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Population genomic footprints of selection and associations with climate in natural populations of Arabidopsis halleri from the Alps
Author(s) -
Fischer Martin C.,
Rellstab Christian,
Tedder Andrew,
Zoller Stefan,
Gugerli Felix,
Shimizu Kentaro K.,
Holderegger Rolf,
Widmer Alex
Publication year - 2013
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/mec.12521
Subject(s) - biology , outcrossing , natural selection , genetic variation , local adaptation , single nucleotide polymorphism , population , adaptation (eye) , candidate gene , evolutionary biology , genetics , ecology , gene , genotype , demography , sociology , pollen , neuroscience
Natural genetic variation is essential for the adaptation of organisms to their local environment and to changing environmental conditions. Here, we examine genomewide patterns of nucleotide variation in natural populations of the outcrossing herb Arabidopsis halleri and associations with climatic variation among populations in the Alps. Using a pooled population sequencing (Pool‐Seq) approach, we discovered more than two million SNP s in five natural populations and identified highly differentiated genomic regions and SNP s using F ST ‐based analyses. We tested only the most strongly differentiated SNP s for associations with a nonredundant set of environmental factors using partial Mantel tests to identify topo‐climatic factors that may underlie the observed footprints of selection. Possible functions of genes showing signatures of selection were identified by Gene Ontology analysis. We found 175 genes to be highly associated with one or more of the five tested topo‐climatic factors. Of these, 23.4% had unknown functions. Genetic variation in four candidate genes was strongly associated with site water balance and solar radiation, and functional annotations were congruent with these environmental factors. Our results provide a genomewide perspective on the distribution of adaptive genetic variation in natural plant populations from a highly diverse and heterogeneous alpine environment.