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A conserved haplotype controls parallel adaptation in geographically distant salmonid populations
Author(s) -
MILLER MICHAEL R.,
BRUNELLI JOSEPH P.,
WHEELER PAUL A.,
LIU SIXIN,
REXROAD CAIRD E.,
PALTI YNIV,
DOE CHRIS Q.,
THORGAARD GARY H.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05305.x
Subject(s) - biology , local adaptation , adaptation (eye) , rainbow trout , evolutionary biology , haplotype , genetic variation , ecology , population , genetics , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , gene , allele , demography , neuroscience , sociology
Salmonid fishes exhibit extensive local adaptations owing to abundant environmental variation and precise natal homing. This extensive local adaptation makes conservation and restoration of salmonids a challenge. For example, defining unambiguous units of conservation is difficult, and restoration attempts often fail owing to inadequate adaptive matching of translocated populations. A better understanding of the genetic architecture of local adaptation in salmonids could provide valuable information to assist in conserving and restoring natural populations of these important species. Here, we use a combination of laboratory crosses and next‐generation sequencing to investigate the genetic architecture of the parallel adaptation of rapid development rate in two geographically and genetically distant populations of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). Strikingly, we find that not only is a parallel genetic mechanism used but that a conserved haplotype is responsible for this intriguing adaptation. The repeated use of adaptive genetic variation across distant geographical areas could be a general theme in salmonids and have important implications for conservation and restoration.