Evidence of positive selection and a novel phylogeny among five subspecies of song sparrow (<i>Melospiza melodia</i>) in Alaska.

ABSTRACT: Local adaptation occurs when populations evolve traits in response to local environmental challenges. Isolated island populations often experience different selection pressures than their mainland counterparts, which enables the study of how phenotypes and genotypes respond to differing selection regimes. We studied a group of five phenotypically differentiated subspecies of song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) in Alaska that demonstrate striking body size, color, and migratory behavioral differences to examine the effects of local adaptation on phenotypes and genotypes. We examined the phenotypic attributes of these populations and used whole-genome data to determine relationships and test candidate loci for evidence of selection. Phenotypic measurements of museum specimens (n =

SUBMITTER: Oliver Brown CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12530203 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature