Genetic basis of amphibian larval development along a latitudinal gradient: Gene diversity, selection and links with phenotypic variation in transcription factor C/EBP‐1

• Published in: Molecular Ecology
• Main Authors: Meyer‐lucht, Yvonne, Luquet, Émilien, Jóhannesdóttir, Fríða, Rödin‐mörch, Patrik, Quintela, María, Richter‐boix, Alex, Höglund, Jacob, Laurila, Anssi
• Other Authors: Department of Ecology and Genetics Uppsala (EBC), Uppsala University, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés (LEHNA), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ithaca, Cornell University New York, Ecology and Genetics Research, University of Oulu, Department of Population Genetics, Institute of Marine Research Bergen (IMR), University of Bergen (UiB)-University of Bergen (UiB)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2019
• Subjects: daptation; amphibians; climate change; ecological genetics; life history evolution; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: https://univ-lyon1.hal.science/hal-02169391; https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15123

International audience Ectotherm development rates often show adaptive divergence along climatic gradients, but the genetic basis for this variation is rarely studied. Here, we investigated the genetic basis for phenotypic variation in larval development in the moor frog Rana arvalis from five regions along a latitudinal gradient from Germany to northern Sweden. We focused on the C/EBP‐1 gene, a transcription factor associated with larval development time. Allele frequencies at C/EBP‐1 varied strongly among geographic regions. Overall, the distribution of alleles along the gradient was in concordance with the dual postglacial colonization routes into Scandinavia, with a large number of alleles exclusively present along the southern colonization route. Only three of 38 alleles were shared between the routes. Analysis of contemporary selection on C/EBP‐1 showed divergent selection among the regions, likely reflecting adaptation to the local environmental conditions, although this was especially strong between southern and northern regions coinciding also with lineages from different colonization routes. Overall, the C/EBP‐1 gene has historically been under purifying selection, however, two specific amino acid positions showed significant signals of positive selection. These positions showed divergence between southern and northern regions, and we suggest that they are functionally involved in the climatic adaptation of larval development. Using phenotypic data from a common garden experiment, we found evidence for specific C/EBP‐1 alleles being correlated with larval development time, suggesting a functional role in adaptation of larval development to large‐scale climatic variation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.