Population Genomics of Incipient Allochronic Divergence in the Pine Processionary Moth.

ABSTRACT: Allochronic divergence is a key evolutionary mechanism that can frequently lead to incipient speciation. Although theoretical models suggest that such divergence is notably facilitated by small population size and genetic polymorphisms influencing reproductive timing, though constrained by genetic load, empirical validation remains limited. We investigated these predictions by re-analysing a case of allochronic differentiation between two sympatric populations of pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) in Portugal, using whole genome resequencing (IndSeq and PoolSeq) of those two populations and eight allopatric ones. We inferred the demographic history of those populations, assessed their genetic load and searched for genomic regions associated with life cycle differences. Our a

SUBMITTER: Muller T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12717998 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature