Genomic and morphological data shed light on the complexities of shared ancestry between closely related duck species.

ABSTRACT: Causes for genomic and morphological similarities among recently radiated species are often multifaceted and are further convoluted among species that readily interbreed. Here, we couple genomic and morphological trait comparisons to test the extent that ancestry and gene flow explain the retention of mallard-like traits within a sister species, the Mexican duck. First, we confirm that these taxa remain genetically structured, and that Mexican ducks exhibit an isolation-by-distance pattern. Despite the assumption of wide-spread hybridization, we found only a few late-stage hybrids, all from the southwestern USA. Next, assessing 23 morphological traits, we developed a genetically-vetted morphological key that is > 97% accurate in distinguishing across sex-age cohorts of Mexican ducks, malla

SUBMITTER: Brown JI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9205961 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature