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Rapid phenotypic evolution with shallow genomic differentiation during early stages of high elevation adaptation in Eurasian Tree Sparrows.
- Source :
-
National science review [Natl Sci Rev] 2020 Jan; Vol. 7 (1), pp. 113-127. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Sep 12. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Known as the 'third polar region', the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau represents one of the harshest highland environments in the world and yet a number of organisms thrive there. Previous studies of birds, animals and humans have focused on well-differentiated populations in later stages of phenotypic divergence. The adaptive processes during the initial phase of highland adaptation remain poorly understood. We studied a human commensal, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, which has followed human agriculture to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Despite strong phenotypic differentiation at multiple levels, in particular in muscle-related phenotypes, highland and lowland populations show shallow genomic divergence and the colonization event occurred within the past few thousand years. In a one-month acclimation experiment investigating phenotypic plasticity, we exposed adult lowland tree sparrows to a hypoxic environment and did not observe muscle changes. Through population genetic analyses, we identified a signature of polygenic adaptation, whereby shifts in allele frequencies are spread across multiple loci, many of which are associated with muscle-related processes. Our results reveal a case of positive selection in which polygenic adaptation appears to drive rapid phenotypic evolution, shedding light on early stages of adaptive evolution to a novel environment.<br /> (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of China Science Publishing & Media Ltd.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2053-714X
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- National science review
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34692022
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwz138