On the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolution
Abstract Long‐term field studies coupled with quantitative genomics offer a powerful means to understand the genetic bases underlying quantitative traits and their evolutionary changes. However, analyzing and interpreting the time scales at which adaptive evolution occurs is challenging. First, whil...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Evolution Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/evl3.86 |
| _version_ | 1797709657852084224 |
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| author | Charles Perrier Anne Charmantier |
| author_facet | Charles Perrier Anne Charmantier |
| author_sort | Charles Perrier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Long‐term field studies coupled with quantitative genomics offer a powerful means to understand the genetic bases underlying quantitative traits and their evolutionary changes. However, analyzing and interpreting the time scales at which adaptive evolution occurs is challenging. First, while evolution is predictable in the short term, with strikingly rapid phenotypic changes in data series, it remains unpredictable in the long term. Second, while the temporal dynamics of some loci with large effects on phenotypic variation and fitness have been characterized, this task can be complicated in cases of highly polygenic trait architecture implicating numerous small effect size loci, or when statistical tests are sensitive to the heterogeneity of some key characteristics of the genome, like variation in recombination rate along the chromosomes. After introducing these aforementioned challenges, we discuss a recent investigation of the genomic architecture and spatio‐temporal variation in great tit bill length, which was related to the recent use of bird feeders. We discuss how this case study illustrates the importance of considering different temporal scales and evolutionary mechanisms both while analyzing trait temporal trends and when searching for and interpreting the signals of putative genomic footprints of selection. More generally this commentary discusses interesting challenges for unraveling the time scale at which adaptive traits evolve and their genomic bases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:40:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-331ad283a18e4158a3cd13ef95728b88 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-3744 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:40:54Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evolution Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-331ad283a18e4158a3cd13ef95728b882023-09-03T00:59:45ZengOxford University PressEvolution Letters2056-37442019-06-013324024710.1002/evl3.86On the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolutionCharles Perrier0Anne Charmantier1CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS Université de Montpellier, Université Paul‐Valery Montpellier Montpellier cedex 05 FranceCEFE UMR 5175, CNRS Université de Montpellier, Université Paul‐Valery Montpellier Montpellier cedex 05 FranceAbstract Long‐term field studies coupled with quantitative genomics offer a powerful means to understand the genetic bases underlying quantitative traits and their evolutionary changes. However, analyzing and interpreting the time scales at which adaptive evolution occurs is challenging. First, while evolution is predictable in the short term, with strikingly rapid phenotypic changes in data series, it remains unpredictable in the long term. Second, while the temporal dynamics of some loci with large effects on phenotypic variation and fitness have been characterized, this task can be complicated in cases of highly polygenic trait architecture implicating numerous small effect size loci, or when statistical tests are sensitive to the heterogeneity of some key characteristics of the genome, like variation in recombination rate along the chromosomes. After introducing these aforementioned challenges, we discuss a recent investigation of the genomic architecture and spatio‐temporal variation in great tit bill length, which was related to the recent use of bird feeders. We discuss how this case study illustrates the importance of considering different temporal scales and evolutionary mechanisms both while analyzing trait temporal trends and when searching for and interpreting the signals of putative genomic footprints of selection. More generally this commentary discusses interesting challenges for unraveling the time scale at which adaptive traits evolve and their genomic bases.https://doi.org/10.1002/evl3.86Adaptationgenome scanslong‐term data seriesphenotypic variationrecombination |
| spellingShingle | Charles Perrier Anne Charmantier On the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolution Evolution Letters Adaptation genome scans long‐term data series phenotypic variation recombination |
| title | On the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolution |
| title_full | On the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolution |
| title_fullStr | On the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolution |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolution |
| title_short | On the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolution |
| title_sort | on the importance of time scales when studying adaptive evolution |
| topic | Adaptation genome scans long‐term data series phenotypic variation recombination |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/evl3.86 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT charlesperrier ontheimportanceoftimescaleswhenstudyingadaptiveevolution AT annecharmantier ontheimportanceoftimescaleswhenstudyingadaptiveevolution |