New evidence for habitat-specific selection in Wadden Sea Zostera marina populations revealed by genome scanning using SNP and microsatellite markers

Eelgrass Zostera marina is an ecosystem-engineering species of outstanding importance for coastal soft sediment habitats that lives in widely diverging habitats. Our first goal was to detect divergent selection and habitat adaptation at the molecular genetic level; hence, we compared three pairs of...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine Biology
Main Authors: Oetjen, Katharina, Ferber, Steven, Dankert, Ilka, Reusch, Thorsten B. H.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2010
Subjects:
SALMON SALMO-SALAR
SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS
DIVERGENT SELECTION
NATURAL-SELECTION
ECOLOGISTS GUIDE
GENE ONTOLOGY
SCANS
DIFFERENTIATION
ADAPTATION
SWEEPS
Salmo salar
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11370/7fdd294f-47ea-42a3-ba94-3bc16cd16605
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/7fdd294f-47ea-42a3-ba94-3bc16cd16605
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1297-8
Description
Summary:Eelgrass Zostera marina is an ecosystem-engineering species of outstanding importance for coastal soft sediment habitats that lives in widely diverging habitats. Our first goal was to detect divergent selection and habitat adaptation at the molecular genetic level; hence, we compared three pairs of permanently submerged versus intertidal populations using genome scans, a genetic marker-based approach. Three different statistical approaches for outlier identification revealed divergent selection at 6 loci among 46 markers (6 SNPs, 29 EST microsatellites and 11 anonymous microsatellites). These outlier loci were repeatedly detected in parallel habitat comparisons, suggesting the influence of habitat-specific selection. A second goal was to test the consistency of the general genome scan approach by doubling the number of gene-linked microsatellites and adding single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci, a novel marker type for seagrasses, compared to a previous study. Reassuringly, results with respect to selection were consistent among most marker loci. Functionally interesting marker loci were linked to genes involved in osmoregulation and water balance, suggesting different osmotic stress, and reproductive processes (seed maturation), pointing to different life history strategies. The identified outlier loci are valuable candidates for further investigation into the genetic basis of natural selection.

Similar Items