Adaptive population divergence and directional gene flow across steep elevational gradients in a climate‐sensitive mammal

Molecular Ecology
By: , and 

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Abstract

The American pika is a thermally sensitive, alpine lagomorph species. Recent climate-associated population extirpations and genetic signatures of reduced population sizes range-wide indicate the viability of this species is sensitive to climate change. To test for potential adaptive responses to climate stress, we sampled pikas along two elevational gradients (each ~470 to 1640 m) and employed three outlier detection methods, BAYESCAN, LFMM, and BAYPASS, to scan for genotype-environment associations in samples genotyped at 30,763 SNP loci. We resolved 173 loci with robust evidence of natural selection detected by either two independent analyses or replicated in both transects. A BLASTN search of these outlier loci revealed several genes associated with metabolic function and oxygen transport, indicating natural selection from thermal stress and hypoxia. We also found evidence of directional gene flow primarily downslope from large high-elevation populations and reduced gene flow at outlier loci, a pattern suggesting potential impediments to the upward elevational movement of adaptive alleles in response to contemporary climate change. Finally, we documented evidence of reduced genetic diversity associated the south-facing transect and an increase in corticosterone stress levels associated with inbreeding. This study suggests the American pika is already undergoing climate-associated natural selection at multiple genomic regions. Further analysis is needed to determine if the rate of climate adaptation in the American pika and other thermally sensitive species will be able to keep pace with rapidly changing climate conditions.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Adaptive population divergence and directional gene flow across steep elevational gradients in a climate‐sensitive mammal
Series title Molecular Ecology
DOI 10.1111/mec.14701
Volume 27
Issue 11
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
Description 17 p.
First page 2512
Last page 2528
Country United States
State Washington
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