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Evolutionary aspects of population structure for molecular and quantitative traits in the freshwater snail Radix balthica
Author(s) -
EVANNO G.,
CASTELLA E.,
GOUDET J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01098.x
Subject(s) - biology , selfing , inbreeding depression , local adaptation , evolutionary biology , ecology , population , inbreeding , gene flow , selection (genetic algorithm) , natural selection , genetic drift , outcrossing , adaptation (eye) , zoology , genetic variation , genetics , gene , pollen , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , neuroscience
Detecting the action of selection in natural populations can be achieved using the Q ST – F ST comparison that relies on the estimation of F ST with neutral markers, and Q ST using quantitative traits potentially under selection. Q ST higher than F ST suggests the action of directional selection and thus potential local adaptation. In this article, we apply the Q ST – F ST comparison to four populations of the hermaphroditic freshwater snail Radix balthica located in a floodplain habitat. In contrast to most studies published so far, we did not detect evidence of directional selection for local optima for any of the traits we measured: Q ST calculated using three different methods was never higher than F ST . A strong inbreeding depression was also detected, indicating that outcrossing is probably predominant over selfing in the studied populations. Our results suggest that in this floodplain habitat, local adaptation of R. balthica populations may be hindered by genetic drift, and possibly altered by uneven gene flow linked to flood frequency.