Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany.
G3 (Bethesda). 2022 Jul 29;12(8). doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac135.
Understanding the targets of selection associated with changes in behavioral traits represents an important challenge of current evolutionary research. Owls (Strigiformes) are a diverse group of birds, most of which are considered nocturnal raptors. However, a few owl species independently adopted a diurnal lifestyle in their recent evolutionary history. We searched for signals of accelerated rates of evolution associated with a diurnal lifestyle using a genome-wide comparative approach. We estimated substitution rates in coding and noncoding conserved regions of the genome of seven owl species, including three diurnal species. Substitution rates of the noncoding elements were more accelerated than those of protein-coding genes. We identified new, owl-specific conserved noncoding elements as candidates of parallel evolution during the emergence of diurnality in owls. Our results shed light on the molecular basis of adaptation to a new niche and highlight the importance of regulatory elements for evolutionary changes in behavior. These elements were often involved in the neuronal development of the brain.
理解与行为特征变化相关的选择靶标是当前进化研究的重要挑战。猫头鹰（Strigiformes）是一个多样化的鸟类群体，其中大多数被认为是夜间猛禽。然而，在其最近的进化历史中，有几个猫头鹰物种独立地采用了昼行性的生活方式。我们使用全基因组比较方法搜索与昼行性生活方式相关的进化加速信号。我们估计了七种猫头鹰物种（包括三种昼行性物种）基因组中编码和非编码保守区域的替代率。非编码元件的替代率比蛋白质编码基因的替代率更快。我们确定了新的、仅在猫头鹰中存在的保守非编码元件，这些元件可能是猫头鹰昼行性出现时平行进化的候选者。我们的研究结果阐明了适应新生态位的分子基础，并强调了调控元件对行为进化变化的重要性。这些元件通常参与大脑的神经元发育。
