Stepfanie M. Aguillon

All Publications

• Introgression CURRENT BIOLOGY Aguillon, S. M., Dodge, T. O., Preising, G. A., Schumer, M. 2022; 32 (16): R865-R868

  View details for Web of Science ID 000859009300005

• Revisiting a classic hybrid zone: Movement of the northern flicker hybrid zone in contemporary times. Evolution; international journal of organic evolution Aguillon, S. M., Rohwer, V. G. 2022

  Abstract

  Natural hybrid zones have provided important insights into the evolutionary process, and their geographic dynamics over time can help to disentangle the underlying biological processes that maintain them. Here, we leverage replicated sampling of an identical transect across the hybrid zone between yellow-shafted and red-shafted flickers in the Great Plains to assess its stability over 60 years (1955-1957 to 2016-2018). We identify a 73-km westward shift in the hybrid zone center toward the range of the red-shafted flicker, but find no associated changes in width over our sampling period. In fact, the hybrid zone remains remarkably narrow, suggesting some kind of selective pressure maintains the zone. By comparing to previous work in the same geographic region, it appears likely that the movement in the hybrid zone has occurred in the years since the early 1980s. This recent movement may be related to changes in climate or land management practices that have allowed westward movement of yellow-shafted flickers into the Great Plains.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/evo.14474

  View details for PubMedID 35318662

• Two new hybrid populations expand the swordtail hybridization model system. Evolution; international journal of organic evolution Powell, D. L., Moran, B., Kim, B., Banerjee, S. M., Aguillon, S. M., Fascinetto-Zago, P., Langdon, Q., Schumer, M. 2021

  Abstract

  Natural hybridization events provide unique windows into the barriers that keep species apart as well as the consequences of their breakdown. Here we characterize hybrid populations formed between the northern swordtail fish Xiphophorus cortezi and X. birchmanni from collection sites on two rivers. We use simulations and new genetic reference panels to develop sensitive and accurate local ancestry calling in this novel system. Strikingly, we find that hybrid populations on both rivers consist of two genetically distinct subpopulations: a cluster of pure X. birchmanni individuals and one of phenotypically intermediate hybrids that derive 85-90% of their genome from X. cortezi. Simulations suggest that initial hybridization occurred 150 generations ago at both sites, with little evidence for contemporary gene flow between subpopulations. This population structure is consistent with strong assortative mating between individuals of similar ancestry. The patterns of population structure uncovered here mirror those seen in hybridization between X. birchmanni and its sister species, X. malinche, indicating an important role for assortative mating in the evolution of hybrid populations. Future comparisons will provide a window into the shared mechanisms driving the outcomes of hybridization not only among independent hybridization events between the same species but also across distinct species pairs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/evo.14337

  View details for PubMedID 34460102

• Extensive hybridization reveals multiple coloration genes underlying a complex plumage phenotype PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Aguillon, S. M., Walsh, J., Lovette, I. J. 2021; 288 (1943): 20201805

  Abstract

  Coloration is an important target of both natural and sexual selection. Discovering the genetic basis of colour differences can help us to understand how this visually striking phenotype evolves. Hybridizing taxa with both clear colour differences and shallow genomic divergences are unusually tractable for associating coloration phenotypes with their causal genotypes. Here, we leverage the extensive admixture between two common North American woodpeckers-yellow-shafted and red-shafted flickers-to identify the genomic bases of six distinct plumage patches involving both melanin and carotenoid pigments. Comparisons between flickers across approximately 7.25 million genome-wide SNPs show that these two forms differ at only a small proportion of the genome (mean FST = 0.008). Within the few highly differentiated genomic regions, we identify 368 SNPs significantly associated with four of the six plumage patches. These SNPs are linked to multiple genes known to be involved in melanin and carotenoid pigmentation. For example, a gene (CYP2J19) known to cause yellow to red colour transitions in other birds is strongly associated with the yellow versus red differences in the wing and tail feathers of these flickers. Additionally, our analyses suggest novel links between known melanin genes and carotenoid coloration. Our finding of patch-specific control of plumage coloration adds to the growing body of literature suggesting colour diversity in animals could be created through selection acting on novel combinations of coloration genes.

