Community genetics in the time of next‐generation molecular technologies

Abstract

Understanding the interactions of co-occurring species within and across trophic levels provides key information needed for understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that underlie biological diversity. As genetics has only recently been integrated into the study of community-level interactions, the time is right for a critical evaluation of potential new, gene-based approaches to studying communities. Next-generation molecular techniques, used in parallel with field-based observations and manipulative experiments across spatio-temporal gradients, are key to expanding our understanding of community-level processes. Here, we introduce a variety of '-omics' tools, with recent studies of plant-insect herbivores and of ectomycorrhizal systems providing detailed examples of how next-generation approaches can revolutionize our understanding of interspecific interactions. We suggest ways that novel technologies may convert community genetics from a field that relies on correlative inference to one that reveals causal mechanisms of genetic co-variation and adaptations within communities.

A practical guide to environmental association analysis in landscape genomics

“…Furthermore, a wealth of other environmental data can possibly be considered, including geological factors, vegetation types, land cover, land use or species distributions, which might also serve as proxies for trophic interactions, prey availability or pathogen pressure (Gugerli et al . ).…”

Genetic Insights into Ecological Succession from Oak- (Quercus robur L.) to Beech- (Fagus sylvatica L.) Dominated Forest Stands

“…However, despite increasing knowledge of ecology (in a broad sense) of terrestrial ecosystems, little is known about the role of genetic diversity of foundation species in the persistence of natural populations (Lande and Shannon, 1996;Hughes et al, 2008). Genetic diversity of keystone tree species is believed to be one of the drivers determining species and genetic diversity of the coexisting communities in forest ecosystems (Whitham et al, 2003(Whitham et al, , 2006Gugerli et al, 2013). In temperate zones, forest ecosystems dominated by two or more key-stone tree species are of particular interest, because they may promote greater diversity of coexisting organisms.…”

Landscape community genomics: understanding eco-evolutionary processes in complex environments

“…Similarly, community genetics lacks consideration of important spatial and environmental processes, and generally focuses on how a single foundational (or keystone) species shapes the evolution of other members of the local community [18]. There is a growing body of empirical evidence that species interactions (e.g., mutualism, competition, predation, hybridization, disease spread, etc.)…”

“…x TREE-1900; No. of Pages 8 spatiotemporal patterns of environmental variation change the strength or pattern of genetic structure that foundation species impose on local communities [18]. In the case of co-evolution between humans and dairy cattle, adaptive and neutral markers were necessary to illuminate specific patterns of genetic structure driven by farming (Box 2) [38].…”