Parallel divergent adaptation along replicated altitudinal gradients in Alpine trout

Open access
Datum
2012-10Typ
- Journal Article
ETH Bibliographie
yes
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Abstract
Background
The European trout (Salmo trutta species complex) occurs across a very wide altitudinal range from lowland rivers to alpine streams. Historically, the major European river systems contained different, evolutionarily distinct trout lineages, and some of this genetic diversity has persisted in spite of extensive human-mediated translocations. We used AFLP-based genome scans to investigate the extent of potentially adaptive divergence among major drainages and along altitudinal gradients replicated in several rivers.
Results
The proportion of loci showing evidence of divergent selection was larger between drainages than along altitudinal transects within drainages. This suggests divergent selection is stronger between drainages, or adaptive divergence is constrained by gene flow among populations within drainages, although the latter could not be confirmed at a more local scale. Still, altitudinal divergence occurred and, at approximately 2% of the markers, parallel changes of the AFLP band frequencies with altitude were observed suggesting that altitude may well be an important source of divergent selection within rivers.
Conclusions
Our results indicate that adaptive genetic divergence is common both between major European river systems and along altitudinal gradients within drainages. Alpine trout appear to be a promising model system to investigate the relative roles of divergent selection and gene flow in promoting or preventing adaptation to climate gradients. Mehr anzeigen
Persistenter Link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000063996Publikationsstatus
publishedExterne Links
Zeitschrift / Serie
BMC Evolutionary BiologyBand
Seiten / Artikelnummer
Verlag
BioMed CentralThema
European trout; Local adaptation; Genome scan; AFLP; Environmental gradient; Parallel adaptationETH Bibliographie
yes
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