Ultraconserved elements (UCEs) illuminate the population genomics of a recent, high-latitude avian speciation event.

ABSTRACT: Using a large, consistent set of loci shared by descent (orthologous) to study relationships among taxa would revolutionize among-lineage comparisons of divergence and speciation processes. Ultraconserved elements (UCEs), highly conserved regions of the genome, offer such genomic markers. The utility of UCEs for deep phylogenetics is clearly established and there are mature analytical frameworks available, but fewer studies apply UCEs to recent evolutionary events, creating a need for additional example datasets and analytical approaches. We used UCEs to study population genomics in snow and McKay's buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis and P. hyperboreus). Prior work suggested divergence of these sister species during the last glacial maximum (∼18-74 Kya). With a sequencing depth

SUBMITTER: Winker K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6174879 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature