Local adaptation with high gene flow: temperature parameters drive adaptation to altitude in the common frog (Rana temporaria)
AffiliationUniversity of Chester; University of Glasgow; Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
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AbstractBoth environmental and genetic influences can result in phenotypic variation. Quantifying the relative contributions of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity to phenotypes is key to understanding the effect of environmental variation on populations. Identifying the selective pressures that drive divergence is an important, but often lacking, next step. High gene flow between high- and low-altitude common frog (Rana temporaria) breeding sites has previously been demonstrated in Scotland. The aim of this study was to assess whether local adaptation occurs in the face of high gene flow and to identify potential environmental selection pressures that drive adaptation. Phenotypic variation in larval traits was quantified in R. temporaria from paired high- and low-altitude sites using three common temperature treatments. Local adaptation was assessed using QST -FST analyses, and quantitative phenotypic divergence was related to environmental parameters using Mantel tests. Although evidence of local adaptation was found for all traits measured, only variation in larval period and growth rate was consistent with adaptation to altitude. Moreover, this was only evident in the three mountains with the highest high-altitude sites. This variation was correlated with mean summer and winter temperatures, suggesting that temperature parameters are potentially strong selective pressures maintaining local adaptation, despite high gene flow.
CitationMuir, A. P., Biek, R., Thomas, R. & Mable, B. K. (2014). Local adaptation with high gene flow: temperature parameters drive adaptation to altitude in the common frog (Rana temporaria). Molecular Ecology, 23(3), 561–574. DOI: 10.1111/mec.12624
DescriptionThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Muir, A. P., Biek, R., Thomas, R. & Mable, B. K. (2014). Local adaptation with high gene flow: temperature parameters drive adaptation to altitude in the common frog (Rana temporaria). Molecular Ecology, 23(3), 561–574. DOI: 10.1111/mec.12624, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.12624/full. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving
SponsorsFieldwork was supported by grants from the Royal Geographic Society, the Glasgow Natural History Society and the Scottish Mountaineering Trust. Permission for sampling from protected areas was granted by Scottish Natural Heritage. This study was supported by PhD CASE studentship funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, in partnership with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. References
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