  View details for DOI 10.1098/rspb.2020.1805

  View details for Web of Science ID 000613510700005

  View details for PubMedID 33468000

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7893273

• Genomic differentiation and local adaptation on a microgeographic scale in a resident songbird MOLECULAR ECOLOGY Mikles, C. S., Aguillon, S. M., Chan, Y. L., Arcese, P., Benham, P. M., Lovette, I. J., Walsh, J. 2020; 29 (22): 4295-4307

  Abstract

  Elucidating forces capable of driving species diversification in the face of gene flow remains a key goal in evolutionary biology. Song sparrows, Melospiza melodia, occur as 25 subspecies in diverse habitats across North America, are among the continent's most widespread vertebrate species, and are exemplary of many highly variable species for which the conservation of locally adapted populations may be critical to their range-wide persistence. We focus here on six morphologically distinct subspecies resident in the San Francisco Bay region, including three salt-marsh endemics and three residents in upland and riparian habitats adjacent to the Bay. We used reduced-representation sequencing to generate 2,773 SNPs to explore genetic differentiation, spatial population structure, and demographic history. Clustering separated individuals from each of the six subspecies, indicating subtle differentiation at microgeographic scales. Evidence of limited gene flow and low nucleotide diversity across all six subspecies further supports a hypothesis of isolation among locally adapted populations. We suggest that natural selection for genotypes adapted to salt marsh environments and changes in demography over the past century have acted in concert to drive the patterns of diversification reported here. Our results offer evidence of microgeographic specialization in a highly polytypic bird species long discussed as a model of sympatric speciation and rapid adaptation, and they support the hypothesis that conserving locally adapted populations may be critical to the range-wide persistence of similarly highly variable species.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/mec.15647

  View details for Web of Science ID 000583207100001

  View details for PubMedID 32978972

• Gender Differences in Student Participation in an Active-Learning Classroom CBE-LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION Aguillon, S. M., Siegmund, G., Petipas, R. H., Drake, A., Cotner, S., Ballen, C. J. 2020; 19 (2): ar12

  Abstract

  Overwhelming evidence demonstrating the benefits of active-learning pedagogy has led to a shift in teaching that requires students to interact more in the classroom. To date, few studies have assessed whether there are gender-specific differences in participation in active-learning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, and fewer have looked across different types of classroom participation. Over two semesters, we observed an introductory biology course at a large research-intensive university and categorized student participation into seven distinct categories to identify gender gaps in participation. Additionally, we collected student grades and administered a postcourse survey that gauged student scientific self-efficacy and salience of gender identity. We found that men participated more than expected based on the class composition in most participation categories. In particular, men were strongly overrepresented in voluntary responses after small-group discussions across both semesters. Women in the course reported lower scientific self-efficacy and greater salience of gender identity. Our results suggest that active learning in itself is not a panacea for STEM equity; rather, to maximize the benefits of active-learning pedagogy, instructors should make a concerted effort to use teaching strategies that are inclusive and encourage equitable participation by all students.

  View details for DOI 10.1187/cbe.19-03-0048

  View details for Web of Science ID 000548111300004

  View details for PubMedID 32453677

• Smaller Classes Promote Equitable Student Participation in STEM BIOSCIENCE Ballen, C. J., Aguillon, S. M., Awwad, A., Bjune, A. E., Challou, D., Drake, A., Driessen, M., Ellozy, A., Ferry, V. E., Goldberg, E. E., Harcombe, W., Jensen, S., Jorgensen, C., Koth, Z., Mcgaugh, S., Mitry, C., Mosher, B., Mostafa, H., Petipas, R. H., Soneral, P. G., Waiters, S., Wassenberg, D., Weiss, S. L., Yonas, A., Zamudio, K. R., Cotner, S. 2019; 69 (8): 669-680

  View details for DOI 10.1093/biosci/biz069

  View details for Web of Science ID 000481419100012

• Fighting through the gray SCIENCE Aguillon, S. M. 2019; 363 (6431): 1114

  View details for DOI 10.1126/science.363.6431.1114

  View details for Web of Science ID 000460750100047

  View details for PubMedID 30846602

• UV-B radiation and shrub canopy effects on surface litter decomposition in a shrub-invaded dry grassland JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS Predick, K. I., Archer, S. R., Aguillon, S. M., Keller, D. A., Throop, H. L., Barnes, P. W. 2018; 157: 13-21

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.06.007

  View details for Web of Science ID 000442972800002

• Do Small Classes in Higher Education Reduce Performance Gaps in STEM? BIOSCIENCE Ballen, C. J., Aguillon, S. M., Brunelli, R., Drake, A., Wassenberg, D., Weiss, S. L., Zamudio, K. R., Cotner, S. 2018; 68 (8): 593-600

  View details for DOI 10.1093/biosci/biy056

  View details for Web of Science ID 000440982400008

• A flicker of hope: Genomic data distinguish Northern Flicker taxa despite low levels of divergence AUK Aguillon, S. M., Campagna, L., Harrison, R. G., Lovette, I. J. 2018; 135 (3): 748-766

  View details for DOI 10.1642/AUK-18-7.1

  View details for Web of Science ID 000436501100028

• Deconstructing isolation-by-distance: The genomic consequences of limited dispersal PLOS GENETICS Aguillon, S. M., Fitzpatrick, J. W., Bowman, R., Schoech, S. J., Clark, A. G., Coop, G., Chen, N. 2017; 13 (8): e1006911

  Abstract

  Geographically limited dispersal can shape genetic population structure and result in a correlation between genetic and geographic distance, commonly called isolation-by-distance. Despite the prevalence of isolation-by-distance in nature, to date few studies have empirically demonstrated the processes that generate this pattern, largely because few populations have direct measures of individual dispersal and pedigree information. Intensive, long-term demographic studies and exhaustive genomic surveys in the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) provide an excellent opportunity to investigate the influence of dispersal on genetic structure. Here, we used a panel of genome-wide SNPs and extensive pedigree information to explore the role of limited dispersal in shaping patterns of isolation-by-distance in both sexes, and at an exceedingly fine spatial scale (within ~10 km). Isolation-by-distance patterns were stronger in male-male and male-female comparisons than in female-female comparisons, consistent with observed differences in dispersal propensity between the sexes. Using the pedigree, we demonstrated how various genealogical relationships contribute to fine-scale isolation-by-distance. Simulations using field-observed distributions of male and female natal dispersal distances showed good agreement with the distribution of geographic distances between breeding individuals of different pedigree relationship classes. Furthermore, we built coalescent simulations parameterized by the observed dispersal curve, population density, and immigration rate, and showed how incorporating these extensions to Malécot's theory of isolation-by-distance allows us to accurately reconstruct observed sex-specific isolation-by-distance patterns in autosomal and Z-linked SNPs. Therefore, patterns of fine-scale isolation-by-distance in the Florida Scrub-Jay can be well understood as a result of limited dispersal over contemporary timescales.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006911

  View details for Web of Science ID 000408763800007

  View details for PubMedID 28771477

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5542401

• Eco-evolutionary dynamics: investigating multiple causal pathways linking changes in behavior, population density and natural selection Duckworth, R. A., Aguillon, S. M. SPRINGER HEIDELBERG. 2015: S115-S124

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10336-015-1239-9

  View details for Web of Science ID 000367457200009

• Kin aggression and resource availability influence phenotype-dependent dispersal in a passerine bird BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY Aguillon, S. M., Duckworth, R. A. 2015; 69 (4): 625-633

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00265-015-1873-5

  View details for Web of Science ID 000351235100012