Publication Date
12-1-2023
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Evolutionary Applications
Volume
16
Issue
12
DOI
10.1111/eva.13600
First Page
1889
Last Page
1900
Abstract
Migration is driven by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, but many questions remain about those drivers. Potential interactions between genetic and environmental variants associated with different migratory phenotypes are rarely the focus of study. We pair low coverage whole genome resequencing with a de novo genome assembly to examine population structure, inbreeding, and the environmental factors associated with genetic differentiation between migratory and resident breeding phenotypes in a species of conservation concern, the western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea). Our analyses reveal a dichotomy in gene flow depending on whether the population is resident or migratory, with the former being genetically structured and the latter exhibiting no signs of structure. Among resident populations, we observed significantly higher genetic differentiation, significant isolation-by-distance, and significantly elevated inbreeding. Among migratory breeding groups, on the other hand, we observed lower genetic differentiation, no isolation-by-distance, and substantially lower inbreeding. Using genotype–environment association analysis, we find significant evidence for relationships between migratory phenotypes (i.e., migrant versus resident) and environmental variation associated with cold temperatures during the winter and barren, open habitats. In the regions of the genome most differentiated between migrants and residents, we find significant enrichment for genes associated with the metabolism of fats. This may be linked to the increased pressure on migrants to process and store fats more efficiently in preparation for and during migration. Our results provide a significant contribution toward understanding the evolution of migratory behavior and vital insight into ongoing conservation and management efforts for the western burrowing owl.
Funding Number
NSF‐1942313
Funding Sponsor
National Science Foundation
Keywords
genetic connectivity, genomics, genotype–environment associations, inbreeding, migration
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Environmental Studies
Recommended Citation
Kelly Barr, Christen M. Bossu, Rachael A. Bay, Eric C. Anderson, Jim Belthoff, Lynne A. Trulio, Debra Chromczak, Colleen L. Wisinski, Thomas B. Smith, and Kristen C. Ruegg. "Genetic and environmental drivers of migratory behavior in western burrowing owls and implications for conservation and management" Evolutionary Applications (2023): 1889-1900. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13600
