Genomic insights into natural selection in the common loon (Gavia immer): evidence for aquatic adaptation ...

• Main Authors: Gayk, Zach, Le Duc, Diana, Horn, Jeffrey, Lindsay, Alec
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2018
• Subjects: Genetics; FOS: Biological sciences; Evolutionary Biology; Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; Ecology; Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Inorganic Chemistry; FOS: Chemical sciences; Fulmar; Fulmarus glacialis; Northern Fulmar; Pygoscelis adeliae
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4083839.v1; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Genomic_insights_into_natural_selection_in_the_common_loon_Gavia_immer_evidence_for_aquatic_adaptation/4083839/1

Abstract Background The common loon (Gavia immer) is one of five species that comprise the avian order Gaviiformes. Loons are specialized divers, reaching depths up to 60Â m while staying submerged for intervals up to three minutes. In this study we used comparative genomics to investigate the genetic basis of the common loon adaptations to its ecological niche. We used Illumina short read DNA sequence data from a female bird to produce a draft assembly of the common loon (Gavia immer) genome. Results We identified 14,169 common loon genes, which based on well-resolved avian genomes, represent approximately 80.7% of common loon genes. Evolutionary analyses between common loon and Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), red-throated loon (Gavia stellata), chicken (Gallus gallus), northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), and rock pigeon (Columba livia) show 164 positively selected genes in common and red-throated loons. These genes were enriched for a number of protein classes, including those involved in muscle ...