecological differences throughout Galápagos have led to rapid diversification and speciation in these birds. This has resulted in remarkable diversity in their morphology, specifically the shape and size of the beaks. Long-term field studies in the past have documented that beaks in Darwin’s finches correspond to specific feeding niche they occupy and evolve by natural selection in response to limiting food resources and interspecific competition. We have done extensive genomic characterization of the entire Darwin’s finch radiation by whole-genome sequencing 180 birds that included all currently recognized species. Genome-wide comparisons among species with different beak shapes (blunt and pointed) and beak sizes (large, medium and small) identified candidate genes associated with beak morphology. The strongest association to beak shape was ALX1, a transcription factor involved in craniofacial development. Similarly HMGA2, a transcriptional regulating factor previously linked to human height and body size in other species, showed the strongest association to beak size. Interestingly, both loci were segregating in the medium ground finch, the species with considerable diversity in beak morphology. Genotyping these two loci in additional medium ground finches and comparison with individual measurements of beak shape and size confirmed the association and suggested additive effects of these loci, as heterozygotes showed intermediate beak types compared with the two homozygotes. In addition, HMGA2 loci also had played a critical role in a documented character displacement episode in Darwin’s finches when medium ground finches diverged from their competitor, the large ground finch, during a severe drought. In conclusion, we have provided evidence of two loci with major effects on beak morphology (shape and size), which probably were the most important trait during the adaptive radiation of Darwin’s finches.

Geospiza acutirostris, G. septentrionalis, G. Propinqua

Richard Klim said:

Lamichhaney, Berglund, Sällman Almén, Maqbool, Grabherr, Martinez-Barrio, Promerová, Rubin, Wang, Zamani, Grant, Grant, Webster & Andersson (in press). Evolution of Darwin's finches and their beaks revealed by genome sequencing. Nature. [abstract & supp info]

Uppsala University, 11 Feb 2015: Evolution of the Darwin's finches and their beaks.

Princeton University, 11 Feb 2015: A gene that shaped the evolution of Darwin's finches.

BBC News, 11 Feb 2015: Genomes reveal Darwin finches' messy family tree.

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IOC Updates Diary

Dec 25 Accept Genovesa Cactus Finch, ENG provisional

Dec 25 Accept Genovesa Ground Finch and Vampire Ground Finch, ENG provisional

Cadena, Jiménez, Zapata. [2017.] Atlantean evolution in Darwin's finches - Issues and perspectives in species delimitation using phenotypic data.
[BioRxiv preprint]

Forty pages of manuscript, 18 of those text - it will take a little time to digest all of that!

Niels

Lawson, Petren. [in press.] The adaptive genomic landscape of beak morphology in Darwin's finches. Mol. Ecol.
[abstract & supp.info.] [supp.mat.(Dryad)]

With thanks to Manuel Plenge on NEOORN
Mundy, Nicholas I. 2016. Population genomics fits the bill: genetics of adaptive beak variation in Darwin’s finches. Molecular Ecology, 25 (21): 5265-5266. Full text: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.13868/full

This is essentially a small "editorial" that explains the importance of some recent papers.

Neils

Camarhynchus parvulus & C. pauper

Peters, Myers, Dudaniec, O’Connor, Kleindorfer. [in press.] Females drive asymmetrical introgression from rare to common species in Darwin’s tree finches. J. Evol. Biol.
[abstract & supp.info.]

Geospiza fortis & G. fuliginosa

McNew, Beck, Sadler-Riggleman, Knutie, Koop, Clayton, Skinner. 2017. Epigenetic variation between urban and rural populations of Darwin’s finches. BMC Evo. Biol. 17:183.
[whole paper]

With thanks to Ausprey, Ian J on NEOORN

Lawson, L.P., Fessl, B., Hernán Vargas, F. et al. Slow motion extinction: inbreeding, introgression, and loss in the critically endangered mangrove finch (Camarhynchus heliobates). Conserv Genet (2017) 18: 159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-016-0890-x

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Niels

Rapid evolution

Lamichhaney, S., Han, F., Webster, M. T., Andersson, L., Grant, B. R., & Grant, P. R. (2017). Rapid hybrid speciation in Darwin’s finches. Science 358. DOI: 10.1126/science.aao4593

Press release:

Princeton University. (2017, November 24). New species can develop in as little as two generations, Galapagos study finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 24, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171124084320.htm