Rapid phenotypic evolution with shallow genomic differentiation during early stages of high elevation adaptation in Eurasian Tree Sparrows

Qu, Yanhua,1974-Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China (författare)

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.

Chen, C H (författare)
Xiong, Y (författare)
She, H S (författare)
Zhang, Y E (författare)
Cheng, Y L (författare)
DuBay, S (författare)
Li, D M (författare)
Ericson, Per G P,1956-Naturhistoriska riksmuseet,Enheten för bioinformatik och genetik(Swepub:nrm)pererics (författare)
Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaEnheten för bioinformatik och genetik (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:National Science Review: Oxford University Press (OUP)2053-714X2095-5138

Av författaren/redakt...: Qu, Yanhua, 1974 ...; Chen, C H; Xiong, Y; She, H S; Zhang, Y E; Cheng, Y L; visa fler...; DuBay, S; Li, D M; Ericson, Per G P ...; visa färre...

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