Vinicius de Silva has investigated this question in his doctoral thesis ”Structural variants in the great tit genome and their effect in seasonal timing”.
As for many other birds, seasonal timing is important for survival of the great tit (Parus major). For example, the laying of eggs should be timed so that there will be feed for the young when they are born. Upon change of environmental factors, such as the climate, the great tit has to adjust in order to survive.
Vinicius de Silva has investigated the genetic structural variants in the great tit genome that can be associated with seasonal timing. He has especially focused on so called copy number variations (CNVs) and inversions. He has used genetic material of an ongoing study in the Netherlands, presenting several generations of birds. That means that he could even investigate heredity of the genetic variation.
Vinicius de Silva has identified a number of CNVs and one large inversion that seem to have an association to the seasonal timing of the great tit. The genetic variation shows how well the great tit can adjust to changes in the environment, for example climate change.
Vinicius da Silva defends his doctoral thesis 24th of January 2020 in Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Supervisors at SLU are Anna Johannson (main supervisor) and Dirk-Jan de Koning (co-supervisor) at the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics.