SUPR
Population genetics analysis of pied flycatcher populations
Dnr:

NAISS 2025/6-204

Type:

NAISS Medium Storage

Principal Investigator:

David Wheatcroft

Affiliation:

Stockholms universitet

Start Date:

2025-06-01

End Date:

2026-03-01

Primary Classification:

10615: Evolutionary Biology

Secondary Classification:

30105: Neurosciences

Allocation

Abstract

Animal sexual signals (e.g., songs, displays) determine who mates with whom and, thus, differences across species and even populations are critical for the build up of reproductive isolation. The evolution of differences across populations has been alternatively argued to be sped up (due to faster evolution of learned traits) or slowed down (due to learning across individuals from different populations) if the signals are socially learned, as is bird song. In this project, our aim is to understand how genetic isolation among populations co-varies with divergence in sexual traits to determine whether variation in learned song can promote reproductive barriers. We have obtained population-level sequencing data from 10 distinct pied flycatcher populations as well as extensive song recordings from each population. I've applied for a continuation from a previous project, since the main questions are the same and we will use very similar resources.