scholarly journals Spatial, climate, and ploidy factors drive genomic diversity and resilience in the widespread grass Themeda triandra

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
CW Ahrens ◽  
EA James ◽  
AD Miller ◽  
NC Aitken ◽  
JO Borevitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
List Type ◽  
Themeda Triandra ◽  
Reduced Representation ◽  
Isolation By Environment ◽  
Susceptible Populations

SummaryFragmented grassland ecosystems, and the species that shape them, are under immense pressure. Restoration and management strategies should include genetic diversity and adaptive capacity to improve success but these data are generally unavailable. Therefore, we use the foundational grass, Themeda triandra, to test how spatial, environmental, and ploidy factors shape patterns of genetic variation.We used reduced-representation genome sequencing on 487 samples from 52 locations to answer fundamental questions about how the distribution of genomic diversity and ploidy polymorphism supports adaptation to harsher climates. We explicitly quantified isolation-by-distance (IBD), isolation-by-environment (IBE), and predicted population genomic vulnerability in 2070.We found that a majority (54%) of the genomic variation could be attributed to IBD, while 22% of the genomic variation could be explained by four climate variables showing IBE. Results indicate that heterogeneous patterns of vulnerability across populations are due to genetic variation, multiple climate factors, and ploidy polymorphism, which lessened genomic vulnerability in the most susceptible populations.These results indicate that restoration and management of T. triandra should incorporate knowledge of genomic diversity and ploidy polymorphisms to increase the likelihood of population persistence and restoration success in areas that will become hotter and more arid.

scholarly journals Fine scale population structure and extensive gene flow within an Eastern Nearctic snake complex (Pituophis melanoleucus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary L Nikolakis ◽  
Richard Orton ◽  
Brian I Crother
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Genomic Structure ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Evolutionary Relationships ◽  
Population Genomic ◽  
Isolation By Environment ◽  
Pituophis Melanoleucus ◽  
Lineage Divergence

Understanding the processes and mechanisms that promote lineage divergence is a central goal in evolutionary biology. For instance, studies investigating the spatial distribution of genomic variation often highlight biogeographic barriers underpinning geographic isolation, as well as patterns of isolation by environment and isolation by distance that can also lead to lineage divergence. However, the patterns and processes that shape genomic variation and drive lineage divergence may be taxa-specific, even across closely related taxa co-occurring within the same biogeographic region. Here, we use molecular data in the form of ultra-conserved elements (UCEs) to infer the evolutionary relationships and population genomic structure of the Eastern Pinesnake complex (Pituophis melanoleucus) – a polytypic wide-ranging species that occupies much of the Eastern Nearctic. In addition to inferring evolutionary relationships, population genomic structure, and gene flow, we also test relationships between genomic diversity and putative barriers to dispersal, environmental variation, and geographic distance. We present results that reveal shallow population genomic structure and ongoing gene flow, despite an extensive geographic range that transcends geographic features found to reduce gene flow among many taxa, including other squamate reptiles within the Eastern Nearctic. Further, our results indicate that the observed genomic diversity is spatially distributed as a pattern of isolation by distance and suggest that the current subspecific taxonomy do not adhere to independent lineages, but rather, show a significant amount of admixture across the entire P. melanoleucus range.

scholarly journals Landscape drivers of genomic diversity and divergence in woodland Eucalyptus

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Murray ◽  
Jasmine Janes ◽  
Helen Bothwell ◽  
Ashley Jones ◽  
Rose Andrew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
High Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Isolation By Environment ◽  
Genetic Patterns ◽  
Discrete Population ◽  
Eucalyptus Albens ◽  
Eucalyptus Sideroxylon

AbstractSpatial genetic patterns are influenced by numerous factors, and they can vary even among coexisting, closely related species due to differences in dispersal and selection. Eucalyptus (L’Héritier 1789; the “eucalypts”) are foundation tree species that provide essential habitat and modulate ecosystem services throughout Australia. Here we present a study of landscape genomic variation in two woodland eucalypt species, using whole genome sequencing of 388 individuals of Eucalyptus albens and Eucalyptus sideroxylon. We found exceptionally high genetic diversity (π ≈ 0.05) and low genome-wide, inter-specific differentiation (FST = 0.15). We found no support for strong, discrete population structure, but found substantial support for isolation by geographic distance (IBD) in both species. Using generalised dissimilarity modelling, we identified additional isolation by environment (IBE). Eucalyptus albens showed moderate IBD, and environmental variables have a small but significant amount of additional predictive power (i.e., IBE). Eucalyptus sideroxylon showed much stronger IBD, and moderate IBE. These results highlight the vast adaptive potential of these species, and set the stage for testing evolutionary hypotheses of interspecific adaptive differentiation across environments.

