QTL mapping for sexually dimorphic fitness-related traits in wild bighorn sheep

“…Yet, such effects have rarely been assessed in wild populations and natural habitats (Slate ; Poissant et al . ). In this study, significant GEI was found in four out of six individual loci (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Genes that affect Atlantic salmon growth in hatchery do not have the same effect in the wild

2016

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1. Dissecting the genetic mechanisms of phenotypic traits that influence fitness in diverse environments provides the important first step towards understanding the robustness of the observed genotype-phenotype associations, the role of genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) shaping fitness trade-offs and maintaining genetic variation of quantitative traits. However, the molecular basis of complex traits in vertebrates has rarely, if ever, been studied simultaneously in natural and controlled laboratory environments. 2. To evaluate whether the same genomic regions affect the growth of juvenile Atlantic salmon in wild and hatchery conditions, we mapped QTLs affecting the size-at-age of juvenile parr after the first summer utilizing the same mapping (family) material to avoid confounding effects of different genetic background. 3. We identified three significant QTLs for fork length in the hatchery that were undetectable in the natural environment, while two QTLs detected in the wild were not observed when fish were reared in hatchery conditions. Altogether, four individual markers showed significant (P < 0Á05) genotype-by-environment interactions. The allelic effects for three QTLs observed in the hatchery were in the same direction in both environments, while for two QTLs the alleles associated with a larger body size in the wild showed the opposite (albeit non-significant) trend in the hatchery environment. 4. Our results indicate that the growth of juvenile salmon in two contrasting environments is controlled by different genetic mechanisms that are most likely influenced by multiple processes, including food availability, inter-and intraspecific competition, and trade-offs between the costs and benefits of individual movement in the wild. Furthermore, the findings of the study imply that a substantial proportion of growth-related QTLs reported by earlier studies in a hatchery environment may represent QTLs specific to farmed conditions and hence have no effect on fish growth in the wild. For comprehensive understanding of the molecular, physiological and ecological mechanisms influencing complex traits, it is therefore crucial to evaluate the genotype-phenotype relationships under natural conditions, rather than relying solely on laboratory experiments.

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“…), a trait genetically correlated to female mass (genetic correlation = 0.43; Poissant et al. ). It was therefore suggested that anthropogenic pressures, such as selective hunting, could lead indirectly to maladaptive changes in female mass and potentially negatively affect population dynamics (Kuparinen and Festa‐Bianchet ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From 1988 (except 1994 to 1996), tissue samples were collected for genetic analysis (Poissant et al. ). Paternities were assigned using CERVUS (Marshall et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluctuating effects of genetic and plastic changes in body mass on population dynamics in a large herbivore

Pigeon

Ezard

Festa-Bianchet

et al. 2017

Ecology

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22Recent studies suggest that evolutionary changes can occur on a contemporary time scale. Hence, 23 evolution can influence ecology and vice-versa. To understand the importance of eco-evolutionary 24 dynamics in population dynamics, we must quantify the relative contribution of ecological and 25 evolutionary changes to population growth and other ecological processes. To date, however, most eco-26 evolutionary dynamics studies have not partitioned the relative contribution of plastic and evolutionary 27 changes in traits on population, community and ecosystem processes. Here, we quantify the effects of 28 heritable and non-heritable changes in body mass distribution on survival, recruitment and population 29 growth in wild bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and compare their importance to the effects of changes 30 in age structure, population density and weather. We applied a combination of a pedigree-based 31 quantitative genetics model, statistical analyses on demography and a new statistical decomposition 32 technique, the Geber method, to a long-term dataset of bighorn sheep on Ram Mountain (Canada), 33 monitored individually from 1975 to 2012. We show three main results: (1) The relative importance of 34 heritable change in mass, non-heritable change in mass, age structure, density and climate on 35 population growth rate changed substantially over time. (2) An increase in body mass was accompanied 36by an increase in population growth through higher survival and recruitment rate. (3) Over the entire 37 study period, changes in the body mass distribution of ewes, mostly through non-heritable changes, 38 affected population growth to a similar extent as changes in age structure or in density. The importance 39 of evolutionary changes was small compared to that of other drivers of changes in population growth 40 but increased with time as evolutionary changes accumulated. Evolutionary changes became 41 increasingly important for population growth as the length of the study period considered increased. 42

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QTL mapping for sexually dimorphic fitness-related traits in wild bighorn sheep

Cited by 35 publications

References 67 publications

Whole‐genome resequencing of extreme phenotypes in collared flycatchers highlights the difficulty of detecting quantitative trait loci in natural populations

Whole‐genome resequencing of extreme phenotypes in collared flycatchers highlights the difficulty of detecting quantitative trait loci in natural populations

Genes that affect Atlantic salmon growth in hatchery do not have the same effect in the wild

Fluctuating effects of genetic and plastic changes in body mass on population dynamics in a large herbivore

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