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Contemporary intergeneric hybridization and backcrossing among birds-of-paradise
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden; Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Germany.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8173-7877
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology. Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden; Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Germany.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8812-9313
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Number of Authors: 112024 (English)In: Evolution Letters, E-ISSN 2056-3744, Vol. 8, no 5, p. 680-694Article in journal (Refereed) Submitted
Abstract [en]

Despite large differences in morphology, behavior and lek-mating strategies the birds-of-paradise are known to hybridize occasionally, even across different genera. Many of these bird-of-paradise hybrids were originally described as distinct species based on large morphological differences when compared to recognized species. Nowadays, these specimens are generally recognized as hybrids based on morphological assessments. Having fascinated naturalists for centuries, hybrid specimens of birds-of-paradise have been collected and the specimens kept in Natural History Collections. In the present study, we utilize this remarkable resource in a museomics framework and evaluate the genomic composition of most described intergeneric hybrids and some intrageneric hybrids. We show that the majority of investigated specimens are first-generation hybrids and that the parental species, in most cases, are in line with prior morphological assessments. We also identify two specimens that are the result of introgressive hybridization between different genera. Additionally, two specimens exhibit hybrid morphologies but have no identifiable signals of hybridization, which may indicate that minor levels of introgression can have large morphological effects. Our findings provide direct evidence of contemporary introgressive hybridization taking place between genera of birds-of-paradise in nature, despite markedly different morphologies and lek-mating behaviors.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. Vol. 8, no 5, p. 680-694
Keywords [en]
hybridization, sexual selection, lekking, introgression, birds
National Category
Evolutionary Biology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-232411DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrae023ISI: 001240674800001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85205237790OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-232411DiVA, id: diva2:1889446
Available from: 2024-08-15 Created: 2024-08-15 Last updated: 2025-02-24Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Hybridisation in birds-of-paradise (Aves: Paradisaeidae): a museomics approach
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Hybridisation in birds-of-paradise (Aves: Paradisaeidae): a museomics approach
2024 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

New Guinea is home to one of the world’s most extraordinary families of birds; the birds-of-paradise (Aves: Paradisaeidae). The family consists of 45 recognised species and many of them have developed remarkable behavioural and plumage traits. Furthermore, the majority of the species reproduce through lek-mating, an extreme form of sexual selection in which female choice determines male mating success. While strong sexual selection is generally considered as a form of pre-zygotic isolation, interestingly, hybrids between distant lineages of birds-of-paradise are well documented across the family. Having fascinated naturalists for centuries, bird-of-paradise specimens have been collected and preserved in natural history collections, including different combinations of putative hybrid specimens. As such, natural history collections represent a remarkable resource for the study of the evolutionary and genomic consequences of interspecific hybridisation in birds-of-paradise. This thesis draws on specimens from natural history collections to study the prevalence of hybridisation and its effect on birds-of-paradise. In chapter I, we present a workflow designed for large scale use of avian museum specimens in genomic studies. The workflow was used to generate genome-wide re-sequencing data for the three other chapters of the thesis. In chapter II, we analyse 37 bird-of-paradise hybrids, originally determined to be hybrids based on morphology. We use genomic methods to verify the hybrid status and the parental species of each hybrid and show that the majority of the specimens are first-generation (F1) hybrids. However, we also identify two specimens that are the result of backcrossing and introgressive hybridisation between different genera. Our findings are the first direct evidence that contemporary introgressive hybridisation takes place between genera of birds-of-paradise in the wild and that interspecific hybrids are not necessarily sterile. In chapter III, we compile a population genomic data set from all seven species belonging to the two genera, Astrapia and Paradigalla. These species inhabit different montane regions across New Guinea but sometimes have overlapping ranges. We find multiple signals of historical gene flow between and within the two genera. Additionally, we present the first empirical genomic evidence of a hybrid zone between two lekking bird-of-paradise species. In the final chapter, chapter IV, we investigate whether introgressed variants may have contributed to the evolution of phenotypic traits in the genera Astrapia, Paradigalla, Epimachus and Drepanornis. We use window-based tests of treeness to pinpoint genomic regions with an excess of shared alleles and further investigate the genes present in these regions and their function. The overarching aim of this thesis was to study to what extent lekking birds-of-paradise still hybridise today, to what degree hybridisation can lead to introgression and whether introgression may facilitate phenotypic evolution. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 2024. p. 33
Keywords
Birds-of-paradise, Genomics, Hybridisation, Introgression, Lekking, Museomics, Natural history collections, Sexual selection
National Category
Evolutionary Biology Zoology
Research subject
Systematic Zoology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-232856 (URN)978-91-8014-913-6 (ISBN)978-91-8014-914-3 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-10-11, Lilla Hörsalen, Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Frescativägen 38, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
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Available from: 2024-09-18 Created: 2024-08-28 Last updated: 2024-09-10Bibliographically approved

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Thörn, FilipMüller, Ingo A.

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