Molecular parallelism in signaling function across different sexually selected ornaments in a warbler.

ABSTRACT: Extravagant ornaments are thought to signal male quality to females choosing mates, but the evidence linking ornament size to male quality is controversial, particularly in cases in which females prefer different ornaments in different populations. Here, we use whole-genome sequencing and transcriptomics to determine the genetic basis of ornament size in two populations of a widespread warbler, the common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). Within a single subspecies, females in a Wisconsin population prefer males with larger black masks as mates, while females in a New York population prefer males with larger yellow bibs. Despite being produced by different pigments in different patches on the body, the size of the ornament preferred by females in each population was linked to numer

SUBMITTER: Sly ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8872772 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature