Evolutionary genomics of the migratory behaviour in closely related songbirds

The migratory behaviour of songbirds is genetically hard-wired, but so far, the genes as well as how these can guide birds to reach distantly located wintering areas remain unknown.

Thanks to improved methods in genomics and the development of miniature devices for detailed tracking of small songbirds, we can now approach these questions.

The present project is inspired by recent discoveries in my long-term research on willow warblers where we have identified genomic regions that segregate with the migratory phenotypes.

I will first verify these associations by repeating the study in a different contact zoon between the willow warbler migratory phenotypes. Next, one of the identified regions associated with migration is a repeat-rich region of unknow location in the genome. I will locate this region by karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

This will be important for the planned comparative genomic analyses of other species and populations of songbirds with migration differences.

Finally, I will do a pilot study to prepare for a large-scale displacement experiment that, combined with cutting-edge techniques to track songbirds, will be a fundamental test of current theories on how the inherited migration program is instructing birds on their first journeys.

The project is ground-breaking, since it has the potential to identify the elusive migration genes and add milestones in our understanding of the genetic architecture of long-distance migration.