Morphological Divergence of Continental and Island Populations of Canada Lynx

Khidas, Kamal; Duhaime, Johannie; Huynh, Howard M.

doi:10.1656/045.020.0413

Cited by 7 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…And although we obtained a limited number of SNPs due to our sequencing effort and epiGBS library preparation protocol, they still provide adequate power appropriate for our analyses (Shafer et al, ) and our observed patterns are largely consistent with microsatellite data (Rueness et al, ). Therefore, the island lynx population appears to have been isolated for thousands of years, which appears long enough to have generated distinct phenotypic differences from mainland lynx, notably in their diminished size (Khidas et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the segregation of Newfoundland from the mainland was largely reflected across both genetic and epigenetic data sets, the methylated outliers suggest that epigenetic mechanisms are driving observed phenotypic differentiation. Provided that DNA methylation is affecting gene expression over these differentially methylated genes, epigenetic variation could explain morphological differences observed between mainland and island populations (Khidas et al, ; Van Zyll De Jong, ), as predicted by the Island Rule (Lomolino, ). Skull size (and hence body size) measurements in Canada lynx are hypothesized to be negatively correlated with population size (Yom‐Tov, Yom‐Tov, MacDonald, & Yom‐Tov, ); we suggest that DNA methylation could be regulating phenotypic plasticity in body growth that maximizes a phenotypic optima to smaller sizes thereby regulating population dynamics as prey abundance decreases.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genome‐scale sampling suggests cryptic epigenetic structuring and insular divergence in Canada lynx

2019

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Determining the molecular signatures of adaptive differentiation is a fundamental component of evolutionary biology. A key challenge is to identify such signatures in wild organisms, particularly between populations of highly mobile species that undergo substantial gene flow. The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is one species where mainland populations appear largely undifferentiated at traditional genetic markers, despite inhabiting diverse environments and displaying phenotypic variation. Here, we used high‐throughput sequencing to investigate both neutral genetic structure and epigenetic differentiation across the distributional range of Canada lynx. Newfoundland lynx were identified as the most differentiated population at neutral genetic markers, with demographic modelling suggesting that divergence from the mainland occurred at the end of the last glaciation (20–33 KYA). In contrast, epigenetic structure revealed hidden levels of differentiation across the range coincident with environmental determinants including winter conditions, particularly in the peripheral Newfoundland and Alaskan populations. Several biological pathways related to morphology were differentially methylated between populations, suggesting that epigenetic modifications might explain morphological differences seen between geographically peripheral populations. Our results indicate that epigenetic modifications, specifically DNA methylation, are powerful markers to investigate population differentiation in wild and non‐model systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome‐scale sampling suggests cryptic epigenetic structuring and insular divergence in Canada lynx

2019

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“…Recent occurrences of wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758) on Newfoundland are thought to be migrants from Labrador (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 2012), and recent outbreaks of rabies on the island of Newfoundland suggest immigration of arctic fox (Alopex lagopus (L., 1758)) or red fox from Labrador or Quebec (Nadin-Davis et al 2008). Lynx in Newfoundland are morphologically (Saunders 1964;van Zyll de Jong 1975;Khidas et al 2013) and genetically (Row et al 2012) distinct from mainland lynx populations. We found that lynx cross the Strait of Belle Isle from mainland (Labrador and (or) Quebec) to Newfoundland and vice versa-this is one of few contemporary examples of medium-sized carnivores crossing the Strait of Belle Isle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation of peripheral populations of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)

2015

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Landscape barriers to gene flow, such as rivers, can affect animal populations by limiting the potential for rescue of these isolated populations. We tested the riverine barrier hypothesis, predicting that the St. Lawrence River in eastern Canada would cause genetic divergence of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis Kerr, 1792) populations by restricting dispersal and gene flow. We sampled 558 lynx from eastern Canada and genotyped these at 14 microsatellite loci. We found three genetic clusters, defined by the St. Lawrence River and the Strait of Belle Isle, a waterway separating Newfoundland from mainland Canada. However, these waterways were not absolute barriers, as we found 24 individuals that appeared to have crossed them. Peripheral populations of lynx are threatened in parts of Canada and the USA, and it is thought that these populations are maintained by immigration from the core. Our findings suggest that in eastern North America, rescue might be less likely because the St. Lawrence River restricts dispersal. We found that ice cover was often sufficient to allow lynx to walk across the ice in winter. If lynx used ice bridges in winter, then climate warming could cause a reduction in the extent and longevity of river and sea ice, further isolating these peripheral lynx populations.

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“…Canada lynx also inhabit the islands of Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island, Canada. Little is known, however, about the origin and subsequent isolation of these populations in comparison with the mainland population (Khidas, Duhaime, & Huynh, ). Row et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the inherent isolation of lynx on Cape Breton Island, morphological differentiation of Canada lynx across its range is greatest between individuals on Cape Breton Island and mainland Canada (Khidas et al., ). Specifically, of 18 craniodental traits measured by Khidas et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection and drift influence genetic differentiation of insular Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) on Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island

Prentice

Bowman

Khidas

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Island populations have long been important for understanding the dynamics and mechanisms of evolution in natural systems. While genetic drift is often strong on islands due to founder events and population bottlenecks, the strength of selection can also be strong enough to counteract the effects of drift. Here, we used several analyses to identify the roles of genetic drift and selection on genetic differentiation and diversity of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) across eastern Canada, including the islands of Cape Breton and Newfoundland. Specifically, we assessed whether we could identify a genetic component to the observed morphological differentiation that has been reported across insular and mainland lynx. We used a dinucleotide repeat within the promoter region of a functional gene that has been linked to mammalian body size, insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1). We found high genetic differentiation at neutral molecular markers but convergence of allele frequencies at the IGF‐1 locus. Thus, we showed that while genetic drift has influenced the observed genetic structure of lynx at neutral molecular markers, natural selection has also played a role in the observed patterns of genetic diversity at the IGF‐1 locus of insular lynx.

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Morphological Divergence of Continental and Island Populations of Canada Lynx

Cited by 7 publications

References 37 publications

Genome‐scale sampling suggests cryptic epigenetic structuring and insular divergence in Canada lynx

Genome‐scale sampling suggests cryptic epigenetic structuring and insular divergence in Canada lynx

Isolation of peripheral populations of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Selection and drift influence genetic differentiation of insular Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) on Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island

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