Neo-sex chromosomes and their role in enhancing mitonuclear co-adaptation in Australasian Robins

The Eastern Yellow Robin (EYR) has a neo-sex chromosome enriched with nuclear genes with mitochondrial function (N-mt genes). Sex linkage of N-mt genes may have promoted selection on mitonuclear interactions, and could lead to reproductive isolation between environment-associated lineages. I compared Chr1A-derived genes between lineages and found that neo-W N-mt genes could be driving divergence. I characterized neo-sex chromosome(s) in EYR and relatives, generating genomic resources and a phylogenetic framework for tests of accelerated N-mt gene evolution. My thesis supports EYR as a model for testing the role of neo-sex architecture in promoting processes that may lead to speciation.