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Valverde J, Medrano M, Herrera CM, Alonso C. Comparative epigenetic and genetic spatial structure in Mediterranean mountain plants: a multispecies study. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 132:106-116. [PMID: 38233486 PMCID: PMC10844209 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00668-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Changes in epigenetic states can allow individuals to cope with environmental changes. If such changes are heritable, this may lead to epigenetic adaptation. Thus, it is likely that in sessile organisms such as plants, part of the spatial epigenetic variation found across individuals will reflect the environmental heterogeneity within populations. The departure of the spatial epigenetic structure from the baseline genetic variation can help in understanding the value of epigenetic regulation in species with different breadth of optimal environmental requirements. Here, we hypothesise that in plants with narrow environmental requirements, epigenetic variability should be less structured in space given the lower variability in suitable environmental conditions. We performed a multispecies study that considered seven pairs of congeneric plant species, each encompassing a narrow endemic with habitat specialisation and a widespread species. In three populations per species we used AFLP and methylation-sensitive AFLP markers to characterise the spatial genetic and epigenetic structures. Narrow endemics showed a significantly lower epigenetic than genetic differentiation between populations. Within populations, epigenetic variation was less spatially structured than genetic variation, mainly in narrow endemics. In these species, structural equation models revealed that such pattern was associated to a lack of correlation between epigenetic and genetic information. Altogether, these results show a greater decoupling of the spatial epigenetic variation from the baseline spatial genetic pattern in endemic species. These findings highlight the value of studying genetic and epigenetic spatial variation to better understand habitat specialisation in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Valverde
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Mónica Medrano
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carlos M Herrera
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Conchita Alonso
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain.
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2
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Su Y, Liu L, Deng Q, Lü Z, Wang Z, He Z, Wang T. Epigenetic architecture of Pseudotaxus chienii: Revealing the synergistic effects of climate and soil variables. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10511. [PMID: 37701023 PMCID: PMC10493196 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether conifers can withstand environmental changes especially temperature fluctuations has been controversial. Epigenetic analysis may provide new perspectives for solving the issue. Pseudotaxus chienii is an endangered gymnosperm species endemic to China. In this study, we have examined the genetic and epigenetic variations in its natural populations aiming to disentangle the synergistic effects of climate and soil on its population (epi)genetic differentiation by using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive AFLP (MSAP) techniques. We identified 23 AFLP and 26, 7, and 5 MSAP outliers in P. chienii. Twenty-one of the putative adaptive AFLP loci were found associated with climate and/or soil variables including precipitation, temperature, K, Fe, Zn, and Cu, whereas 21, 7, and 4 MSAP outliers were significantly related to precipitation of wettest month (Bio13), precipitation driest of month (Bio14), percent tree cover (PTC), and soil Fe, Mn, and Cu compositions. Total precipitation and precipitation in the driest seasons were the most influential factors for genetic and epigenetic variation, respectively. In addition, a high full-methylation level and a strong correlation between genetic and epigenetic variation were detected in P. chienii. Climate is found of greater importance than soil in shaping adaptive (epi)genetic differentiation, and the synergistic effects of climate and climate-soil variables were also observed. The identified climate and soil variables should be considered when applying ex situ conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjuan Su
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Research Institute of Sun Yat‐sen University in ShenzhenShenzhenChina
| | - Li Liu
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Qi Deng
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- School of MedicineGuangxi University of Science and TechnologyLiuzhouChina
| | - Zhuyan Lü
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhen Wang
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ziqing He
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ting Wang
- Research Institute of Sun Yat‐sen University in ShenzhenShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Xiao Y, Chen X, Yin Y, Zheng J, Yi H, Song L. Comparative genetic and epigenetic of the Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski from different regions in China. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:289. [PMID: 37254044 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04277-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski is a prevalent and widely distributed invasive plant in South China. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying its rapid adaptation, we employed DNA methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis to study 60 S. trilobata individuals collected from Fuzhou (FZ), Haikou (HK), Jinghong (JH) and Guangzhou (GZ). RESULTS In this study, we computed the Shannon diversity index (I) of SSR and MSAP as 0.354 and 0.303, respectively. The UPGMA phylogenetic tree and PCoA analyses showed that MSAP had a better discriminatory power to distinguish populations from different regions. Notably, the GZ population was found to be the most distinct from the other three populations. Moreover, Mantel analysis revealed a significantly higher correlation between epigenetic distance and geographic distance as compared to genetic distance and geographic distance. Consequently, the correlation between epigenetic distance and geographic distance observed to be markedly stronger than that between genetic distance and geographical distance on Mantel analysis. CONCLUSIONS The S. trilobata populations in various regions displayed a high of complementary genetic and epigenetic diversity, which was a key feature contributing to their rapid invasion. Interestingly, the correlation between epigenetics and geographical distance was significantly stronger than that observed for genetics and geographical distance. These findings indicated that the epigenetic mechanism of S. trilobar exhibited high plasticity, leading to significant differences in methylation pattern across different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusha Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiuqing Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuhan Yin
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jiening Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Huixian Yi
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Liying Song
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Gouin N, Notte AM, Kolok AS, Bertin A. Pesticide exposure affects DNA methylation patterns in natural populations of a mayfly. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 864:161096. [PMID: 36572299 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Chemical pollutants derived from agricultural activities represent a major threat to freshwater biota. Despite growing evidence involving epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, in response to pesticide contamination in agroecosystems, research on wild populations of non-model species remains scarce, particularly for endemic freshwater arthropods. Using the MethylRAD method, this study investigates whether exposure to pesticide contamination in natural populations of the endemic mayfly A. torrens produces genome wide changes in levels of DNA methylation. From a total of 1,377,147 MethylRAD markers produced from 285 specimens collected at 30 different study sites along the Limarí watershed of north-central Chile, six showed significant differential methylation between populations exposed and unexposed to pesticides. In all cases the effect of pesticides was positive, independent and stronger than the effects detected for other spatial and environmental factors. Only one candidate marker appeared correlated significantly with additional variables, nitrate and calcium levels, which also reflects the impact of agrichemicals and could additionally suggest, to a lower extent, antagonistic effects of mineral salts concentration for this specific marker. These results suggest that the effect of pesticide exposure on methylation levels is apparent at these six MethylRAD markers in A. torrens populations. Such data is challenging to obtain in natural populations and is, for the most part, lacking in ecotoxicological studies. Our study shows that DNA methylation processes are involved in the response to pesticide contamination in populations of the mayfly A. torrens in their natural habitat, and provides new evidence regarding the impact of pesticide contamination and agricultural activities on the endemic fauna of lotic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Gouin
- Instituto de Investigación Multidisciplinar en Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad de La Serena, Raúl Bitrán 1305, La Serena, Chile; Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Raúl Bitrán 1305, La Serena, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Raúl Bitrán 1305, La Serena, Chile.
| | - Ana-Maria Notte
- Programa de doctorado en Biología y Ecología Aplicada, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Raúl Bitrán 1305, La Serena, Chile
| | - Alan S Kolok
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3002, United States
| | - Angéline Bertin
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, Raúl Bitrán 1305, La Serena, Chile
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Kosová V, Latzel V, Hadincová V, Münzbergová Z. Effect of DNA methylation, modified by 5-azaC, on ecophysiological responses of a clonal plant to changing climate. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17262. [PMID: 36241768 PMCID: PMC9568541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22125-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is expected to be an important mechanism behind phenotypic plasticity. Whether epigenetic regulation affects species ecophysiological adaptations to changing climate remains largely unexplored. We compared ecophysiological traits between individuals treated with 5-azaC, assumed to lead to DNA demethylation, with control individuals of a clonal grass originating from and grown under different climates, simulating different directions and magnitudes of climate change. We linked the ecophysiological data to proxies of fitness. Main effects of plant origin and cultivating conditions predicted variation in plant traits, but 5-azaC did not. Effects of 5-azaC interacted with conditions of cultivation and plant origin. The direction of the 5-azaC effects suggests that DNA methylation does not reflect species long-term adaptations to climate of origin and species likely epigenetically adjusted to the conditions experienced during experiment set-up. Ecophysiology translated to proxies of fitness, but the intensity and direction of the relationships were context dependent and affected by 5-azaC. The study suggests that effects of DNA methylation depend on conditions of plant origin and current climate. Direction of 5-azaC effects suggests limited role of epigenetic modifications in long-term adaptation of plants. It rather facilitates fast adaptations to temporal fluctuations of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kosová
- grid.4491.80000 0004 1937 116XDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vít Latzel
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Věroslava Hadincová
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- grid.4491.80000 0004 1937 116XDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic ,grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Průhonice, Czech Republic
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Van Daele F, Honnay O, De Kort H. Genomic analyses point to a low evolutionary potential of prospective source populations for assisted migration in a forest herb. Evol Appl 2022; 15:1859-1874. [DOI: 10.1111/eva.13485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Van Daele
- Department of Biology, Plant Conservation and Population Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Olivier Honnay
- Department of Biology, Plant Conservation and Population Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Hanne De Kort
- Department of Biology, Plant Conservation and Population Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
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7
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Population Epigenetics: The Extent of DNA Methylation Variation in Wild Animal Populations. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:epigenomes6040031. [PMID: 36278677 PMCID: PMC9589984 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6040031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Population epigenetics explores the extent of epigenetic variation and its dynamics in natural populations encountering changing environmental conditions. In contrast to population genetics, the basic concepts of this field are still in their early stages, especially in animal populations. Epigenetic variation may play a crucial role in phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation as it can be affected by the environment, it is likely to have higher spontaneous mutation rate than nucleotide sequences do, and it may be inherited via non-mendelian processes. In this review, we aim to bring together natural animal population epigenetic studies to generate new insights into ecological epigenetics and its evolutionary implications. We first provide an overview of the extent of DNA methylation variation and its autonomy from genetic variation in wild animal population. Second, we discuss DNA methylation dynamics which create observed epigenetic population structures by including basic population genetics processes. Then, we highlight the relevance of DNA methylation variation as an evolutionary mechanism in the extended evolutionary synthesis. Finally, we suggest new research directions by highlighting gaps in the knowledge of the population epigenetics field. As for our results, DNA methylation diversity was found to reveal parameters that can be used to characterize natural animal populations. Some concepts of population genetics dynamics can be applied to explain the observed epigenetic structure in natural animal populations. The set of recent advancements in ecological epigenetics, especially in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in wild animal population, might reshape the way ecologists generate predictive models of the capacity of organisms to adapt to changing environments.
