Spatio-Temporal Evolutionary Dynamics in Natural Butterfly Populations (2012 Field Season)

The study of evolution in natural populations has advanced our understanding of the origin and maintenance of biological diversity. For example, long term studies of wild populations indicate that natural selection can cause rapid and dramatic changes in traits, but that in some cases these evolutionary changes are quickly reversed when periodic variation in weather patterns or the biotic environment cause the optimal trait value to change (e.g., Reznick et al. 1997; Grant and Grant 2002). In fact, spatial and temporal variation in the strength and nature of natural selection could explain the high levels of genetic variation found in many natural populations (Gillespie 1994; Siepielski et al. 2009). Long term studies of evolution in the wild could also be informative for biodiversity conservation and resource management, because, for example, data on short term evolutionary responses to annual fluctuations in temperature or rainfall could be used to predict longer term evolution in response to directional climate change. Most previous research on evolution in the wild has considered one or a few observable traits or genes (Kapan 2001; Grant and Grant 2002; Barrett et al. 2008). We believe that more general conclusions regarding the rate and causes of evolutionary change in the wild and selectionâs contribution to the maintenance of genetic variation could be obtained by studying genome-wide molecular evolution in a suite of natural populations. Thus, we have begun a long term study of genome-wide molecular evolution in a series of natural butterfly populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA). This study will allow us to quantify the contribution of environment-dependent natural selection to evolution in these butterfly populations and determine whether selection consistently favors the same alleles across space and through time.

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Spatio-Temporal Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics in Natural Butterfly Populations (2015 Field Season)

The UW National Parks Service Research Station Annual Reports ◽

10.13001/uwnpsrc.2015.4083 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 29-32

Author(s):

Zachariah Gompert ◽

Lauren Lucas

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Natural Selection ◽

Molecular Evolution ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Genome Wide ◽

In The Wild ◽

Long Term Studies

The study of evolution in natural populations has advanced our understanding of the origin and maintenance of biological diversity. For example, long term studies of wild populations indicate that natural selection can cause rapid and dramatic changes in traits, but that in some cases these evolutionary changes are quickly reversed when periodic variation in weather patterns or the biotic environment cause the optimal trait value to change (e.g., Reznick et al. 1997, Grant and Grant 2002). In fact, spatial and temporal variation in the strength and nature of natural selection could explain the high levels of genetic variation found in many natural populations (Gillespie 1994, Siepielski et al. 2009). Long term studies of evolution in the wild could also be informative for biodiversity conservation and resource management, because, for example, data on short term evolutionary responses to annual fluctuations in temperature or rainfall could be used to predict longer term evolution in response to directional climate change. Most previous research on evolution in the wild has considered one or a few observable traits or genes (e.g., Kapan 2001, Grant and Grant 2002, Barrett et al. 2008). We believe that more general conclusions regarding the rate and causes of evolutionary change in the wild and selectionâs contribution to the maintenance of genetic variation could be obtained by studying genome-wide molecular evolution in a suite of natural populations. Thus, in 2012 we began a long term study of genome-wide molecular evolution in a series of natural butterfly populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA). This study will allow us to quantify the contribution of environment-dependent natural selection to evolution in these butterfly populations and determine whether selection consistently favors the same alleles across space and through time.

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Spatio-temporal Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics in Natural Butterfly Populations (2013 Field Season)

The UW National Parks Service Research Station Annual Reports ◽

10.13001/uwnpsrc.2013.4007 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

pp. 146-149

Author(s):

Zachariah Gompert ◽

Lauren Lucas

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Natural Selection ◽

Molecular Evolution ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Genome Wide ◽

In The Wild ◽

Long Term Studies

The study of evolution in natural populations has advanced our understanding of the origin and maintenance of biological diversity. For example, long term studies of wild populations indicate that natural selection can cause rapid and dramatic changes in traits, but that in some cases these evolutionary changes are quickly reversed when periodic variation in weather patterns or the biotic environment cause the optimal trait value to change (e.g., Reznick et al. 1997, Grant and Grant 2002). In fact, spatial and temporal variation in the strength and nature of natural selection could explain the high levels of genetic variation found in many natural populations (Gillespie 1994, Siepielski et al. 2009). Long term studies of evolution in the wild could also be informative for biodiversity conservation and resource management, because, for example, data on short term evolutionary responses to annual fluctuations in temperature or rainfall could be used to predict longer term evolution in response to directional climate change. Most previous research on evolution in the wild has considered one or a few observable traits or genes (Kapan 2001, Grant and Grant 2002, Barrett et al. 2008). We believe that more general conclusions regarding the rate and causes of evolutionary change in the wild and selectionâs contribution to the maintenance of genetic variation could be obtained by studying genome-wide molecular evolution in a suite of natural populations. Thus, we have begun a long term study of genome-wide molecular evolution in a series of natural butterfly populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA). This study will allow us to quantify the contribution of environment-dependent natural selection to evolution in these butterfly populations and determine whether selection consistently favors the same alleles across space and through time.

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Spatio-temporal ecological and evolutionary dynamics in natural butterfly populations

The UW National Parks Service Research Station Annual Reports ◽

10.13001/uwnpsrc.2017.5563 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 31-36

Author(s):

Zachariah Gompert ◽

Lauren Lucas

Keyword(s):

Evolutionary Dynamics ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Distance Sampling ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽

Insect Community ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Greater Yellowstone Area ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Spatio Temporal

Long term studies of wild populations indicate that natural selection can cause rapid and dramatic changes in traits, with spatial and temporal variation in the strength of selection a critical driver of genetic variation in natural populations. In 2012, we began a long term study of genome-wide molecular evolution in populations of the butterfly Lycaeides ideas in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA). We aimed to quantify the role of environment-dependent selection on evolution in these populations. Building on previous work, in 2017 we collected new samples, incorporated distance sampling, and surveyed the insect community at each site. We also defined the habitat boundary at anew, eleventh site. Our preliminary analyses suggest that both genetic drift and selection are important drivers in this system. Featured photo from Figure 1 in report.

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Distribution of natal dispersal distances and the genetic structure of Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis) populations

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2016-0041 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 (6) ◽

pp. 421-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G.F. Barrowclough ◽

M.A. Schroeder

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Natal Dispersal ◽

Term Study ◽

Long Term Study ◽

The Mean ◽

Dispersal Distances ◽

Breeding Seasons ◽

Long Term Studies

Natal dispersal distances are difficult to measure, yet important for estimating the genetic structure and demographic connectedness of natural populations. Here we provide estimates of the distributions of male and female natal dispersal distances from a long-term study of Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis (L., 1758)) in southwestern Alberta, Canada, based on individuals marked as brood chicks and re-observed as adults during subsequent breeding seasons. The mean distance dispersed by females (2.33 km) was twice that of males (1.13 km), and both dispersal distributions were leptokurtic. Given estimates of population density and survivorship, we estimated the genetic effective neighborhood size of this population as approximately 541 individuals. We computed equivalent estimates for two additional long-term studies of this species, based on data available in the literature; mean natal dispersal distances, averaged across sexes, ranged from 1.73 to 2.73 km for the three populations; effective deme sizes ranged from 541 to 890. Consequently, three widespread populations of Spruce Grouse yielded roughly similar estimates of demographic and genetic structure.

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Estimating inbreeding and its effects in a long-term study of snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)

10.1101/2020.08.20.259036 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Louise Arathoon ◽

Parvathy Surendranadh ◽

Nicholas Barton ◽

David L. Field ◽

Melinda Pickup ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inbreeding Depression ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Pollen Dispersal ◽

Antirrhinum Majus ◽

Fitness Components ◽

Term Study ◽

Long Term Study ◽

In The Wild ◽

Long Term Studies

AbstractInbreeding depression can be estimated by correlating heterozygosity with fitness components, but such heterozygosity-fitness correlations are typically weak. For over ten years, we studied a population of the self-incompatible plant, Antirrhinum majus, measuring heterozygosity and fitness proxies from 22,353 plants. Using a panel of 91 SNPs, we find that relatedness declines rapidly over short spatial scales. Individual heterozygosity varies more between individuals than expected, reflecting identity disequilibrium (g2) due to variation in inbreeding – a prerequisite for detecting inbreeding depression. We use two types of simulations to ask whether the heterozygosity distribution is consistent with spatially structured mating. First, we simulate offspring from matings with fathers at different distances and find that the distribution of heterozygosity in the field data is consistent with the measured pollen dispersal kernel. Second, we simulate a 1000-generation pedigree using the known spatial distribution, and find that identity disequilibrium, though highly variable between simulations, is consistent with that observed. Finally, we estimate inbreeding depression through the relationships between heterozygosity and six fitness proxies. Only the number of flowering stems is predicted by heterozygosity. Our approach provides a novel example of how long-term studies can elucidate population structure and fitness variation in the wild.

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Specific features of long-term domestication of australian crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus in conditions of the western part of Russian Federation

Izvestiya TINRO ◽

10.26428/1606-9919-2018-194-188-192 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 194 ◽

pp. 188-192

Author(s):

D. I. Shokasheva

Keyword(s):

Natural Selection ◽

Russian Federation ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Cherax Quadricarinatus ◽

Local Environments ◽

Local Species ◽

Adaptive Ability

Natural populations of crayfish are in depression in Russia and local species are not cultivated. In this situation, experimental cultivation of allochtonous australian crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus is conducted. This species is distinguished by high reproductive abilities and good consumer properties. It has domesticated in Russia spontaneously and produced 9–10 generations in Astrakhan Region. Certain natural selection in the process of domestication provides adaptive ability of this species to local environments and its capability to reproduce a viable progeny, so there is no doubts in good prospects of its cultivation in industrial conditions.

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Non-breeding feather concentrations of testosterone, corticosterone and cortisol are associated with subsequent survival in wild house sparrows

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2011.2062 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 279 (1733) ◽

pp. 1560-1566 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Lee Koren ◽

Shinichi Nakagawa ◽

Terry Burke ◽

Kiran K. Soma ◽

Katherine E. Wynne-Edwards ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Hormones ◽

Passer Domesticus ◽

House Sparrows ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Darwinian Fitness ◽

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽

In The Wild ◽

The Subject ◽

As Stress

Potential mechanistic mediators of Darwinian fitness, such as stress hormones or sex hormones, have been the focus of many studies. An inverse relationship between fitness and stress or sex hormone concentrations has been widely assumed, although empirical evidence is scarce. Feathers gradually accumulate hormones during their growth and provide a novel way to measure hormone concentrations integrated over time. Using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, we measured testosterone, corticosterone and cortisol in the feathers of house sparrows ( Passer domesticus ) in a wild population which is the subject of a long-term study. Although corticosterone is considered the dominant avian glucocorticoid, we unambiguously identified cortisol in feathers. In addition, we found that feathers grown during the post-nuptial moult in autumn contained testosterone, corticosterone and cortisol levels that were significantly higher in birds that subsequently died over the following winter than in birds that survived. Thus, feather steroids are candidate prospective biomarkers to predict the future survival of individuals in the wild.

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Population genetics of the coral Acropora millepora: Towards a genomic predictor of bleaching

10.1101/867754 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Zachary L. Fuller ◽

Veronique J.L. Mocellin ◽

Luke Morris ◽

Neal Cantin ◽

Jihanne Shepherd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genome Wide Association Study ◽

Balancing Selection ◽

Genome Wide Association ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

Acropora Millepora ◽

Genome Wide ◽

A Genome ◽

In The Wild

AbstractAlthough reef-building corals are rapidly declining worldwide, responses to bleaching vary both within and among species. Because these inter-individual differences are partly heritable, they should in principle be predictable from genomic data. Towards that goal, we generated a chromosome-scale genome assembly for the coral Acropora millepora. We then obtained whole genome sequences for 237 phenotyped samples collected at 12 reefs distributed along the Great Barrier Reef, among which we inferred very little population structure. Scanning the genome for evidence of local adaptation, we detected signatures of long-term balancing selection in the heat-shock co-chaperone sacsin. We further used 213 of the samples to conduct a genome-wide association study of visual bleaching score, incorporating the polygenic score derived from it into a predictive model for bleaching in the wild. These results set the stage for the use of genomics-based approaches in conservation strategies.

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The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2104642118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 118 (48) ◽

pp. e2104642118

Author(s):

Marty Kardos ◽

Ellie E. Armstrong ◽

Sarah W. Fitzpatrick ◽

Samantha Hauser ◽

Philip W. Hedrick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Population Viability ◽

Adaptive Potential ◽

Biodiversity Crisis ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Simulation Based ◽

Functional Genetic Variation

The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field of conservation biology has placed too much focus on conserving genome-wide genetic variation, and that the field should instead focus on managing the subset of functional genetic variation that is thought to affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate the feasibility and likely benefits of this approach in conservation. We find that population genetics theory and empirical results show that conserving genome-wide genetic variation is generally the best approach to prevent inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential from driving populations toward extinction. Focusing conservation efforts on presumably functional genetic variation will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, and counterproductive when prioritized over genome-wide genetic variation. Given the increasing rate of habitat loss and other environmental changes, failure to recognize the detrimental effects of lost genome-wide genetic variation on long-term population viability will only worsen the biodiversity crisis.

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