scholarly journals Shared genomic outliers across two divergent population clusters of a highly threatened seagrass

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Leanne Phair ◽  
Robert John Toonen ◽  
Ingrid Knapp ◽  
Sophie von der Heyden
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Seagrass Habitat ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Outlier Loci ◽  
Isolation By Environment

The seagrass, Zostera capensis, occurs across a broad stretch of coastline and wide environmental gradients in estuaries and sheltered bays in southern and eastern Africa. Throughout its distribution, habitats are highly threatened and poorly protected, increasing the urgency of assessing the genomic variability of this keystone species. A pooled genomic approach was employed to obtain SNP data and examine neutral genomic variation and to identify potential outlier loci to assess differentiation across 12 populations across the ~9600km distribution of Z. capensis. Results indicate high clonality and low genomic diversity within meadows, which combined with poor protection throughout its range, increases the vulnerability of this seagrass to further declines or local extinction. Shared variation at outlier loci potentially indicates local adaptation to temperature and precipitation gradients, with Isolation-by-Environment significantly contributing towards shaping spatial variation in Z. capensis. Our results indicate the presence of two population clusters, broadly corresponding to populations on the west and east coasts, with the two lineages shaped only by frequency differences of outlier loci. Notably, ensemble modelling of suitable seagrass habitat provides evidence that the clusters are linked to historical climate refugia around the Last Glacial Maxi-mum. Our work suggests a complex evolutionary history of Z. capensis in southern and eastern Africa that will require more effective protection in order to safeguard this important ecosystem engineer into the future.

scholarly journals Genetic variation of the Chilean endemic long-haired mouse Abrothrix longipilis (Rodentia, Supramyomorpha, Cricetidae) in a geographical and environmental context

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes Valdez ◽  
Marcial Quiroga-Carmona ◽  
Guillermo D’Elía
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Gene Genealogy ◽  
Quaternary Climate ◽  
Mitochondrial Cytochrome B ◽  
Isolation By Environment

Quaternary climate and associated vegetational changes affected the fauna of the Chilean Mediterranean ecosystem. Here we studied the genetic variation of the long-haired mouse, Abrothrix longipilis, a sigmodontine rodent endemic to this area. Within an environmentally explicit context, we examined the geographic distribution of the genetic diversity and demographic history of the species based on sequences of the mitochondrial Cytochrome-b gene of 50 individuals from 13 localities and a large panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms of 17 individuals from 6 localities. The gene genealogy of A. longipilis revealed three intraspecific lineages that are allopatric and latitudinally segregated (northern, central, and southern lineages) with an estimated crown age for the whole species clade of 552.3 kyr B.P. A principal component analysis based on 336,596 SNP loci is in line with the information given by the the mitochondrial gene genealogy. Along its complete distributional range, A. longipilis showed patterns of isolation by distance and also isolation by environment. The general pattern of historical demography showed stability for most intraspecific lineages of A. longipilis. Northern and central lineages showed signals of historical demographic stability, while the southern lineage showed contrasting signals. In agreement with this, the niche models performed showed that in the northern range of A. longipilis, areas of high suitability for this species increased towards the present time; areas of central range would have remained relatively stable, while southern areas would have experienced more change through time. In summary, our study shows three distinct allopatric lineages of A. longipilis, each showing slightly different demographic history.

scholarly journals Maintenance of Sympatric and Allopatric Populations in Free-Living Terrestrial Bacteria

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander B. Chase ◽  
Philip Arevalo ◽  
Eoin L. Brodie ◽  
Martin F. Polz ◽  
Ulas Karaoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Dispersal Limitation ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Gene Content ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Isolation By Environment

ABSTRACT For free-living bacteria and archaea, the equivalent of the biological species concept does not exist, creating several obstacles to the study of the processes contributing to microbial diversification. These obstacles are particularly high in soil, where high bacterial diversity inhibits the study of closely related genotypes and therefore the factors structuring microbial populations. Here, we isolated strains within a single Curtobacterium ecotype from surface soil (leaf litter) across a regional climate gradient and investigated the phylogenetic structure, recombination, and flexible gene content of this genomic diversity to infer patterns of gene flow. Our results indicate that microbial populations are delineated by gene flow discontinuities, with distinct populations cooccurring at multiple sites. Bacterial population structure was further delineated by genomic features allowing for the identification of candidate genes possibly contributing to local adaptation. These results suggest that the genetic structure within this bacterium is maintained both by ecological specialization in localized microenvironments (isolation by environment) and by dispersal limitation between geographic locations (isolation by distance). IMPORTANCE Due to the promiscuous exchange of genetic material and asexual reproduction, delineating microbial species (and, by extension, populations) remains challenging. Because of this, the vast majority of microbial studies assessing population structure often compare divergent strains from disparate environments under varied selective pressures. Here, we investigated the population structure within a single bacterial ecotype, a unit equivalent to a eukaryotic species, defined as highly clustered genotypic and phenotypic strains with the same ecological niche. Using a combination of genomic and computational analyses, we assessed the phylogenetic structure, extent of recombination, and flexible gene content of this genomic diversity to infer patterns of gene flow. To our knowledge, this study is the first to do so for a dominant soil bacterium. Our results indicate that bacterial soil populations, similarly to those in other environments, are structured by gene flow discontinuities and exhibit distributional patterns consistent with both isolation by distance and isolation by environment. Thus, both dispersal limitation and local environments contribute to the divergence among closely related soil bacteria as observed in macroorganisms.

scholarly journals Shared genomic outliers across two divergent population clusters of a highly threatened seagrass

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Leanne Phair ◽  
Robert John Toonen ◽  
Ingrid Knapp ◽  
Sophie von der Heyden
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Seagrass Habitat ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Outlier Loci ◽  
Isolation By Environment

The seagrass, Zostera capensis, occurs across a broad stretch of coastline and wide environmental gradients in estuaries and sheltered bays in southern and eastern Africa. Throughout its distribution, habitats are highly threatened and poorly protected, increasing the urgency of assessing the genomic variability of this keystone species. A pooled genomic approach was employed to obtain SNP data and examine neutral genomic variation and to identify potential outlier loci to assess differentiation across 12 populations across the ∼9,600 km distribution of Z. capensis. Results indicate high clonality and low genomic diversity within meadows, which combined with poor protection throughout its range, increases the vulnerability of this seagrass to further declines or local extinction. Shared variation at outlier loci potentially indicates local adaptation to temperature and precipitation gradients, with Isolation-by-Environment significantly contributing towards shaping spatial variation in Z. capensis. Our results indicate the presence of two population clusters, broadly corresponding to populations on the west and east coasts, with the two lineages shaped only by frequency differences of outlier loci. Notably, ensemble modelling of suitable seagrass habitat provides evidence that the clusters are linked to historical climate refugia around the Last Glacial Maxi-mum. Our work suggests a complex evolutionary history of Z. capensis in southern and eastern Africa that will require more effective protection in order to safeguard this important ecosystem engineer into the future.

scholarly journals ISSRseq: an extensible, low-cost, and efficient method for reduced representation sequencing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon T. Sinn ◽  
Sandra J. Simon ◽  
Mathilda V. Santee ◽  
Stephen P. DiFazio ◽  
Nicole M. Fama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Genomics ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Inter Simple Sequence Repeat ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
List Type ◽  
Illumina Platform ◽  
Reduced Representation ◽  
Simple Sequence

ABSTRACTThe capability to generate densely sampled single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data is essential in diverse subdisciplines of biology, including crop breeding, pathology, forensics, forestry, ecology, evolution, and conservation. However, access to the expensive equipment and bioinformatics infrastructure required for genome-scale sequencing is still a limiting factor in the developing world and for institutions with limited resources.Here we present ISSRseq, a PCR-based method for reduced representation of genomic variation using simple sequence repeats as priming sites to sequence inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) regions. Briefly, ISSR regions are amplified with single primers, pooled, and used to construct sequencing libraries with a low-cost, efficient commercial kit, and sequenced on the Illumina platform. We also present a flexible bioinformatic pipeline that assembles ISSR loci, calls and hard filters variants, outputs data matrices in common formats, and conducts population analyses using R.Using three angiosperm species as case studies, we demonstrate that ISSRseq is highly repeatable, necessitates only simple wet-lab skills and commonplace instrumentation, is flexible in terms of the number of single primers used, is low-cost, and can generate genomic-scale variant discovery on par with existing RRS methods that require high sample integrity and concentration.ISSRseq represents a straightforward approach to SNP genotyping in any organism, and we predict that this method will be particularly useful for those studying population genomics and phylogeography of non-model organisms. Furthermore, the ease of ISSRseq relative to other RRS methods should prove useful for those conducting research in undergraduate and graduate environments, and more broadly by those lacking access to expensive instrumentation or expertise in bioinformatics.

scholarly journals Spatial and Ecological Drivers of Genetic Structure in Greek Populations of Alkanna tinctoria (Boraginaceae), a Polyploid Medicinal Herb

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ahmad ◽  
Thibault Leroy ◽  
Nikos Krigas ◽  
Eva M. Temsch ◽  
Hanna Weiss-Schneeweiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Medicinal Herb ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Neutral Processes ◽  
High Quality Snps ◽  
Alkanna Tinctoria

