Gene flow counteracts the effect of drift in a Swiss population of snow voles fluctuating in size

García‐Navas, Vicente; Bonnet, Timothée; Waldvogel, Dominique; Wandeler, Peter; Camenisch, Glauco; Postma, Erik

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.06.021

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 114 publications

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“…Based on ten y of data on an alpine population of snow voles [ 51 , 52 ] ( Chionomys nivalis , Martin 1842), we find that relatively heavy individuals both survive better ( p = 0.04) and produce more offspring per y ( p = 0.003). Assuming causality, this generates strong phenotypic selection favouring heavier individuals (selection differential S = 0.86 g, p < 10 −5 ; mean adultmass = 41.7 g, standard deviation = 5.2 g).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bigger Is Fitter? Quantitative Genetic Decomposition of Selection Reveals an Adaptive Evolutionary Decline of Body Mass in a Wild Rodent Population

et al. 2017

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In natural populations, quantitative trait dynamics often do not appear to follow evolutionary predictions. Despite abundant examples of natural selection acting on heritable traits, conclusive evidence for contemporary adaptive evolution remains rare for wild vertebrate populations, and phenotypic stasis seems to be the norm. This so-called “stasis paradox” highlights our inability to predict evolutionary change, which is especially concerning within the context of rapid anthropogenic environmental change. While the causes underlying the stasis paradox are hotly debated, comprehensive attempts aiming at a resolution are lacking. Here, we apply a quantitative genetic framework to individual-based long-term data for a wild rodent population and show that despite a positive association between body mass and fitness, there has been a genetic change towards lower body mass. The latter represents an adaptive response to viability selection favouring juveniles growing up to become relatively small adults, i.e., with a low potential adult mass, which presumably complete their development earlier. This selection is particularly strong towards the end of the snow-free season, and it has intensified in recent years, coinciding which a change in snowfall patterns. Importantly, neither the negative evolutionary change, nor the selective pressures that drive it, are apparent on the phenotypic level, where they are masked by phenotypic plasticity and a non causal (i.e., non genetic) positive association between body mass and fitness, respectively. Estimating selection at the genetic level enabled us to uncover adaptive evolution in action and to identify the corresponding phenotypic selective pressure. We thereby demonstrate that natural populations can show a rapid and adaptive evolutionary response to a novel selective pressure, and that explicitly (quantitative) genetic models are able to provide us with an understanding of the causes and consequences of selection that is superior to purely phenotypic estimates of selection and evolutionary change.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bigger Is Fitter? Quantitative Genetic Decomposition of Selection Reveals an Adaptive Evolutionary Decline of Body Mass in a Wild Rodent Population

et al. 2017

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“…Such regular and severe declines in population size are expected to affect neutral genetic variation through genetic drift. However, several studies have shown that cyclic rodent populations maintained high levels of genetic diversity, at least at a metapopulation scale (Berthier et al, 2005;Ehrich et al, 2009;Ehrich et al, 2001;García-Navas et al, 2015;Gauffre et al, 2014;Winternitz et al, 2014). Marginal and temporal decreases in allelic richness were previously observed by Rikalainen et al (2012), who studied Finnish bank vole populations at a larger scale (100 km 2 ) around Konnevesi.…”

Section: Genetic Drift Bank Vole Dispersal and Puuv Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 89%

Microevolution of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) at neutral and immune-related genes during multiannual dynamic cycles: Consequences for Puumala hantavirus epidemiology

Dubois

Galan

Cosson

et al. 2017

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

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Understanding how host dynamics, including variations of population size and dispersal, may affect the epidemiology of infectious diseases through ecological and evolutionary processes is an active research area. Here we focus on a bank vole (Myodes glareolus) metapopulation surveyed in Finland between 2005 and 2009. Bank vole is the reservoir of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV), the agent of nephropathia epidemica (NE, a mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal symptom) in humans. M. glareolus populations experience multiannual density fluctuations that may influence the level of genetic diversity maintained in bank voles, PUUV prevalence and NE occurrence. We examine bank vole metapopulation genetics at presumably neutral markers and immune-related genes involved in susceptibility to PUUV (Tnf-promoter, Tlr4, Tlr7 and Mx2 gene) to investigate the links between population dynamics, microevolutionary processes and PUUV epidemiology. We show that genetic drift slightly and transiently affects neutral and adaptive genetic variability within the metapopulation. Gene flow seems to counterbalance its effects during the multiannual density fluctuations. The low abundance phase may therefore be too short to impact genetic variation in the host, and consequently viral genetic diversity. Environmental heterogeneity does not seem to affect vole gene flow, which might explain the absence of spatial structure previously detected in PUUV in this area. Besides, our results suggest the role of vole dispersal on PUUV circulation through sex-specific and density-dependent movements. We find little evidence of selection acting on immune-related genes within this metapopulation. Footprint of positive selection is detected at Tlr-4 gene in 2008 only. We observe marginally significant associations between Mx2 genotype and PUUV genogroups. These results show that neutral processes seem to be the main factors affecting the evolution of these immune-related genes at a contemporary scale, although the relative effects of neutral and adaptive forces could vary temporally with density fluctuations. Immune related gene polymorphism may in turn partly influence PUUV epidemiology in this metapopulation.

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“…While the resulting increase in inbreeding may lead to inbreeding depression (e.g., O'Grady et al, 2006;Pekkala, Knott, Kotiaho, Nissinen, & Puurtinen, 2014), this is not always the case (e.g., Hedrick et al 2016;Quaglietti et al, 2017;Smith, 1995). Additionally, given enough time, other forces can ameliorate the impact of increased homozygosity including genetic purging (Boakes, Wang, & Amos, 2007;Glémin, 2003;Lopez-Cortegano, Vilas, Caballero, & Garcia-Dorado, 2016), increased gene flow (Garcia-Navas et al, 2015) or selection that can overwhelm the force of genetic drift (Bouzat, 2010). However, when inbreeding depression is not alleviated, effects such as decreased reproduction can lead to population crashes (Liberg et al, 2005;Räikkönen, Vucetich, Peterson, & Nelson, 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of barriers to dispersal is masked by long lifespans and large population sizes

Hoffman

Willoughby

Swanson

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Population genetic analyses of species inhabiting fragmented landscapes are essential tools for conservation. Occasionally, analyses of fragmented populations find no evidence of isolation, even though a barrier to dispersal is apparent. In some cases, not enough time may have passed to observe divergence due to genetic drift, a problem particularly relevant for long‐lived species with overlapping generations. Failing to consider this quality during population structure analyses could result in incorrect conclusions about the impact of fragmentation on the species. We designed a model to explore how lifespan and population size influence perceived population structure of isolated populations over time. This iterative model tracked how simulated populations of variable lifespan and population size were affected by drift alone, using a freshwater mussel, Quadrula quadrula (mapleleaf), as a model system. In addition to exhibiting dramatic lifespan variability among species, mussels are also highly imperiled and exhibit fragmentation by dams throughout the range of many species. Results indicated that, unless population size was small (<50 individuals) or lifespan short (<22 years), observing genetic divergence among populations was unlikely. Even if wild populations are isolated, observing population structure in long‐lived mussels from modern damming practices is unlikely because it takes longer for population structure to develop in these species than most North American dams have existed. Larger population sizes and longer lifespans increase the time needed for significant divergence to occur. This study helps illuminate the factors that influence genetic responses by populations to isolation and provides a useful model for conservation‐oriented research.

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Gene flow counteracts the effect of drift in a Swiss population of snow voles fluctuating in size

Cited by 18 publications

References 114 publications

Bigger Is Fitter? Quantitative Genetic Decomposition of Selection Reveals an Adaptive Evolutionary Decline of Body Mass in a Wild Rodent Population

Bigger Is Fitter? Quantitative Genetic Decomposition of Selection Reveals an Adaptive Evolutionary Decline of Body Mass in a Wild Rodent Population

Microevolution of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) at neutral and immune-related genes during multiannual dynamic cycles: Consequences for Puumala hantavirus epidemiology

Detection of barriers to dispersal is masked by long lifespans and large population sizes

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