The role of selection and historical factors in driving population differentiation along an elevational gradient in an island bird

J. A. M. Bertrand, B. Delahaie, Y. X. C. Bourgeois, T. Duval, R. García-Jiménez, J. Cornuault, B. Pujol, C. Thébaud, B. Milá

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Adaptation to local environmental conditions and the range dynamics of populations can influence evolutionary divergence along environmental gradients. Thus, it is important to investigate patterns of both phenotypic and genetic variations among populations to reveal the respective roles of these two types of factors in driving population differentiation. Here, we test for evidence of phenotypic and genetic structure across populations of a passerine bird (Zosterops borbonicus) distributed along a steep elevational gradient on the island of Réunion. Using 11 microsatellite loci screened in 401 individuals from 18 localities distributed along the gradient, we found that genetic differentiation occurred at two spatial levels: (i) between two main population groups corresponding to highland and lowland areas, respectively, and (ii) within each of these two groups. In contrast, several morphological traits varied gradually along the gradient. Comparison of neutral genetic differentiation (FST) and phenotypic differentiation (PST) showed that PST largely exceeds FST at several morphological traits, which is consistent with a role for local adaptation in driving morphological divergence along the gradient. Overall, our results revealed an area of secondary contact midway up the gradient between two major, cryptic, population groups likely diverged in allopatry. Remarkably, local adaptation has shaped phenotypic differentiation irrespective of population history, resulting in different patterns of variation along the elevational gradient. Our findings underscore the importance of understanding both historical and selective factors when trying to explain variation along environmental gradients.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)824-836
    Number of pages13
    JournalJournal of Evolutionary Biology
    Volume29
    Issue number4
    Early online date18 Jan 2016
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2016

    Keywords

    • Altitudinal gradient
    • Local adaptation
    • Mascarene Islands
    • Microsatellites
    • Natural selection
    • PST/FST comparisons
    • Population history
    • Réunion grey white-eye
    • Secondary contact
    • Zosterops borbonicus

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