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8
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Mounger JM, van Riemsdijk I, Boquete MT, Wagemaker CAM, Fatma S, Robertson MH, Voors SA, Oberstaller J, Gawehns F, Hanley TC, Grosse I, Verhoeven KJF, Sotka EE, Gehring CA, Hughes AR, Lewis DB, Schmid MW, Richards CL. Genetic and Epigenetic Differentiation Across Intertidal Gradients in the Foundation Plant Spartina alterniflora. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.868826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological genomics approaches have informed us about the structure of genetic diversity in natural populations that might underlie patterns in trait variation. However, we still know surprisingly little about the mechanisms that permit organisms to adapt to variable environmental conditions. The salt marsh foundation plant Spartina alterniflora exhibits a dramatic range in phenotype that is associated with a pronounced intertidal environmental gradient across a narrow spatial scale. Both genetic and non-genetic molecular mechanisms might underlie this phenotypic variation. To investigate both, we used epigenotyping-by-sequencing (epiGBS) to evaluate the make-up of natural populations across the intertidal environmental gradient. Based on recent findings, we expected that both DNA sequence and DNA methylation diversity would be explained by source population and habitat within populations. However, we predicted that epigenetic variation might be more strongly associated with habitat since similar epigenetic modifications could be rapidly elicited across different genetic backgrounds by similar environmental conditions. Overall, with PERMANOVA we found that population of origin explained a significant amount of the genetic (8.6%) and epigenetic (3.2%) variance. In addition, we found that a small but significant amount of genetic and epigenetic variance (<1%) was explained by habitat within populations. The interaction of population and habitat explained an additional 2.9% of the genetic variance and 1.4% of the epigenetic variance. By examining genetic and epigenetic variation within the same fragments (variation in close-cis), we found that population explained epigenetic variation in 9.2% of 8,960 tested loci, even after accounting for differences in the DNA sequence of the fragment. Habitat alone explained very little (<0.1%) of the variation in these close-cis comparisons, but the interaction of population and habitat explained 2.1% of the epigenetic variation in these loci. Using multiple matrix regression with randomization (MMRR) we found that phenotypic differences in natural populations were correlated with epigenetic and environmental differences even when accounting for genetic differences. Our results support the contention that sequence variation explains most of the variation in DNA methylation, but we have provided evidence that DNA methylation distinctly contributes to plant responses in natural populations.
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9
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Lehmair TA, Poschlod P, Reisch C. The impact of environment on genetic and epigenetic variation in Trifolium pratense populations from two contrasting semi-natural grasslands. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211406. [PMID: 35620000 PMCID: PMC9114947 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Central European grasslands, such as calcareous grasslands and oat-grass meadows, are characterized by diverse environmental conditions and management regimes. Therefore, we aimed to determine potential differences in genetic and epigenetic variation patterns between the contrasting habitats and to identify the drivers of genetic and epigenetic variation. We investigated the genetic and epigenetic variation of the ecologically variable plant species Trifolium pratense L. applying amplified fragment length polymorphism and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analyses. We observed low levels of genetic and epigenetic differentiation among populations and between habitat types. Genetic and epigenetic variations were not interdependent. Thus, genetic variation was significantly isolated by habitat dissimilarity, whereas epigenetic variation was affected by environment. More specifically, we observed a significant correlation of epigenetic diversity with soil moisture and soil pH (the latter potentially resulting in phosphorus limitation). Genetic variation was, therefore, affected more strongly by habitat-specific environmental conditions induced by land use-related disturbance and gene flow patterns, while epigenetic variation was driven by challenging environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Anna Lehmair
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter Poschlod
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Reisch
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Regensburg, Institute of Plant Sciences, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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10
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Cao JJ, Li YS, Chang CT, Chung JD, Hwang SY. Adaptive Divergence without Distinct Species Relationships Indicate Early Stage Ecological Speciation in Species of the Rhododendronpseudochrysanthum Complex Endemic to Taiwan. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:1226. [PMID: 35567227 PMCID: PMC9101530 DOI: 10.3390/plants11091226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The testing association of environmental variables with genetic and epigenetic variation could be crucial to deciphering the effects of environmental factors playing roles as selective drivers in ecological speciation. Although ecological speciation may occur in closely related species, species boundaries may not be established over a short evolutionary timescale. Here, we investigated the genetic and epigenetic variations using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP), respectively, and tested their associations with environmental variables in populations of four closely related species in the R. pseudochrysanthum complex. No distinctive species relationships were found using genetic clustering analyses, neighbor-joining tree, and neighbor-net tree based on the total AFLP variation, which is suggestive of the incomplete lineage sorting of ancestral variation. Nonetheless, strong isolation-by-environment and adaptive divergence were revealed, despite the significant isolation-by-distance. Annual mean temperature, elevation, normalized difference vegetation index, and annual total potential evapotranspiration were found to be the most important environmental variables explaining outlier genetic and epigenetic variations. Our results suggest that the four closely related species of the R. pseudochrysanthum complex share the polymorphism of their ancestor, but reproductive isolation due to ecological speciation can occur if local environmental divergence persists over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Jia Cao
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, 1 Roosevelt Road, Section 4, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Shao Li
- School of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Tingchow Road, Section 4, Taipei 11677, Taiwan;
| | - Chung-Te Chang
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, 1727 Taiwan Boulevard, Section 4, Taichung 40704, Taiwan;
| | - Jeng-Der Chung
- Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 53 Nanhai Road, Taipei 10066, Taiwan;
| | - Shih-Ying Hwang
- School of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Tingchow Road, Section 4, Taipei 11677, Taiwan;
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11
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Mounger J, Boquete MT, Schmid MW, Granado R, Robertson MH, Voors SA, Langanke KL, Alvarez M, Wagemaker CAM, Schrey AW, Fox GA, Lewis DB, Lira CF, Richards CL. Inheritance of DNA methylation differences in the mangrove Rhizophora mangle. Evol Dev 2021; 23:351-374. [PMID: 34382741 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The capacity to respond to environmental challenges ultimately relies on phenotypic variation which manifests from complex interactions of genetic and nongenetic mechanisms through development. While we know something about genetic variation and structure of many species of conservation importance, we know very little about the nongenetic contributions to variation. Rhizophora mangle is a foundation species that occurs in coastal estuarine habitats throughout the neotropics where it provides critical ecosystem functions and is potentially threatened by anthropogenic environmental changes. Several studies have documented landscape-level patterns of genetic variation in this species, but we know virtually nothing about the inheritance of nongenetic variation. To assess one type of nongenetic variation, we examined the patterns of DNA sequence and DNA methylation in maternal plants and offspring from natural populations of R. mangle from the Gulf Coast of Florida. We used a reduced representation bisulfite sequencing approach (epi-genotyping by sequencing; epiGBS) to address the following questions: (a) What are the levels of genetic and epigenetic diversity in natural populations of R. mangle? (b) How are genetic and epigenetic variation structured within and among populations? (c) How faithfully is epigenetic variation inherited? We found low genetic diversity but high epigenetic diversity from natural populations of maternal plants in the field. In addition, a large portion (up to ~25%) of epigenetic differences among offspring grown in common garden was explained by maternal family. Therefore, epigenetic variation could be an important source of response to challenging environments in the genetically depauperate populations of this foundation species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannie Mounger
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - M Teresa Boquete
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.,Department of Evolutionary Ecology, CSIC, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Renan Granado
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.,Diretoria de Pesquisas, Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil
| | - Marta H Robertson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Sandy A Voors
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Kristen L Langanke
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Mariano Alvarez
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.,Avalo, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Aaron W Schrey
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Gordon A Fox
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - David B Lewis
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Catarina Fonseca Lira
- Diretoria de Pesquisas, Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil
| | - Christina L Richards
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.,Plant Evolutionary Ecology, University of Tübingen, Institute of Evolution & Ecology, Tübingen, Germany
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12
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Boquete MT, Muyle A, Alonso C. Plant epigenetics: phenotypic and functional diversity beyond the DNA sequence. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2021; 108:553-558. [PMID: 33887061 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic variation determines the capacity of plants to adapt to changing environments and to colonize new habitats. Deciphering the mechanisms contributing to plant phenotypic variation and their effects on plant ecological interactions and evolutionary dynamics is thus central to all biological disciplines. In the past few decades, research on plant epigenetics is showing that (1) epigenetic variation is related to phenotypic variation and that some epigenetic marks drive major phenotypic changes in plants; (2) plant epigenomes are highly diverse, dynamic, and can respond rapidly to a variety of biotic and abiotic stimuli; (3) epigenetic variation can respond to selection and therefore play a role in adaptive evolution. Yet, current information in terms of species, geographic ranges, and ecological contexts analyzed so far is too limited to allow for generalizations about the relevance of epigenetic regulation in phenotypic innovation and plant adaptation across taxa. In this report, we contextualize the potential role of the epigenome in plant adaptation to the environment and describe the latest research in this field presented during the symposium "Plant epigenetics: phenotypic and functional diversity beyond the DNA sequence" held within the Botany 2020 conference framework in summer 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Teresa Boquete
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Aline Muyle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Conchita Alonso
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
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Fargeot L, Loot G, Prunier JG, Rey O, Veyssière C, Blanchet S. Patterns of Epigenetic Diversity in Two Sympatric Fish Species: Genetic vs. Environmental Determinants. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:107. [PMID: 33467145 PMCID: PMC7830833 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic components are hypothesized to be sensitive to the environment, which should permit species to adapt to environmental changes. In wild populations, epigenetic variation should therefore be mainly driven by environmental variation. Here, we tested whether epigenetic variation (DNA methylation) observed in wild populations is related to their genetic background, and/or to the local environment. Focusing on two sympatric freshwater fish species (Gobio occitaniae and Phoxinus phoxinus), we tested the relationships between epigenetic differentiation, genetic differentiation (using microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers), and environmental distances between sites. We identify positive relationships between pairwise genetic and epigenetic distances in both species. Moreover, epigenetic marks better discriminated populations than genetic markers, especially in G. occitaniae. In G. occitaniae, both pairwise epigenetic and genetic distances were significantly associated to environmental distances between sites. Nonetheless, when controlling for genetic differentiation, the link between epigenetic differentiation and environmental distances was not significant anymore, indicating a noncausal relationship. Our results suggest that fish epigenetic variation is mainly genetically determined and that the environment weakly contributed to epigenetic variation. We advocate the need to control for the genetic background of populations when inferring causal links between epigenetic variation and environmental heterogeneity in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fargeot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, F-09200 Moulis, France;
| | - Géraldine Loot
- CNRS, UPS, École Nationale de Formation Agronomique (ENFA), UMR 5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse CEDEX 4, France; (G.L.); (C.V.)
- Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), F-75231 Paris CEDEX 05, France
| | - Jérôme G. Prunier
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, F-09200 Moulis, France;
| | - Olivier Rey
- CNRS, Interaction Hôtes-Parasites-Environnements (IHPE), UMR 5244, F-66860 Perpignan, France;
| | - Charlotte Veyssière
- CNRS, UPS, École Nationale de Formation Agronomique (ENFA), UMR 5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse CEDEX 4, France; (G.L.); (C.V.)
| | - Simon Blanchet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier (UPS), Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR 5321, F-09200 Moulis, France;
- CNRS, UPS, École Nationale de Formation Agronomique (ENFA), UMR 5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse CEDEX 4, France; (G.L.); (C.V.)
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Meng H, Wu H, Wei X, Jiang M. Adaptive strategies and driving factors of a montane riparian tree: Trait-specific mechanisms across latitude. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141578. [PMID: 33370904 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Investigating the drivers of phenotypic and genetic divergence can reveal the underlying processes and strategies that species adopt in rapidly changing environments. However, knowledge of adaptive strategies and the underlying mechanisms is lacking for the majority of taxa, especially those living in habitats sensitive to climate change. Here, we investigated 20 populations of a Tertiary-relict tree species, Euptelea pleiospermum (Eupteleaceae), scattered in a mountain riparian habitat in China. We integrated genetic, growth, and reproductive traits, and evaluated the relative contributions of climatic and soil factors on genetic and functional trait divergence. The E. pleiospermum populations were divided into south and north genetic clusters, and there were significant differences in leaf density and seed mass of adult trees between the two. The spatial pattern of genetic divergence resulted from effects of both isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by environment (IBE), whereas the divergence of growth and reproductive traits resulted solely from IBE effects. Spatial distance and selection by temperature and soils played dominant roles in genetic divergence. Precipitation drove the spatial divergence of sprouting. Both divergence of leaf density and seed mass were prominently induced by genetic divergence, and the influences might be enhanced by temperature and soil nutrients. We infer that E. pleiospermum populations adopt a resource-conservative strategy with low growth rates and higher sprouting under flooding disturbance, with larger seeds for improved seedling recruitment at lower latitudes. In contrast, high growth rate and sexual reproduction with small seeds are strategies adopted by populations at higher latitudes. We conclude that sprouting reflects a plastic response to precipitation, and leaf density and seed mass reflect local adaption under selection by temperature and soil factors. The underlying mechanisms of species adaptation strategies were trait-specific. Temperature and soil conditions are likely the main ecological factors shaping plant divergence in montane riparian regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Meng
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xinzeng Wei
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Mingxi Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
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15
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Chen C, Zheng Z, Bao Y, Zhang H, Richards CL, Li J, Chen Y, Zhao Y, Shen Z, Fu C. Comparisons of Natural and Cultivated Populations of Corydalis yanhusuo Indicate Divergent Patterns of Genetic and Epigenetic Variation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:985. [PMID: 32719703 PMCID: PMC7347962 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic variation may contribute to traits that are important in domestication, but how patterns of genetic and epigenetic variation differ between cultivated and wild plants remains poorly understood. In particular, we know little about how selection may shape epigenetic variation in natural and cultivated populations. In this study, we investigated 11 natural populations and 6 major cultivated populations using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive AFLP (MS-AFLP or MSAP) markers to identify patterns of genetic and epigenetic diversity among Corydalis yanhusuo populations. We further explored correlations among genetic, epigenetic, alkaloidal, and climatic factors in natural and cultivated C. yanhusuo. We found support for a single origin for all cultivated populations, from a natural population which was differentiated from the other natural populations. The magnitude of F ST based on AFLP was significantly correlated with that for MSAP in pairwise comparisons in both natural and cultivated populations, suggesting a relationship between genetic and epigenetic variation in C. yanhusuo. This relationship was further supported by dbRDA (distance-based redundancy analyses) where some of the epigenetic variation could be explained by genetic variation in natural and cultivated populations. Genetic variation was slightly higher in natural than cultivated populations, and exceeded epigenetic variation in both types of populations. However, epigenetic differentiation exceeded that of genetic differentiation among cultivated populations, while the reverse was observed among natural populations. The differences between wild and cultivated plants may be partly due to processes inherent to cultivation and in particular the differences in mode of reproduction. The importance of epigenetic compared to genetic modifications is thought to vary depending on reproductive strategies, and C. yanhusuo usually reproduces sexually in natural environments, while the cultivated C. yanhusuo are propagated clonally. In addition, alkaloid content of C. yanhusuo varied across cultivated populations, and alkaloid content was significantly correlated to climatic variation, but also to genetic (6.89%) and even more so to epigenetic (14.09%) variation in cultivated populations. Our study demonstrates that epigenetic variation could be important in cultivation of C. yanhusuo and serve as a source of variation for response to environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi Zheng
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yiqiong Bao
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hanchao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Christina L. Richards
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jinghui Li
- Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany and Biodiversity, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yahua Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yunpeng Zhao
- Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany and Biodiversity, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenguo Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chengxin Fu
- Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany and Biodiversity, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Medrano M, Alonso C, Bazaga P, López E, Herrera CM. Comparative genetic and epigenetic diversity in pairs of sympatric, closely related plants with contrasting distribution ranges in south-eastern Iberian mountains. AOB PLANTS 2020; 12:plaa013. [PMID: 32477484 PMCID: PMC7246305 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plaa013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Genetic diversity defines the evolutionary potential of a species, yet mounting evidence suggests that epigenetic diversity could also contribute to adaptation. Elucidating the complex interplay between genetic and epigenetic variation in wild populations remains a challenge for evolutionary biologists, and the intriguing possibility that epigenetic diversity could compensate for the loss of genetic diversity is one aspect that remains basically unexplored in wild plants. This hypothesis is addressed in this paper by comparing the extent and patterns of genetic and epigenetic diversity of phylogenetically closely related but ecologically disparate species. Seven pairs of congeneric species from Cazorla mountains in south-eastern Spain were studied, each pair consisting of one endemic, restricted-range species associated to stressful environments, and one widespread species occupying more favourable habitats. The prediction was tested that endemic species should have lower genetic diversity due to population fragmentation, and higher epigenetic diversity induced by environmental stress, than their widespread congeners. Genetic (DNA sequence variants) and epigenetic (DNA cytosine methylation variants) diversities and their possible co-variation were assessed in three populations of each focal species using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive AFLP (MSAP). All species and populations exhibited moderate to high levels of genetic polymorphism irrespective of their ecological characteristics. Epigenetic diversity was greater than genetic diversity in all cases. Only in endemic species were the two variables positively related, but the difference between epigenetic and genetic diversity was greater at populations with low genetic polymorphism. Results revealed that the relationship between genetic and epigenetic diversity can be more complex than envisaged by the simple hypothesis addressed in this study, and highlight the need of additional research on the actual role of epigenetic variation as a source of phenotypic diversity before a realistic understanding of the evolutionary relevance of epigenetic phenomena in plant adaptation can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Medrano
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Isla de La Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Conchita Alonso
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Isla de La Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Pilar Bazaga
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Isla de La Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Esmeralda López
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Isla de La Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carlos M Herrera
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Isla de La Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain
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17
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Schinkel CCF, Syngelaki E, Kirchheimer B, Dullinger S, Klatt S, Hörandl E. Epigenetic Patterns and Geographical Parthenogenesis in the Alpine Plant Species Ranunculus kuepferi (Ranunculaceae). Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3318. [PMID: 32392879 PMCID: PMC7247541 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyploidization and the shift to apomictic reproduction are connected to changes in DNA cytosine-methylation. Cytosine-methylation is further sensitive to environmental conditions. We, therefore, hypothesize that DNA methylation patterns would differentiate within species with geographical parthenogenesis, i.e., when diploid sexual and polyploid apomictic populations exhibit different spatial distributions. On natural populations of the alpine plant Ranunculus kuepferi, we tested differences in methylation patterns across two cytotypes (diploid, tetraploid) and three reproduction modes (sexual, mixed, apomictic), and their correlation to environmental data and geographical distributions. We used methylation-sensitive amplified fragment-length polymorphism (methylation-sensitive AFLPs) and scored three types of epiloci. Methylation patterns differed independently between cytotypes versus modes of reproduction and separated three distinct combined groups (2x sexual + mixed, 4x mixed, and 4x apomictic), with differentiation of 4x apomicts in all epiloci. We found no global spatial autocorrelation, but instead correlations to elevation and temperature gradients in 22 and 36 epiloci, respectively. Results suggest that methylation patterns in R. kuepferi were altered by cold conditions during postglacial recolonization of the Alps, and by the concomitant shift to facultative apomixis, and by polyploidization. Obligate apomictic tetraploids at the highest elevations established a distinct methylation profile. Methylation patterns reflect an ecological gradient rather than the geographical differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph C. F. Schinkel
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany;
| | - Eleni Syngelaki
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany;
| | - Bernhard Kirchheimer
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria; (B.K.); (S.D.)
| | - Stefan Dullinger
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria; (B.K.); (S.D.)
| | - Simone Klatt
- Section Safety and Environmental Protection, University of Goettingen, Humboldtallee 15, 37073 Göttingen, Germany;
| | - Elvira Hörandl
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany;
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18
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Linck EB, Celi JE, Sheldon KS. Panmixia across elevation in thermally sensitive Andean dung beetles. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4143-4155. [PMID: 32489637 PMCID: PMC7244805 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Janzen's seasonality hypothesis predicts that organisms inhabiting environments with limited climatic variability will evolve a reduced thermal tolerance breadth compared with organisms experiencing greater climatic variability. In turn, narrow tolerance breadth may select against dispersal across strong temperature gradients, such as those found across elevation. This can result in narrow elevational ranges and generate a pattern of isolation by environment or neutral genetic differentiation correlated with environmental variables that are independent of geographic distance. We tested for signatures of isolation by environment across elevation using genome-wide SNP data from five species of Andean dung beetles (subfamily Scarabaeinae) with well-characterized, narrow thermal physiologies, and narrow elevational distributions. Contrary to our expectations, we found no evidence of population genetic structure associated with elevation and little signal of isolation by environment. Further, elevational ranges for four of five species appear to be at equilibrium and show no decay of genetic diversity at range limits. Taken together, these results suggest physiological constraints on dispersal may primarily operate outside of a stable realized niche and point to a lower bound on the spatial scale of local adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan B. Linck
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Tennessee, KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTNUSA
| | - Jorge E. Celi
- Biogeography and Spatial Ecology Research GroupUniversidad Regional Amazónica IkiamTenaEcuador
| | - Kimberly S. Sheldon
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Tennessee, KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTNUSA
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19
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Wogan GOU, Yuan ML, Mahler DL, Wang IJ. Genome-wide epigenetic isolation by environment in a widespread Anolis lizard. Mol Ecol 2019; 29:40-55. [PMID: 31710739 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 10/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic changes can provide a pathway for organisms to respond to local environmental conditions by influencing gene expression. However, we still know little about the spatial distribution of epigenetic variation in natural systems, how it relates to the distribution of genetic variation and the environmental structure of the landscape, and the processes that generate and maintain it. Studies examining spatial patterns of genetic and epigenetic variation can provide valuable insights into how ecological and population processes contribute to epigenetic divergence across heterogeneous landscapes. Here, we perform a comparative analysis of spatial genetic and epigenetic variation based on 8,459 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 8,580 single methylation variants (SMVs) from eight populations of the Puerto Rican crested anole, Anolis cristatellus, an abundant lizard in the adaptive radiations of anoles on the Greater Antilles that occupies a diverse range of habitats. Using generalized dissimilarity modelling and multiple matrix regression, we found that genome-wide epigenetic differentiation is strongly correlated with environmental divergence, even after controlling for the underlying genetic structure. We also detected significant associations between key environmental variables and 96 SMVs, including 42 located in promoter regions or gene bodies. Our results suggest an environmental basis for population-level epigenetic differentiation in this system and contribute to better understanding how environmental gradients structure epigenetic variation in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guinevere O U Wogan
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael L Yuan
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - D Luke Mahler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ian J Wang
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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20
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Smithson MW, Dybdahl MF, Nuismer SL. The adaptive value of epigenetic mutation: Limited in large but high in small peripheral populations. J Evol Biol 2019; 32:1391-1405. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark W. Smithson
- School of Biological Sciences Washington State University Pullman WA USA
| | - Mark F. Dybdahl
- School of Biological Sciences Washington State University Pullman WA USA
| | - Scott L. Nuismer
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID USA
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21
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Rey O, Eizaguirre C, Angers B, Baltazar‐Soares M, Sagonas K, Prunier JG, Blanchet S. Linking epigenetics and biological conservation: Towards a
conservation epigenetics
perspective. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Rey
- CNRS UMR 5244, Interactions Hôtes‐Pathogènes‐Environnements (IHPE) Université de Perpignan Via Domitia Perpignan France
| | - Christophe Eizaguirre
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Bernard Angers
- Department of Biological Sciences Université de Montréal Montreal QC Canada
| | | | - Kostas Sagonas
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Jérôme G. Prunier
- Evolution et Diversité Biologique, École Nationale Supérieure de Formation de l'Enseignement Agricole (ENSFEA), CNRS, UPS, UMR5174 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Toulouse France
| | - Simon Blanchet
- Evolution et Diversité Biologique, École Nationale Supérieure de Formation de l'Enseignement Agricole (ENSFEA), CNRS, UPS, UMR5174 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Toulouse France
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR5321, CNRS Université Paul Sabatier (UP) Moulis France
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22
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Farris E, Filigheddu R, Mameli G, Falanga V, Vanetti I, Rosati L, Binelli G. Is population genetic structure of vascular plants shaped more by ecological or geographic factors? A study case on the Mediterranean endemic Centaurea filiformis (Asteraceae). PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2018; 20:936-947. [PMID: 29873892 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
All known populations of the Sardinian endemic Centaurea filiformis Viv. (Asteraceae) were studied in order to understand the impact of both geographic and ecological factors on the genetic structuring of this species. Fourteen populations and 234 individuals were sampled. The demographic structure of the populations and the reproductive ecology were estimated in 28 plots. Population genetic analyses were based on SSR markers. Genetic structure was investigated by spatial Bayesian methods. Average densities of 0.51 individuals m-2 were detected, with a prevalence of adults. Ten species of pollinators were identified; C. filiformis ability to self-pollinate and myrmecochory were demonstrated experimentally. The populations displayed an average heterozygosity value of He = 0.576 and high genetic differentiation (overall FST = 0.218). Bayesian analysis suggests that five is the most probable number of gene pools of origin. A strong correlation between geographic distances and genetic distances among populations was highlighted. The demographic population structure of C. filiformis is dominated by adults, suggesting that it is a stable-regressive or senile species, investing more in local persistence than colonisation ability. Despite the scattered distribution, the populations studied do not present evidence of genetic erosion. The analysis of genetic differentiation reveals very high differentiation levels among populations, thus indicating that effective barriers exist against gene flow. A general conclusion is that population distribution results in a clear genetic structure for the populations studied, and that geography and not ecology is shaping the present distribution of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Farris
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - R Filigheddu
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - G Mameli
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - V Falanga
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Scienze della Vita, Università dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - I Vanetti
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Scienze della Vita, Università dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - L Rosati
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - G Binelli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Scienze della Vita, Università dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
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23
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Li YS, Chang CT, Wang CN, Thomas P, Chung JD, Hwang SY. The Contribution of Neutral and Environmentally Dependent Processes in Driving Population and Lineage Divergence in Taiwania ( Taiwania cryptomerioides). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1148. [PMID: 30135693 PMCID: PMC6092574 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The question of what determines divergence both between and within species has been the central topic in evolutionary biology. Neutral drift and environmentally dependent divergence are predicted to play roles in driving population and lineage divergence. However, neutral drift may preclude adaptation if the rate of gene flow between populations is high. Here, we sampled populations of three Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides) lineages occurring in Taiwan, the mainland of China (Yunnan-Myanmar border), and northern Vietnam, and tested the relative strength of neutral drift and divergent selection in shaping divergence of those populations and lineages. We quantified genetic and epigenetic variation, respectively, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP). Analysis of 1413 AFLP and 462 MSAP loci using frequency-based genome scan methods and generalized linear models (GLMs) found no potential selective outliers when only Taiwanese populations were examined, suggesting that neutral drift was the predominant evolutionary process driving differentiation between those populations. However, environmentally associated divergence was found when lineages were compared. Thirty-two potential selective outliers were identified based on genome scans and their associations with environmental variables were tested with GLMs, generalized linear mixed effect models (GLMMs), and model selection with a model averaging approach. Ten loci (six AFLP and four MSAP) were found to be strongly associated with environmental variables, particularly monthly temperature variation and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) using model selection and a model averaging approach. Because only a small portion of genetic and epigenetic loci were found to be potential selective outliers, neutral evolutionary process might also have played crucial roles in driving lineage divergence, particularly between geographically and genetically isolated island and mainland Asia lineages. Nevertheless, the vast amount of neutral drift causing genetic and epigenetic variations might have the potential for adaptation to future climate changes. These could be important for the survival of Taiwania in different geographic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Shao Li
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Te Chang
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Neng Wang
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Philip Thomas
- International Conifer Conservation Programme of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jeng-Der Chung
- Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ying Hwang
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
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24
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Herrera CM, Alonso C, Medrano M, Pérez R, Bazaga P. Transgenerational epigenetics: Inheritance of global cytosine methylation and methylation-related epigenetic markers in the shrub Lavandula latifolia. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2018; 105:741-748. [PMID: 29727470 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY The ecological and evolutionary significance of natural epigenetic variation (i.e., not based on DNA sequence variants) variation will depend critically on whether epigenetic states are transmitted from parents to offspring, but little is known on epigenetic inheritance in nonmodel plants. METHODS We present a quantitative analysis of transgenerational transmission of global DNA cytosine methylation (= proportion of all genomic cytosines that are methylated) and individual epigenetic markers (= methylation status of anonymous MSAP markers) in the shrub Lavandula latifolia. Methods based on parent-offspring correlations and parental variance component estimation were applied to epigenetic features of field-growing plants ('maternal parents') and greenhouse-grown progenies. Transmission of genetic markers (AFLP) was also assessed for reference. KEY RESULTS Maternal parents differed significantly in global DNA cytosine methylation (range = 21.7-36.7%). Greenhouse-grown maternal families differed significantly in global methylation, and their differences were significantly related to maternal origin. Methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) markers exhibited significant transgenerational transmission, as denoted by significant maternal variance component of marker scores in greenhouse families and significant mother-offspring correlations of marker scores. CONCLUSIONS Although transmission-related measurements for global methylation and MSAP markers were quantitatively lower than those for AFLP markers taken as reference, this study has revealed extensive transgenerational transmission of genome-wide global cytosine methylation and anonymous epigenetic markers in L. latifolia. Similarity of results for global cytosine methylation and epigenetic markers lends robustness to this conclusion, and stresses the value of considering both types of information in epigenetic studies of nonmodel plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M Herrera
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Conchita Alonso
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Mónica Medrano
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ricardo Pérez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de La Cartuja, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de, Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Pilar Bazaga
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
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Lele L, Ning D, Cuiping P, Xiao G, Weihua G. Genetic and epigenetic variations associated with adaptation to heterogeneous habitat conditions in a deciduous shrub. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:2594-2606. [PMID: 29531679 PMCID: PMC5838075 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity is thought to play an important role in the adaption of plant populations to heterogeneous habitat conditions, and yet the importance of epigenetic variation as a mechanism of adaptive plasticity in natural plant populations still merits further research. In this study, we investigated populations of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla (Chinese chastetree) from adjacent habitat types at seven sampling sites. Using several functional traits, we detected a significant differentiation between habitat types. With amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive AFLP (MSAP), we found relatively high levels of genetic and epigenetic diversity but very low genetic and epigenetic differences between habitats within sites. Bayesian clustering showed a remarkable habitat-related differentiation and more genetic loci associated with the habitat type than epigenetic, suggesting that the adaptation to the habitat is genetically based. However, we did not find any significant correlation between genetic or epigenetic variation and habitat using simple and partial Mantel tests. Moreover, we found no correlation between genetic and ecologically relevant phenotypic variation and a significant correlation between epigenetic and phenotypic variation. Although we did not find any direct relationship between epigenetic variation and habitat environment, our findings suggest that epigenetic variation may complement genetic variation as a source of functional phenotypic diversity associated with adaptation to the heterogeneous habitat in natural plant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Lele
- Institute of Ecology and BiodiversityCollege of Life SciencesShandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Du Ning
- Institute of Ecology and BiodiversityCollege of Life SciencesShandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Pei Cuiping
- Institute of Ecology and BiodiversityCollege of Life SciencesShandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Guo Xiao
- College of Landscape Architecture and ForestryQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdaoChina
| | - Guo Weihua
- Institute of Ecology and BiodiversityCollege of Life SciencesShandong UniversityJinanChina
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Weinhold A. Transgenerational stress-adaption: an opportunity for ecological epigenetics. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2018; 37:3-9. [PMID: 29032426 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-017-2216-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In the recent years, there has been considerable interest to investigate the adaptive transgenerational plasticity of plants and how a "stress memory" can be transmitted to the following generation. Although, increasing evidence suggests that transgenerational adaptive responses have widespread ecological relevance, the underlying epigenetic processes have rarely been elucidated. On the other hand, model plant species have been deeply investigated in their genome-wide methylation landscape without connecting this to the ecological reality of the plant. What we need is the combination of an ecological understanding which plant species would benefit from transgenerational epigenetic stress-adaption in their natural habitat, combined with a deeper molecular analysis of non-model organisms. Only such interdisciplinary linkage in an ecological epigenetic study could unravel the full potential that epigenetics could play for the transgenerational stress-adaption of plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Weinhold
- Applied Zoology/Animal Ecology, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences (DCPS), Institute of Biology, FU Berlin, Haderslebener Str. 9, 12163, Berlin, Germany.
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