Genome-wide association mapping in a wild avian population identifies a link between genetic and phenotypic variation in a life-history trait

Abstract

Understanding the genetic basis of traits involved in adaptation is a major challenge in evolutionary biology but remains poorly understood. Here, we use genome-wide association mapping using a custom 50 k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in a natural population of collared flycatchers to examine the genetic basis of clutch size, an important life-history trait in many animal species. We found evidence for an association on chromosome 18 where one SNP significant at the genome-wide level explained 3.9% of the phenotypic variance. We also detected two suggestive quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 9 and 26. Fitness differences among genotypes were generally weak and not significant, although there was some indication of a sex-by-genotype interaction for lifetime reproductive success at the suggestive QTL on chromosome 26. This implies that sexual antagonism may play a role in maintaining genetic variation at this QTL. Our findings provide candidate regions for a classic avian life-history trait that will be useful for future studies examining the molecular and cellular function of, as well as evolutionary mechanisms operating at, these loci.

Keywords

clutch size; egg production; Ficedula albicollis; fitness trait; GWAS; QTL

Published in

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
2015, Volume: 282, number: 1806, article number: 20150156Publisher: The Royal Society Publishing

SLU Authors

• Rönnegård, Lars

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Genetics and Breeding


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.0156

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/69135