Dataset Information

Genetic estimates of population age in the water flea, Daphnia magna.

ABSTRACT: Genetic datasets can be used to date evolutionary events, even on recent time scales if sufficient data are available. We used statistics calculated from multilocus microsatellite datasets to estimate population ages in data generated through coalescent simulations and in samples from populations of known age in a metapopulation of Daphnia magna in Finland. Our simulation results show that age estimates improve with additional loci and define a time frame over which these statistics are most useful. On the most recent time scales, assumptions regarding the model of mutation (infinite sites vs. stepwise mutation) have little influence on estimated ages. In older populations, size homoplasy among microsatellite alleles results in a downwards bias for estimates based on the infinite sites model (ISM). In the Finnish D. magna metapopulation, our genetically derived estimated ages were biased upwards. Potential sources of this bias include the underlying model of mutation, gene flow, founder size, and the possibility of persistent source populations in the system. Our simulated data show that genetic age estimation is possible, even for very young populations, but our empirical data highlight the importance of factors such as migration when these statistics are applied in natural populations.

SUBMITTER: Robinson JD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3695665 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genetic estimates of population age in the water flea, Daphnia magna.

Robinson John D JD Haag Christoph R CR Hall David W DW Pajunen V Ilmari VI Wares John P JP

The Journal of heredity 20121104 6

Genetic datasets can be used to date evolutionary events, even on recent time scales if sufficient data are available. We used statistics calculated from multilocus microsatellite datasets to estimate population ages in data generated through coalescent simulations and in samples from populations of known age in a metapopulation of Daphnia magna in Finland. Our simulation results show that age estimates improve with additional loci and define a time frame over which these statistics are most use ...[more]

PMID: 23129752

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Project description:Microarray analyses were used to evaluate patterns of gene transcription following exposure of the waterflea Daphnia magna to two natural and one anthropogenic stressor. cDNA microarrays compiled of three life stage specific and three stressor-specific EST libraries, yielding 1734 different EST sequences, were used. We exposed the water flea Daphnia magna to three stressors known to exert strong selection in natural populations of this species i.e. a sublethal concentration of the pesticide carbaryl, infective spores of the endoparasite Pasteuria ramosa, and fish predation risk mimicked by exposure to fish kairomones. A total of 148 gene fragments were differentially expressed compared to the control. Most gene fragments were downregulated under stress (82.4% downregulation compared to 17.6% upregulation) irrespective of the treatment. In approximately 5% of the cases up- or downregulation depended on stressor identity. Based on a PCA, we could identify two different groups within our exposure treatments: small and big gene expression differences compared to the control condition. The treatments parasite 96h exposure, carbaryl 144h of exposure and fish 144h of exposure are combined in the high stress group. 26 samples x 2 biological replicates were analysed in a carriage wheel design (Khanin & Wit, 2005; Knapen et al., 2009) with a reference sample composed of a clutch of non-exposed D. magna that were collected at different time points ranging from 0-24h until three weeks old. The 26 samples included: 4 treatments (control, carbaryl, fish and parasite exposure) x three time points (48h, 96h and 144h) x 2 replicates + 2 start samples (non-exposed individuals younger than 24h old). This led to 52 different microarray hybridizations: 26 hybridizations for the inner part of the wheel, where every sample is hybridized against the reference, and another 26 for the outer part. Color flip experiments were incorporated per sample to fulfill the conditions of technical replicates on the level of labelling; every stressor-time combination was included at least once in red and once in green. One hybridization in the outer part of the wheel had technical problems, and is not included here.

Dataset Information

Genetic estimates of population age in the water flea, Daphnia magna.

Publications

Genetic estimates of population age in the water flea, Daphnia magna.

Similar Datasets

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