Alpine and Arctic Finch Genomics

What we study:

Both rosy-finches and redpoll finches are groups of birds with uncertain species boundaries. They also both exhibit color differences across their distribution, despite demonstrating only low levels of genetic variation. Our work utilizes the high resolution of whole genome sequence data to better understand genomic variation across these two species complexes. On-going projects include:

•     Evaluating phylogenomic and population genomic structure
•     Identifying genomic regions that differentiate populations and traits
•     Characterizing rosy-finch blood parasites

Publications:

Theodosopoulos AN, Spellman GM, Taylor SA. Accepted. Survey of haemosporidian parasite infections in an endangered high alpine bird. Parasites and Vectors.

Funk ER, Spellman GM, Winker K, Withrow JJ, Ruegg K, Taylor SA. Accepted. The genetic basis of plumage coloration and elevation adaptation in a clade of recently diverged alpine and arctic songbirds. Evolution.

Funk ER, Mason NA, Pálsson S, Albrecht T, Johnson J, Taylor SA. A supergene underlies linked variation in color and morphology in a Holarctic songbird. Nature Communications. 12, Article number: 6833. **Top 25 most read papers in Nature Communications in 2021 in life and biological sciences** https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27173-z

Funk ER, Spellman GM, Winker K, Withrow JJ, Ruegg KC, Zavaleta E, Taylor SA (2020). Phylogenomic Data Reveal Widespread Introgression Across the Range of an Alpine and Arctic Specialist. Systematic Biology. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syaa071