Evolution of an avian pigmentation gene correlates with a measure of sexual selection.

ABSTRACT: The extravagant plumage traits of male birds are a favourite example of sexual selection. However, to date the units that selection is acting upon, the genes themselves have been a 'black box'. Here, we report evidence of change driven by sexual selection at a pigmentation gene locus in the galliform birds. Across species, we find a correlation between the rate of amino acid change (dN/dS) at this locus (MC1R) and the degree of sexual dichromatism, which we use as a measure of the strength of sexual selection. There is no evidence for a similar pattern in any of five other loci (four candidate and one control locus). This is consistent with previous work on colour polymorphisms and suggests that MC1R may be a key target for selection acting on plumage colour. The pattern of selection at MC

SUBMITTER: Nadeau NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2270924 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature