scholarly journals Effect of migration and environmental heterogeneity on the maintenance of quantitative variation: a simulation study

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tegan Krista McDonald ◽  
Sam Yeaman
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Environmental Heterogeneity ◽  
Mutation Rates ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Migration Rates ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
And Migration ◽  
General Explanation

AbstractThe paradox of high genetic variation observed in traits under stabilizing selection is a longstanding problem in evolutionary theory, as mutation rates are 10-100 times too low to explain observed levels of standing genetic variation under classic models of mutation-selection balance. Here, we use individual-based simulations to explore the effect of various types of environmental heterogeneity on the maintenance of genetic variation (VA) for a quantitative trait under stabilizing selection. We find that VA is maximized at intermediate migration rates in spatially heterogeneous environments, and that the observed patterns are robust to changes in population size. Spatial environmental heterogeneity increased variation by as much as 10-fold over mutation-selection-balance alone, whereas pure temporal environmental heterogeneity increased variance by only 45% at max. Our results show that some combinations of spatial heterogeneity and migration can maintain considerably more variation than mutation-selection balance, potentially reconciling the discrepancy between theoretical predictions and empirical observations. However, given the narrow regions of parameter space required for this effect, this is unlikely to provide a general explanation for the maintenance of variation. Nonetheless, our results suggest that habitat fragmentation may affect the maintenance of VA and thereby reduce the adaptive capacity of populations.

scholarly journals Mutations and quantitative genetic variation: lessons from Drosophila

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1544) ◽  
pp. 1229-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trudy F. C. Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Quantitative Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Intermediate Frequency ◽  
Mutation Rates ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Association Analyses ◽  
Specific Effects

A central issue in evolutionary quantitative genetics is to understand how genetic variation for quantitative traits is maintained in natural populations. Estimates of genetic variation and of genetic correlations and pleiotropy among multiple traits, inbreeding depression, mutation rates for fitness and quantitative traits and of the strength and nature of selection are all required to evaluate theoretical models of the maintenance of genetic variation. Studies in Drosophila melanogaster have shown that a substantial fraction of segregating variation for fitness-related traits in Drosophila is due to rare deleterious alleles maintained by mutation–selection balance, with a smaller but significant fraction attributable to intermediate frequency alleles maintained by alleles with antagonistic pleiotropic effects, and late-age-specific effects. However, the nature of segregating variation for traits under stabilizing selection is less clear and requires more detailed knowledge of the loci, mutation rates, allelic effects and frequencies of molecular polymorphisms affecting variation in suites of pleiotropically connected traits. Recent studies in D. melanogaster have revealed unexpectedly complex genetic architectures of many quantitative traits, with large numbers of pleiotropic genes and alleles with sex-, environment- and genetic background-specific effects. Future genome wide association analyses of many quantitative traits on a common panel of fully sequenced Drosophila strains will provide much needed empirical data on the molecular genetic basis of quantitative traits.

scholarly journals Evolution of specialization in heterogeneous environments: equilibrium between selection, mutation and migration

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepideh Mirrahimi ◽  
Sylvain Gandon
Keyword(s):  
Asexual Reproduction ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Mutation Rates ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Evolutionary Forces ◽  
Local Selection ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Source Sink ◽  
Evolution Of Specialization

AbstractAdaptation in spatially heterogeneous environments results from the balance between local selection, mutation and migration. We study the interplay among these different evolutionary forces and demography in a classical two habitat scenario with asexual reproduction. We develop a new theoretical approach that fills a gap between the restrictive assumptions of Adaptive Dynamics and Quantitative Genetics. This analysis yields more accurate predictions of the equilibrium phenotypic distribution in different habitats. We examine the evolutionary equilibrium under general conditions where demography and selection may be non-symmetric between the two habitats. In particular we show how migration may increase differentiation in a source-sink scenario. We discuss the implications of these analytic results for the adaptation of organisms with large mutation rates such as RNA viruses.

scholarly journals Extreme climatic events but not environmental heterogeneity shape within-population genetic variation in maritime pine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Archambeau ◽  
Marta Benito Garzón ◽  
Marina de Miguel Vega ◽  
Benjamin Brachi ◽  
Frédéric Barraquand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Environmental Heterogeneity ◽  
Maritime Pine ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Evolutionary Forces ◽  
Common Gardens ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
Population Genetic Variation

AbstractHow evolutionary forces interact to maintain quantitative genetic variation within populations has been a matter of extensive theoretical debates. While mutation and migration increase genetic variation, natural selection and genetic drift are expected to deplete it. To date, levels of genetic variation observed in natural populations are hard to predict without accounting for other processes, such as balancing selection in heterogeneous environments. We aimed to empirically test three hypotheses: (i) admixed populations have higher quantitative genetic variation due to introgression from other gene pools, (ii) quantitative genetic variation is lower in populations from harsher environments (i.e. experiencing stronger selection), and (iii) quantitative genetic variation is higher in populations from spatially heterogeneous environments. We used phenotypic measurements of five growth, phenological and functional traits from three clonal common gardens, consisting of 523 clones from 33 populations of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton). Populations from harsher climates (mainly colder areas) showed lower genetic variation for height in the three common gardens. Surprisingly, we did not find any association between within-population genetic variation and environmental heterogeneity or population admixture for any trait. Our results suggest a predominant role of natural selection in driving within-population genetic variation, and therefore indirectly their adaptive potential.

scholarly journals Evolution of Specialization in Heterogeneous Environments: Equilibrium Between Selection, Mutation and Migration

Genetics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 214 (2) ◽  
pp. 479-491
Author(s):  
Sepideh Mirrahimi ◽  
Sylvain Gandon
Keyword(s):  
Gaussian Approximation ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Mutation Rates ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Evolutionary Forces ◽  
Phenotypic Distribution ◽  
Local Selection ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Source Sink ◽  
Evolution Of Specialization

Adaptation in spatially heterogeneous environments results from the balance between local selection, mutation, and migration. We study the interplay among these different evolutionary forces and demography in a classical two-habitat scenario with asexual reproduction. We develop a new theoretical approach that goes beyond the Adaptive Dynamics framework, and allows us to explore the effect of high mutation rates on the stationary phenotypic distribution. We show that this approach improves the classical Gaussian approximation, and captures accurately the shape of this equilibrium phenotypic distribution in one- and two-population scenarios. We examine the evolutionary equilibrium under general conditions where demography and selection may be nonsymmetric between the two habitats. In particular, we show how migration may increase differentiation in a source–sink scenario. We discuss the implications of these analytic results for the adaptation of organisms with large mutation rates, such as RNA viruses.

scholarly journals Modular knowledge systems accelerate human migration in asymmetric random environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (125) ◽  
pp. 20160778
Author(s):  
Dong Wang ◽  
Michael W. Deem
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Gradient ◽  
Environmental Heterogeneity ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Human Migration ◽  
Random Environments ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Migration Rates ◽  
The North ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
East West

Migration is a key mechanism for expansion of communities. In spatially heterogeneous environments, rapidly gaining knowledge about the local environment is key to the evolutionary success of a migrating population. For historical human migration, environmental heterogeneity was naturally asymmetric in the north–south (NS) and east–west (EW) directions. We here consider the human migration process in the Americas, modelled as random, asymmetric, modularly correlated environments. Knowledge about the environments determines the fitness of each individual. We present a phase diagram for asymmetry of migration as a function of carrying capacity and fitness threshold. We find that the speed of migration is proportional to the inverse complement of the spatial environmental gradient, and in particular, we find that NS migration rates are lower than EW migration rates when the environmental gradient is higher in the NS direction. Communication of knowledge between individuals can help to spread beneficial knowledge within the population. The speed of migration increases when communication transmits pieces of knowledge that contribute in a modular way to the fitness of individuals. The results for the dependence of migration rate on asymmetry and modularity are consistent with existing archaeological observations. The results for asymmetry of genetic divergence are consistent with patterns of human gene flow.

Maintenance of Quantitative Genetic Variation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Walsh ◽  
Michael Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Quantitative Genetics ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
Wide Range

One of the major unresolved issues in quantitative genetics is what accounts for the amount of standing genetic variation in traits. A wide range of models, all reviewed in this chapter, have been proposed, but none fit the data, either giving too much variation or too little apparent stabilizing selection.

scholarly journals Spatial and space-time correlations in systems of subpopulations with genetic drift and migration.

Genetics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 711-727
Author(s):  
B K Epperson
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Time Correlation ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Spatial Correlations ◽  
Gene Frequencies ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Migration Rates ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Time Correlations ◽  
And Migration

Abstract The geographic distribution of genetic variation is an important theoretical and experimental component of population genetics. Previous characterizations of genetic structure of populations have used measures of spatial variance and spatial correlations. Yet a full understanding of the causes and consequences of spatial structure requires complete characterization of the underlying space-time system. This paper examines important interactions between processes and spatial structure in systems of subpopulations with migration and drift, by analyzing correlations of gene frequencies over space and time. We develop methods for studying important features of the complete set of space-time correlations of gene frequencies for the first time in population genetics. These methods also provide a new alternative for studying the purely spatial correlations and the variance, for models with general spatial dimensionalities and migration patterns. These results are obtained by employing theorems, previously unused in population genetics, for space-time autoregressive (STAR) stochastic spatial time series. We include results on systems with subpopulation interactions that have time delay lags (temporal orders) greater than one. We use the space-time correlation structure to develop novel estimators for migration rates that are based on space-time data (samples collected over space and time) rather than on purely spatial data, for real systems. We examine the space-time and spatial correlations for some specific stepping stone migration models. One focus is on the effects of anisotropic migration rates. Partial space-time correlation coefficients can be used for identifying migration patterns. Using STAR models, the spatial, space-time, and partial space-time correlations together provide a framework with an unprecedented level of detail for characterizing, predicting and contrasting space-time theoretical distributions of gene frequencies, and for identifying features such as the pattern of migration and estimating migration rates in experimental studies of genetic variation over space and time.

scholarly journals Pleiotropy and multilocus polymorphisms.

Genetics ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-227
Author(s):  
A Gimelfarb
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Linkage Disequilibrium ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Additive Genetic Variation ◽  
Very High

Abstract It is demonstrated that systems of two pleiotropically related characters controlled by additive diallelic loci can maintain under Gaussian stabilizing selection a stable polymorphism in more than two loci. It is also shown that such systems may have multiple stable polymorphic equilibria. Stabilizing selection generates negative linkage disequilibrium, as a result of which the equilibrium phenotypic variances are quite low, even though the level of allelic polymorphisms can be very high. Consequently, large amounts of additive genetic variation can be hidden in populations at equilibrium under stabilizing selection on pleiotropically related characters.

scholarly journals Cryptic variation and its manifestation in the Lower Trentonian Rafinesquina lineage (Ordovician, New York State)

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 292-292
Author(s):  
Robert Titus
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
New York State ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Rapid Population Growth ◽  
York State ◽  
Cryptic Variation ◽  
Adaptive Peak

Species populations commonly carry a great deal of genetic variation which is not expressed in individual phenotypes. Cryptic variation can be carried in recessive alleles, in cases of heterosis, or where modifier genes inhibit expression of the hidden trait. Other genetic and ecological factors also allow cryptic variation. Stabilizing selection prevents the expression of hidden traits; normalizing selection weeds out the deviants and canalizing selection suppresses their traits. Together the two keep the species near the top of the adaptive peak. Cryptic variation balances a species' need to be well-adapted to its environment and also for it to maintain a reserve of variation for potential environmental change. Expression of cryptic traits is rare and is usually associated with times of greatly reduced natural selection and rapid population growth, when the lower slopes of the adaptive peak are exposed.A possible example of the manifestation of cryptic traits occurs within the lower Trentonian Rafinesquina lineage of New York State. The two most commonly reported species of the genus have been reappraised in terms of cryptic variation. Extensive collections of Rafinesquina “lennoxensis” reveal far more intergrading morphotypes than had hitherto been recognized. The form which Salmon (1942) described is broadly U-shaped with sulcate margins. It grades into very convex forms as well as sharply-defined or convexly geniculate types. Of great importance, all forms grade into the flat, U-shaped, alate R. trentonensis, which is, by far, the most common and widespread lower Trentonian member of the genus. The R. “lennoxensis” assemblage has a very narrow biostratigraphy, being confined to a few locations in the upper Napanee Limestone. This places it in a quiet, protected, low stress, lagoonal setting behind the barrier shoal facies of the Kings Falls Limestone.The R. “lennoxensis” assemblage does not constitute a natural biologic species; it is reinterpreted as an assemblage of phenodeviants occupying a low stress, low natural selection lagoon facies. All such forms should be included within R. trentonensis. Given the evolutionary plasticity of this genus, extensive cryptic variation is not surprising.

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