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Integrating candidate gene and quantitative genetic approaches to understand variation in timing of breeding in wild tit populations.

Liedvogel, Miriam LU ; Cornwallis, Charlie LU and Sheldon, Ben C (2012) In Journal of evolutionary biology 25(5). p.813-823
Abstract
Two commonly used techniques for estimating the effect of genes on traits in wild populations are the candidate gene approach and quantitative genetic analyses. However, whether these two approaches measure the same underlying processes remains unresolved. Here, we use these two methods to test whether they are alternative or complementary approaches to understanding genetic variation in the timing of reproduction - a key trait involved in adaptation to climate change - in wild tit populations. Our analyses of the candidate gene Clock show weak correlates with timing variables in blue tits, but no association in great tits, confirming earlier results. Quantitative genetic analyses revealed very low levels of both direct (female) and... (More)
Two commonly used techniques for estimating the effect of genes on traits in wild populations are the candidate gene approach and quantitative genetic analyses. However, whether these two approaches measure the same underlying processes remains unresolved. Here, we use these two methods to test whether they are alternative or complementary approaches to understanding genetic variation in the timing of reproduction - a key trait involved in adaptation to climate change - in wild tit populations. Our analyses of the candidate gene Clock show weak correlates with timing variables in blue tits, but no association in great tits, confirming earlier results. Quantitative genetic analyses revealed very low levels of both direct (female) and indirect (male) additive genetic variation in timing traits for both species, in contrast to previous studies on these traits, and much lower than generally assumed. Hence, neither method suggests strong genetic effects on the timing of breeding in birds, and further work should seek to assess the generality of these conclusions. We discuss how differences in the genetic control of traits, species life-history and confounding environmental variables may determine how useful integrating these two techniques is to understand the phenotypic variation in wild populations. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of evolutionary biology
volume
25
issue
5
pages
813 - 823
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000302551000002
  • pmid:22409177
  • scopus:84859445318
  • pmid:22409177
ISSN
1420-9101
DOI
10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02480.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5b3af188-3394-4c6a-88ae-4204b67e53d4 (old id 2431945)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:34:33
date last changed
2022-04-20 03:29:49
@article{5b3af188-3394-4c6a-88ae-4204b67e53d4,
  abstract     = {{Two commonly used techniques for estimating the effect of genes on traits in wild populations are the candidate gene approach and quantitative genetic analyses. However, whether these two approaches measure the same underlying processes remains unresolved. Here, we use these two methods to test whether they are alternative or complementary approaches to understanding genetic variation in the timing of reproduction - a key trait involved in adaptation to climate change - in wild tit populations. Our analyses of the candidate gene Clock show weak correlates with timing variables in blue tits, but no association in great tits, confirming earlier results. Quantitative genetic analyses revealed very low levels of both direct (female) and indirect (male) additive genetic variation in timing traits for both species, in contrast to previous studies on these traits, and much lower than generally assumed. Hence, neither method suggests strong genetic effects on the timing of breeding in birds, and further work should seek to assess the generality of these conclusions. We discuss how differences in the genetic control of traits, species life-history and confounding environmental variables may determine how useful integrating these two techniques is to understand the phenotypic variation in wild populations.}},
  author       = {{Liedvogel, Miriam and Cornwallis, Charlie and Sheldon, Ben C}},
  issn         = {{1420-9101}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{813--823}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Journal of evolutionary biology}},
  title        = {{Integrating candidate gene and quantitative genetic approaches to understand variation in timing of breeding in wild tit populations.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02480.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02480.x}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}