title: The genetic basis of color-related local adaptation in a ring-like colonization around the Mediterranean.
abstract: Uncovering the genetic basis of phenotypic variation and the population history under which it established is key to understand the trajectories along which local adaptation evolves. Here, we investigated the genetic basis and evolutionary history of a clinal plumage color polymorphism in European barn owls (Tyto alba). Our results suggest that barn owls colonized the Western Palearctic in a ring-like manner around the Mediterranean and meet in secondary contact in Greece. Rufous coloration appears to be linked to a recently evolved nonsynonymous-derived variant of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene, which according to quantitative genetic analyses evolved under local adaptation during or following the colonization of Central Europe. Admixture patterns and linkage disequilibrium between the neutral genetic background and color found exclusively within the secondary contact zone suggest limited introgression at secondary contact. These results from a system reminiscent of ring species provide a striking example of how local adaptation can evolve from derived genetic variation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden. burri@wildlight.ch.
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burri
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.|Swiss Ornithological Institute, Seerose 1, CH-6204, Sempach, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antoniazza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaigher
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anne-Lyse
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ducrest
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudet
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roulin
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005060:Europe; D005241:Feathers / Q000502:physiology; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010858:Pigmentation; D020305:Strigiformes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins
keywords: Barn owl; clines; local adaptation; melanin-based coloration; ring species