A mosaic of modular variation at a single gene underpins convergent plumage coloration

Abstract The reshuffling of genomic variation from multiple origins is an important contributor to phenotypic diversification, yet insights into the evolutionary trajectories of this combinatorial process and their interplay with genetic architecture remain scarce. We show that convergent plumage color evolution in wheatears involves a monogenic architecture with modular variation introgressed at the agouti signaling protein (ASIP) locus. Introgression of a novel transposable element insertion and linked protein-coding variation underpin a trans-specific throat color polymorphism, which stable isotopes suggest is associated with alternative foraging niches. Co-introgression of linked regulatory ASIP variation resulted in mantle color convergence in one species, while convergent color evolution at the genus level required novel variation. Our results illustrate evolutionary trajectories from introgressed variation realized within the constraints of a monogenic architecture.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2025-10-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17513002
Primary Topic
Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Type
article
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article

A mosaic of modular variation at a single gene underpins convergent plumage coloration

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
article

A mosaic of modular variation at a single gene underpins convergent plumage coloration

article en

Abstract

Abstract The reshuffling of genomic variation from multiple origins is an important contributor to phenotypic diversification, yet insights into the evolutionary trajectories of this combinatorial process and their interplay with genetic architecture remain scarce. We show that convergent plumage color evolution in wheatears involves a monogenic architecture with modular variation introgressed at the agouti signaling protein (ASIP) locus. Introgression of a novel transposable element insertion and linked protein-coding variation underpin a trans-specific throat color polymorphism, which stable isotopes suggest is associated with alternative foraging niches. Co-introgression of linked regulatory ASIP variation resulted in mantle color convergence in one species, while convergent color evolution at the genus level required novel variation. Our results illustrate evolutionary trajectories from introgressed variation realized within the constraints of a monogenic architecture.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Tulane University (US), University of Bern (CH), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES), Uppsala University (SE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Helsinki (FI), Sun Yat-sen University (CN), École Pratique des Hautes Études (FR), University of St Andrews (GB), Ilia State University (GE), Dokuz Eylül University (TR), Baku State University (AZ), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Université de Montpellier (FR), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR), Paphos General Hospital (CY), Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (DE), Swiss Ornithological Institute (CH), Science for Life Laboratory (SE), German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (DE), Swedish Museum of Natural History (SE), Istituto Nazionale di Alta Matematica Francesco Severi (IT), Babeș-Bolyai University (RO), University of Cyprus (CY), Natural History Museum of Bern (CH), Institute for Biodiversity (DE), Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (DE), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (FR), Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (ES), Ministry of Science and Education Republic of Azerbaijan (AZ), Institute of Zoology (KZ), Neapolis University Pafos (CY), University of Veterinary Medicine (HU), National Museum of Natural History (BG), Institute of Zoology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Institute of Zoology (CN), TYTO - Association for the Management and Conservation of Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (DE), Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (IR), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (SE), University of Lausanne (CH)
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