Detecting adaptive evolution based on association with ecological gradients: orientation matters!

ABSTRACT: Population genetic signatures of local adaptation are frequently investigated by identifying loci with allele frequencies that exhibit high correlation with ecological variables. One difficulty with this approach is that ecological associations might be confounded by geographic variation at selectively neutral loci. Here, we consider populations that underwent spatial expansion from their original range, and for which geographical variation of adaptive allele frequency coincides with habitat gradients. Using range expansion simulations, we asked whether our ability to detect genomic regions involved in adaptation could be impacted by the orientation of the ecological gradients. For three ecological association methods tested, we found, counter-intuitively, fewer false-positive associations

SUBMITTER: Frichot E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4815498 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature