10.5061/DRYAD.4QG5K
Mueller, Jakob C.
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
Partecke, Jesko
University of Konstanz
Hatchwell, Ben J.
University of Sheffield
Gaston, Kevin J.
University of Exeter
Evans, Karl L.
University of Sheffield
Data from: Candidate gene polymorphisms for behavioural adaptations during
urbanization in blackbirds
Dryad
dataset
2013
Behavior/Social Evolution
Contemporary Evolution
Turdus merula
2013-02-06T15:51:05Z
2013-02-06T15:51:05Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.12288
82377 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Successful urban colonisation by formerly rural species represents an
ideal situation in which to study adaptation to novel environments. We
address this issue using candidate genes for behavioural traits that are
expected to play a role in such colonisation events. We identified and
genotyped 16 polymorphisms in candidate genes for circadian rhythms, harm
avoidance, and migratory and exploratory behaviour in 12 paired urban and
rural populations of the blackbird Turdus merula across the Western
Palearctic. An exonic microsatellite in the SERT gene, a candidate gene
for harm avoidance behaviour, exhibited a highly significant association
with habitat type in an analysis conducted across all populations. Genetic
divergence at this locus was consistent in 10 of the 12 population pairs;
this contrasts with previously reported stochastic genetic divergence
between these populations at random markers. Our results indicate that
behavioural traits related to harm avoidance and associated with the SERT
polymorphism experience selection pressures during most blackbird
urbanization events. These events thus appear to be influenced by
homogeneous adaptive processes in addition to previously reported
demographic founder events.
Genotype and habitat type dataMueller_etal_2013_Genotype_Habitattype.txt
Western Palearctic