Linking intronic polymorphism on the CHD1-Z gene with fitness correlates in Black-tailed Godwits Limosa l. limosa

We show that variation in an intronic length polymorphism in the CHD1-Z gene in Black-tailed Godwits Limosa l. limosa is associated with fitness correlates. This is the second example of the CHDZ-1 gene being correlated with fitness, a previous study having established that Moorhens Gallinula chloro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ibis
Main Authors: Schroeder, Julia, Kentie, Rosemarie, van der Velde, Marco, Hooijmeijer, Jos C.E.W., Both, Christiaan, Haddrath, Oliver, Baker, Allan J., Piersma, Theunis
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2010
Subjects:
breeding plumage coloration
intronic polymorphism
molecular sexing
population structure
shorebirds
LAPWING VANELLUS-VANELLUS
NON-RATITE BIRDS
SEX IDENTIFICATION
REGRESSION-MODELS
PARENTAL QUALITY
MARKED ANIMALS
CHICK SURVIVAL
EGG SIZE
DNA
PLUMAGE
Vanellus vanellus
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11370/16b82b14-bc08-49f2-8304-e0446d9dd03a
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/linking-intronic-polymorphism-on-the-chd1z-gene-with-fitness-correlates-in-blacktailed-godwits-limosa-l-limosa(16b82b14-bc08-49f2-8304-e0446d9dd03a).html
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2009.01005.x
Description
Summary:We show that variation in an intronic length polymorphism in the CHD1-Z gene in Black-tailed Godwits Limosa l. limosa is associated with fitness correlates. This is the second example of the CHDZ-1 gene being correlated with fitness, a previous study having established that Moorhens Gallinula chloropus carrying the rare Z* allele have reduced survival. In Godwits, however, carriers of the Z* allele (374 bp) fared better than those with the more frequent Z allele (378 bp) with respect to body mass, plumage ornamentation, reproductive parameters and habitat quality. The Z* allele was found in 14% of 251 adult birds from nature reserves, but was absent from 33 birds breeding in intensively managed agricultural lands. Males and females with the Z* allele had less extensive breeding plumage, and females had a higher body mass, bred earlier and had larger eggs. There were no significant differences in annual survival between birds with and without the Z* allele. DNA isolated from museum skins demonstrated that this polymorphism was present at low frequency in 1929. We speculate that strong asymmetrical overdominance may explain the low frequency of the Z* allele and that genetic linkage to causal genes might be an explanation for the phenotypic correlations. Our findings suggest a degree of cryptic genetic population structuring in the Dutch Godwit population.

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