Evolution and genetic architecture of sex-limited polymorphism in cuckoos.
Sci Adv
; 10(17): eadl5255, 2024 Apr 26.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38657058
ABSTRACT
Sex-limited polymorphism has evolved in many species including our own. Yet, we lack a detailed understanding of the underlying genetic variation and evolutionary processes at work. The brood parasitic common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a prime example of female-limited color polymorphism, where adult males are monochromatic gray and females exhibit either gray or rufous plumage. This polymorphism has been hypothesized to be governed by negative frequency-dependent selection whereby the rarer female morph is protected against harassment by males or from mobbing by parasitized host species. Here, we show that female plumage dichromatism maps to the female-restricted genome. We further demonstrate that, consistent with balancing selection, ancestry of the rufous phenotype is shared with the likewise female dichromatic sister species, the oriental cuckoo (Cuculus optatus). This study shows that sex-specific polymorphism in trait variation can be resolved by genetic variation residing on a sex-limited chromosome and be maintained across species boundaries.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Polymorphism, Genetic
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Sci Adv
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article