Background and Aims: Quantifying genetic variation is fundamental to understand a species’ demographic trajectory and its ability to adapt to future changes. In comparison with diploids, however, genetic variation and factors fostering genetic divergence remain poorly studied in polyploids due to analytical challenges. Here, by employing a ploidy-aware framework, we investigated the genetic structure and its determinants in polyploid Alkanna tinctoria (Boraginaceae), an ancient medicinal herb that is the source of bioactive compounds known as alkannin and shikonin (A/S). From a practical perspective, such investigation can inform biodiversity management strategies.Methods: We collected 14 populations of A. tinctoria within its main distribution range in Greece and genotyped them using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing. In addition, we included two populations of A. sieberi. By using a ploidy-aware genotype calling based on likelihoods, we generated a dataset of 16,107 high-quality SNPs. Classical and model-based analysis was done to characterize the genetic structure within and between the sampled populations, complemented by genome size measurements and chromosomal counts. Finally, to reveal the drivers of genetic structure, we searched for associations between allele frequencies and spatial and climatic variables.Key Results: We found support for a marked regional structure in A. tinctoria along a latitudinal gradient in line with phytogeographic divisions. Several analyses identified interspecific admixture affecting both mainland and island populations. Modeling of spatial and climatic variables further demonstrated a larger contribution of neutral processes and a lesser albeit significant role of selection in shaping the observed genetic structure in A. tinctoria.Conclusion: Current findings provide evidence of strong genetic structure in A. tinctoria mainly driven by neutral processes. The revealed natural genomic variation in Greek Alkanna can be used to further predict variation in A/S production, whereas our bioinformatics approach should prove useful for the study of other non-model polyploid species.

scholarly journals Shared genomic outliers across two divergent population clusters of a highly threatened seagrass

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Leanne Phair ◽  
Robert John Toonen ◽  
Ingrid Knapp ◽  
Sophie von der Heyden
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Engineer ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Genomic Variation ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Seagrass Habitat ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Outlier Loci ◽  
Isolation By Environment

The seagrass, Zostera capensis, occurs across a broad stretch of coastline and wide environmental gradients in estuaries and sheltered bays in southern and eastern Africa. Throughout its distribution, habitats are highly threatened and poorly protected, increasing the urgency of assessing the genomic variability of this keystone species. A pooled genomic approach was employed to obtain SNP data and examine neutral genomic variation and to identify potential outlier loci to assess differentiation across 12 populations across the ~9600km distribution of Z. capensis. Results indicate high clonality and low genomic diversity within meadows, which combined with poor protection throughout its range, increases the vulnerability of this seagrass to further declines or local extinction. Shared variation at outlier loci potentially indicates local adaptation to temperature and precipitation gradients, with Isolation-by-Environment significantly contributing towards shaping spatial variation in Z. capensis. Our results indicate the presence of two population clusters, broadly corresponding to populations on the west and east coasts, with the two lineages shaped only by frequency differences of outlier loci. Notably, ensemble modelling of suitable seagrass habitat provides evidence that the clusters are linked to historical climate refugia around the Last Glacial Maxi-mum. Our work suggests a complex evolutionary history of Z. capensis in southern and eastern Africa that will require more effective protection in order to safeguard this important ecosystem engineer into the future.

scholarly journals Environmental and geographic data optimize ex situ collections and the preservation of adaptive evolutionary potential

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lionel N. Di Santo ◽  
Jill A. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Allelic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
Isolation By Environment ◽  
The Impact

AbstractMaintenance of biodiversity, through seed banks and botanical gardens where the wealth of species’ genetic variation may be preserved ex situ, is a major goal of conservation. However, challenges can persist in optimizing ex situ collections where trade-offs exist between expense, effort, and conserving species evolutionary potential, particularly when genetic data is not available. Within this context, we evaluate the genetic consequences of guiding population preservation using geographic (isolation-by-distance, IBD) and environmental (isolation-by-environment, IBE) data for ex situ collections where provenance data is available. We use 19 genetic and genomic datasets from 15 plant species to (i) assess the proportion of population genetic differentiation explained by geographic and environmental factors, and (ii) simulate ex situ collections prioritizing source populations based on pairwise geographic or environmental distances. Specifically, we test the impact prioritizing sampling based on environmental and geographic distances may have on capturing neutral, functional or putatively adaptive genetic diversity and differentiation. We find that collectively IBD and IBE explain a substantial proportion of genetic differences among functional (median 45%) and adaptive (median 71%) loci, but not for neutral loci (median 21.5%). Simulated ex situ collections reveal that inclusion of IBD and IBE increases both allelic diversity and genetic differentiation captured among populations, particularly for loci that may be important for adaptation. Thus, prioritizing population collections using environmental and geographic distance data can impact genetic variation captured ex situ. This provides value for the vast majority of plant species for which we have no genetic data, informing conservation of genetic variation needed to maintain evolutionary potential within collections.

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