Selection on the vascular-remodeling <i>BMPER</i> gene is associated with altitudinal adaptation in an insular lizard.

ABSTRACT: High altitude imposes several extreme constraints on life, such as low oxygen pressure and high levels of ultraviolet radiation, which require specialized adaptations. Many studies have focused on how endothermic vertebrates respond to these challenging environments, but there is still uncertainty on how ectotherms adapt to these conditions. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing of low-altitude (100-600 m) and high-altitude (3,550 m) populations of the wide-ranging Tenerife lizard Gallotia galloti to uncover signatures of selection for altitudinal adaptation. The studied populations show reduced differentiation, sharing similar patterns of genetic variation. Selective sweep mapping suggests that signatures of adaptation to high altitude are not widespread across the genome, clusteri

SUBMITTER: Seren N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11790214 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature